Rick -<br>Thanks for your reasoned and well stated response to "priusseller". Its hard to imagine how anyone with an attitude such as his can make a living selling autos.<br>Most of us who want a Prius (new and spec'ed out to our tastes) must endure about 4-5 months of waiting. It is little wonder that some of us get a bit fuzzy.<br><br>Regards, Pudwuzzy<br><br>Waste not, want not. :-\

Ouch! Well we can see how your "customer service" is now...you aren't in Oregon are you?

Perhaps you'd be so kind as to tell us which dealership you represent? That way we can post it all over the Internet as one to AVOID like the plague!<br><br>Rod

What a JERK! You outta be ashamed of yourself. And, if you have any nuts you will identify yourself. Might I suggest that you direct folks who are interested in the Prius to one of your human counterparts...then change your screen-name to "ex-priusseller"

I have had a dealer that sounds just like this one!<br><br>I will never take my new Prius back to him and I have told everyone I know that my Dealer has the worst customer service in the business. The Dealers name is "Lia Toyota" in Colonie New York. I have had fairly good customer service from our Subaru dealer (my wifes car-too bad they don't sell toyotas (Action in Troy) and from a previous Saturn dealer. I had a very nice service from Keeler Toyota in Latham New York (who will get all of my maintenance work). So for this particular dealer - As a consumer who is buying something from the dealer, where the dealer only has to sit on his fat @ss to get this sale - Don't worry about any more of us who actually care about the car. PLEASE BE BOLD AND TELL THE WORLD WHO YOU ARE. BECAUSE WE WILL NOT BUY FROM SOMEONE WHO DOESNT WANT TO SELL..<br><br>Please for those that care - LIA TOYOTA IN COLONIE NEW YORK - Don't shop there. Go to Keeler in Latham (they are good). <br><br><br>By the way - for those that have idiots for dealers - Please tell Toyota National Help desk - Maybe they will eventually lose their franchise.

I agree - I only wish I could have ordered this car without the "Help" of a dealer. Maybe in the future we will be able to order this kind of car totally via the internet - no dealer at all. Just certified mechanic shops for maintenance.<br><br>I am supposed to take possession of my '02 this afternoon - I ordered it June 6th 01 and my wonderful dealer (LIA Toyota in Colonie NY) sat on the order for somewhere around 2-4 weeks before submitting it to Toyota - hence the extra delay. <br><br>Steve D. <br><br>Albany NY.

In my area we have two Toyota dealers within eight miles. I told the close one I was interested in a Prius and the salesperson said if I wanted a test drive I would have to rent one for a day, $50. <br><br>Went to the other said the same thing, and he handed me the keys and said "go for it." Needless to say, the latter one received the order.<br><br>I might add, the salesperson and I had a little discussion about the first dealer. He said he would like to send every one of their sales people a fruit basket for Christmas because of all the business he gets from their annoyed customers.<br><br>'57<br><br>P.S. Received the manual last week. Hope for the car before the end of the year.

seller-YOU ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO MY PROFESSION

I hope you all realized that this guy has an m.o. very similar to a guy who claimed a few months ago to be a Prius technician and said some uncomplimentary things about the Prius.<br><br>I suspect these are both trolls: They are not what they say; they just make an outrageous insulting post and sit back and watch the fun as everyone on the group flames back.<br><br>I suggest ignoring him.<br><br>Burns

msdickerson said on 11/19/01 11:55 am:<br><br>&gt;&gt; By the way - for those that have idiots for dealers - Please tell Toyota National Help desk - Maybe they will eventually lose their franchise. &lt;&lt;<br><br>Good advice. Also, be descriptive when you fill out the little surveys/questionaires that Toyota (and others) send you after you purchase your Prius.<br><br>&gt;&gt; Please for those that care - LIA TOYOTA IN COLONIE NEW YORK - Don't shop there. Go to Keeler in Latham (they are good). &lt;&lt;<br><br>If you haven't done so already, please list your experiences in the Dealers Database over on the Groups site. There's a listing of the Good/Bad/Ugly dealers, sorted by state, here:<br><br><a href=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius/database?method=reportRows&tbl=2\ &sortBy=6 target=new>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius/database?method=reportRows\ &tbl=2&sort By=6</a>

$1200 is a nice profit? Compared to what?<br>One thing you don't consider is the holdback that you mentioned goes into the owner's pocket.<br>It's not something that the Sales Dept. can negotiate from, or count as profit.<br>Within that "big" $1200 margin you talk of, most dealers take out what they call a 'lot pack', which means that in many places, the store takes the first $300to 500, or more, before they start to pay your percantage. It can often end up being a $75 commission. <br>Why babysit you, Mr $75 BEFORE TAXES, when you could maybe make $500 Now from someone else?

I haven't been on since my post, but YES, I enjoyed the "small f" fireworks!<br>For those of you that stepped up, good on ya!<br>I've said that when you sell a car, sometimes you can be dealing with normally nice people at their worst behavior.

Hi Priusseller:<br><br>Thank you for sharing.<br><br>However, there is one important point you failed to mention. Not all products turn a profit when used to attract buyers into a place of business. Ever hear the term "loss leader"? Surely the lack of available Prius's has led to other fine Toyota products being pushed and sold. After all, not everyone is willing to wait the multiple months it takes to deliver one.<br><br>Thanks for the attitude adjustment too.<br><br>-Michael<br>CA "01 Prius"

Hi Priusseller, take 2:<br><br>Which Toyota dealership do you work for? Maybe you can drum up some business here! <br><br>Just kidding.<br><br>-Michael<br>CA "01 Prius"

Loss leader, " to sell things and not make money"<br>That might work in a grocery store, where hopefully you will buy other things that are profitable. While you annoyed your salesman for four months, did you buy any profitable pickups, or suvs while you were there? Oh. Well, how about rustproofing? Oh. Warranty? Oh.<br>that's what I figured.<br>You are obviously a marketing expert.

Wow, Priusseller<br><br>I sure hope I didn't order mine from you!!!! The fact that we have to wait 4 (more like 6) months is frustrating enough, but to have a sales person with such a condenscending attitude is beyond unprofessional. While we wait impatiently for our long desired new car and want to keep in touch with what's going on with it, you just want us to sit at home quietly, minding our own business, and not disturbing you with our little questions and concerns. Too bad, get over it, get used to it, or get out of the business.

Priusseller would have enjoyed selling me my Prius. I ordered over the internet with one phone call to the dealer. (ordered from out of state). Made another phone call to let the dealer know I arrived in the area. Finally, I met the sales person on the day my car arrived.<br>So, I think most people would take even a $75 commission for two phone calls and 30 minutes of face time. Of course, it only went so well because of the professionalism of Tom Judge of F-J Toyota in LV which I doubt would ever occur with a jerk like priusseller.<br><br>Steve