Custom Ordering From The Factory

Think what you want but even pre covid, guess what the most popular choices were… Black, white and gray. Toyota doesn’t pretend to sell custom orders to people but they do enough homework to realize that most customers will accept the builds/color schemes that they are producing. At one point, my store had like 400 Tundra deposits and I’d bet 70% of those people would have accepted any

Not true at all

 

I dealt with a dealer that submitted and was successful in getting the changes made to an inbound allocation. It took a very long time before there was an inbound truck close enough to what I wanted for them to be able to do this.

I am picky to a fault when it comes to buying things, but I’m not trading every couple of years like folks that just show up to a lot without even knowing what model they want.

I think the ability to build on the Toyota website should also allow you to order the exact build and the allocation system is complete horseshit. This is even more frustrating on a Tundra because of the absurd amount of trim and package combinations.

It’s likely caused more cases of people putting down deposits with multiple dealers to get a truck than people that would ever cancel a special order. It’s a ridiculous system, and resulted in a pretty poor buying experience.

 

Nope. Did it for my Taco. Had a hookup to the GM thanks to a couple awesome guys on here, and he ran through everything I wanted and didn't want and submitted the accessories order. There were two things that were unavailable due to supply chain crap, but I didn't have to pay for anything I didn't want on the truck.

 

im not saying it’s impossible. We can request things be taken off or put on but it’s never a guarantee.

 

Well, which is it?

 

This doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

 

I think you misunderstand. I'm not saying I special ordered. I just had a dealer who wasn't trying to bloat the sale with accessories. I still had to wait for them to get the allocation (Trim, color, and transmission) that I wanted, but once he got the allocation he got in touch with me and asked exactly what accessories I did and did not want. Obviously he pitched me the "popular" stuff, but there was a bunch I didn't want. He readily and easily dropped the stuff I didn't want and attempted to add the stuff I did want. Now, if the dealership got the allocation 6 weeks prior and has already submitted an accessory list then you are stuck with whatever they added then.

I imagine that mine being a popular trim/config (TRD Pro, Solar Octane, Auto) made it easier for me, but even if it had been a TRD Off Road Premium with other options, he assured me it could be configured as I wanted as long as I was willing to wait for the allocation to come in. This is definitely easier with a high volume dealership because they get more allocations, and thus have better odds of getting the allocation closest to what you want. This is why I travelled about 1200 miles (one way) to trade my tundra for it. It was no markup and exactly what I wanted. Worth the travel. Local dealerships got allocations sooner, but they had thousands in accessory bloat that they weren't willing to drop. Their loss.

 

haha. A dealer is given a list of vehicles every two weeks and that’s what you get. We do fill out stuff to request certain vehicles/trim levels but even then it’s highly unlikely you get what you want. Once your vehicles hit our inventory before they are produced, we can request changes but it’s not always accepted. He just made made it sound like it’s easy to do on every vehicle when it’s not

 

I think it was more that it was easy on my particular vehicle, so he was able to promise it with confidence... or he's better at it than you.

 

What other choice do they have but to set the for what sacred Toyota gives them? At some point Apple or somebody with higher customer dedication than Toyo is going to partner to produce an EV with very short delivery of custom orders. Consolidation in terms of EV producers with low brand recognition pairing with consumer electronics producers with high brand recognition with production methods based on AI will be the leader. Toyo is sitting still in this regard and will have a multi decade gap they have to close. That gives the competition a few years to surge. That is the history of how leading companies loose leadership.

 

I think they do it so they have repeatability in manufacturing, which creates a more stable environment which results in better quality. So they will plan to run these colors and these models and so in batches. I work in semi custom manufacturing and just the supply chain and amount of work it takes to make small changes is a lot more than one might think. Cutting all that crap out allows them to hone in on process and quality.

If you look at how they managed with Covid, they were more likely to shut the line down than send out incomplete product. It is tremendously expensive to service product in the field rather than at the plant. GM and Ford had acres of trucks sitting around and sold all kinds of stuff they had to finish later. Their warranty costs have got to be out the roof currently.

 

Adding that by adding “extras” at “the port” they can customize product with a small group rather than a whole plant, which allows for product flow out of the plant (custom builds means bottlenecks) and a much easier managed customization with a few trained individuals at the rail yard.

 

I WANT 2024 TUNDRA WORK PACKAGE V8 NO SCREEN FOR 30K!

take it or leave it, toyota.

 

They are the #1 volume manufacturer in the world. I'd say they are definitely doing ok.

 

Second time this year Toyo had to cease production in Japan due to it's issues with production control system going down. Connecting the dots to this topic reliance on antiquated methods that prevent custom orders customers are begging for plus the production control issues suggest old and obsolete IT. Somebody better pronto call Parts Unlimited for Erik and Bills contact numbers to discuss their Phoenix Project to support custom kit orders

 

Whole lot of assuming there. What else does that crystal ball say?

 

If it quacks like a duck it is most likely a duck. Even great companies go cheap on IT. Execs can't help themselves at budget planning time. We can stay on the mainframe another few years what can it hurt

 

Or use a broker to get exactly what you wanted and pay $6K off MSRP which is what I did.

 

They're not going to focus on the segment that wants lowest price point options and only buys a truck every 10 years.
They know where the money comes from. They have to find the balance of making money for the company, investors that have put capital at risk and satisfying customers.

 

Exactly!

 

It's not a "no longer" thing. You can't and, AFAIK, never could custom order with Toyota.

 

What trim/cab and transmission? If it was a common one, like mine, then you could choose accessories pretty easily like I did. Still wasn't a custom order on mine, but the dealer could readily get an allocation for the truck I was after.

 

You can custom order one -> Get on autotrader, look for “new” and down select to your specific requirements, expand range until you get a hit then send a email to reserve that vin on arrival. Special ordered three Toyotas this way locally. /s

 

That's not special ordering. That's searching for an allotment.

 

Yes, but the persistent "I can special order" folks wouldn't understand that. They'd feel vindicated and keep thinking they can special order....

 

This sounds like a good business venture, just need to meet the customer where they are. We make a website “customordertoyotas.com” and reel in the big game. Could even meet at the dealership and sit in the waiting area and do the paperwork. Show them our MSRP (My suggested retail price which is MSRP + 10k) and how we’re giving them a good deal for their custom order.

 

Good idea, but it's already out there... It's called a broker

 

Just raining on our parade.