Dealer Fear while Waiting, what to do?

[bbulkow]

Great, I put in an order for a 2023, I'm playing the waiting game, trying not to log into ford's website every day.

Now that I realize I'll be waiting a lot longer than 3 or 4 months (I put in about Oct 7), checking in on the build date groups and seeing when their reservations are from, I'm getting more nervous about "my" dealer messing with me, deciding on a $12,000++ fee, selling the car out from under me, etc. It looks like from their in-inventory 2022 they're putting 12k surcharge on.

If I was waiting a few months, well, OK, I could order a polestar or something, but after waiting 6 months, they'll have a lot of leverage. Wait times are likely to be high for other cars too (like they still are for teslas, my friend says they aren't allowing orders for extended range 3's at the moment).

I did my research about dealerships near me, and I've gone with one of the more reputable ones (Serramonte in Daly City, CA), but I understand Morgan Hill is better.

My options seem to be:

1) lump it and wait and hope for a clean experience, and that Ford gets stricter with dealers by then

2) Ask the dealer (in writing) if they will honor MSRP

3) Call Ford and get my reservation moved to Morgan Hill (which has "we honor MSRP" in huge letters on the website)
[ or move the reservation only if my current dealer won't commit in writing ]

Questions!

1) How likely I am to get f*ed by the dealer? I know the answer is "depends on the dealer" so opinions about Serramonte welcome.

2) How easy is it to move your reservation to another dealer if you don't have a build date?

Thanks for your opinions!

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[2021PremiumAWD]

Did you happen to get a signed purchase agreement?

 

[bbulkow]

Did you happen to get a signed purchase agreement?

I went to the ford website and they did their thing. I talked to the dealer and they said they preferred that.

I think that's a "no".

How do I get a signed purchase agreement? How should I have, if I have to do this again, or telling my friends? Can I ask them for one now? I mean, I can ask , just send "my" sales guy a note?

 

[generaltso]

How do I get a signed purchase agreement? How should I have, if I have to do this again, or telling my friends? Can I ask them for one now? I mean, I can ask , just send "my" sales guy a note?

Yes. Just ask your dealer for a signed purchase agreement now. If they won’t provide one, that’s a bad sign.

 

[bbulkow]

Yes. Just ask your dealer for a signed purchase agreement. If they won’t provide one, that’s a bad sign.

I read some threads, it seems this practice is different in different states? And a signed purchase agreement isn't legally binding but its more leverage than nothing? [I would guess you'd go to Ford with the purchase agreement signed and tell Ford the tale of woe and maybe they'd take action?]

But I think your advice seems solid, perhaps I'll wait until monday though, and see what other advice rolls in... thanks!

 

[generaltso]

I read some threads, it seems this practice is different in different states? But I think your advice seems solid, perhaps I'll wait until monday though, and see what other advice rolls in here.

Some dealers require a signed purchase agreement. That requirement is what varies. But no dealer in any state should refuse to give you one if you ask. If they do, order from a different dealer because the shenanigans will only get worse.

 

[bbulkow]

Some dealers require a signed purchase agreement. That requirement is what varies. But no dealer in any state should refuse to give you one if you ask. If they do, order from a different dealer because the shenanigans will only get worse.

Yeah, this being good signal on potential shenanigans is well taken.

Any advice on whether orders can be transferred to another dealer pre-VIN?

 

[generaltso]

Yeah, this being good signal on potential shenanigans is well taken.

Any advice on whether orders can be transferred to another dealer pre-VIN?

You should be able to transfer the order to another dealer by calling Ford (if it comes to that).

 

[AKgrampy]

My understanding of the new process is you place an order on line and then the dealer of your choice confirms the order. Different than a purchase agreement. Did you go thru this process? I even had to give a picture ID to put on file. If so was there a line on the order form that includes dealer mark up? My understanding is Ford’s goal is the price agreed to at order is the final price. It did not disallow a markup. Ultimately Ford would like to eliminate dealer mark up (or so it appears) but not at that point yet. Easiest way is just to call the dealer and confirm you will get the Mach at the price quoted on your order. Most secure would be the purchase agreement.

 

[Moomin]

Didn’t Ford announce to dealers something about after Oct 31st, they are required to post the actual selling price to you upfront or step out of selling EVs? It was in addition to declaring your dealership EV seller but certain upgrades which a $500k you were allowed to sell like 25 evs and if you updated facility to $1M you had unlimited? Maybe you should wait till order after the 31st for honesty? Some dealerships will get booted out trying to come up with the Money to install chargers and such so maybe thats why so Much now in adm?

 

[Moomin]

Something else is dealers are required to get you signature and photo ID to prove to Ford it’s for a real customer and not their private stock. If they sell the car out from under you, it would be then for their private stock and I’d notify Ford that they falsely used you in the process.

 

[HuntingPudel]

I ordered on the other side of the Bay from the dealer in Brentwood. No shenanigans for me, Options Plan financing. I was in and out pretty quickly. I hear good things about serramonte, Walnut Creek, and Morgan Hill, but I have no experience with them. ?‍?

If you are not busy on Saturday morning, @scoopman and I will have our MMEs at the Cars and Coffee event at Ford’s Palo Alto offices. I’m the one with 4 legs and a tail. ??

 

[new to mach-e]

if you ordered online, in the pricing summary it should show the ford price vs. the dealer price, if they match, that's a good sign, if the dealers price is higher, they are charging you mark up.

i was asked for a copy of the driver license and they had no problem providing the dealer order sheet and we both signed stating the sale price was MSRP.

 

[scoopman]

woof woof, we are going to be at Ford's Palo Alto labs cars and coffee. Should be fun!

I ordered from Sunnyvale Ford, and they tried to screw me over unsuccessfully: reneging on promises in email writing on accepting X-Plan/Ford Options, and no ADM/dealer installed crap. They failed only because I was able to get Ford executives involved, and because I was completely willing to walk out, as I had a "backup car" ordered a month out:



When it became clear to me Sunnyvale Ford was trying to mess with me, I ordered a backup car from another dealer.

I would counsel you to order an identical car (or another color perhaps, if you aren't sure of the color) from Morgan Hill. That dealer does not play any games. The deposits are refundable, and it just gives you that extra optionality that lets you walk away and just wait another month or two.

Y'know, say, in the event your best friend breaks up with your Ford salesperson before delivery:

 

[generaltso]

Didn’t Ford announce to dealers something about after Oct 31st, they are required to post the actual selling price to you upfront or step out of selling EVs? It was in addition to declaring your dealership EV seller but certain upgrades which a $500k you were allowed to sell like 25 evs and if you updated facility to $1M you had unlimited? Maybe you should wait till order after the 31st for honesty? Some dealerships will get booted out trying to come up with the Money to install chargers and such so maybe thats why so Much now in adm?

No. The dealers have to decide by 10/31/22, but the requirements don’t go into effect until 2024.

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