The dealer's vendor from which my wife is getting the leather kit for her tC done says he can't do the Scion® logo embroidery because he doesn't have the rights to the trademark. This sounds like a crock to me, since I have seen this done on several SoCal dealer cars.

Should we try to purcahse a leather kit from Cali and have another reputable interior shop do the install? How weird do they get about putting in someone else's kit? Can you even buy these pre-made or do the shops in SoCal custom make and fit each one?

Thanks,
B.

 

The company we use for our leather won't do the logo either because of the trademark issue, and our custom grill company has also run into the same problem. I have been told Scion is very agresive in protecting the logo and what it is used on.

As far as the companies already using he logo without consent.....I am sure it won't last long so if you are going to order a kit from one of them make it quick.

 

Thanks for relating your experience, it is so difficult to winnow out the legit excuses from the BS when dealing with a new and hot-selling car, like the tC. Sounds like SoCal is the wild west for Scion. Vendors ripping off the trademark, dealers baiting and switching, loading up their allocated cars with non-Scion accessories, etc.

So does Scion have a licensing process then? Can dealer-approved vendors acquire the rights to use the trademark legitimately? Or will I just have to send off to Singapore to get some knock-off leather seat covers?

B.

 

I don't have a problem with that, in fact, I believe Scion corporate encourages it. Now, if you ordered a car with no options and the dealer slaps on $5k worth of stuff, then I have a problem.

I believe approval would have to come from Scion/Toyota, not just the dealers. Somebody like Katzkin might be able to swing that, but local places never will.

LOL. Just keep your eyes on eBay, I'm sure they'll show up there.