Looking for advise on avoiding last minute dealer markups

[Krazymonkey]

Hi all!

I ordered my 2022 Mach E online many months ago and now the car has finally been delivered to the dealer. I just received the call today and plan on picking it up in a couple days.

I only paid the $500 booking deposit online and was shown the full price including options etc. I plan on using the Ford balloon financing option.

I've heard some stories of dealers being shady with last min markups etc. How do I avoid this? Would appreciate any tips....or stories on how your recent pickup went.

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[AKgrampy]

At this point I would just suggest keeping your fingers crossed! Do you have a copy of the approved order? (Not the reservation with Ford - the order with the dealer) if you do have a copy and it does not indicate ADM it would be helpful. Bottom-line is there is not much you can do at this point but go in and see. I spoke with the sales manager several times about price protection and Ford Options prior to my Mach’s arrival.

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

Hi all!

I ordered my 2022 Mach E online many months ago and now the car has finally been delivered to the dealer. I just received the call today and plan on picking it up in a couple days.

I only paid the $500 booking deposit online and was shown the full price including options etc. I plan on using the Ford balloon financing option.

I've heard some stories of dealers being shady with last min markups etc. How do I avoid this? Would appreciate any tips....or stories on how your recent pickup went.

Based on the experience of a few others, I would suggest you go to the dealership sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the more likely the dealership will be shopping your car around to others. If they find someone else willing to pay ADM, they'll likely put the squeeze on you.

Good luck!

 

[yngwenli]

It's also important what dealership it is. Some dealerships are shady and will do anything for an ADM. Some are very honest and will just not cheat anyone so there's nothing to worry about at all.

It's night and day probably depending on the dealership. If it's the dealership that someone had their car sold from under them, then yes, expect problems if it's at the same place as that person.

 

[SnBGC]

It's also important what dealership it is. Some dealerships are shady and will do anything for an ADM. Some are very honest and will just not cheat anyone so there's nothing to worry about at all.

It's night and day probably depending on the dealership. If it's the dealership that someone had their car sold from under them, then yes, expect problems if it's at the same place as that person.

My dealer was honest and reasonable when I bought the Mach-E but then changed business practices when it came time to order the Lightning. My only solution to ensure they don't rape we with ADM and other charges is to not buy the vehicle.

I ordered a Rivian in hopes that the price agreed upon up front ends up being the price I pay when it arrives.
If I had to replace my Mach-E, then I would order a Polestar 2 for that same reason.

Dealerships can't be trusted right now.

 

[RickMachE]

My dealer was honest and reasonable when I bought the Mach-E but then changed business practices when it came time to order the Lightning. My only solution to ensure they don't rape we with ADM and other charges is to not buy the vehicle.

I ordered a Rivian in hopes that the price agreed upon up front ends up being the price I pay when it arrives.
If I had to replace my Mach-E, then I would order a Polestar 2 for that same reason.

Dealerships can't be trusted right now.

That's a very broad statement to make.

If you go to your doctor, and he charges you twice what he did last time, do you then say "doctors can't be trusted right now?"

I was at my dealership yesterday looking over my 2022 which will be ready early this week. I deal directly with the GM. This dealership was written up in the Wall Street Journal because they don't charge above sticker. Period. https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-...ldjq8thsly4&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

We discussed how auto dealers are painted with a broad brush, and quite unfairly. I didn't have to ask any pricing questions, he handed me the October invoice with the A-Plan price circled, and the $750 rebate printed out, as well as the financing rate from last year.

Yes, SOME dealerships are untrustworthy on multiple fronts, including pushing maintenance that's not needed.

Several years ago, my F-150 had a software update for a potential failure of the lead frame, which could cause it to downshift to first gear at any speed. I came in, and they went to write up the order, and saw that the recall had been changed since I made the appointment, and my vehicle was now not included until they made another software change (software, in a 2013). The Service Writer, not the Service Manager, said "I'm very sorry we didn't catch this. When you come back in, we'll fill your tank up." When I came back in, I came with a nearly empty 36 gallon tank. They didn't bat an eye, and filled it and did the recall.

Some dealerships are bad.
Some dealerships don't care.
Some dealerships do care, and aren't bad. In fact, they're good.

 

[4sallypat]

Don't forget to have them include the $750 point of sale rebate (Clean Fuel rebate).

And make sure the dealer does not add junky accessories such as $1000 LoJack, $500 paint protection, $250 clear plastic door guards, $200 nitrogen tire fill, etc..

 

[SnBGC]

That's a very broad statement to make.

If you go to your doctor, and he charges you twice what he did last time, do you then say "doctors can't be trusted right now?"

I was at my dealership yesterday looking over my 2022 which will be ready early this week. I deal directly with the GM. This dealership was written up in the Wall Street Journal because they don't charge above sticker. Period. https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-...ldjq8thsly4&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

We discussed how auto dealers are painted with a broad brush, and quite unfairly. I didn't have to ask any pricing questions, he handed me the October invoice with the A-Plan price circled, and the $750 rebate printed out, as well as the financing rate from last year.

Yes, SOME dealerships are untrustworthy on multiple fronts, including pushing maintenance that's not needed.

Several years ago, my F-150 had a software update for a potential failure of the lead frame, which could cause it to downshift to first gear at any speed. I came in, and they went to write up the order, and saw that the recall had been changed since I made the appointment, and my vehicle was now not included until they made another software change (software, in a 2013). The Service Writer, not the Service Manager, said "I'm very sorry we didn't catch this. When you come back in, we'll fill your tank up." When I came back in, I came with a nearly empty 36 gallon tank. They didn't bat an eye, and filled it and did the recall.

Some dealerships are bad.
Some dealerships don't care.
Some dealerships do care, and aren't bad. In fact, they're good.

What I am trying to say is people can be trusted but not the dealership as a whole. The ownership makes decisions that the employees may not agree with and may be powerless to do anything about it. In the end the customer better protect themselves because the "dealership" isn't watching out for the customer's best interests. Individual people at said dealership may be honorable and trustworthy but it wouldn't be wise to extend that trust to the entire dealership as a whole. Especially if the dealership is part of a larger ownership group.

 

[Cm12]

That's a very broad statement to make.

If you go to your doctor, and he charges you twice what he did last time, do you then say "doctors can't be trusted right now?"

I was at my dealership yesterday looking over my 2022 which will be ready early this week. I deal directly with the GM. This dealership was written up in the Wall Street Journal because they don't charge above sticker. Period. https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-...ldjq8thsly4&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

We discussed how auto dealers are painted with a broad brush, and quite unfairly. I didn't have to ask any pricing questions, he handed me the October invoice with the A-Plan price circled, and the $750 rebate printed out, as well as the financing rate from last year.

Yes, SOME dealerships are untrustworthy on multiple fronts, including pushing maintenance that's not needed.

Several years ago, my F-150 had a software update for a potential failure of the lead frame, which could cause it to downshift to first gear at any speed. I came in, and they went to write up the order, and saw that the recall had been changed since I made the appointment, and my vehicle was now not included until they made another software change (software, in a 2013). The Service Writer, not the Service Manager, said "I'm very sorry we didn't catch this. When you come back in, we'll fill your tank up." When I came back in, I came with a nearly empty 36 gallon tank. They didn't bat an eye, and filled it and did the recall.

Some dealerships are bad.
Some dealerships don't care.
Some dealerships do care, and aren't bad. In fact, they're good.

The fact that your dealership was in the WSJ because they don’t charge ADM is kind of proving the point. Some are good, sure, but I’ve not come across many in my lifetime. Many family members and friends have worked in the car sales industry and that’s part of the reason I haven’t personally been screwed, although many have tried. Unfortunately, that’s how the car sales industry works.

 

[RickMachE]

What I am trying to say is people can be trusted but not the dealership as a whole. The ownership makes decisions that the employees may not agree with and may be powerless to do anything about it. In the end the customer better protect themselves because the "dealership" isn't watching out for the customer's best interests. Individual people at said dealership may be honorable and trustworthy but it wouldn't be wise to extend that trust to the entire dealership as a whole. Especially if the dealership is part of a larger ownership group.

True of any business.

 

[SnBGC]

That's a very broad statement to make.

If you go to your doctor, and he charges you twice what he did last time, do you then say "doctors can't be trusted right now?"

No.
But if I make an appointment with my doctor to be seen early in the day and when I arrive they say there are now 25 other people they placed ahead of me because they agreed to pay $5,000 to $20,000 in top of the normal charges......then I would say they can't be trusted.

Or if I make an appointment to be seen and they call to say a spot opened to be seen at an earlier day or time but I will need to pay $5,000 for it.....then I would say they can't be trusted.

Or if they try and charge you for things that should be covered under your health plan and then take it back after you call them on it......then I would say they can't be trusted.

My dealer did all these things. Like I suspected they might. The dealer in question normally treats me quite well and I believed that was how they treated all their customers but I became suspicious when I shared the contact number with @macchiaz-o for the glass recall.

Jonathan's dealer was telling him 6 or 8 weeks to get the parts where my dealer was saying I could bring my car in that same day. In fact, my dealer called me 2 or 3 times to schedule the glass and I was just too busy. He literally told me that I could drop it off the next morning and it would be ready later that afternoon. I couldn't make that time but Jonathan called him 5 minutes later and he said he was booked out for several weeks.

Hmmmm?

So I decided to test things a bit further and see what happens. I didn't mention anything about my very very very early Lightning reservation to see what would happen. Instead of getting a slot at MSRP like would have happened if I had worked with the sales Mgr directly.....I was contacted by a lower level sales associate and included in the mass e-mail they sent out to reservation holders. When I responded to her, she disclosed the various package levels that were available (and mandatory) to be added on top of MSRP. Of course I didn't respond and not to my surprise, my priority level was assigned by the dealer as #31 on their list.

After the dust settled, I contacted the sales manager and explained why I was taking my business elsewhere. He said I should have contacted him first and he would have made sure I was part of the first group to order the Lightning and would have worked with me on the additional mandatory packages.

I don't think my business is any more important than the next person. We all should be treated the same. Part of the reason why I am looking to buy a Rivian is they won't move me in front of some other customer that placed their order ahead of me (assuming similar spec vehicle). That seems fair to me. What the Ford dealers are doing now doesn't appear to be fair. Did you see the Lightning for sale in Thousand Oaks CA for $145k?

 

[SnBGC]

True of any business.

Yes. Buyer beware.
What is not true of every business is agreed upon price suddenly changing when it comes time to take delivery.

 

[macchiaz-o]

Hi all!

I ordered my 2022 Mach E online many months ago and now the car has finally been delivered to the dealer. I just received the call today and plan on picking it up in a couple days.

I only paid the $500 booking deposit online and was shown the full price including options etc. I plan on using the Ford balloon financing option.

I've heard some stories of dealers being shady with last min markups etc. How do I avoid this? Would appreciate any tips....or stories on how your recent pickup went.

The big thing for me was to make sure to get my concerns responded to in writing (emails) with my salesperson, before I'd even show up. The saleswoman I worked with was really great about responding to my concerns in writing and she was always direct and precise about it, too.

Next, I made a spreadsheet and brought my laptop with me to the dealer just so I could verify all the numbers on the sales contract and loan application. Everything lined up very well, so this was a huge anxiety relief for me, too.

Here's a version of the spreadsheet in case you'd like to try it:

https://www.macheforum.com/site/posts/92089/

 

[yngwenli]

True of any business.

Just google or look anywhere for the least trustworthy professions. Car salespeople are almost always near the bottom. I think it is sad and agree with you that not all are like that, but a lot are for the public to have such low confidence in that profession as a whole. Just look at some of the stories here.

Part of it is their fault, but no one would bat an eye when they hear "Sleazy car salesmen" and for me, I mentally feel like to shop for a car, it's a mental exercise and a fight to not get ripped off. Pretty sad if you think about it.

Some links found in 5 seconds:

https://stacker.com/stories/2459/least-trusted-professions-america

https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallm...sted-professions-infographic/?sh=22d648937e94

https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/...professions-in-the-world-608564/?singlepage=1

 

[Cm12]

Just google or look anywhere for the least trustworthy professions. Car salespeople are almost always near the bottom. I think it is sad and agree with you that not all are like that, but a lot are for the public to have such low confidence in that profession as a whole. Just look at some of the stories here.

Part of it is their fault, but no one would bat an eye when they hear "Sleazy car salesmen" and for me, I mentally feel like to shop for a car, it's a mental exercise and a fight to not get ripped off. Pretty sad if you think about it.

Some links found in 5 seconds:

https://stacker.com/stories/2459/least-trusted-professions-america

https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallm...sted-professions-infographic/?sh=22d648937e94

https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/...professions-in-the-world-608564/?singlepage=1

Car sales is an industry where you can make huge paychecks if you can close deals. It requires no formal education and minimal training. Basically, you just need a valid DL and no criminal history. Thus, it attracts people who want to get rich quickly and (likely) didn’t have the drive to succeed in a profession that requires training or formal education. GM’s get paid when they sell cars, however that happens, so they have an incentive to encourage sleazy sales tactics. Car salesman turnover is extremely high as well because salesmen are so easy to replace if they aren’t making sales. And not to mention how much substance abuse goes on in the industry…it just attracts a lot of bad people, probably a disproportionate amount compared to other professions with higher barriers to entry and less incentives to do sleazy things.

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