Ohio CHL-holder to dealership: ''No guns, no Toyota''

Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2005 21:48:03 -0500
From: Harry Bryan
Subject: New SUV

I recently went to Toyota Direct, on Morse Road in Columbus, to make a deal
on a new SUV. I had been in an accident [with my current vehicle] and I don't feel comfortable in it anymore.
It took 2 trips to firm up the figures and get a trade-in appraisal.

Every time I went there the salesmen "vultures" were at the front door waiting for you to grab you for a sale and commission. They open the door for you, hit you with some small talk and ask what car you want.

I was on my second visit when it dawned on me that the salesmen opening the door always blocked any signage that was on the door, so I looked. Sure enough, there it was, a ghostbuster NO GUNS sign.

I was working with the sales manager on my deal. He had stepped away, which is when I noticed the sign. When he returned I asked for my keys back. He gave them to me and I headed for my car. I told him, "We have a problem." He asked what, and I told him it was the sign he had on his front door. He asked which one. I walked him over and pointed out the gun slash sign.

He told me it wasn't a problem, I could go to my car and put my gun in there and come back in and finish the deal or just come in and don't worry about the sign. I went for my wallet. I was getting a NO GUNS=NO MONEY cards but he asked me if I was looking for my license to prove to him that within the law. I told him I knew I was legal and had no desire to prove that to him.

I handed him the OFCC card. I told him it was that attitude that places those NO GUNS signs that was the problem and as long as he had them on his doors he wouldn't get my name on the dotted line. I said that I would go to a dealer with more sense and who wanted my business.

As I left he was perusing the NO GUNS=NO MONEY card. He had just lost a $30,000 sale because of his sign. He wasn't happy, but who cares? Maybe this will jolt him to actually think about this issue. I told him if he took down his signs he could give me a call and we'd pick up where we left off on the car deal.

Man, he looked pale as I drove away.

Harry Bryan

Contact information for Toyota Direct, (and other dangerous locations including those below), is available in OFCC's Do Not Patronize While Armed database...