Screwed by the Dealer greed and lies.

[2min]

Let me start by saying that I was not aware of this forum and its resources. Now I do. I was blinded in my naivety and busy personal life thinking this would be some kind of 'tesla-like buying experience.'

On 10/26/2021, I took a gander down to the local Ford dealer near me to arrange a Mach E for order. On a previous occasion at a different dealership, I was blindsided with enormous dealer markups upon delivery time and reluctantly had to walk away from it. This second time around, I went to Chino Hills Ford and asked very directed and specific questions to ensure that there would not be any surprise charges or markups incurred when the vehicle was delivered. The salesman and general manager greeted me with a smile and both stated that that would not happen and I had nothing to worry about.

I placed an order after that visit on the same day for a Grabber Blue Mach E GT. I saw the 28-week production schedule and accepted it as the necessary qualm for a fantastic-looking vehicle that would save me from the prolonged hell of standing around at gas stations with poorly cleaned pumps and gas prices rivaling a mortgage payment. To my surprise, the Mach E was produced much earlier than anticipated and was marked for shipping between 03/18/22 - 03/24/22. You can imagine the surge of dopamine that vibrated all throughout my body.

I began my process of looking into how I would go about paying for the vehicle and to know what to expect, I called in again on 02/21/22. This second time around, I was told by a salesman that the vehicle would be marked up by $5,000. On top of "about 10-12% taxes and fees." With the $2,000 price increase over the New Year for GT models, this dealership's final kick in the shin truly did hurt.

On the Ford website, my order was listed as accepted at MSRP that the dealer accepted. And the order/reservation tab still reflects that original price. Experimentally placing a new order reflects their $5,000 markup which was not originally stated in my original one. I called in multiple times and reassured multiple times there would be no markup.

Let me also state that this isn't some "I'm going to Tesla now! hmph!" rant. I personally think Teslas look like they were designed after a catfish that had a phone book dropped on its head. I truly do want to throw money at the Mach E and drive a car that I genuinely like and also need.
But this buying process has been a nightmare and I am on my last legs. My largest concerns are this:

1. I outright cannot and will not pay for the markup. This appears to be a common occurrence at Chino Hills (and other dealerships). It feels like a strongarm move where the dealer outright wins with no recourse for the customer.
2. If it comes to the point where I have to make a THIRD order, how am I to go about avoiding this issue when the delivery time frame is so wide? I worry that I may go to another dealership that writes a promise of no ADMs then turns around by the time delivery time is here and they charge it. I have managed to bumble along for 1.5 years with an absolute demon of a gas guzzler in anticipation of the Mach E.
3. I understand that some production lines were shut down and see this as the last opportunity for what seems like a very long time before I can get another Mach E GT order to be built and delivered if this goes completely south.

/rant

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[Socalsp3]

Let me start by saying that I was not aware of this forum and its resources. Now I do. I was blinded in my naivety and busy personal life thinking this would be some kind of 'tesla-like buying experience.'

On 10/26/2021, I took a gander down to the local Ford dealer near me to arrange a Mach E for order. On a previous occasion at a different dealership, I was blindsided with enormous dealer markups upon delivery time and reluctantly had to walk away from it. This second time around, I went to Chino Hills Ford and asked very directed and specific questions to ensure that there would not be any surprise charges or markups incurred when the vehicle was delivered. The salesman and general manager greeted me with a smile and both stated that that would not happen and I had nothing to worry about.

I placed an order after that visit on the same day for a Grabber Blue Mach E GT. I saw the 28-week production schedule and accepted it as the necessary qualm for a fantastic-looking vehicle that would save me from the prolonged hell of standing around at gas stations with poorly cleaned pumps and gas prices rivaling a mortgage payment. To my surprise, the Mach E was produced much earlier than anticipated and was marked for shipping between 03/18/22 - 03/24/22. You can imagine the surge of dopamine that vibrated all throughout my body.

I began my process of looking into how I would go about paying for the vehicle and to know what to expect, I called in again on 02/21/22. This second time around, I was told by a salesman that the vehicle would be marked up by $5,000. On top of "about 10-12% taxes and fees." With the $2,000 price increase over the New Year for GT models, this dealership's final kick in the shin truly did hurt.

On the Ford website, my order was listed as accepted at MSRP that the dealer accepted. And the order/reservation tab still reflects that original price. Experimentally placing a new order reflects their $5,000 markup which was not originally stated in my original one. I called in multiple times and reassured multiple times there would be no markup.

Let me also state that this isn't some "I'm going to Tesla now! hmph!" rant. I personally think Teslas look like they were designed after a catfish that had a phone book dropped on its head. I truly do want to throw money at the Mach E and drive a car that I genuinely like and also need.
But this buying process has been a nightmare and I am on my last legs. My largest concerns are this:

1. I outright cannot and will not pay for the markup. This appears to be a common occurrence at Chino Hills (and other dealerships). It feels like a strongarm move where the dealer outright wins with no recourse for the customer.
2. If it comes to the point where I have to make a THIRD order, how am I to go about avoiding this issue when the delivery time frame is so wide? I worry that I may go to another dealership that writes a promise of no ADMs then turns around by the time delivery time is here and they charge it. I have managed to bumble along for 1.5 years with an absolute demon of a gas guzzler in anticipation of the Mach E.
3. I understand that some production lines were shut down and see this as the last opportunity for what seems like a very long time before I can get another Mach E GT order to be built and delivered if this goes completely south.

/rant

If you made a down payment for MSRP they can't legally change the terms of the contract. This rarely happened to anyone on this forum. I bet if you threaten litigation they will change their tune. shady Dealers generally want to see how far they can push it until a customer pushes back.

 

[macchiaz-o]

Welcome to the forum.

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding your timeline.

Sometimes you mention walking in and talking to "a salesman". About what? And why not "the salesman" that you originally arranged your deal with? Not a good idea to mix up the relationship by adding in new parties and variables...

Also, it sounds like you have a vehicle on order, but are looking at ordering an additional one before your first one has arrived? I am really confused.

The way to protect your agreements is to do them in writing. I emailed my saleswoman and asked her to reply with answers to my questions. ("Will you sell this to me at X-plan? I am not interested in any dealer add-ons such as window tinting or protection packages." Etc etc.)

Everything worked out fine. They can work out fine for you, too -- get your info organized, in writing, and stick to your plan.

 

[Dancefreak]

Not only should you not be paying ADM on an ordered car as it wasn't disclosed in advance, it should also be price protected since you ordered it before the increase in December.

The tip for the future is get answers to your questions and confirmation on details by email or on paper if in person. Not verbally or by phone. But hopefully you can work this out with them.

 

[2min]

Welcome to the forum.

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding your timeline.

Sometimes you mention walking in and talking to "a salesman". About what? And why not "the salesman" that you originally arranged your deal with? Not a good idea to mix up the relationship by adding in new parties and variables...

Also, it sounds like you have a vehicle on order, but are looking at ordering an additional one before your first one has arrived? I am really confused.

The way to protect your agreements is to do them in writing. I emailed my saleswoman and asked her to reply with answers to my questions. ("Will you sell this to me at X-plan? I am not interested in any dealer add-ons such as window tinting or protection packages." Etc etc.)

Everything worked out fine. They can work out fine for you, too -- get your info organized, in writing, and stick to your plan.

Apologise - the steam from my ears was clouding my thoughts.
I spoke to the first salesman purely to get a face-to-face interaction and to establish if there would or would not be ADMs. This first salesman left the dealership during this period so I was connected to a new one. I've had little to no luck getting email responses from them which is why I went in person.

And by second order, I meant that I went back to the Ford website today and looked to see if the dealership was listing their ADM to the final sale price. Which it does - but it did not when I ordered mine.

 

[2min]

If you made a down payment for MSRP they can't legally change the terms of the contract. This rarely happened to anyone on this forum. I bet if you threaten litigation they will change their tune. shady Dealers generally want to see how far they can push it until a customer pushes back.

Does this apply to deposit? I realize my wording is ...flustered but bear with me - I'm at my wits end. There is no down payment to the car as I haven't sat down for paperwork. Only the initial $1,500 deposit to order.

 

[Socalsp3]

Does this apply to deposit? I realize my wording is ...flustered but bear with me - I'm at my wits end. There is no down payment to the car as I haven't sat down for paperwork. Only the initial $1,500 deposit to order.

Sorry I meant deposit

 

[ARK]

You're not out for the count yet. You said you still have the paperwork showing the vehicle price when your order was submitted and it had no ADM? If so, I think you have a lot to work with it. People who have been in a similar situation as you have raised the issue with Ford corporate, and sometimes people from corporate have intervened to get the ADM removed.

See this thread and this thread. If I were in your shoes, I'd reach out to Mike Levine at Ford corporate (mentioned in those linked threads).

 

[macchiaz-o]

Apologise - the steam from my ears was clouding my thoughts.
I spoke to the first salesman purely to get a face-to-face interaction and to establish if there would or would not be ADMs. This first salesman left the dealership during this period so I was connected to a new one. I've had little to no luck getting email responses from them which is why I went in person.

And by second order, I meant that I went back to the Ford website today and looked to see if the dealership was listing their ADM to the final sale price. Which it does - but it did not when I ordered mine.

Talk to the salesperson and let them know you're worried about the whole switchover to new salesperson thing... and that you want to start getting some communications in writing so that you can be confident about the deal you're working with him. Give him your email address, or get his, and start getting the things that are important to you in writing.

Placing a brand new order and seeing the dealer markup on it DOES NOT MEAN that your existing order will also be subject to markup when it arrives. But you should make sure of this by getting this confirmed in writing.

If you can't work out a deal that you are happy with, then yes, you should start over with a new order at a new dealer -- with your terms in writing, and try to get your deposit refunded from the old dealer. (Or if you're extremely fortunate, find a deal on an existing vehicle that you like on a lot you're willing to travel to.)

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