Avoid Balise Toyota Warwick RI

[McDizzle]

So, I went to Balise auto for Toyota in Warwick, RI today. 1400 post road. Worst experience ever.

First of all, the woman who was helping us out looked like she wanted to be dead, her attitude was miserable. When I told her that I was looking to test drive a car she looked at me like I had 12 heads. She invited me to sit down and started with the questions. About 3 minutes in, she gets up to get the sales manager.

This man was very rude. He came to me and my friend and said "Hey, whats up dudes", as if we were degenerates in his eyes. He let us know that we can't just go in expecting to be able to have "joy rides" in their cars, and that when we were ready to buy we should come back. He ended it with a "thanks for coming, have a nice day". I was stunned, and demanded to speak to anyone higher than him. There was nobody available.

Age discrimination at it's finest my friends. I am 22 years old and so is my friend. Yes, I am young and look younger, but I am no slouch. I have a BS in Network Engineering and I'm very responsible. But that is besides the point, if I am interested in a car I expect to get the same treatment and service as anyone else.

So needless to say I didn't get to test drive the Yaris today. And I am here to warn everyone about this place, I have heard many complaints about and I gave them the benefit of the doubt and tried them for myself. Worst experience I have ever had at a dealer.

All I have to say is that if he thinks that this is the last he has heard about this situation he is sadly mistaken.

Thoughts?

P.S. - The Balise Nissan dealer next door was very kind. The man took about an hour and a half to talk to my friend and I. Very informative and helpful.

[SilverBack]

Join the club. I'm almost 29 but look (and for some strange reason still feel) 21. Being taken seriously is a real problem everywhere. You learn to compromise.

I went to three dealerships looking for my Yaris. The first one was the similar story as yours, except I was just blatantly ignored the whole time (I was being friendly and polite too). A sales rep finally approached me just as I was leaving. I told him I just found out about a better deal and kept walking. The end.

Oddly enough the dealer I finally bought from gave me a much younger sales rep. We got along so well that we test drove all over town and agreed on a deal in only 20 mins. I had a solid offer, and he was under tremendous pressure to make a sale. It was a win-win for both of us.

[yaris-me]

If that bothers you, take a parent with you. Then they will treat you better and you can reject them.:thumbsup::laugh:

[kac]

If that bothers you, take a parent with you. Then they will treat you better and you can reject them.:thumbsup::laugh:

some truth there.... I was getting threats from the financial guy at the dealer where i bought my car saying I needed to get my pay stubs in to him (when i had no way at that time of getting my pay stubs) he said I NEEDED to get them in to him at a time that was not at all possible for me to do so, so I drove down there with the new yaris and my dad with me ready to trade it back for my impala if that was what he wanted, but then he was super polite and apologetic in person when I showed up with my dad...

[ddongbap]

I remember when I was 19. I looked 17. But I was at an Infiniti dealer, walking around with a notebook and pen writing random crap down. Three people started approaching me. They offered me a test drive, w/o asking me my licence. Its all in the presentation my friend.

[AND189]

yeh this is true ddongbap if you can talk it and walk it when i was looking around i had the money and did not need the car asap i had a few months i was just looking at what i could get and most of the sales men are ass holes but try telling them a lame joke or say something stupid and they laugh they are only going to spend there time conning some one who can pay ha ha ha bunch of pricks ay i ended up getting mine from a mate who had just got a job at toyota along with 4 of my other mates who got there toyotas from him ha ha good story
yeh i was 19 back in the glory days ha ha im 20

[advocate]

That place sounds like they pegged you right off the bat as someone who wasn't planning on buying from the start (and clearly they were wrong). If I were in your shoes I probably would've started throwing stuff inside the dealership.

I hope this doesn't turn you off from wanting a Yaris!

[jambo101]

So, I went to Balise auto for Toyota in Warwick, RI today. 1400 post road. Worst experience ever.

All I have to say is that if he thinks that this is the last he has heard about this situation he is sadly mistaken.

Thoughts?



Why would you bother going back to this place? its obvious they dont care about you..to avoid future negative problems buy the car online then just go pick it up..

[YarisOwnersDad]

So, I went to Balise auto for Toyota in Warwick, RI today. 1400 post road. Worst experience ever.

First of all, the woman who was helping us out looked like she wanted to be dead, her attitude was miserable. When I told her that I was looking to test drive a car she looked at me like I had 12 heads. She invited me to sit down and started with the questions. About 3 minutes in, she gets up to get the sales manager.

This man was very rude. He came to me and my friend and said "Hey, whats up dudes", as if we were degenerates in his eyes. He let us know that we can't just go in expecting to be able to have "joy rides" in their cars, and that when we were ready to buy we should come back. He ended it with a "thanks for coming, have a nice day". I was stunned, and demanded to speak to anyone higher than him. There was nobody available.

Age discrimination at it's finest my friends. I am 22 years old and so is my friend. Yes, I am young and look younger, but I am no slouch. I have a BS in Network Engineering and I'm very responsible. But that is besides the point, if I am interested in a car I expect to get the same treatment and service as anyone else.

So needless to say I didn't get to test drive the Yaris today. And I am here to warn everyone about this place, I have heard many complaints about and I gave them the benefit of the doubt and tried them for myself. Worst experience I have ever had at a dealer.

All I have to say is that if he thinks that this is the last he has heard about this situation he is sadly mistaken.

Thoughts?

P.S. - The Balise Nissan dealer next door was very kind. The man took about an hour and a half to talk to my friend and I. Very informative and helpful.

Well, maybe if you had left your security blanket at home and had not asked them what time they would be having milk and cookies, you might have had a better experience. :eek:

Sorry, just rattlin' your cage.

Stereotyping is wrong, regardless of whether it involves race, age, manner of dress, or whatever. People should be treated as individuals, and I'm going to guess that many sales have been lost because the salesman made wrong assumptions about the potential customer.

Hey, be THANKFUL for your youth. You COULD be an old fart like me.

God bless.

Tom

[McDizzle]

Why would you bother going back to this place? its obvious they dont care about you..to avoid future negative problems buy the car online then just go pick it up..

Haha, no, I won't be associating with them directly. I have a plan of how I am going to buy my car that will have the dealerships competing with each other, I wont have to set foot into a door until I'm ready to sign :)

He will be hearing of me indirectly. Through his boss and possibly the VP of sales. I want them to know what the ugly face of their dealership looks like and has looked like for years. Just bringing a mirror to the situation if you will :tongue:

And of course if I can notify someone at Toyota and probably the BBB as well. Should be sufficient to rattle someone a bit :smile:

Remember, work smart, not hard :thumbsup:

I will still pursue the Yaris at different dealerships. a test drive, then a fightingchance.com email attack and, hopefully, a great deal and a new car :burnrubber:

edit: PS - Anyone think it's a bit odd that I would want to "joy ride" a 106hp econo-box? LOL

[why?]

lol some dealerships are just plain terrible. However being in RI you should go up to norwood, ma at least once to look for a car. The automile is pretty darn fun stuff.

[hachi-roku_fan]

Haha, no, I won't be associating with them directly. I have a plan of how I am going to buy my car that will have the dealerships competing with each other, I wont have to set foot into a door until I'm ready to sign :)

He will be hearing of me indirectly. Through his boss and possibly the VP of sales. I want them to know what the ugly face of their dealership looks like and has looked like for years. Just bringing a mirror to the situation if you will :tongue:

And of course if I can notify someone at Toyota and probably the BBB as well. Should be sufficient to rattle someone a bit :smile:

Remember, work smart, not hard :thumbsup:

I will still pursue the Yaris at different dealerships. a test drive, then a fightingchance.com email attack and, hopefully, a great deal and a new car :burnrubber:

edit: PS - Anyone think it's a bit odd that I would want to "joy ride" a 106hp econo-box? LOL

Sounds like you have a lot of time on your hands. I understand being upset, but seeking revenge is a bit much, just go buy somewhere else and end it there. I have heard of similar stories though. Me and my friend were at a high end dealership looking at a used G35, the dude was giving us soooo much crap about letting us test drive it until my friend told him his salary lol

2nd story involved my parents when they were looking at buying a corolla. Deal was set and ready to be signed, when another salesman came up and tacked on 300 bucks to the deal. My mom asked what that was for, because everything had been settled including taxes and license fees. His response "Oh, we split that, 100 for me, 50 for that guy etc etc" My mom got up and left, bought her car somewhere else. Funny thing is, at that point in the deal the sales manager was involved and when my brother showed up a week later because his friend was looking at buying a car, the manager spoke with him "Hey, I heard that you didn't leave with the car that day, what happened and who helped you?" Needless to say the salesman got ripped a new one lol.

Point is, go buy it elsewhere

[supmet]

You should have busted out your license, went on a test drive, and held it over their head that they were being douchebags during haggling.. Going to tell regional now isn't gonna help, especially if you buy from a different dealership.

You really can't blame them for stereotyping though... They could have been much more tactful about it, but there are LOTS of people that go to dealerships just to ride in a brand new car, with no intent of ever buying. This costs the dealerships lots of money, and I don't blame them for wanting to stop it from happening.

Oh, and I'm sure they were devastated about you guys walking out and losing their 1000 dollars profit off the yaris while they were making 10 on a sequoia in the back.

[why?]

the odds of a toyota dealership actually having a sequoia on a lot are slim. Plus you speak as if we are having a great economy and dealerships and the car industry is doing amazing.

They aren't.

[supmet]

the odds of a toyota dealership actually having a sequoia on a lot are slim. Plus you speak as if we are having a great economy and dealerships and the car industry is doing amazing.

They aren't.

http://www.crowntoyota.com/inventory/search.php/ID_crowntoyota/TYPE_new/PAGE_1/SORTBY_price/BODYSTYLE_suv/MODEL_sequoia/

My dealership has 10 :iono: (and yes I know online isn't 100% accurate, but they had tons last time I drove by)

I was just trying to point out walking out on a yaris sale isn't the amazing ace up your sleeve some people think it is. A salesman wants to sell every other toyota model before they sell a yaris.

[why?]

http://www.crowntoyota.com/inventory/search.php/ID_crowntoyota/TYPE_new/PAGE_1/SORTBY_price/BODYSTYLE_suv/MODEL_sequoia/

My dealership has 10 :iono: (and yes I know online isn't 100% accurate, but they had tons last time I drove by)

I was just trying to point out walking out on a yaris sale isn't the amazing ace up your sleeve some people think it is. A salesman wants to sell every other toyota model before they sell a yaris.

10!!! Dang that's amazing. They must sell a ton of cars.

Walking out on any car sale is an "ace," as you put it. The least you are doing is wasting the salepersons time, and getting $400 or so is much better than getting zero.

A salesperson wants to make every sale, and then wants that sale to refer people. A salesperson that is an ass won't be selling for very long, especially when the car industry as a whole is suffering.

[supmet]

Walking out on any car sale is an "ace," as you put it. The least you are doing is wasting the salepersons time, and getting $400 or so is much better than getting zero.

A salesperson wants to make every sale, and then wants that sale to refer people. A salesperson that is an ass won't be selling for very long, especially when the car industry as a whole is suffering.

I agree with most of that. Using it in haggling is still viable, its just the "you haven't heard the last from me" stuff that I don't think the dealerships or salespeople really care about at all.

[why?]

I agree with most of that. Using it in haggling is still viable, its just the "you haven't heard the last from me" stuff that I don't think the dealerships or salespeople really care about at all.

Now that is true. The owner might care if you go to the BBB, but if the salespeople treat you like crap, they aren't afraid of who you might tell.

[rihdrkc]

I live in RI also. Try Colonial Toyota in Smithfield. Bought mine there. The salesman I dealt with was Eric Mameade, young guy, professional. He took me for a test ride after talking to me for a short time. Granted, I am older, but that should not matter. If I were you, I would fire off an e mail to the owner of Balise, I am sure that he would be interested in hearing about your experience at his dealership. If he isn't, then he apparently has made enough money and doesn't need your business. Boch Toyota didn't need mine, and did not get it. I felt like they could not be bothered so I left and went to Colonial.

[specialeducator]

Why would you bother going back to this place? its obvious they dont care about you..to avoid future negative problems buy the car online then just go pick it up..

Which is what my wife and I did last month at Miller Toyota in Manassas, VA. I have done extensive research around Virginia and neighboring Maryland, made the deal online, and we were in and out of the dealer in a little over an hour. We are now a two Yaris family.

[McDizzle]

I live in RI also. Try Colonial Toyota in Smithfield. Bought mine there. The salesman I dealt with was Eric Mameade, young guy, professional. He took me for a test ride after talking to me for a short time. Granted, I am older, but that should not matter. If I were you, I would fire off an e mail to the owner of Balise, I am sure that he would be interested in hearing about your experience at his dealership. If he isn't, then he apparently has made enough money and doesn't need your business. Boch Toyota didn't need mine, and did not get it. I felt like they could not be bothered so I left and went to Colonial.

Haha, it's funny you say that. I actually live a couple exits down from them, they were my next stop :) Glad to hear that you had a positive experience there. Perhaps I will clean up a bit and dress up nicely to appease the quick judging salesmen :rolleyes:

[why?]

Haha, it's funny you say that. I actually live a couple exits down from them, they were my next stop :) Glad to hear that you had a positive experience there. Perhaps I will clean up a bit and dress up nicely to appease the quick judging salesmen :rolleyes:

um, you should do that anyways if you wanted to be taken seriously. The more professional you dress the better everything will go, and you will also prolly be able to get a better deal.

[06silveryaris]

I lived in RI for about five years and moved back to PR about a year and half ago. I also went to Balise when I was looking for a new family car which was between a CRV and Rav4 but also considering and 08 XB. Sales guy was friendly but had no knowledge about the vehicles. No test drive I was offered a ride as a passenger WTF. I went with the CRV at Herb Chambers since after going to Boch Honda in where I had purchased a new civic SI a few years earlier and was treated like a total a-hole. There were no reps avaliable for me but other people came in with no appointment no problem. After an hour and a sales person attended us and shortly brought over the sales manager which was polite but kind of sleezy so I left and told I would buy it for more money at Herb Chambers. So I did that same day at Herb Chambers in East Providence, small dealership free popcorn nice sales person his name was Bob and he gave me a good deal. Yeah I know the feeling of bad treatment when your buying a car. I mean your not buying a Coke it a new car at least 15k in revenue. Make you wish you could just buy at Toyota.com and get the car in the mail jajaja

[McDizzle]

um, you should do that anyways if you wanted to be taken seriously. The more professional you dress the better everything will go, and you will also prolly be able to get a better deal.

Agreed. I just find it sad that this is the case. Age discrimination is a crime, they had no moral or legal right to do what they did.
I lived in RI for about five years and moved back to PR about a year and half ago. I also went to Balise when I was looking for a new family car which was between a CRV and Rav4 but also considering and 08 XB. Sales guy was friendly but had no knowledge about the vehicles. No test drive I was offered a ride as a passenger WTF. I went with the CRV at Herb Chambers since after going to Boch Honda in where I had purchased a new civic SI a few years earlier and was treated like a total a-hole. There were no reps avaliable for me but other people came in with no appointment no problem. After an hour and a sales person attended us and shortly brought over the sales manager which was polite but kind of sleezy so I left and told I would buy it for more money at Herb Chambers. So I did that same day at Herb Chambers in East Providence, small dealership free popcorn nice sales person his name was Bob and he gave me a good deal. Yeah I know the feeling of bad treatment when your buying a car. I mean your not buying a Coke it a new car at least 15k in revenue. Make you wish you could just buy at Toyota.com and get the car in the mail jajaja

Haha, I too wish that could be done. I did a search today, turns out there are 25 Toyota dealerships within a 30 mile radius. Got nothing to worry about :)

[specialeducator]

Carmax was my back up plan- internet sale, and was $200 out the door higher than Miller Toyota in Manassas, VA. Carmax was in Laurel, MD, about an additional hour from Miller, which was already about 100 miles from my home. Fortunately, Miller delivered, but I was prepared to walk out and drive further if the transaction hit any snags.

[enkid]

I had an unpleasant experience at the very same dealership. I went there looking for a Yaris or a used Prius. I was ready to buy. They had both. I bought my Yaris somewhere else.

[Sidicas]

Yea, I contacted my local dealership through the web.

They told me to come down and test drive a Yaris whenever I wanted to and so I told them that I'll do that..

Then they started calling me on a daily basis and such, but I was never in the area until a Friday.. They call, I tell them I'll be right there, and I go down there. Walk in the door and all their sales people are busy, so I decide.. That's ok, I can wait.. Wait and wait and wait. Standing around right in the center of the showroom. 15 minutes later, a Toyota "parts" / "service" guy comes out from behind his counter and asks if he can me with anything and I told him I'd like to test drive a Yaris. So he tells me that he'll have somebody give me a test drive when they're available. Another 5 minutes go by, and then somebody else walks into the show room and starts waiting too.

And then finally a salesperson is available, guess who they rush up to first? Not me! "Hey how you doing, good to see you, welcome back!" And then I get skipped and again I'm waiting for the next salesperson. So after 30 minutes of waiting I just turn around, walk out, hop in my car and start to drive off...

Then the Toyota Parts guy pulls a Forest Gump, he comes running out of the dealership at like mach 10 with his jumpsuit flapping in the wind and runs right into the middle of the road and flags me down.. Cars are honking and stuff.. I'm like.. "Sorry, I have to pick up my little sister from her hair appointment" (which was true). And I just floored it out of there.. And he's standing there in the middle of the road holding up traffic.. It was awesome..

But yea, eventually I did make it back down there to test drive a Yaris and I loved it enough to buy one.

[Hershey]

many TOYOTA and HONDA dealers think they're above ( have leverage ) since both manufacturers are known for being dependable :bow: . We've encountered lots of crap when looking for a HONDA or a TOYOTA . Gives us the willies when we decide to get a new car :eek: . We end up with TOYOTAs because HONDA dealers are more uppity and less apt to give their own discount or a good trade or both :thumbdown: . We've been ignored in HONDA showrooms or given a ridiculous trade (thousand or more less than a TOYOTA dealer , a slap in the face :mad: ) . We think they do this just to pee you off to get you out of their hair . :thumbdown:

[POORSHA]

Bought mine at colonial they are great best prices on parts too

[Sodium Duck]

Fling pieces of bologna at the cars when you drive by. Or cow chips. Do it from your new Yaris that you bought somewhere else.

Alternate scenario: Wear suit and tie. Go into dealership and demand to speak with manager. Say you are James Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. Then give him a cow chip in Christmas present form. Or bologna. Tell him he sucks, then leave.

[chew246214]

Hey if you are really wanting to test drive a Yaris you can come by and drive mine anyday.. I'm only 1/2 hour from warwick in Bristol I have a sedan auto though.... If you do have any issues you can check out the dealership I bought from locally (Bristol Toyota) Really nice local people with a smaller dealership..... Owner is from town for 30 or 40 years and he is a nice guy.... I probably didn't get the best of deals and could have worked harder somwhere else for another 100 maybe 200 $;s but they tookcar of everything and all I did was go in, test ride, fill out papers, waited for call to pick car up... that was it... I am happy with them... BTW I have heard horror stories about Balise....

[ctrj]

When I was 17, I went to the local Toyota dealership to look at base Tacoma's. I was in the market, had a nice down payment saved up and a steady job to make the payments. I walked around that lot for a good 30 minutes before a salesman came up to me. After finding out my age, she said that they could not help me and told me to bring my parents back. I was disgusted and left.

I went over to the Nissan dealership the next lot over and went for a test drive with a very nice salesman.

Needless to say, I hate Crown Toyota in Ontario, CA. Not only for that experience some 13 years ago, but for many other bad experiences I and my family have had.

[dg4rez]

I've never bought a car from a dealership, I think its a waste of money. I personally will always buy used. IF you take the time to look around long enough (sometimes months) you will get the price and car you want. Also i've always saved up long enough to buy my cars whole... So only payment, is every 6months when I pay my insurance, and the reg once a year. Good habbit, as you dont have to waste money on percentages, plus while your saving, its earning a percentage.

[yaris-me]

In Hawaii, I always made an appointment the last four times I bought a car. That tells them you're serious and you can deal with a manager or someone close. I got the best price almost immediately after I was qualified. I doesn't take time if they know you are serious. My Yaris was through Costco and I made an appointment for that too.