Better Gas Mileage

Your new car (or your new car dealer) is giving you a headache. There’s a problem and the customer service you’ve received hasn’t been good enough. You feel like you’ve done your part, but your problem is still unresolved. How do you get it solved?

The first place to start looking for a solution is at your local car dealership. They’re the ones in the best position to take care of your problem, and the ones most motivated to do so. Local dealerships know that providing good service and creating trust is the best way to create a lifelong customer. Statistics have shown what car dealers and manufacturers know from experience, which is that providing excellent service and solving customer problems achieves what advertising only tries for, which is to create a satisfied and faithful customer.

Make your dealer want to help you by showing them you’re a good customer. Dealerships are a business just like any other, and they want to know that the benefits of helping you solve your problem outweigh the costs to them - especially if the costs are financial. The main benefit your dealer is looking for is your business again in the future. The best way to get your local dealer to cooperate with you is to show you’re a good current customer who is likely to be a good customer again later.

The best way to show you’re a good customer is to be nice. Restrain the urge to shout or swear - a smile might not feel as satisfying now, but it will get you further. Staff that resent you probably aren’t going to be too helpful towards you. Make an effort to get along with the dealership employees - they’re probably as frustrated with the problem and eager to get it resolved as you are. Get what you want by giving the staff a reason to want to help you!

If there is one person you should talk to about your customer service problem, it’s the dealership’s General Manager (GM). GMs are authorized to do almost anything to maintain excellent customer service, and they can be an incredibly useful person to talk to. They are able to get senior executives on the phone at short notice, and are themselves professionals experienced in solving customer service problems. They are essential to contact if you’re looking to get the manufacturer to do something for you.

In the rare case that speaking with the GM of your local dealer doesn’t work, the next step is to call the manufacturer’s customer service hotline (the number can be found in your owner’s manual). You should try to contact the local regional office as well. While the local regional office will probably just refer you to the national hotline, you may be able to speak with a regional Toyota executive. Persistence is key.

To recap, your search for a solution to your customer service problem begins at your local new car dealership. Remember to speak with the general manager! If neither dealership nor GM can help you, call the national customer service hotline and the regional office. Always be nice and polite to everyone you speak to along the way. In the end, your persistence will pay off, and you’ll end up with a solution to your problem, and the best customer service possible.

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