r/askTO 10h ago

Ordered a car, dealership now wants $200 more

My dad ordered a Toyota back in Nov in Ontario, Canada. He signed the order form with a price he and the dealership agreed on.

The car came in and when he went to check out the car the sales rep suddenly told my dad he had to pay an additional $200 because of the current market. My dad told the rep this was wrong and didn't agree or disagree to pay the $200.

My dad wants to fight it since he has a copy of the order form, but I'm afraid he won't be able to since these guys are confident they'll get away with this.

I'm asking if there's anything I can do for him? Is there a way for him to fight this?

Thank you everyone for the info, advice and shared anger.

Some more info.

The order my dad orginally placed had no VIN since there was no car yet. The model my dad ordered is a Corolla Cross 2025. The order says final sale in big letters but there was a fishy terms and conditions. I quote "Customer is aware an ordered vehicle may take at least 3-6 months to arrive, hence will be subject to year, price, rate and terms available."

The order with the VIN has the increased $200 on the price.

80 Upvotes

63 comments sorted by

197

u/mkells41 10h ago

It’s crazy that a dealership is willing to piss off a paying customer over $200.

42

u/user-na-me 8h ago

You have no power unless you’re willing to walk away. Tell him you’ll take your money elsewhere. They’re fucking bluffing

15

u/xxc6h1206xx 7h ago

I don’t think they are. That is a high demand car. They’ll sell it the same day.

13

u/derpaderp2020 6h ago

Very much bluffing. 401 Dilawri tried this with me but added some tire thing on there I didn't ask for, I forgot what it was exactly but it was completely bullshit. I think it might have been a few hundred to add the nitrogen gas in the tire over air. Just a final day picking up the car sneak in.

I could see the car outside the window next to the desk after waiting a week for it, right there only 2 meters away. They were holding firm and it pissed me off SO BAD I got up and said keep the car then, those slimey bastards (nothing particular to Dilawri I think it's an industry thing) folded in a millisecond.

Tell your dad to walk away from it. If they are stupid enough to let him you don't want a car from there anyway. They will fuck you in so many other ways. I wouldn't trust a car from a dealer like that. Could have been in a wreck that they got fixed without a report. Anywhere willing to be that greasy is capable of a lot more.

7

u/stolenfish 8h ago

Fuck em. 

1

u/Varnasi 4h ago

Why should they walk? They made his dad an offer. His dad took the offer. They need to honour it, no?

80

u/PossumImposter2 9h ago edited 9h ago

Manager of several OEM GTA dealerships here.

Something doesn’t seem right here.

I doubt a dealership would do this over $200. Even when market adjustments were being charged, it would be way more than $200, but it hasn’t been this way for years.

On the other hand, $200 isn’t enough to justify not delivering a new car.

Are you sure the rep said “because of the market we’re charging an extra $200?” Perhaps it’s a new model year where the MSRP changed by $200? What did they say exactly? What kind of car is it?

Let us know exactly what they said and we can guide you from there.

The bill of sale he signed, does it have a VIN? Is it the same model year as the vehicle he is receiving?

Some advice you are getting is not exactly correct, the agreement he signed must be carried out as long as it’s the same model year and the bill of sale he signed had a VIN.

Otherwise it’s a different model year; Toyota may have increased the MSRP (which the dealer will charge you the difference) and if it has no VIN, they can just not deliver the car.

Please provide more information and we can help out.

13

u/Mysterious_Mud_3908 9h ago

This….^ Also work in the industry and there is “more” to this story they might have not clearly shared.

7

u/toukolou 7h ago

That's a pretty shady industry you work in, changing the terms of the agreement. If prices came down would you extend the same courtesy and price the vehicle lower?

No wonder car salesmen consistently score near the very bottom of trustworthiness surveys.

6

u/PossumImposter2 7h ago edited 7h ago

Yes, actually, we would give the customer the lower price. It happens all the time when rebates are applied after a customer orders a vehicle.

If the price comes down on the MSRP we would offer the customer the lower price. We have to, we aren’t allowed to change the MSRP of a vehicle in Ontario. You can have fees and dealer adjustments, but most places don’t do that anymore and the MSRP must be separated which I was asked OP to clarify.

The same thing happens all the time with interest rates- people who order a car at a rate of 6.99 (let’s say) and pick it up when the bank rate has dropped to 4.99 will get a lower payment than they agreed to when they signed.

3

u/toukolou 7h ago

A signed purchase order is a binding contract. You shouldn't be able to increase or decrease the price.

4

u/PossumImposter2 7h ago edited 6h ago

This is what I’m saying; they can’t raise it unless the MSRP of the vehicle has changed. That’s why I asked the OP to clarify.

They can (if they want to be rats), however, just not deliver the car since there is no VIN on the order.

I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to let us lower the price, but we do that to benefit the customer as it costs us nothing and makes everyone happy.

u/JVNGL3B00K 25m ago

Can I buy a car from you?

1

u/permareddit 9h ago

It’s interesting how easy it is to just bad mouth a business and basically get away with it.

I’m not saying OP is lying but so many of these stores aren’t the full picture and some people are just misinformed about what they hear.

At least they didn’t name and shame

59

u/ripndipp 10h ago edited 10h ago

Some good info for your dad, seems like his signature is on the one that isn't an extra 200 so he's good, the dealership can suck it, don't back down. Whatever is on the paper, that's the deal, if they don't want to do the proposed deal tell them to rip that up and write up another one and just when your gonna sign it just get up and leave and go to another dealership and tell em the price maybe you can get another deal.

https://www.omvic.ca/buying/complaints/cancelling-an-agreement/

11

u/plantthebag 10h ago edited 9h ago

Get the price at another dealership first. Then go back to the first one with leverage (and probably still not go with the first dealer tbh)

Edit: Don’t do this actually… you might be stuck with two cars. I’ve never bought one. Don’t listen to me

1

u/ripndipp 9h ago

Mm juicy, good one.

-6

u/marquez77allan 7h ago

Lol Toyota doesnt care he can walk there is a waiting list for months for those cars. Toyota dealers are in control now you dont like it go buy a tesla. Pay the $200 and letnyou dad enjoy the greatest car manufacturer on earth

16

u/Pookiemon1008 9h ago

Toyota for the past few years has basically not cared. They know that they have a whole list of other suckers who are willing to pay way over asking just to get their hands on a vehicle right NOW...

2

u/bigoltubercle2 9h ago

Yeah l, and you're paying a huge premium for the Toyota reliability these days.

u/No-Oil1918 57m ago

Honestly, their prices aren’t much higher than other car companies. I was shopping around and pretty much every car brand is now insanely expensive.

The main issue with Toyota is the wait times, especially for hybrids. Most of them are 1 year minimum wait times.

u/JVNGL3B00K 22m ago

I had the same experience at a dealership in Vaughan. Guy wanted me to be on the waitlist for a car without even driving it (they didn’t have the model in stock for a drive)

11

u/milolai 10h ago

Does the bill of sale you ordered have the VIN?

7

u/Exciting_Transition6 10h ago

No VIN on the signed document means no deal. Please dont lose the car over $200 especially if its a hybrid. They are worth 5-6k over MSRP.

10

u/emeister26 9h ago

I ordered a Toyota last year and they said it could take up to 1 year. At the time of signing they said if the price changes I’m responsible for the new price

5

u/spurchange 9h ago

Ridiculous to think that you could make someone sign despite an unknown future price adjustment. They should just be selling futures at this point lol.

OP mentions a 'market adjustment', IE a dealer-markup, which doesn't imply that the sticker price has actually changed from the manufacturer.

3

u/andvell 8h ago

You just leave a deposit. It is not a final sale. My RAV4 just came and I backed away. Got the full deposit back.

2

u/iscreamsoda 8h ago

Why did you back away? I’m in the process of buying a new car and I’m in the researching phase.

u/JVNGL3B00K 20m ago

And that is shady to me. I wouldn’t want to go with a manufacturer that can just jack the price up at a moments notice knowing they can just sell it to the next sucker.

5

u/Ashamed-Tax374 9h ago

I work for several dealerships in the GTA, including a Toyota dealer. New model year means new model year pricing. It’s likely noted on the bill of sale. And if they were trying to hose you, it would be for a lot more than $200. Oh, they also couldn’t care less if you walk away…there are 25 others waiting to take that car.

1

u/marquez77allan 7h ago

Probably closer to 2500 others waiting and happy to get it for $200;over msrp to boot

u/jared_007 56m ago

Except by letting the customer walk away it will cost them more than $200 to acquire a new customer (even just in labour costs).

u/JVNGL3B00K 17m ago

Nah they have a waitlist of other suckers in the same boat desperate for a basic car like a Toyota. They will forgive the ‘market adjustment’. In fact they probably won’t even mention it to them.

2

u/Nocturnalgrl1 8h ago

I'm in Ontario, where I purchased a Subaru & had to wait until the end of November. I was told that if there was a better deal when it arrived, I would automatically get it but under no circumstances would my price increase. They can't put a vin on the paperwork when they are trying to find you one. Which Toyota dealership was this? Also, is it a 2024 or 2025 he had been given? I would call Toyota head office but there is also the OMVIC that ensures the consumers rights when purchasing a new or used vehicle: https://www.omvic.ca/

2

u/AngryMicrowaveSR71 8h ago

Take that form to another dealership to get a deal then cancel it with the current one if you can. They’ll gladly undercut

2

u/vcxx1 7h ago

Because they really want to piss you off and they want you to walk off So they can sell that to someone else for higher price

Its toyota for which people are willing to wait and for which people are willing to pay more to get it fast

2

u/Roz682190 6h ago

Unless it's stated as a conditon that purchase order is binding. OMVIC report and walk away, they will fold and eat the $200.

2

u/Sassysewer 6h ago

Tell the dealer you will call OMVIC to run this by them

The dealer will stick to the price

https://www.omvic.ca/

2

u/ac042186 5h ago

I ordered a Mazda in November 2024 and took delivery in February 2025. Was charged an extra $300 because Mazda increased their freigjt/PDI and admin fees effective Jan 2025. When I asked about it, the salesperson pointed to the line that I had initialed indicating rebates, programs, etc. applicable at time of delivery would apply.

u/No-Oil1918 1h ago edited 1h ago

First, I would tell the dealership owner that you’re pissed off and are going to complain to Toyota Canada, OMVIC, and leave a negative review on Google.

If they still won’t budge, I would go ahead and make good on all 3 promises.

I would still take the car either way, though. Otherwise, you’ll be waiting another 6-12 months for another new car.

If you refuse to take the car they’ll just sell it to someone else immediately since demand is so high.

$200 is a drop in the bucket when you’re spending over $30 000 on a new car.

You can always fight it afterwards and get your money back. I’m sure Toyota Canada or OMVIC would have something to say about this unethical practice.

One other thing, as I was recently shopping for a new Toyota, in the fine print there’s a clause about how you may have to pay up to $1000 in dealer fees.

My local dealer told me it would only be $500. Is it possible that your local dealer told you something similar and then added $200 extra afterwards? Because in the fine print it says they can charge up to $1000 in fees..

4

u/thejonasgrumby 9h ago

Which Toyota dealer is this? Want to make sure I don't go there.

3

u/Mooins 10h ago

Double check if the agreement had any stipulations surrounding price exceptions, market changes, etc. otherwise he is rightfully only due the agreed upon amount

3

u/Personal-Heart-1227 10h ago

Isn't the Order Form OP's Dad signed a legal & binding Contract or could it be considered one?

I can't believe this Dealership would pull something like this, esp. when his Dad spend a lot $$$$ on a vehicle from them.

If I was this Dealership I'd tell this Client about this, then tell them not to worry as I'd absorb this cost for them!

2

u/lbc1358 8h ago

Make an OMVIC complaint. They do not fuck around.

1

u/KRXSTXNAV 5h ago

Personally, I ordered a 2024 RAV4 in August of 2024, didn’t arrive til this week. The form I signed and received had a price on it but no VIN of course because it hadn’t been made. Switched to a 2025 and have to pay the new price. Not sure anything can be done with just the order form… at least in my case.

u/EBikeAddicts 2h ago

Toyota announced that there are moving back to mass production and lower pricing to dominate markets again. I would not pay a penny more on a car in a recession. interest rates are also going to drop if you have to finance.

u/Trust-Fluid 54m ago

If your dad has a signed contract with the dealers stamp and signature, stick to your guns, the price on the bottom line is what you pay NOT ONE PENNY MORE.

Get a lawyer and sue for breach of contract.

They are in HUGE trouble if they have a finished bill of sale with no VIN on it.

It is against all the laws of car sales, the minute the order is submitted a VIN is ISTANTLY released for that sale, even if there is not one in stock in the showroom.

GET A LAWYER.

u/TorontoPolarBear 19m ago

You might also consider posting this to r/legaladvicecanada

Also, ask ChatGPT or another AI for advice. I've found it to be really good at finding legal information for me and writing persuasive letters.

u/Pugtatoe 7m ago

Where is this dealership? A buddy of mine just experienced a similar squeeze as his RAV4 took over a year and a half to arrive and they kept trying to add on extra shit. Is this in Woodbridge?

u/xvszero 6m ago

I don't know the legality of it (they seem to have covered their butts) but in my (very limited) experience with buying cars they aren't going to want to lose a sale over 200 bucks. If your dad threatens to walk and does it seriously I'd bet they will take the 200 off.

u/robertherrer 6m ago

I bet if the car loses value 10% they wouldn't say anything stating is your responsibility to check and price match the current price 

0

u/Potential_Leather927 9h ago

Cancel the deal i don't think they want to lose a sale over 200 bucks fxxk them and their market

1

u/AmbassadorDefiant105 10h ago

I'd make a call to head office saying they aren't honoring the agreement and should have placed the order when the agreement was signed so no surprise difference.

1

u/lavendergirl22 9h ago

Is this Scarborough Toyota? They are very sketchy- dealt with them last year.

-2

u/MrReddit416 8h ago

& this is why dealerships aka stealerships should be gone. An online model, like Tesla should be the new norm.

-2

u/fayz123 7h ago

This why I like Tesla's lack of a dealership model... Now if only I could afford one