Facebook user Ben Myers tells a story about a dealership 40 miles from his home that went above and beyond to help find, and later service, the 2022 Toyota Tundra he had his eye on. And by service, we mean something pretty significant.
We'll let Myers' post explain it all. It's been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
Good news story. I tried buying my truck from 2 dealers in late 2022, before all the engine problems but [I] wanted a long bed. This was when some dealers were marking them up over MSRP. One dealer 10 miles from me increased the price by 13K, the other dealer 40 miles from me had no mark up over MSRP. After trying for 8 months the dealer 40 miles from my [house] said Toyota was not shipping any long bed trucks to any dealers in the southeast region. So they gave me my deposit back and told me to look outside my region. [Two] months later a dealer in Missouri found me my truck with 100% of what I wanted [and] zero markup. Since the dealer 40 miles from me treated me good, that's where I take it for all my service. A few weeks ago the dealer 10 miles from me sent me a letter and said they noticed I was not taking my truck to them for service and offered me a free oil change, tire rotation, or free wiper blades: choose one. Then they called me 30 seconds after my maintenance light came on to tell me my truck needed service. They asked why I was not taking it to them. I told them it was because they were greedy and that I now take my truck to the other dealer along with my wife's 2024 highlander. I called [the] dealer 40 miles from me to schedule my 30K service and told them about the letter. They said to bring it with me and they would honor it. I chose the free oil change. While at the dealer for service, my advisor asked me if I was having trouble with my front brakes squeaking. I said "funny thing is [that the brakes] squealed for the first time backing out of my garage today". I had 2 recalls they needed to perform and they said they would need my truck for about 5 hours but their shuttle driver was on vacation, so they put me in an 2026 Camry. They ended up having trouble with the software update and called and said to keep the car until they got it fixed. I have read on forum[s] about dealer[s] giving customers a hard time about fixing the brakes even though there is a TSB on them. Fast forward 2 days later. I pick my truck up and was expecting a bill for my tire rotation. But the bill was zero. Not only did they change my oil for free, they rotated my tires for free and also changed my front brake pads, rotors, and shims with [me] just stating they squeaked one time. Zero problems with my truck. It's a 2023 1794 long bed 4x4. I'm planning to drive for a while until I get a new engine. Sorry for the long story, but with all the bad news on this site, I had to add a good new story and absolutely love my truck.
Here's What Torque News Saw In The Comments
Of course, other Tundra owners chimed in. One suggested that Myers drive his truck for as long as possible, right up until the engine dies. Another asked what dealership took such care of Myers -- presumably they wanted to take their vehicles and business to that store, provided they lived close enough.
Others mentioned that they, too, had a hard time finding a truck like Myers' -- apparently that model year in 1794 trim and with a six-and-a-half-foot bed is hard to find.
Another theme from the commenters is this: When you find a dealership that good, you stay with them.
"Good dealers are worth sticking around. Great story," one said.
"Excellent! That’s the way to go. I’ve been with my dealership for 25 years. They treat me like family," another said.
Torque News Says A Good Service Shop Is Worth Its Weight In Gold
It doesn't matter if it's a dealership or independent shop -- if you find one that treats you well, you should keep visiting it.
That may sound obvious, but many car owners just bounce from shop to shop chasing the best price and/or the most convenience, and that sometimes leads to them getting poor or mediocre service.
While few shops are truly shady, few are also willing to go as above and beyond as this dealer was. Many dealers and independent shops are in the muddled middle -- they're honest enough and do good enough work, but they don't go the extra mile.
That's one reason why some commenters on Myers' post asked which dealer he used for buying and fixing his Tundra.
Finding a great dealer or independent shop is important -- and sometimes, worth a long trip.
About The Author
Tim Healey is an experienced automotive writer and editor from Chicago. He has covered automotive news at Consumer Guide Automotive, Web2Carz, AutoGuide, and was the managing editor at The Truth About Cars. Tim is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. You can find him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and on LinkedIn.
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