Dealer sold my reserved car

[Avelli]

For some people, their time to get a car from out of state and drive it back to their state is worth it to avoid having to give extra money to owner of the dealership so the owner can make their boat payment that month. It's the principle of the matter. And other people are happy to pay the extra $5K to get the car right now.

Plus CVRP is not applicable if you bought the car out of state (for us CA folk), so there's another $2k thrown away.

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[devmach-e]

Plus CVRP is not applicable if you bought the car out of state (for us CA folk), so there's another $2k thrown away.

Sadly I was denied the ability to claim the CVRP. They changed the income limits before I could take possession of the car. Had the car finished being built, and shipped on time, I might've gotten in. Oh well.

 

[2bOR]

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.

Same dealership, same thing happened this week. Ordered in Nov. 2021, placed the deposit, car arrived second week of July. Had told the dealership I was going to be out of town and will be picking up once I was back. Came back called the dealer the next day as I had received the notification from Ford that it had been delivered. They gave me excuses about the software update, shor staffed. I went in person to get an explanation. Called again a few days later to get an update. Same excuse about the software update said it would take at most two weeks.
Then over the weekend I go online to the Ford profile, and see the notification that the vehicle status had changed to sold (the same they I had spoken to the dealer and they said there would be a 2 week delay at most). I called this week and they have been avoiding me, no returned calls. Followed up with Ford and they confirmed the VIN number is under someone else's name, confirming it was sold to someone else. The dealer has yet to refund my deposit. These are despicable/disgusting practices. I will write negative reviews and tell people to avoid this dealership at all cost!

 

[CompilerBreak]

Same dealership, same thing happened this week. Ordered in Nov. 2021, placed the deposit, car arrived second week of July. Had told the dealership I was going to be out of town and will be picking up once I was back. Came back called the dealer the next day as I had received the notification from Ford that it had been delivered. They gave me excuses about the software update, shor staffed. I went in person to get an explanation. Called again a few days later to get an update. Same excuse about the software update said it would take at most two weeks.
Then over the weekend I go online to the Ford profile, and see the notification that the vehicle status had changed to sold (the same they I had spoken to the dealer and they said there would be a 2 week delay at most). I called this week and they have been avoiding me, no returned calls. Followed up with Ford and they confirmed the VIN number is under someone else's name, confirming it was sold to someone else. The dealer has yet to refund my deposit. These are despicable/disgusting practices. I will write negative reviews and tell people to avoid this dealership at all cost!

Consumer Complaint Against A Business/Company | State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Same dealership, same thing happened this week. Ordered in Nov. 2021, placed the deposit, car arrived second week of July. Had told the dealership I was going to be out of town and will be picking up once I was back. Came back called the dealer the next day as I had received the notification from Ford that it had been delivered. They gave me excuses about the software update, shor staffed. I went in person to get an explanation. Called again a few days later to get an update. Same excuse about the software update said it would take at most two weeks.
Then over the weekend I go online to the Ford profile, and see the notification that the vehicle status had changed to sold (the same they I had spoken to the dealer and they said there would be a 2 week delay at most). I called this week and they have been avoiding me, no returned calls. Followed up with Ford and they confirmed the VIN number is under someone else's name, confirming it was sold to someone else. The dealer has yet to refund my deposit. These are despicable/disgusting practices. I will write negative reviews and tell people to avoid this dealership at all cost!

Consumer Complaint Against A Business/Company | State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General

Add this one to your list. Scroll down to the Customer Experience Officers and write them. Also tag Jim Farley on Twitter.

https://www.elliott.org/company-contacts/ford/

 

[StillWaitingForMachE]

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.

If they don't have explicit permission from you to cancel the order, even if they refunded the deposit I'm pretty sure they broke the law. That $500 is consideration, making the contract legally binding on both parties. I suggest you lawyer up.

 

[StillWaitingForMachE]

I had my dealer tell me something similar. After ordering and then reading all the stories on this forum I called my dealer and they said there was nothing to sign, "I'm in the system". So I went in the next week and tried to see if there was anything they would print for me to sign. They said there wasn't and they'd honor MSRP as it was a special order. I had put down a $1,500 deposit so I'll be pretty annoyed if I get screwed in a few weeks. I really hope that doesn't happen because I do think the Mach-E GT will be a fun car to have and make sitting in CA traffic more enjoyable. If they honor the price I'll be happy and will leave positive reviews on the dealership. If not, I'll be sure to let me opinions be known and then will have to move on to something else.

If it makes you feel better, I had a similar situation with my dealer. Nothing was signed, just a word of mouth promise that price and APR protection would be honored. And today I got my car. There was never even a suggestion of not honoring both Price and APR protection. My dealer was fantastic, and I plan to give them some extra business when the fix for the Ford Escape recall is ready to go.

 

[StillWaitingForMachE]

Same dealership, same thing happened this week. Ordered in Nov. 2021, placed the deposit, car arrived second week of July. Had told the dealership I was going to be out of town and will be picking up once I was back. Came back called the dealer the next day as I had received the notification from Ford that it had been delivered. They gave me excuses about the software update, shor staffed. I went in person to get an explanation. Called again a few days later to get an update. Same excuse about the software update said it would take at most two weeks.
Then over the weekend I go online to the Ford profile, and see the notification that the vehicle status had changed to sold (the same they I had spoken to the dealer and they said there would be a 2 week delay at most). I called this week and they have been avoiding me, no returned calls. Followed up with Ford and they confirmed the VIN number is under someone else's name, confirming it was sold to someone else. The dealer has yet to refund my deposit. These are despicable/disgusting practices. I will write negative reviews and tell people to avoid this dealership at all cost!

I recommend suing them. If they are really doing this, they are breaking the law.

 

[SWO]

If it makes you feel better, I had a similar situation with my dealer. Nothing was signed, just a word of mouth promise that price and APR protection would be honored. And today I got my car. There was never even a suggestion of not honoring both Price and APR protection. My dealer was fantastic, and I plan to give them some extra business when the fix for the Ford Escape recall is ready to go.

Same for me. I think some dealers just don't want to do the paperwork in case you back out.

 

[mkhuffman]

I recommend suing them. If they are really doing this, they are breaking the law.

That's only true if he has a signed order that provides the out the door price. Without that, you don't have a contract. A contract requires an offer, acceptance and consideration. Two of the three means no contract.

 

[DennisD]

That's only true if he has a signed order that provides the out the door price. Without that, you don't have a contract. A contract requires an offer, acceptance and consideration. Two of the three means no contract.

I am no lawyer and certainly don't pretend to be one but I did find this on the internet on what happens on disputes with "contracts".


"Generally, the meaning of a contract is determined by looking at the intentions of the parties at the time of the contract’s creation. When the intention of the parties is unclear, courts look to any custom and usage in a particular business and in a particular locale that might help determine the intention. For oral contracts, courts may determine the intention of the parties by considering the circumstances of the contract’s formation, as well as the course of dealing between the parties."

In any case, even if the Dealership can legally weasel out of it, it still doesn't make it right IMO. Perception is everything with a business and they (the dealership) will lose business in the long run. Short term gain but potential long term loss.

 

[Mache65]

Same dealership, same thing happened this week. Ordered in Nov. 2021, placed the deposit, car arrived second week of July. Had told the dealership I was going to be out of town and will be picking up once I was back. Came back called the dealer the next day as I had received the notification from Ford that it had been delivered. They gave me excuses about the software update, shor staffed. I went in person to get an explanation. Called again a few days later to get an update. Same excuse about the software update said it would take at most two weeks.
Then over the weekend I go online to the Ford profile, and see the notification that the vehicle status had changed to sold (the same they I had spoken to the dealer and they said there would be a 2 week delay at most). I called this week and they have been avoiding me, no returned calls. Followed up with Ford and they confirmed the VIN number is under someone else's name, confirming it was sold to someone else. The dealer has yet to refund my deposit. These are despicable/disgusting practices. I will write negative reviews and tell people to avoid this dealership at all cost!

i think you can open a case with BBB

 

[PilotMark]

I don't pick up my MME until early Sept. I signed all the paperwork at the Ford Dealer. They have been great so far and they have a strong reputation. I expect them to follow what we agreed to in writing back in January.

Good luck with getting this resolved enough that you feel better. Get all the important stuff in writing.

 

[2bOR]

That's only true if he has a signed order that provides the out the door price. Without that, you don't have a contract. A contract requires an offer, acceptance and consideration. Two of the three means no contract.

You mean the online order? That I have, but nothing with wet signature as I would think that is once you actually go to do the final purchase. That final purchase is what they gave me the runaround while they sold it.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

You mean the online order? That I have, but nothing with wet signature as I would think that is once you actually go to do the final purchase. That final purchase is what they gave me the runaround while they sold it.

I signed a New Vehicle Buyer’s Order with my dealership that specified out the door pricing. I also received a Vehicle Order Summary that showed Msrp, invoice and x-plan pricing as well as my order number. All this was done on Oct 2nd, my order date, at a time when Ford didn’t have x-plan pricing on 2022s yet (we used 2021 pricing). Then on Oct 21st, x-plan pricing was released, so I asked the dealer to update all pricing info and we both signed the same set of papers.

10 days ago, I picked up my vehicle. Zero discussion about price protection, x-plan, active park assist discount, incentives, etc…because I had a legally binding contract.

I only provide the above so others know that dealers who say we can’t look up info, we can’t provide OTD pricing until VIN is known, you will get paid when we get paid, etc, etc are dishonest and are lying to you. Honest dealers will provide you with a contract that spells out the terms of the deal. If they are unwilling to do it, walk. I was going to order online like many did. Don’t order online. Go to a store, sign on paper and get a copy for your records. If you want to order from your iPhone, buy from Tesla, not Ford, GM or other traditional car companies.

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