Reviews
I recently purchased a Toyota RAV4 from A1 Toyota. The dealership promotes a bottom line, no negotiation pricing model. The vehicle price itself was reasonable, and it’s clear the dealership still earned a profit. However, several aspects of the experience were disappointing and raise concerns about transparency and professionalism. 1. Excessive Conveyance Fee A1 Toyota charges a $999 “conveyance fee.” This fee is discretionary, can be set at any amount the dealership chooses, and is often used to recoup internal costs such as registration processing, fuel, and vehicle preparation. The average fee in Connecticut is approximately $500. I acknowledge that I should have reviewed this more carefully before signing, but I was troubled when the Finance Manager dismissed my concern and told me to “let it go.” That response was unprofessional and dismissive. 2. Unprofessional and Gender Biased Behavior Throughout the process, I made it clear that I was the primary buyer, decision maker, and payer. My husband was present solely to be listed as a co owner for estate planning purposes. Despite this, the staff consistently directed their attention and communication toward him. This behavior came across as sexist and outdated, and it detracted significantly from the overall experience. 3. Vehicle Condition Concerns Upon taking delivery, I discovered that the vehicle had a strong smoke odor. It was also evident that the cabin air filter had not been replaced. These are basic reconditioning steps that should be standard for any dealership selling a used vehicle. Would I return? No. Would I recommend A1 Toyota? No.
I recently purchased a Toyota RAV4 from A1 Toyota. The dealership promotes a bottom line, no negotiation pricing model. The vehicle price itself was reasonable, and it’s clear the dealership still earned a profit. However, several aspects of the experience were disappointing and raise concerns about transparency and professionalism. 1. Excessive Conveyance Fee A1 Toyota charges a $999 “conveyance fee.” This fee is discretionary, can be set at any amount the dealership chooses, and is often used to recoup internal costs such as registration processing, fuel, and vehicle preparation. The average fee in Connecticut is approximately $500. I acknowledge that I should have reviewed this more carefully before signing, but I was troubled when the Finance Manager dismissed my concern and told me to “let it go.” That response was unprofessional and dismissive. 2. Unprofessional and Gender Biased Behavior Throughout the process, I made it clear that I was the primary buyer, decision maker, and payer. My husband was present solely to be listed as a co owner for estate planning purposes. Despite this, the staff consistently directed their attention and communication toward him. This behavior came across as sexist and outdated, and it detracted significantly from the overall experience. 3. Vehicle Condition Concerns Upon taking delivery, I discovered that the vehicle had a strong smoke odor. It was also evident that the cabin air filter had not been replaced. These are basic reconditioning steps that should be standard for any dealership selling a used vehicle. Would I return? No. Would I recommend A1 Toyota? No.
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- 1.0
- Does not recommend this dealer
- Shopped for a used car
Hi Heather, I am sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your experience here at the dealership. 1. I can understand your frustration with having to pay any fees. It seems you completely understand the reasons why they were charged, the only thing I would add to that is the average documentation fee among Toyota dealerships in CT are much closer to what we charge and we give you free lifetime oil changes for as long as you own the vehicle, which most of the other dealerships do not do. That isn't a fee attached to our documentation fee but I believe most people see great value to receive oil changes for the entire time they own the vehicle at no extra cost. We also do a full certification inspection on the vehicle. 2. I apologize if you were treated a certain way because of your gender. I have been here for 20 years and worked for a woman owner for the majority of my time here and now for her son's. The reason we are a best price dealership and we do not mark up our rates, is because we believe in treating everyone the same, regardless of their gender, age, or race. If you would like to reach out to me and let me know who you felt treated you unfairly, I will be more than happy to listen and remedy these issues within my staff. 3. Sometimes previous owners or even people that work on our vehicles, may have a smoke smell that gets into the vehicle. If you would like, I would be happy to have the vehicle hooked up to an ionizer machine to help get rid of the smoke smell. I can also provide you with the list of everything we did to the vehicle so you can see how much money we put into it before we put it out for sale. Once again sorry to hear about your experience and if you would like to work directly with me on any of these issues, please reach out to me. Gary dos Reis General Sales Manager A1 Toyota 203.389.1521 x 140
Professional, quick, and remarkably attentive. I got to work with Alif, who was exceptionally knowledgeable and was able to show me what I was looking for down to exact details. The whole experience was very pleasant, and I absolutely recommend them.
Professional, quick, and remarkably attentive. I got to work with Alif, who was exceptionally knowledgeable and was able to show me what I was looking for down to exact details. The whole experience was very pleasant, and I absolutely recommend them.
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- 5.0
- Does recommend this dealer
- Shopped for a new car
Hi Jeffry, thank you for taking the time to leave such kind feedback! We’re glad your visit was efficient and that Alif supported you with the level of detail and care you were looking for. It’s great to hear the experience felt smooth from start to finish. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we’re always here to help.
I am giving this dealer a one star review for many reasons. If detailed, the dealer staff will deny and call me insane like they did below to another bad review!!!!!!!
I am giving this dealer a one star review for many reasons. If detailed, the dealer staff will deny and call me insane like they did below to another bad review!!!!!!!
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- 1.0
- Does not recommend this dealer
- Shopped for a new car
Hi, If we dropped the ball in any manner pertaining to our customer service, we truly do apologize for your experience. If, by chance this is an opinion of our policies and practices, such as being a best price dealership that does not negotiate the price of our vehicles and accessories, because we look at the market and determine our fair discounted prices ahead of time or because of our conveyance fee that everyone pays including myself, then unfortunately, our way of doing business isn't for everyone. We still wish you the best either way. If you wish to discuss this any further, please feel free to reach out to me. Happy holidays. Gary dos Reis General Sales Manager A1 Toyota 203.389.1521 x 140
Excellent service. Zack was amazing from the beginning, David is amazing seller and person I recommend with no doubts and Anabela she was super nice and friendly and all of then work with so much expertise. Highly recommended this dealership.
Excellent service. Zack was amazing from the beginning, David is amazing seller and person I recommend with no doubts and Anabela she was super nice and friendly and all of then work with so much expertise. Highly recommended this dealership.
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- 5.0
- Does recommend this dealer
- Shopped for a new car
Hi Donato, Thank you for the fantastic feedback! We're thrilled to hear that Zack, David, and Anabela all provided such knowledgeable and friendly service throughout your experience. Your recommendation means a lot to us. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Don’t buy a car from A1 Toyota. Service is terrible. My car has been in service for 4 months and now they say 2 more months! No loaner car. They don’t stand by their products or customers. A1 Toyota is the eorst place. I just bought another car as did my daughter. Not a Toyota!
Don’t buy a car from A1 Toyota. Service is terrible. My car has been in service for 4 months and now they say 2 more months! No loaner car. They don’t stand by their products or customers. A1 Toyota is the eorst place. I just bought another car as did my daughter. Not a Toyota!
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- 1.0
- Does not recommend this dealer
- Came in for service or repair
- Did make a purchase
Kathleen, I am not sure why you are leaving reviews on multiple sites in reference to a vehicle that is not even yours! The fact of the matter is that the part needed to repair your SON'S vehicle is not available and is on back order. The availability of that part is not determined by us, the dealer, it is a result of a supply chain issue on the manufacturer's side. We have not only communicated this to your son, but my service manager, Mike Querfeld, also took the time to speak to you about this. Why you would try and tarnish the reputation of my dealership by leaving these reviews is beyond my comprehension. My mother always taught me that is much easier to be kind than it is to be mean. With that being said you are making it quite difficult. I would hope you could rethink your posts and take them down as they simply are false and not accurate. But that is your decision. Have a great day, Daniel Wheeler, A-1 Toyota General Manager 50 Amity Rd, New Haven, CT 06515 Email: [email protected] Phone: 203-389-1521 Ext 177 Fax: 203-389-8128
I took my car in for routine service and accepted all the recommended work. Four days later, my check engine light went on, which had not happened before. I went back in and suggested (correctly) what the problem may have been, and was kept waiting all morning for an easy fix, which was a result of their shoddy work. No only took responsibility for their mistake and I will not be going back there.
I took my car in for routine service and accepted all the recommended work. Four days later, my check engine light went on, which had not happened before. I went back in and suggested (correctly) what the problem may have been, and was kept waiting all morning for an easy fix, which was a result of their shoddy work. No only took responsibility for their mistake and I will not be going back there.
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- 1.0
- Does not recommend this dealer
- Came in for service or repair
- Did not make a purchase
We apologize that your experience at A-1 Toyota was anything less than satisfactory. Please contact Daniel Wheeler, our Operations Manager, at your earliest convenience so that he can discuss this matter further and hopefully resolve the issue. Thank you. 203-387-6691 x177
In over 50 years of buying cars A1 hands done is the BEST, most transparent dealership I have every used. Don't waste your time @ WLFD Toyota or others. They are a NO B.S operation, NOT the old school way of buying a car. I would absolutely recommend A1.
In over 50 years of buying cars A1 hands done is the BEST, most transparent dealership I have every used. Don't waste your time @ WLFD Toyota or others. They are a NO B.S operation, NOT the old school way of buying a car. I would absolutely recommend A1.
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- 5.0
- Does recommend this dealer
- Shopped for a new car
Thank you for your incredible feedback! We’re honored to hear that A-1 stands out as the best dealership in your decades of car-buying experience. Your recommendation means so much to us. If there’s anything else we can assist you with, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
I am extremely disappointed with the service I received during my recent experience at A1. Not only was I required to pay a $1000 negotiable (CT Law) fee for dealer "dues" (it is a very much non-negotiable fee at A1) but the experience as a whole was the opposite of what I wanted or have previously experienced. I would be happy to pay for any services that a fee would cover but the overall service provided was far below the standard without any clear justification or value in return. Summary of my experience: No opportunity to inspect the car prior to signing: I was required to sign before I had even seen or fully inspected the vehicle, which left me feeling rushed and pressured into making a decision without the chance to properly evaluate the car. It ended up that they didn't fully detail the front right side of the new car. Plates not ready: On the agreed-upon pick-up date, two and a half months after paying $500 to hold the car for me, the license plates for my car were not ready, causing unnecessary delays and inconvenience. Per the sales manager, " ... it was not our fault that your license was never switched over to CT." ... A week and a half later, a salesman shows up 3 hours late with the plates, but without any screws to affix the plates to my car. He ended up putting the back plate on with two screws, leaving me unable to drive the car. Then, after getting the screws at Home Depot at 8pm to ensure I can make it to work the next day, we realized we needed plate frames, that we did not have nor were told were needed. Unprofessional communication: The salesman assigned to me texted me in a manner that was both unprofessional and inappropriate, addressing me as if we were close friends rather than in a formal business transaction. This added to the overall lack of professionalism displayed during the process, and he ended up ghosting me and didn't show up the day I got the car. Thee unapologetic, dismissive, and ego-driven attitude among staff and managers was a little much in addition to the lack of concern for my dissatisfaction. Incomplete detailing: I noticed that the front right side had not been detailed properly, unlike the rest of the car, but this was after signing and being charged. This oversight further compounded my frustration.
I am extremely disappointed with the service I received during my recent experience at A1. Not only was I required to pay a $1000 negotiable (CT Law) fee for dealer "dues" (it is a very much non-negotiable fee at A1) but the experience as a whole was the opposite of what I wanted or have previously experienced. I would be happy to pay for any services that a fee would cover but the overall service provided was far below the standard without any clear justification or value in return. Summary of my experience: No opportunity to inspect the car prior to signing: I was required to sign before I had even seen or fully inspected the vehicle, which left me feeling rushed and pressured into making a decision without the chance to properly evaluate the car. It ended up that they didn't fully detail the front right side of the new car. Plates not ready: On the agreed-upon pick-up date, two and a half months after paying $500 to hold the car for me, the license plates for my car were not ready, causing unnecessary delays and inconvenience. Per the sales manager, " ... it was not our fault that your license was never switched over to CT." ... A week and a half later, a salesman shows up 3 hours late with the plates, but without any screws to affix the plates to my car. He ended up putting the back plate on with two screws, leaving me unable to drive the car. Then, after getting the screws at Home Depot at 8pm to ensure I can make it to work the next day, we realized we needed plate frames, that we did not have nor were told were needed. Unprofessional communication: The salesman assigned to me texted me in a manner that was both unprofessional and inappropriate, addressing me as if we were close friends rather than in a formal business transaction. This added to the overall lack of professionalism displayed during the process, and he ended up ghosting me and didn't show up the day I got the car. Thee unapologetic, dismissive, and ego-driven attitude among staff and managers was a little much in addition to the lack of concern for my dissatisfaction. Incomplete detailing: I noticed that the front right side had not been detailed properly, unlike the rest of the car, but this was after signing and being charged. This oversight further compounded my frustration.
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- Overall experience
- 1.0
- Does not recommend this dealer
- Shopped for a new car
Josette, Regarding our dealer fees, we are similar or below the rates of every other Toyota dealership in Connecticut. Additionally, we offer free lifetime oil changes for as long as you own the vehicle. Since it’s not a state fee, we must include it on our purchase orders, with the word negotiable, per state law. While it states negotiable, we’re a non-negotiation dealership. You could have taken as much time as you needed to inspect your vehicle before leaving. After you brought it home is when you pointed out that you felt one portion of the vehicle was not clean to your satisfaction. However, we’d be happy to re-clean the vehicle if you brought it back. I’ve explained the license plate issue multiple times. We have license plates on site. Unfortunately, you have an out of state license and are registering in CT. We had to follow a process to register it before the new plates could be issued. Due to problems with the Connecticut DMV system, it took days instead of the usual one or two hours to process your license, which we had sent in prior to your scheduled delivery, we can provide proof. In the meantime, we issued you a dealer plate to minimize inconvenience and offered to send someone to your house to install the plates, as a gesture of goodwill. Unfortunately, the person who came forgot to bring two extra screws. This was a human error. Despite our efforts to rectify the situation, you continue to demand money back, based on the DMV issue that was out of our control and a simple human error. We even offered to send someone the next day to fix it. Throughout the process, you’ve been extremely rude, condescending, and entitled. I maintained a professional demeanor for as long as I could, but your persistent behavior forced me to inform you that it was not our fault for your non-registration, as you had an out-of-state license. I am not going to debate you about how you were treated and the methods of contact by your salesperson. All of our correspondence on file via email and text paint a very different picture than the one you are describing. I will not go into detail of belittling and bullying of my salesman because at this point it is just not worth the time. I wish you the best of luck in the future. Regards Gary Dos Reis General Sales Manager A1 Toyota
Excellent attention, professionalism and integrity. They only want to please all the clients, with a smile and positive attitude
Excellent attention, professionalism and integrity. They only want to please all the clients, with a smile and positive attitude
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- 5.0
- Does recommend this dealer
- Shopped for a used car
It's wonderful to hear that you had such a positive experience with us! Providing excellent attention, professionalism, and integrity is always our priority, and we're glad to hear that we were able to meet your expectations. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to serving you again in the future with the same level of dedication and positivity. Thank you for choosing us!
A great establishment and very friendly staff. My third car from them and it’s always a pleasure to be there. Abdul, Yahia, Hatim, Mostafa, Gary and Eddie are very professional and they always make my experience hassle free. I’ve referred so many friends to A1 Toyota and they’re all happy with their experience.
A great establishment and very friendly staff. My third car from them and it’s always a pleasure to be there. Abdul, Yahia, Hatim, Mostafa, Gary and Eddie are very professional and they always make my experience hassle free. I’ve referred so many friends to A1 Toyota and they’re all happy with their experience.
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- Overall experience
- 5.0
- Does recommend this dealer
- Shopped for a new car
We appreciate your loyalty and are delighted to hear about your positive experiences with our establishment and staff. It's great to know that Abdul, Yahia, Hatim, Mostafa, Gary, and Eddie have consistently provided you with professional and hassle-free experiences. Thank you for referring friends to A1 Toyota, and we're thrilled that they've also had positive experiences. If there's anything else we can do for you or if you have any further feedback, please feel free to let us know. We look forward to serving you again in the future!