[EcoOne]

Here's something that I find a little disturbing...
We have placed an order/deposit with a dealer and last we checked, we are number 32 in line. We requested a Silver with the "BC" (#9 or #6 depending on 2004/2005 model year). We thought we'd inquire with a few other dealers, tell them what we're looking for and see what their waiting list was like. One dealer told us they have eighty people on their list! Interestingly, this very dealer contacted us yesterday and told us they had exactly what we were looking for, and it would be MSRP + $2000. They told us "the deal fell through for the person it was for." If this is the case, shouldn't the dealer be moving on down the list looking for someone else to take the car? Does it strike anyone else as odd that this dealer would have 80 people waiting for a Prius and not one of them would have any interest in a Silver with a BC package? How would you feel if you were one of the 80 on the list and you found out that this dealer was out trying to push the car you have been waiting months for, for top dollar? Isn't everyone that is on a waiting list putting down at least $500? Let's see 80 x $500 = $40,000 sitting in the bank collecting interest. I wonder how many other people they can get to stand in line while they auction off their allotment of "Prii." Sounds like a win/win for the dealer. It might pay to call your dealer on a regular basis to see if you're actually climbing up on their "list."
Good luck everyone!

 

[EcoOne]

It doesn't strike me as odd that, out of 80 people, no one who wanted that combo wanted to pay $2000 over list for it. The choice is now yours :_>

Indeed, the choice is ours. This was meant more as a warning to those waiting quietly, and I'm not saying that all dealerships operate this way. We have made it a practice to call our dealer once a week. However, to my knowledge, once on one of these so called "lists" we are to purchase at MSRP and not expecting to pay a (to quote this particular dealer) "DEALER ADDED MARKUP $5000 HIGH DEMAND CAR," of which they were willing to knock $3000 off. At least the dealership we hooked up with is not charging anything extra. As much as we want one of these cars parked in our driveway, I'm not interested in paying their markup. Has anyone who has purchased their Prius via the "list," paid more than MSRP?

 

[EcoOne]

It was only a warning.

Sorry, I did not intend to start a debate of ethics and greed with this topic. Paying a markup is up to the individual and I'd probably pay it myself if I was in desperate need of transportation. My real concern is for those of us that are on the waiting list. I'd hate to think that I've handed over my money to a dealer that is going to hang on to my cash while he is out attempting to sell, the very car I've been waiting months for, to someone who just called and showed some interest in the vehicle. Once again, this post was meant as a warning to those individuals that are waiting on "lists," check your position frequently with your dealer. Maybe you should even have a friend contact your dealer and ask about the exact car your waiting for, as a test. I know that if I had my deposit with the dealer that I mentioned above, and I heard about this, I'd be in his face right now throwing a fit and getting my deposit back. Hey, I know it's a dog eat dog world. I'm just saying, watch your dealer and investment.

I must admit that I'm new to this "list" concept and don't care for how it's handled. Why couldn't we place an actual "order" with Toyota? I know that when I ordered a car from Dodge a couple of weeks ago, also for a high demand car, I spec'd out exactly what I wanted and was given a number that I can use to track this vehicle throughout it's construction all the way to delivery. I feel a bit more comfortable knowing that when that car arrives on their lot it will have my name on it and be waiting for me. There won't be any mad dash between myself and possibly 10 other people to see who can arrive to grab that car first. Maybe we should handle the Prius kinda like that Volkswagon ad, you know, wait at the dealership until one rolls off the truck and run over and lick the door handle!

Ok, my advice one last time, if you're on a list, call your dealer regularly.