Anyone use Costco auto program and have issues with the dealer not cooperating?

The only thing I got from buying a car from Costco back in 2011 is that dealer cannot harass you. The rest was waist of time..

 

I got a Costco auto quote once YEARS ago.

I bought privately. Got a better deal NOT going through Costco.

Dealers do whatever the hell they want because people let them get away with it.

 

It appears Costco pricing varies depending on ????? as my Toyota dealership provided a Costco buyers approved book/binder with; 1) a list of trained salespeople names to work with (only 5 individuals), 2) a complete price guide for every Toyota model and trim selling amount listed as dollar amount over invoice (for 2018 and 2019 years) and you receive all current incentives and promotion discounts, and 3) a satisfaction guarantee with full explanation of the service. All Tacoma trims (except the Pro) were listed as invoice + $100... the Pro was listed as NA (meaning no Costco agreed upon price). Some Toyota models were listed as invoice - $xxx. No haggling, no wasted time (out the door with no BS sales of delivery options like aftermarket protectants, dealer addendums or warranties)... took 1.5 hours from walk-in to drive out (including a 30 minute delivery inspection).

Every Costco buyer should get eyes on the binder, including working only with approved and trained salespeople, and must be presented the pricing guide... otherwise you may not really be working with an approved dealer. I don’t believe you will get the best possible price, but you should get great no haggle service with little emotional investment and no wasted time.

If you have issues with the dealership, report them to the Costco auto buying customer service... they want to assist you to ensure you receive the service you’re expecting.

 

I have to say, Tech and Premium are legit options to focus on. Maybe even the steps too. All those “port” add ons like an emblem overlay, black tip and tail gate stickers are a bit of a stretch to risk losing a decent deal on the color and package. I don’t think the dealer is being unreasonable saying they don’t have a truck with those exact options. However, you could wait months to get that truck with all those (insignificant) “port” add ons. Go for it and order it. You might not be happy and it would not be good if rates went up between now and delivery date. Can’t trust the Fed right now. Conversely I asked the dealer for the same truck with just the tech and premium with no frivolously expensive add ons. Most anyone can install steps, tailgate decals, black tip, and emblem overlays (whick look like crap anyways due to being bold over the letters...better off just ordering black emblems for less).

Anyways, good luck with the hunt and we can’t wait to see what you get.

 

You should really send the specs of what you want to the dealers in LA and possibly San Diego. I would use email initially and see what kind of quotes you get back.

The dealers in my area only use CostCo for lead generation. They didn’t really want to play ball.

 

I bought in July through Costco and Ken Howard at Manhattan Beach Toyota and Ken could not have been easier or more straightforward to deal with. Could not say the same about Culver Toyota in my own back yard. The Costco pricing in July 2018 was dealer invoice minus $800, so it looks like the pricing has changed. That was a lot harder to beat then, and I didn't have the time to spend researching and haggling, but you should easily beat invoice + 100 on your own.

 

I had a good experience with Costco Auto at the end of September. Mine was dealer invoice minus $1000. I probably could have got the same price through other dealers or maybe a little better but I didn't want to spend the time haggling. Sorry to hear it sucked for a lot of you.

 

Ken Howard at Manhattan Beach did show me the Costco binder. The discounts varied by model and trim, so it's very possible someone else got invoice minus $1000 while I got -$800. My experience could not have been smoother or easier and Ken was personable and knowledgeable. For the past quarter century I've used Edmunds.com even before they were online and always got great prices but this was so much easier. If I spent a couple hundred more, it was worth the savings in time alone.

 

I'm trying/tried the Costco program. The dealer, or at least the salesman, they referred me to is horrible. He won't send me the Costco pricing. When I asked for a picture of the sticker and the quote, he sent me a video of him talking about the truck. Buying a car is a colossal waste of time and energy.

 

As far as I can tell your Costco experience should be like the one I had. I would do two things: One, I would call Costco's Auto Buying Program and tell them. They can find you a different participating dealer if there is one in your area. Two, I would personally call the General Manager for the dealer and tell him/her that you'd really love to buy a truck from them but you're not getting good cooperation from the assigned salesperson and are seriously considering going elsewhere. That will get his attention as they cherish every single sale and that salesperson will get a reaming. From my conversations with Costco last spring, they really do want you to have a great experience. In my case, the sales floor manager at Culver Toyota was a complete pushy 25 year old prick who tried to force me into a purchase when I wasn't ready. The salesperson was totally green and new nothing about anything, but she could learn. I told the GM why I went to another dealer and then flipped that inexperienced saleswoman a c-note just for her time and let her know that it wasn't her fault I went somewhere else.

Make your concerns known and you will get results.

 

These types of programs are not flawless. Probably not great on Tacomas, and probably not honored on Pros (where it matters).

Also, if you don't know how to negotiate, it is a good tool.....probably not the best in every situation so I can see getting a better deal direct.

 

I second Truecar. I originally used Costco but then later found a better deal through Truecar with $2600 off MSRP here in San Diego despite socal inflated prices. Since that made me a believer I also did the same thing with a Wrangler last year and got $3500 off MSRP.

It's worth checking out. I've also considered trying to find dealers up in Los Angeles as I've heard good stories that way but have not ever wanted to make the extra drive if I do not have to.

 

Learn how to negotiate and do this yourself. Read Trump's Art of the Deal. It is one of many resources out there that will help you learn this very important life skill that will cut out tens of thousands of dollars of unnecessary expense over a lifetime. Become the person that enjoys this process. Few things in life bring more enjoyment than being a better buyer than the sales manager is at being a seller. If you are so inclined, when between jobs, take two months and go sell new cars. You will make enough to pay your bills those two months, and learn a bunch about buying and selling. The dealerships will invest great training in you and by doing so will make you their worst nightmare: An educated and savvy buyer that knows their tactics as well as they do. When shopping, be willing to walk out several times, doing so with an attitude and swagger that symbolically pisses in their store-front shrubbery on the way to your car. While you perceive otherwise, in reality you hold the advantage: You don't have to buy their product to survive. They on the other hand, MUST sell you their product for their family to eat. In 2016 I ordered a DCLB Sport and when it arrived I walked away from the deal. My deal, or no deal. Yours too. In 2009 I bought a Pontiac G8GT with MSRP of $34,070 for $24,929. Since then I've bought a Subaru Forester and two Subaru CrossTreks for my daughters at the lowest prices in the US, all three verified by comparison to other's espoused pricing on the "How much are you paying for your _____ ?" threads on the various Subaru forums. (No, I didn't get the lowest price in the nation on this Taco, but I did pretty good, AND got 0.00% interest for 60 months.) You too can learn to do this. Learn to control the sale. Most important, when you learn how to do it, it is fun! It is a necessary life skill.

 

I lived in Bako for 28 years. Bill Wright Toyota is the biggest bunch of crooks and A-holes I've ever met. That includes the service dept. Go to Longo in El Monte. It's well worth the drive. Don't stop at Frontier in Valencia either.

 

That's a description of how you'd imagine it should be. Everywhere.

 

It's the dealer playing games. Even if they are part of the program, they don't have to honor the deals. It's not really Costco's fault, but it's what it is.

My Costco dealer required that I add the dealer tint and alarm package to the truck which pushed the price back up to where it would have been otherwise. I suspect they didn't really add either, but I ended up going another route. Then I got calls from this disinterested sales lady telling me to "Just come in." "Let's get this done." "blah blah blah."

We emailed 25 different dealers with what we were looking for and pitted the few best offers against each other and went from there.

After we bought the truck, the Costco dealer called asking if I was still interested and I told them I bought my truck already. They then asked what did I pay, I told them and they called me a liar.


BTW, the dealer I used was great (Estabrook, Moss Point, Mississippi). I was only there for 20 minutes while they finished prepping the truck. No hassle, nothing. I did have my money situated before I got there though.

 

Sorry to hear about the issues you are having on this transaction. DJ here with Costco Auto Program. If you would email us your Name and Contact information, I will have one of our member advocates contact you. They will be happy to confirm that you are getting accurate pricing on the vehicle and accessories that you are wanting. You can email me at: AutoProgram@CostcoAuto.com or call the Member Advocate Group directly at 800-404-5623.

 

Wow... must have a Tacoma owner who happens to be a Costco CSR online today... do what costcoautodj suggests!

 

My wife and I got a great deals at Paul Miller Toyota in West Caldwell NJ. She got a Rav4 in September and I was going to go through Costco for my Tacoma but they beat the price.

 

No doubt... Costco auto program isn’t a guaranteed low price, rather a reasonable price with a quick painless buying experience.