[militia_man]

In the middle of January I had made arrangements with a dealer to order an SE crew cab, the order was to be submitted this week with their February vehicle orders. Yesterday I contacted the dealer and asked if I would be able to change my order to an LE crew cab. The dealer told me that the SE had not been ordered yet but would be this week, and that if I wanted to change the order to an LE I would have to come down and sign a new purchase and sale agreement. The dealer also agreed to sell me the LE for $771.00 over invoice price which is the same as what I was paying over invoice if I purchased the SE.

Today I drive over an hour to the dealer to sign the new purchase and sale agreement and I am told "sorry there is a problem". The main problem I am told is that I want the side airbag package. In addition to the side airbag package I also want the big tow package, off-road package and the sliding bed extender. The dealer tells me that the side airbags are the main sticking point because usually the only Titans built with the side airbags are the trucks with the DVD, navigation, sunroof, ect. Options that I don't want or need and can't afford. The dealer tells me that if they were to order my truck the way that I want it that there would be a very good chance that Nissan would also add in one or more of the previously mentioned expensive options at the factory that I do not want and there would be nothing anyone could do about it. The dealer makes no effort to get me to order a truck with those expensive options and hands me a refund check for my $2000.00 deposit without me even asking for it. I walk out of the dealer completely baffled and very angry. I know the Titan crew cab LE can be ordered in the configuration that I chose. I have done my homework and understand that some option packages are tied together. My chosen configuration meets those requirements.

1. So why then is the dealer backing out of the order?

2. Would Nissan really make changes to my order such as throwing in DVD and navigation at the factory even though I don't want them?

I would greatly appreciate any advice or information especially from Nissan dealers on this board.

 

[Skipete]

Militia Man That really stinks. Now I am worried because my dealer is suppose to order my SE with the airbag package this Friday. My dealer did tell me that it is possible that the factory may come back saying they could not put certain packages together and they may need to call me to change the config.

 

[Deepwater]

The dealer should have tried to order it! Why! Because its a buildable confuration on Nissan .Com. and its what you wanted! NOW having said that, I have been told that Nissan can pull any option off your order if they choose or even cancel your order at any time! But the dealer should have tried!.... Try calling them back or hurry and try another dealer. GOOD LUCK!

 

[www.durocab.com]

isellem, can you help him out?

 

[CaliforniaTitan]

I am not sure they shouldn't have just tried to order it either. But, that said, is the side airbag part really that important to you? Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of nice lil things that come in the pkgs that a linked together kinda funny, but should this ruin your whole buy on either part?

Just baffles me I guess.

Chris

 

[COHawk]

I ordered my Crew Cab LE with the Tow and Air Bags Jan. 8. I was at my dealer 2 weeks ago and they said everything was good, should be hearing from them in a week or two with the delivery date and to finalize the financing.
I would try another dealer, I think they should have at least tried to order it. Ask 70'sBoss, he's been very helpful on here.

I did just remember that when I ordered it the only change I had to make was to get the Splash Guards. I didn't want them, but the dealer called Nissan and they said I had to have them with the truck I wanted. I said fine, $110 to get everything else I wanted not a big deal.

 

[outahere]

I am not sure they shouldn't have just tried to order it either. But, that said, is the side airbag part really that important to you? Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of nice lil things that come in the pkgs that a linked together kinda funny, but should this ruin your whole buy on either part?

Just baffles me I guess.

Chris

If you are ever unfortunate enough to be T-boned in the drivers door by a big pickup or SUV doing 40mph or more, you will understand why side curtain airbags are important. They will very significantly reduce your probability of death and serious injury (such as a broken neck and the associated risk of paralysis).

 

[CaliforniaTitan]

Well not saying that could never happen, because anything can...but in almost 39 years of being in various vehicles and 23 years of driving them myself, I have never been in such an accident. Maybe this buyer has or has a fear of them, I don't know. I was just saying for me it would not be a 'deal breaker'. It wasn't too long ago that these side bags weren't even a thought for car makers.

Chris

 

[outahere]

I saw a piece on the news not too long ago, about the side impact testing being done by the IIHS. They showed video of a crash dummy as it was impacted from the side. Without the side curtain air bags, the dummys head snapped violently to the side. With the bags the head snapping was greatly reduced. It was a very dramatic demonstration of the value of the side curtain air bags. The side curtain bags (that deploy from the ceiling) were deemed to be more effective at saving lives than the standard side airbags that deploy from the seat or lower door. It's too bad that Nissan does not offer this option at its stand alone price of around $900, but forces you to buy another $3000 of option packages to get the side bags. Hell, it should be standard along with the front air bags.

 

[70boss]

Ordering.

Ordering will take place today through Friday. Just because you can spec out a truck on the Nissan website, does not mean it is buildable ALL the time. There are always commodity restrictions, and other order snafus based on parts availability.

Concerning major option additions.....It has been my experience, that if the truck required certain options...the order would bounce at the time of input...not later on. They can add or delete items such as floormats, splash guards, and micro-filter....Nissan does require these nickel and dime options on nearly everything....however, at the time of VPC install, if they are not available..they will delete so as not to disrupt the flow of your truck.

Good Luck!

 

[militia_man]

Update to my situation.

I contacted Nissan customer service by telephone and and by e-mail. I have a file # assigned to my situation and Nissan customer service will be following up with the dealer. The Nissan customer service agent told me that my vehicle did comply with Nissan's build requirements and that they could see no reason why the dealer told me what they did, but suspects that they are confused about the special order process. I have also contacted another Nissan dealer about ordering a truck and will possibly be going there tommorow unless Nissan is able to resolve this problem with my original dealer.

 

[militia_man]

Problem solved.

Today I went to another Nissan dealer and with NO haggle at all I secured a CREW LE 4x4 for $400 above invoice. The sales staff was very pleasant and told me that my order was placed with the factory and that all appears to be well. This ended up working out for me because the Nissan dealer I had the problem with over the order was offering me a sale for $771 over invoice so I saved some dough too! Things happen for a reason, I am glad the good folks at the dealership where I made my purchase got my business instead of the jerks at the other place.

 

[LanceK]

70Boss has it right.

It doesn't matter what the brochure, website, salesman says. Not all listed build combinations will be availabe all of the time. I believe there is also small print on the brochures saying the Manuf. has the option to change equipment and options at its discretion.

As a former field Mgr. for Ford Motor Co. I can confirm the "commodity shortage" situation that plagues large scale auto manufacturing. It's usually a parts shortage from a supplier for many reasons. Things like a certain option is outpacing projected demand, a certain option is being redesigned and the supplier is scrambling to make the new one, a fire or labor strike at the supplier etc.

I doubt the dealer was steering you the wrong way. The dealers are usually the last to know and even the field offices don't know what can be built from week to week. Often you just submit the order and hope your number comes up. Frustrating for everyone involved? Most definately, but just a fact of life in those instances. Also I believe Nissan specs and builds their vehicles to their liking and the dealers only get to choose from vehicles that are already built or scheduled to be built. At Ford the dealer got an open applicaton and was able build any vehicle he wanted....as long as the parts were available of course...

 

[GezonMotors]

I Sell Titans in Grand Rapids, MI. BUT...feel free to message me OR email me if you have questions. If you're in this area, feel free to buy your Titan form me as well lol. But seriously. If you think you're getting jacked around, call me and I'll do what I can to help you. Enjoy your Titan if you have one and get one if you don't!

 

[militia_man]

Gezon Motors

Thank you for your offering to help, I don't want to bore people by telling my story again but read the 3rd post up from this one by me. It all worked out for the best, thanks again for responding.