Dealer sold my reserved car

[car_driver_guy]

Pretty sure that if you get a lawyer involved, they broke the contract and probably some laws. Up to you how much of a headache you want to take on. I'd at least contract the BBB or other local government office that handles consumer protection.

Probably not worth it and I doubt there is much of a legal case. It just sucks.

if you placed an order and left a deposit and received the VIN on the vehicle, if they don't return or acknowledge the deposit that may be theft of services you can hit them with. I hope you have a record of the deposit. You credit card should have it on it or cancelled check etc...I also thought they the "signing" of acceptance by the dealer is the same for everyone when you have to electronically "sign" something? You won't get that car back but can give them a huge headache and make them locate one for you etc....

They refunded the deposit on 4/30 AFTER they sold the car to someone else on 4/29.

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[car_driver_guy]

I went through my buying experience 100% through Ford's website. I had some emails exchanged with the salesperson at the dealer, but I have nothing 'signed' with them. Ford took my deposit through their website. It's six months and I still don't have a production date, but things like this make me a bit worried.

Not sure what happened with the OP, if he had actual signed paperwork with the dealer, but in my case, I don't think I'd have any recourse if they were to pull this. I've heard from people repeatedly, got copies of anything you've signed, but I can't do that. Nothing I have from Ford even has the original price or options on it.

I asked them about signing paperwork and locking in financing early, and I was told that the paperwork could not be signed until the dealer received the vehicle.

The day after my order I went in a signed a real purchase contract with numbers down to the penny.

If you have the an original contract print everything and bring it to a lawyer. If you do not have the original, well not much for it.

No signed contract unfortunately as the dealership said there could be nothing done until the car arrived.

 

[ChuckA]

Yelp, dealer rater, CarGurus, truecar, Edmunds, kellybb, BBB, review them all. That's ridiculous.

Don’t forget to file a complaint with the CA Dept of Consumer Protection.

 

[Socalsp3]

Hit 'em hard so Ford doesn't send them anymore MMEs. That would save a lot of other people from their shinanigan

 

[RickMachE]

I went through my buying experience 100% through Ford's website. I had some emails exchanged with the salesperson at the dealer, but I have nothing 'signed' with them. Ford took my deposit through their website. It's six months and I still don't have a production date, but things like this make me a bit worried.

Not sure what happened with the OP, if he had actual signed paperwork with the dealer, but in my case, I don't think I'd have any recourse if they were to pull this. I've heard from people repeatedly, got copies of anything you've signed, but I can't do that. Nothing I have from Ford even has the original price or options on it.

Simply ask the dealership to print the original DORA, sign it, and send it to you.

 

[car_driver_guy]

Simply ask the dealership to print the original DORA, sign it, and send it to you.

Good idea for SuperRob. In my case the dealership claimed that their DORA system was not set up such that the DORA could be printed during the original time of order. So price protection could not be honored. How convenient...

 

[Drock2k1]

Sharing my experience about a local shady dealership (Putnam Ford of San Mateo, CA).

I ordered a Mustang Mach-E online on 8/17/21, placed a $500 deposit, and assigned the car to a local dealership. I was told on 4/26/22 afternoon that the car had arrived. The salesperson and manager told me it would be fine to pick it up on 4/29 afternoon. They said they would NOT honor Ford's price protection policy, despite telling me months earlier that they would try to, so I would need to pay $2000 more than the initial order price from 2021. I asked if I could sign paperwork on 4/29 and take receipt of the car, and the salesperson and manager said that would be fine. Instead, I was sent a contract via email on 4/27 which did not include my initial deposit. They did not provide a corrected contract when asked. I did not sign this. I spoke with the owner on the morning of 4/29 who threatened to cancel my order, but also said he would have his staff look into the situation and reach out to me. When I did not hear back I started calling the dealership to let them know I was coming over, but nobody would pick up the phone. I was finally able to reach someone in the afternoon, when I was told that nobody could handle the paperwork that day, and also the car was no longer on the lot. I was told on 4/30 they had actually sold the car to someone else on 4/29 in the morning.

I know these cars are in high demand but this feels totally crazy to me. They wanted to charge me more than the expected price. They threatened to sell the car if I didn't pick it up ASAP, and ended up selling it before 72 hours had elapsed, without my consent or knowledge. They also ghosted me so that they could sell the car to someone else. The deposit and reservation and order seem totally worthless.

The owner doesn't seem to think he did anything wrong, and he is currently offering to sell me a future vehicle with usual dealer markup (LOL)

I left some bad reviews online, and I opened a complaint with Ford corporate but they said they could take up to 30 days to get a response from the dealer.

Good grief! It’s garbage like this that gives dealerships a bad name and makes me wish that all manufactures would move to the Tesla model of ordering cars. It’s sad because there are a ton of legit folks who would be out of jobs. Sorry to hear about this.

 

[Regularmache]

Good idea for SuperRob. In my case the dealership claimed that their DORA system was not set up such that the DORA could be printed during the original time of order. So price protection could not be honored. How convenient...

Of course it can't...

 

[Phil-Springs]

Probably not worth it and I doubt there is much of a legal case. It just sucks.



They refunded the deposit on 4/30 AFTER they sold the car to someone else on 4/29.

Yep .. I understand the difference between illegal and wrong. Theory vs practice

 

[Mach1E]

Probably not worth it and I doubt there is much of a legal case. It just sucks.



They refunded the deposit on 4/30 AFTER they sold the car to someone else on 4/29.

Sorry, this situation sucks after waiting so long.

And unfortunately I think you’re right. Not much you can do legally. You would say they broke the contract. They would say you broke the contract (by not paying MSRP or whatever) and in the end you would get nothing because nothing was lost. You got your deposit back.

That said, according to people “in the know,” the dealer can’t sell the car you ordered to anyone else until 7 days have passed from when it arrives at the dealership per Ford’s rules.

I would go to Ford corporate to file an official complaint, then see if they can locate a cancelled order at a DIFFERENT dealership for you.

 

[Jbkimmel]

Good grief! It’s garbage like this that gives dealerships a bad name and makes me wish that all manufactures would move to the Tesla model of ordering cars. It’s sad because there are a ton of legit folks who would be out of jobs. Sorry to hear about this.

Almost every car manufacturer sells via dealerships, and once they go that way (as most did many decades ago), state laws prevent them from competing against “their” dealers. So they’re stuck with this model forever unless each state legislature bucks their powerful auto dealer lobby and changes the law.

Tesla had the benefit of never having a dealership model and going instead with online orders and galleries, and so it isn’t trapped by the same state laws. Although dealers have sued, saying Tesla’s model is an illegal work-around.

Question: Does it seem like the worst dealer stories come from California? I know it has vastly more EV sales than any other state but even so, are CA dealers worse than others? In any case, I’m sorry for the OP - this is really miserable.

 

[swim203]

Sharing my experience about a local shady dealership (Putnam Ford of San Mateo, CA).

I ordered a Mustang Mach-E online on 8/17/21, placed a $500 deposit, and assigned the car to a local dealership. I was told on 4/26/22 afternoon that the car had arrived. The salesperson and manager told me it would be fine to pick it up on 4/29 afternoon. They said they would NOT honor Ford's price protection policy, despite telling me months earlier that they would try to, so I would need to pay $2000 more than the initial order price from 2021. I asked if I could sign paperwork on 4/29 and take receipt of the car, and the salesperson and manager said that would be fine. Instead, I was sent a contract via email on 4/27 which did not include my initial deposit. They did not provide a corrected contract when asked. I did not sign this. I spoke with the owner on the morning of 4/29 who threatened to cancel my order, but also said he would have his staff look into the situation and reach out to me. When I did not hear back I started calling the dealership to let them know I was coming over, but nobody would pick up the phone. I was finally able to reach someone in the afternoon, when I was told that nobody could handle the paperwork that day, and also the car was no longer on the lot. I was told on 4/30 they had actually sold the car to someone else on 4/29 in the morning.

I know these cars are in high demand but this feels totally crazy to me. They wanted to charge me more than the expected price. They threatened to sell the car if I didn't pick it up ASAP, and ended up selling it before 72 hours had elapsed, without my consent or knowledge. They also ghosted me so that they could sell the car to someone else. The deposit and reservation and order seem totally worthless.

The owner doesn't seem to think he did anything wrong, and he is currently offering to sell me a future vehicle with usual dealer markup (LOL)

I left some bad reviews online, and I opened a complaint with Ford corporate but they said they could take up to 30 days to get a response from the dealer.

Sorry to hear your story. I'm also in the Bay Area and kind of wish I had done more research before placing my order. I'm expecting my Mach-E GT to come in later this month to a dealership in the North Bay. I selected them over the South Bay because I know there's a lot of dealerships taking advantage of us along the Peninsula. I'll be very annoyed if my order comes in with a mark-up or if they sell it before I go there to pick it up. If it happens, I'll be ordering something else and will never look at Ford again.

 

[Regularmache]

Good read on escalation and resolution via public awareness of a dealers less than appropriate treatment of a reservation holder. Its a bit of time on your part but only you can decide if it's worth it. This Bronco story similar to your situation has a lot of info and while I generally stay away from Jalipnik, too political for me but it's a good article.

In the end res holder hot his Bronco, even Ford PR chief, Mr Levine got involved.

https://jalopnik.com/2021-staff-pick-a-bronco-reservation-holder-tried-to-g-1847904601

 

[CarDreams]

@Ford Motor Company , please help this customer out and produce him a Mach-E with a credible dealership. The members on this form are going to be the Mach-E fan base.

 

[buzznwood]

CA dealers worse than others? In any case, I’m sorry for the OP - this is really miserable.

I don't want to tar all dealers with the same brush as there are a few good ones out here, but CA is the land of more money than sense idiots that happily pay ADM and large dealers that hoover up most of allocations as a result in some areas people have very little local options and customers are treated as such

The good dealers know the money is earned not in the sale but in the service department and have also remembered that there is are plenty of honest dealers in other states and it doesn't cost anything deal with them over the internet and it really is not much hassle to get a vehicle drop shipped or fly out and enjoy the drive back.

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