Dealership attempted markup and then sold my reserved MachE to someone else in under 48 hours

[sukhoi_584th]

Unfortunately from a legal standpoint, Ford has nothing to do with it. It’s stated, very clearly, in many places, that the price you pay is between you and the dealer.

Oh I definitely understand the legal aspect of it, and all the crazy dealer vs automaker laws. However, Ford chooses to have their trademarked logo on the building, all the sales literature, etc. Ford is very closely involved in the whole situation, so they get the blame.

That is in contrast to just about any other sales situation where the manufacturer usually sells to a distributor, who then sells to a retailer. Nobody gets mad at Samsung when Jimbob's Appliance & TV screws them over because it's obvious Samsung has no influence over Jimbob's business practices.

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[ponEpwr]

What happened to OP? One and done?

 

[shanky2008]

This is very bad situation where the end buyer cannot do much.
Ford can certainly take action and stop sending new vechiles to this delaer and maybe cancel their association with this dealership and blacklist them. (not sure if that is possible).

 

[SaulGoodman]

They told me they read this forum, so I think they will be accepting more wishes.

Most of the dealerships won't sign anything before the delivery, or if they do there will be a contingency clause basically negating the agreement at their discretion.

The point is more to have a little leverage so that they have to decide if it’s worth it to them to make a bad PR/business decision in going back on a customer promise. If you’re asking to document it, you’re likely to share it if they do you dirty on it. Some don’t want that. Others are big enough that it won’t have the slightest impact.

 

[JohnE]

Beware of shady dealers, especially Frontier Ford in Santa Clara, CA. They added a $10K markup, and then sold my reserved car to someone else without telling me (and blamed me for it), all in less than 48 hours. I imagine @Ford Motor Company may be interested in this.

Executive Contacts
Primary Contact
Jim Azzouz
Director, Customer Experience
1 American Road
Dearborn, MI 48126
[email protected]

Secondary Contact
Elena Ford
Chief Customer Experience Officer
1 American Road
Dearborn, MI 48126
[email protected]

 

[nvabill]

What happened to OP? One and done?

I'm not even sure the OP is legit or that his story is, literally joined the day he left his one and only message and then gone, go figure! ?

 

[Mach1E]

I'm not even sure the OP is legit or that his story is, literally joined the day he left his one and only message and then gone, go figure! ?

Legit or not, he definitely dropped a turd in the punch bowl.

Based on other peoples experiences with the same dealer….. sounds quite legit.

 

[mateo]

He doesn't have a car now. Can't get to work. Lost his job. Couldn't make his house payment. Now homeless with no internet access to give us the update. ?

 

[nomilk]

I had very similar experience with Frontier Ford. I ordered the car last Nov. before the price increase. My car is currently listed on their website with a markup of $15k. I even got Ford Options financing approved during online checkout process.
I wrote google review, contacted Ford on twitter, and filed BBB. I don’t think these actions will help me get the car but believe I should do so to let more people avoid Frontier Ford.

 

[nvabill]

Legit or not, he definitely dropped a turd in the punch bowl.

Based on other peoples experiences with the same dealer….. sounds quite legit.

Perhaps but honestly it won’t change a thing.

 

[Mach1E]

Perhaps but honestly it won’t change a thing.

It may help “the next person” with access to google.

 

[sukhoi_584th]

Legit or not, he definitely dropped a turd in the punch bowl.

Based on other peoples experiences with the same dealer….. sounds quite legit.

Sort the Google reviews by recent. It's crazy to read.

 

[Auto Motive]

Beware of shady dealers, especially Frontier Ford in Santa Clara, CA. They added a $10K markup, and then sold my reserved car to someone else without telling me (and blamed me for it), all in less than 48 hours. I imagine @Ford Motor Company may be interested in this.

Details:

1. I place my online Mach E order in December 2021.
2. Dealership informs me my car arrived on Friday, 9/30.
3. I go in on Sat 10/1 and I learn of the $10K markup (more than 17%). I ask to speak to the GM.
4. They tell me the GM and sales manager are out of office that day until Wednesday, so they agree to have leadership call me first thing Monday to "see what they can do."
5. I agree and leave, and I email the salesperson as soon as I get home on Saturday to recap our conversation and say, in writing, "I look forward to speaking with your senior leadership on Monday to work this issue out when they call me. As mentioned please do not release the hold on my reservation until I speak with them.”
6. They sell my car the next day, Sun 10/2, without contacting me at all, after I waited nine months for it.
7. I email leadership (GM and sales manager) on Monday, under the impression it's still my car, and find out they sold it, and they blame me for it, saying "You said you didn't want it!"
8. After more useless back and forth, I ask the sales manager how it feels to be engaging in price gouging knowing that Ford is trying to clamp down on dealerships that do it. He replies, "I don't care. We are not Ford."

I have documentation and "receipts", including emails and voicemails, refuting every defense and changing story they have tried to give so far. I also reached out to the local news and Ford executive leadership. I wanted to spread the word to everyone in this community to be wary of this kind of thing. Be very careful which dealership you choose for your Mach E. Get everything in writing, and signed. And if nothing else, choose any dealership other than Frontier Ford in Santa Clara, CA.

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/frontier-f...opup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

Google Reviews: http://google.com/search?q=frontier+ford+santa+clara

When my wife ordered her GTPE in 2020 she called our local Ford dealer and received an email that they would honor the msrp $69200
Picked up car Oct 2021. Shultz Ford Wexford Pa and to this day honors msrp. My daughter bought a new 2012 challenger srt8. In 2013 on line from Landmark Dodge in GA. And honored the negotiated $10000 discount on a leftover. All in email confirmations. Sorry about you looking it. But paying more let's dealers off the hook.

 

[Phil Martin]

This thread is another reason why I have no desire to purchase any vehicle until everything slows down, the EV mania ends and demand/supply balances out.

 

[Mach1E]

This thread is another reason why I have no desire to purchase any vehicle until everything slows down, the EV mania ends and demand/supply balances out.

If price is really your only concern…..

Just order one at MSRP from a reputable dealer. You can easily do that now.

What the OP experienced isn’t “the norm” at other dealers.

There is a reason why scary stories “make the news headlines…….” It’s because they’re uncommon.

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