My beef with Northridge Toyota Parts

EFFJAYY · 05-16-2009, 04:57 PM

So today I called up Northridge Toyota (trying to support a supporting vendor) because I needed a new exhaust. I was told by their parts guy Ralph(or Rafael or whatever his name is) that they had one in stock. He said it was the new PRT31-35070 that they had in stock and it was 500 bucks plus tax. I went there and found that it was not the PRT31-35070 and it was the PT910-60060. The guy tried selling me an obsolete exhaust, passing it as the new style, and for almost full price of the new style. I was having none of that so I go home and I then come back on the boards and find out that they are selling it for $375 here on the boards.

Their parts guy was trying to rip me off. Maybe he didnt know, but I still feel cheated nonetheless.

So I wrote our supporting vendors a nice email. I wont be going back to them for anything. Email as follows

___________________________________________

Carrie and Evan,

I was writing to inform you of how cheated I felt today when I walked out of your parts showroom. I needed the exhaust today and I called around to the 5 major Toyota dealerships in my area (I'm in Simi). Your dealership was the only dealership with a TRD exhuast for an FJ Cruiser. Your parts guy Ralph(sp???) represented the part over the phone as the new TRD exhaust PRT31-35070 over the phone. I begruding went down to Northridge Toyota to pick it up for $500 plus tax. One of the main factors that I went down there was that it was in stock and your company is a supporting vendor of the FJ Cruiser Forums. When I got there, to my chagrin, the exhaust was a PT910-60060. This is as you know the obsolete version of PRT31-35070. Needless to say I did not purchase the item because I drove down there for a PRT31-35070 and not a PT910-60060. I asked Ralph if there was anything he could do with the price because I was down in the Valley anyway, and he said no.

I now come onto the forums and find that you are selling this exhaust for $375. I just wanted to let you guys know that I will not be looking to do business with you guys ever again after this incident. I wasted my time and gasoline because of one of your employees inability to tell me what part he was trying to sell me.

Needless to say also I have purchased an exhaust through another outlet online.

Have a good day.

Alex Chuang
(805) xxx-xxxx

**volhoo** · 05-16-2009, 05:16 PM

Give'em Hell Alex -

Good job.

-

EFFJAYY · 05-16-2009, 05:31 PM

i just hate being taken advantage of... and i hate being lied to more

i also hate incompetence

i hate alot of things haha.... i just feel so strongly about this i just cant drop this issue... usually i would have said whatever, but this time this is a supporting vendor that has wronged me and this my friend is unacceptable

JTs Tonka · 05-16-2009, 05:49 PM

Sorry you had a bad experience with Northridge Toyota. I have placed two orders via e-mail to Carrie Calkins and both packages were delivered at 20% off and free shipping. I just either specified the part number or in some cases Carrie got them for me. I guess it depends who you work with. I will probably order things from them in the future.

James

EFFJAYY · 05-17-2009, 10:55 AM

yea and im sorry too... would have liked to have another outlet to buy all my oem stuff from... its a shame

RokCrawlinToy · 05-17-2009, 02:10 PM

Just out of curiosity, and before pointing fingers, and just hearing your side. When you went in, did you let Rafa know that you were coming in because of the forum price? I pretty sure the price advertised here is for forum members and may not be available to everyone.

Rafa may have not known about the sale price because I think Evan & Carrie are the ones who deal with the online prices but he should have known.

I don't know how an exhaust system becomes obsolete but all the TRD systems I have seen look identical. What is the difference besides part#?

They have always been good to me and helped me out even before I was on the TTs.

EFFJAYY · 05-17-2009, 10:44 PM

i did not go in for the forum price on the exhaust because the exhaust described to me was for the new exhaust with the new chroming process... it was not until later when i found the exhaust on the forums because rafa said they did not have a pt910-60090 when in fact that is the only exhaust they had,,,its a shame... again maybe he didnt know... i have no idea what happened... but what i do know is that i am angry and feel cheated

**Carriec** · 05-18-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

EFFJAYY previously said:

i did not go in for the forum price on the exhaust because the exhaust described to me was for the new exhaust with the new chroming process... it was not until later when i found the exhaust on the forums because rafa said they did not have a pt910-60090 when in fact that is the only exhaust they had,,,its a shame... again maybe he didnt know... i have no idea what happened... but what i do know is that i am angry and feel cheated

I'm sorry you feel so angry and cheated. In my very first post to all members of the forum, I wrote to email carriec@northridgetoyota.com for all price quotes. There are many forums we are a part of, so my guys are split up on different forums. Rafa was unaware of the special and is not a FJ guy. That is not his expertise. Myself and Carrie try to follow up on all the posts on this forum. I have been doing this along time and I know how easy it is to get a bad reputation versus a good one. The people who use the internet and forums generally have a greater knowledge base about the vehicle then most, because that is thier passion. So it takes certain people to take care of them. So please next time, if there is a next time, please contact Carrie or myself. and you will get taken care of properly.

Sincerly,

Evan.

CaliChaos · 05-18-2009, 11:16 AM

errr ummm... Employee could not read a part number was the problem.

NOT the price. THE PART number. When pressed about pricing the employee said there was nothing to be done (good corporate drone response).

Sad to say people can not read.

EFFJAYY · 05-18-2009, 12:18 PM

Evan,

Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to respond. But, CaliChaos hit it on the head. I am not angry about not getting the special price for the forum(well partially mad at that because communication with employees on specials should be key at any company). I am angry because I was told it was the new style (PRT31-35070) I was being sold. I am very happy that he tried giving me almost a $50 discount for the NEW STYLE (PRT31-35070) over the phone. But again on the phone I was quoted for a PRT31-35070 not a PT910-60060.

What makes me even more angry is that I made a trip to the San Fernando Valley for nothing. (I hate driving in the Valley) And my precious time was wasted.

Thank you for the response. Hope I cleared up where I stood and why I was angry for you.

Alex