Findlay customers fight back to show support for Toyota

In a time when Toyota is making less-than-positive headlines in the news, Findlay Toyota owner and General Manager Rich Abajian is asking current and future Toyota drivers to keep the faith in his brand.

He wants to remind customers that complaints against the company are still unfounded and he has no doubts in Toyota's safety.

"On buying Toyotas, me and my family drive nothing but Toyotas," Abajian said. "We believe it's the safest car on the road."

Findlay Toyota customers agree and have come out in full force to support the dealership.

"The great thing is that Toyota customers are still loyal to Toyota," Abajian said. "They're coming and buying cars like crazy now, and they're getting upset with the negative publicity. They're saying, 'We're going to buy a new car every year, we're so mad.'"

It's not uncommon for people who lease to come in and buy-out their leases to show that they want to stay in their cars, he said.

Findlay Toyota has also been going above and beyond the normal call of duty by extending its daily service hours, as well as by making house calls to customers all over Southern Nevada, from Pahrump to Mesquite to Laughlin. The dealership has also been picking up and delivering cars, as well as making free rentals available.

"It's really been good because we've been able to reacquaint with all of our customers and get a chance to see them one-on-one again," Abajian said. "And give them world-class service and reassure them that they're driving the safest car on the road."

Business has followed Findlay Toyota's positive response to negative press.

"Our sales, as Findlay Toyota, have been up on the new car end dramatically over the previous year," Abajian said. He said 2010 sales for February topped last February's sales and so far March 2010 looks promising as well.

"(Our customers and employees) are fired up and fighting mad to help us become successful, and they have," Abajian said. "Our numbers this month, compared to last March, we're on about a 200-car better pace than we were a year ago."

Abajian says customer loyalty comes from Toyota's loyalty to his customers. The company never aimed to be No. 1 in sales, he said, but rather aimed to be the best in customer service.

"Toyota always said, 'We don't want to be No. 1; we only want to be No. 1 in the customer's heart,'" Abajian said.

"Yes, we want to sell lots of cars, but, first and foremost, we want to make people happy."

Findlay Toyota is located at 7733 East Gate Road in the Valley Automall in Henderson. For more sales, service or parts, call 566-2000.