"Navigation without Motion is Tyranny"
Success!!
Well, I received a $2650 rebate from Lexus and if you are persistent, I believe that many of you can too. Below I will share my experience; follow it and tell me how you do. If you get a check, please consider rewarding this kind of behaviour by donating 10% to this site using your credit card via the PayPal link below. This quest has not been costless- besides the cost of the site and programmer, I have spent no small amount of time and energy to get a fix for everyone. All donations are secure and recorded.
Getting a rebate from Toyota is only the first step -I am currently looking at a discounted purchase with GPS manufacturers (for our site registrants) and alternative DVD software.
Here is my suggestion (based on my experience) on how to proceed. Good Luck!
1. Obtain a Notebook to keep all correspondance, email, phone call logs, etc. I suggest this one at Amazon. Log the following information- it is very important in order to be taken seriously later on.
2. Call your dealership and ask to return the car. Document the calls (phone number, date, time, who you spoke to, their response, etc. ). Assuming they refuse to return the vehicle, ask how you can file a claim against Lexus to return your vehicle. Presumably, they will refer you to NCDS (see below).
3. Call the National center for Dispute Settlement (NCDS) at ________. Ask to file a claim about your vehicle. I filed my claim because the Navigation system did not work as represented by the dealer's salesman and because Lexus had made a 'material change' in the operation of the vehicle without telling me as a potential customer. In my case, I specifically asked about using the Navigation system override before I purchased the vehicle. In my case, the salesman said it did exist. I bought in October, 2006 and it may be that he thought there was an override, he knew there was not, or he did not know or care. I filed that initial claim in ___________. You will be contacted (often by phone- log all those calls with names, info, etc because there is no other proof of your contacts) several times and the process will move along slowly. The NCDS finally decided who will be your aribter for your case. I received calls from my arbiter asking why I filed, what I wanted (to return the car) and then suddenly, just after I had been led to believe my case was accepted, it was denied after an appeal by Lexus on the grounds that the vehicle operated as warranteed. Don't forget that the NCDS is paid by the car companies, not by you so while you may find them pleasant and courteous, they are not on your side.
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