Delivery Processing and Handling Fees???

LDB

Joined
Nov 11, 2009
Messages
2,565
Location
Houston(ish), Texas
Looking at Toyotas to waste time and all of them include $1195 Delivery Processing and Handling Fees. That's on the Toyota USA website in addition to the dealer sites. I've known for a long time that dealers pull shady stuff like this but now it's corporate?
 
In 2018 I think my Kona destination fees were $890, 5 years later and PLUS our high inflation bump, I don't see the big gouge? Not like Redline Oil going from $12 to $17 a qt in 2 years.
 
I worked at a Ford car dealership / gas station as a kid in the 90's and there were delivery fees back then so this isn't new IMO. What is "newish" is the flat fee for all dealership delivery fees. It use to be way back if you would drive to a dealership close to the factory there was no delivery fee, or it was significantly reduced.

Just my $0.02
 
Those are "destination" fees and every car has those. This is in addition to that I believe. Maybe not, but if this is the "normal" destination fee they are really screwing up calling it something that sounds like multiple added charges. IMO YMMV
 
Well, not that my opinion counts for anything, but I find it truly brilliant that Toyota decides to come up with some new name for "destination" which is what every other car brand on the planet calls it and every car buyer is used to and thinks nothing about. So let's call it something different that makes buyers think we're finding new ways to rip them off.
 
And people thought BMW made up Training and MACO fees (I didn't pay them on mine, they made an effort to say I must after I placed my order, and I said give the car to someone else--it was early enough the order/allocation could have been modified). I still think they are subject to negotiation--my dad successfully had all those charges even DMV and the pre-printed ones removed, ON A GM VEHICLE. He tried with Honda, and they refused. So it's not always possible but it's doable. I'll never pay bogus fees, so maybe I'll never be able to buy again.
 
That's the destination / delivery fee and its been on every vehicle sticker for a very long time. Not just Toyota. They aren't out to get anyone - they are required by law to have it listed on the window sticker.

Look up the details on the Monroney Sticker, and you'll find:

The sticker must include the following information:

  • Make, model, trim, and serial number
  • The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP)
  • Engine and transmission specifications
  • Standard equipment and warranty details
  • Optional equipment and pricing
  • Transportation charges for shipment to the dealer
 
Yes, and as I said once or twice already, if they called it "destination" like every other car on the planet it wouldn't seem suspicious. Or if you could click "see window sticker" like you can on Ford sites. Or if standing in the showroom looking at the Monroney. But finding that suspicious wording choice on the website with no clarification made it seem just that, suspicious. Especially since Toyota is known for adding little bits and bobs here and there to jack up the prices, their (in)famous "protection package(s)" being a prime example. So yes, it's a necessary evil, but very stupidly worded and displayed online.
 
The thing that turned me off when I was looking at a Toyota was all the crap they added on at the port! It was like $800 worth of junk ranging from an ashtray to an "applique". All useless garbage no one wants. Then the dealers add on their useless stuff and a market adjustment.
 
The thing that turned me off when I was looking at a Toyota was all the crap they added on at the port! It was like $800 worth of junk ranging from an ashtray to an "applique". All useless garbage no one wants. Then the dealers add on their useless stuff and a market adjustment.
By law, mine had listed, a “useless garbage junk delete that nobody even wants charge, $250!” They get us coming and going, sorta like banking and insurance!
 
Yes, and as I said once or twice already, if they called it "destination" like every other car on the planet it wouldn't seem suspicious. Or if you could click "see window sticker" like you can on Ford sites. Or if standing in the showroom looking at the Monroney. But finding that suspicious wording choice on the website with no clarification made it seem just that, suspicious. Especially since Toyota is known for adding little bits and bobs here and there to jack up the prices, their (in)famous "protection package(s)" being a prime example. So yes, it's a necessary evil, but very stupidly worded and displayed online.
Toyota is mostly not adding these bits, bobs, protection packages, and other nonsense like the worthless "Extra Mile Package", it is the Texas distributor Gulf States Toyota (GST) that does this. So does Southeast Toyota. These two privately owned independent distributors service the Toyota dealers in 10 states, 5 states each. They are known for their price gouging addons. They also charge a big advertising fee on each of their vehicles, something that you don't see because it is added to the invoice, but is does affect what you pay because it reduces the dealer's profit margin and their ability to discount the vehicles and it entices them to tack-on numerous dealer addons to make up for the lost profit.
The rest of the states are serviced by Toyota Motor Sales USA (TMS) which is owned by Toyota. For many years customers living close to a GST/TMS state border have been able to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by crossing over into a TMS state to make their Toyota purchases. Since the pandemic started TMS has also been tacking on some of this overpriced fluff, like their "Bronze Package" where you get about $700 worth of fluff for $3000.
There are 5 states that have Gulf States Toyota as a distributor... Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. There are 5 additional states that have Southeast Toyota as a distributor... Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
 
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Yes, and as I said once or twice already, if they called it "destination" like every other car on the planet it wouldn't seem suspicious. Or if you could click "see window sticker" like you can on Ford sites. Or if standing in the showroom looking at the Monroney. But finding that suspicious wording choice on the website with no clarification made it seem just that, suspicious. Especially since Toyota is known for adding little bits and bobs here and there to jack up the prices, their (in)famous "protection package(s)" being a prime example. So yes, it's a necessary evil, but very stupidly worded and displayed online.


They could still call it a destination charge but with increased fuel and labor costs it will be higher like everything is now.
 
Yeah, being in Houston it's a long ride to get away from GST. They glommed onto a good scam when they somehow got hold of the 5 states from Toyota.
 
Yeah, being in Houston it's a long ride to get away from GST. They glommed onto a good scam when they somehow got hold of the 5 states from Toyota.
It is the way that Toyota set their distribution up when they first came to the USA to sell their vehicles in the 60s. They sold 10 independent distributors with 5 states for each one and they were given irrevocable lifetime contracts. In the 70s they realized that they had made a mistake and started buying the distributors back. There were 2 distributors that refused to sell. Those 2 distributors are worth a King's ransom today.
 
Our 2019 Rav4 had $1060 Delivery Processing and Handling. It came through Southeast Toyota Distributors - same scam different states. I wonder if its the same in regions Toyota sells direct to dealers?

All manufacturers have some sort of transportation fee, which simply means they can promote MSRP on their website as being lower than it really is, since every vehicle has the fee.

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Went to the local Toyota dealer to buy a Highlander a few months ago. Was told by the sales person that there was additional markup beyond sticker of $5,000.00-no exceptions. I laughed.

Went down to a Nissan dealer where I found a 2022 Highlander with 8,000 miles on it. No ADM-no markups. Saved around $8,000.00 and it was under both Toyota Care and remaining warranties.

Last September bought a 2020 F-150 Lariat with 26,000 miles on it, remaining warranties and saved a tad over $15,000.00.
 
The thing that turned me off when I was looking at a Toyota was all the crap they added on at the port! It was like $800 worth of junk ranging from an ashtray to an "applique". All useless garbage no one wants. Then the dealers add on their useless stuff and a market adjustment.
Nobody is making you buy a Toyota.
 
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