Hello all,
Thought it may be helpful for Melbourne and other Australian readers to hear of my experience last Monday (2nd May), given reporting on supply delays, restricted Australian quota (only 6K cars will be shipped in 2017) etc.
Also a comment on the so-called 'no discount' Toyota Head Office policy resulting from such restrictions.
I walked into a Melbourne Toyota dealership on Monday afternoon, with the intention of buying a new Corolla Hybrid as my old car needed urgent replacement. I had been intending to wait a year or so for a new C-HR, having been put off by the supply shortage stories, and hoping for a reasonable discount in future once supply was more ample, but my old car had other ideas.
Sat in the Hybrid Corolla and decided I didn't like it - I have been spoilt by driving my wife's new Honda HR-V. Told the dealer if I could drive away tomorrow in a C-HR, I would buy it immediately. He said he had THREE available immediately - a silver C-HR Auto 2WD, a White Koba, and a black C-HR Auto 2WD. The last two were sitting on the showroom floor (ie. demo models).
Thought the price uplift was too high for the Koba, given that I couldn't see the value in the largely cosmetic 'extras' it provides, so I said I would take the silver C-HR (base model), if the price was right.
The sales guy said he couldn't discount it due to a supposed 'no discount' Toyota Head Office policy, but he could discount the Black one on the floor as it was a demonstrator with 248 Km on the clock. I did the deal and drove away happily with it the next day.
I am not a legal practitioner however I have a good layman's understanding of Australian Consumer Law and I suspect it would be illegal for Toyota to prevent an Australian dealer from discounting - either a new or demo model. This is a practice known as 'Price Fixing' and any company engaging in it in Australia will be heavily fined. Therefore, you may wish to call BS if a dealer tells you they can't discount. Of course, they may still not drop the price, however they can't use 'Head Office won't allow it' as an excuse.
Hopefully my story will give aspiring Australian C-HR owners some comfort that the supply shortage stories may be a little overcooked - at least, if you are willing to consider taking what is available, rather than waiting for exactly what you want.
Thought it may be helpful for Melbourne and other Australian readers to hear of my experience last Monday (2nd May), given reporting on supply delays, restricted Australian quota (only 6K cars will be shipped in 2017) etc.
Also a comment on the so-called 'no discount' Toyota Head Office policy resulting from such restrictions.
I walked into a Melbourne Toyota dealership on Monday afternoon, with the intention of buying a new Corolla Hybrid as my old car needed urgent replacement. I had been intending to wait a year or so for a new C-HR, having been put off by the supply shortage stories, and hoping for a reasonable discount in future once supply was more ample, but my old car had other ideas.
Sat in the Hybrid Corolla and decided I didn't like it - I have been spoilt by driving my wife's new Honda HR-V. Told the dealer if I could drive away tomorrow in a C-HR, I would buy it immediately. He said he had THREE available immediately - a silver C-HR Auto 2WD, a White Koba, and a black C-HR Auto 2WD. The last two were sitting on the showroom floor (ie. demo models).
Thought the price uplift was too high for the Koba, given that I couldn't see the value in the largely cosmetic 'extras' it provides, so I said I would take the silver C-HR (base model), if the price was right.
The sales guy said he couldn't discount it due to a supposed 'no discount' Toyota Head Office policy, but he could discount the Black one on the floor as it was a demonstrator with 248 Km on the clock. I did the deal and drove away happily with it the next day.
I am not a legal practitioner however I have a good layman's understanding of Australian Consumer Law and I suspect it would be illegal for Toyota to prevent an Australian dealer from discounting - either a new or demo model. This is a practice known as 'Price Fixing' and any company engaging in it in Australia will be heavily fined. Therefore, you may wish to call BS if a dealer tells you they can't discount. Of course, they may still not drop the price, however they can't use 'Head Office won't allow it' as an excuse.
Hopefully my story will give aspiring Australian C-HR owners some comfort that the supply shortage stories may be a little overcooked - at least, if you are willing to consider taking what is available, rather than waiting for exactly what you want.
