Should I have ordered at the dealership vs. online at home?

[DancerFresh]

Hi all,

I placed an online order on August 14 2021 for a Select, RWD, Shadow Black MME. I immediately got an email confirmation about the order being accepted. Looking online at my reservation, the order was both 'Sent to Dealer' and 'Accepted by Dealer'. I figured things were on the right track.

On October 1 I got an email notification from Ford noting a change in my order:

Your 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select is being converted to a 2022 model year. Rest assured, your place in line has not been affected by this update. We've simply reached our production capacity for the 2021 model year, so we're updating your order. Please note: Your dealer will be in contact to verify your order specifications. If you wish to make any other updates to your order at that time, your dealer will be ready to help.​

I didn't hear anything from the dealer but I figured at the time "2022 is newer than 2021 so, great!"...

I got another email a month or so ago from Ford indicating my order had been updated. I thought it was moving to 'in production' - but nope. I couldn't find anything clear to me in the update indicating what the change was. Reading through the forums I suppose it was the Park Assist? It's not on my order (but I really don't know if I had it in the first place).

Yesterday I finally called the dealership, trying to find out if they had a status update for me. The sales rep looked into it and called me back. He told me that the delay was with supply chain issues (which is understandable) and that the car will be scheduled for production by the end of May.

Interestingly enough, not long after I talk to the sales rep I got two separate emails from Ford. The first was a status update - but again, the change isn't clear to me. The second email was an email confirmation:

Congratulations on ordering your all‑new Mustang Mach-E SEL! Your order has been placed with Ford Motor Company on your behalf by Ken Garff West Valley Ford.​

My suspicion is that the dealer dropped the ball on this (or, maybe I dropped the ball by being too patient? After all, my 2006 Corolla is still kicking along...).

So my question: Is this experience par for the course, or are my suspicions correct? Would I have avoided this wait if I worked with someone at the dealership as opposed to just doing this at home on my own?

Sponsored

 

[RickMachE]

When the order was changed from a 2021 to a 2022, there were steps that the dealer needed to take.

After the dealer reached out, they would then confirm the order in the system.

If they didn't reach out, and didn't confirm the order, and you didn't see your order in the system change to a 2022, then it would seem that nothing happened and your order didn't process until they just put it in.

I can't imagine sitting quietly from October until April without asking the dealer for a status.

You might have some issues with price given that it was locked in when the order changed, but it appears nobody confirmed the order...

 

[AKgrampy]

Would he receive the order change updates if his order had not been processed? I believe you may have had the same issues, assuming there is an issue, if you had ordered at the dealer and in fact they did not confirm the order when it went from 2021 to 2022. Perhaps a chat directly with Ford may answer your question. I would guess though that if your order was just confirmed that you would not have a late May build date (assuming build date is accurate.)

 

[Garbone]

You are your best advocate for yourself, Dealers are hired help. Ball has been dropped and if you have a May build I would call it lucky.

If you want to verify your scheduling. You could get your order number from the dealer and go on the generic chat at Ford.com and using it ask them the status. If it is scheduled they should be able to give you a build date and the assigned VIN. My order number is a letter followed by three numbers, just 4 digits.

 

[MachEMaster]

The main reason I went to the dealer to order, was to get a $500 military discount applied off MSRP. I would have preferred an online order, so that I was able to track the scheduling on my own. I did keep in constant contact with the sales person to get updates. He said they review customer orders every Thursday. There was no action from me to get Park Assist Prep Kit. I still don’t know if there was any action required by the dealership on that. I ordered 24 Jan 2022, in Production 12 Apr 2022, and nothing since…..

 

[RickMachE]

The main reason I went to the dealer to order, was to get a $500 military discount applied off MSRP. I would have preferred an online order, so that I was able to track the scheduling on my own. I did keep in constant contact with the sales person to get updates. He said they review customer orders every Thursday. There was no action from me to get Park Assist Prep Kit. I still don’t know if there was any action required by the dealership on that. I ordered 24 Jan 2022, in Production 12 Apr 2022, and nothing since…..

Discounts like military, first responder, recent college graduate, and plans (A/Z/D/X) are applied at time of purchase, not time of order.

 

[Astro19]

Hi all,

I placed an online order on August 14 2021 for a Select, RWD, Shadow Black MME. I immediately got an email confirmation about the order being accepted. Looking online at my reservation, the order was both 'Sent to Dealer' and 'Accepted by Dealer'. I figured things were on the right track.

On October 1 I got an email notification from Ford noting a change in my order:

Your 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select is being converted to a 2022 model year. Rest assured, your place in line has not been affected by this update. We've simply reached our production capacity for the 2021 model year, so we're updating your order. Please note: Your dealer will be in contact to verify your order specifications. If you wish to make any other updates to your order at that time, your dealer will be ready to help.​

I didn't hear anything from the dealer but I figured at the time "2022 is newer than 2021 so, great!"...

I got another email a month or so ago from Ford indicating my order had been updated. I thought it was moving to 'in production' - but nope. I couldn't find anything clear to me in the update indicating what the change was. Reading through the forums I suppose it was the Park Assist? It's not on my order (but I really don't know if I had it in the first place).

Yesterday I finally called the dealership, trying to find out if they had a status update for me. The sales rep looked into it and called me back. He told me that the delay was with supply chain issues (which is understandable) and that the car will be scheduled for production by the end of May.

Interestingly enough, not long after I talk to the sales rep I got two separate emails from Ford. The first was a status update - but again, the change isn't clear to me. The second email was an email confirmation:

Congratulations on ordering your all‑new Mustang Mach-E SEL! Your order has been placed with Ford Motor Company on your behalf by Ken Garff West Valley Ford.​

My suspicion is that the dealer dropped the ball on this (or, maybe I dropped the ball by being too patient? After all, my 2006 Corolla is still kicking along...).

So my question: Is this experience par for the course, or are my suspicions correct? Would I have avoided this wait if I worked with someone at the dealership as opposed to just doing this at home on my own?

Something isn't right. I ordered the same car in December and was told a 21. Then a few weeks later changed to a 22.

Got my car at the end of March...

 

[dmastro]

OP it seems to me your order was processed last year, hence the email update you received from Ford corporate last October, and then the email that we all received last month. Maybe they just updated something in the system following your call, which caused the email you received recently.

 

[MachEMaster]

Discounts like military, first responder, recent college graduate, and plans (A/Z/D/X) are applied at time of purchase, not time of order.

Yes but I had an offer to purchase drawn up by the dealer with the Canadian Military discount, and the Provincial rebate, all written on it, when I put down my $1k. deposit. I just like to have things in actual “writing”.

 

[DancerFresh]

If they didn't reach out, and didn't confirm the order, and you didn't see your order in the system change to a 2022, then it would seem that nothing happened and your order didn't process until they just put it in.​

I do recall seeing it change from 2021 to 2022 on their website.

You are your best advocate for yourself, Dealers are hired help. Ball has been dropped and if you have a May build I would call it lucky.​

Absolutely. While I'm super annoyed with how this whole process has played out, ultimately it was on me to follow up with Ford/the dealership.

Something isn't right. I ordered the same car in December and was told a 21. Then a few weeks later changed to a 22.​

​

Got my car at the end of March...​

Yup. That's what's so frustrating. I'm fine waiting several more months *if* I know my order hasn't just disappeared into the ether.

OP it seems to me your order was processed last year, hence the email update you received from Ford corporate last October, and then the email that we all received last month. Maybe they just updated something in the system following your call, which caused the email you received recently.​

That's kind of what I'm thinking but with the lack of communication I just want to be sure there's movement on my order.

Sponsored