My letter to Toyota Canada regarding pricing and their response

cliff clavin · #1 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 09:47 PM

Here is a letter I sent to Toyota Canada....and following my letter is their asinine reply.....all I can say is that they must think we are idiots...Hopefully the US vehicles will be allowed back in tomorrow and I can focus on purchasing a vehicle in the US.....

When is Toyota Canada going to address the US vs Canadian price
discrepancy? A token $1800 decrease on the price of the 2008 Tundra is
laughable. At least Honda/Acura offers .9% financing on their 2008 models.
Toyota in contrast offers 5.9% on the Tundra. Canadian consumers are
refusing to be gouged by Toyota and thus are holding off purchases of the
new vehicles. I feel for the individual dealerships who have to suffer
because Toyota Canada is worried about the residual values of vehicles
coming off of leases rather than concerning themselves with those wishing
to purchase new vehicles.

I would respectfully suggest that Toyota Canada address this price
imbalance if they wish to retain and further stimulate their Canadian
vehicle sales. The internet readily provides pricing information in both
the US and Canadian markets...We are not fooled by the current newspaper
advertising that suggests that Toyota Canada has addressed the issue. We
are educated and can do the math, just the same as you...

While I do not expect a reply to this email, rest assured that sales will
suffer until the price gap is narrowed.

Respectfully,

And their response......

Dear :

Thank you for your recent correspondence.

In the long term it is our goal to be competitive in the marketplace. Clearly, rapid changes in currency rates can have a significant effect on each market but generally we believe pricing reflects conditions in any given market. However, just as we do not speculate on future models, we do not speculate on future pricing activity.

We thank you for your interest in our products.

Sincerely,

*****Name Deleted ****
Customer Interaction Centre
Toyota Canada Inc.

stuball · #2 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 12:27 AM

That was a good letter you wrote. Obviously, there response indicates that "In the long term" they will become competitive. However, in the short term Canadians will have to shop south of the border or continue waiting for the "long term" to come to pass. No doubt they are hoping the Canadian dollar will fall enough to take care of that problem.

Stuball

cliff clavin · #3 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 08:22 AM

They quote rapid changes in the currency, our currency has been appreciating for 2 years....I think you are correct Stuball, they are hoping our dollar drops so they do not have to deal with the problem.....

I trust Stuball you will be glued to your screen at 10:00 eastern time? Here's hoping!

stuball · #4 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliff clavin

I trust Stuball you will be glued to your screen at 10:00 eastern time? Here's hoping!

Yes, it's there on the Tranport Canada website. No list of vehicles posted yet but mine definitely has the immobilizer.

Importation of U.S. Vehicles by Canadians: Government of Canada Announces Amendment to Clarify and Ease Importation - December 19, 2007

Stuball

low c1500 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 09:49 AM

Nice Letter Cliff,

I have given up on Toyota Canada, and I know hope they don't offer rebates. This way my imported Tundra will carry a mutch higher resale value. Also my 2006 Tundra will sell higher imediattly. Toyota really pisses me off, there are some nice people at my dealership, and there having ahard Christmas because of Toyota Canada.

The Statement released by TC still seems a little vague. I guess we will have to wait till the RIV list gets updated.

low c1500 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 09:50 AM

P.S. Are we the only 3 guys that read this forum?????

cliff clavin · #7 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by low c1500

P.S. Are we the only 3 guys that read this forum?????

It does seem like it?

I agree the announcement seemed a bit vague but if they are sending out form 2 notices to the people that have already bought their vehicle, that is a very good sign. It sounded like the policy would become law on the 26th of December, once it gets posted to the gazette....Presumably, RIV list should be updated shortly or at the very latest a day or two after the 26.

My plan is to wait and see what the January incentives are. Assuming that Toyota canada still does nothing, then I am going to try and line up a US purchase.

A member on this site had some good info so low1500 feel free to PM and we can discuss further if you like.....

edit:

Uh oh, potential issue in the works......read this post....

Cars without borders - Autos sans frontières Day 75 … Here it is! Form 2

stuball · #8 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliff clavin

It does seem like it?

I agree the announcement seemed a bit vague but if they are sending out form 2 notices to the people that have already bought their vehicle, that is a very good sign. It sounded like the policy would become law on the 26th of December, once it gets posted to the gazette....Presumably, RIV list should be updated shortly or at the very latest a day or two after the 26.

My plan is to wait and see what the January incentives are. Assuming that Toyota canada still does nothing, then I am going to try and line up a US purchase.

A member on this site had some good info so low1500 feel free to PM and we can discuss further if you like.....

edit:

Uh oh, potential issue in the works......read this post....

Cars without borders - Autos sans frontières Day 75 … Here it is! Form 2

I received an email today from RIV with the Form 2 attached. I have made an appointment with Canadian Tire tomorrow to have both the RIV and BC Provincial inspection done at the same time.

Stuball

truckasaurus · #9 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 08:28 PM

I'm still reading, most probably becuase I haven't quite got my '07 registered yet...

It passed the federal inspection but Transport Alberta decided it needed a 3 hour provincial inspection today as although I drove it new off the dealers lot it was titled in a brokers name for 10 minutes. I suppose it keeps a couple of people in a job and stops we "wasting" another $300 on stuff like gas so who can complain.

I expect to get it back from CanadianTire tomorrow and maybe if I keep my fingers crossed I'll even get a number plate at last. (It's been just over a month).

I really enjoyed the trip to South Carolina to pick it up and stopped off for a couple of days in Boulder, Colorado. It has got me thinking; maybe I won't need to import my next car after all.

Good luck with your '08s Oh, love the Tundra, it's great.

stuball · #10 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckasaurus

I'm still reading, most probably becuase I haven't quite got my '07 registered yet...

It passed the federal inspection but Transport Alberta decided it needed a 3 hour provincial inspection today as although I drove it new off the dealers lot it was titled in a brokers name for 10 minutes. I suppose it keeps a couple of people in a job and stops we "wasting" another $300 on stuff like gas so who can complain.

I expect to get it back from CanadianTire tomorrow and maybe if I keep my fingers crossed I'll even get a number plate at last. (It's been just over a month).

I really enjoyed the trip to South Carolina to pick it up and stopped off for a couple of days in Boulder, Colorado. It has got me thinking; maybe I won't need to import my next car after all.

Good luck with your '08s Oh, love the Tundra, it's great.

I expect to have my vehicle fully registered by the end of tomorrow.

What kind of tonneau cover did you get. I got the A.R.E. LSII model for mine. I like it.

Stuball

truckasaurus · #11 (**permalink**) 12-21-2007, 08:04 AM

I got one from Toyota (it's rebranded) fibreglass and lockable. It's been through touchless washes about three times now and not a drop of water has got in. I like the look too, it has just one handle lock fitting. I was very tempted by the undercover but the dual locks didn't look that great.

If my inspection is finished off this morning I'm going to pick up a Uhaul trailer to take my quad bike out for a spin on a frozen lake; it will be my first tow experience on the Tundra.

SFTundraMan · #12 (**permalink**) 12-21-2007, 01:19 PM

so any news yet?

stuball · #13 (**permalink**) 12-21-2007, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFTundraMan

so any news yet?

Just returned from having both my Federal and Provincial Inspections done on my Tundra. My '08 Tundra is now registered in Canada in the Province of British Columbia. Everything has been completed.

Glad it's over.

Stuball