Ford stated I bashed my dealer on this site. Did they even read the post?

[kdonnel]

In concept I agree, and certainly a review helps future customers. But I am usually skeptical of on-line reviews, especially ones that are bashing. There are always two sides to an issue, and the basher is only presenting their side. I think often the basher is angry and likely to leave out key details that explain why they were treated that way.

I have lost track of how many cars I have purchased over the years and number of dealerships I have used. I have never had an experience that made me want to leave a bad review, and I have never been cheated. Ever. So I wonder why that is the case? Could it be I have a different attitude and different approach from those who claim they have been cheated?

Luck.

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[one5460]

Personally I don't find it helpful to bash a company I am doing business with on social media, even if they screw up. I think it is better to find ways to work with them using the processes available for that purpose, instead of trying to punish them by posting something negative on social media.

I have found treating people with respect and trying to find a solution together provides much more positive results. But that's just me.

Which road I take to resolve a conflict depends on the business, the person's attitude and the circumstances around which the conflict took place. Some do deserve a second chance and mistakes do happen. Totally understandable.

However, businesses that prey on people like dealerships don't deserve much leeway. Their job should be customer satisfaction first and foremost and any praise should be earned not expected.

A business that recognizes a bad situation and tries to rectify it quickly ends up gaining respect regardless to how bad the situation was.

And as far as I see it, Ford doesn't get a pass on this either. They should be bending over backwards to make sure their customers receive the treatment they deserve. Not just leave them to the mercy of dealership incompetence.

As for social media? It's a powerful and useful tool when used appropriately. Even with its faults, it helps to keep people honest when they know they're being held accountable on public forums.

 

[Texas-E]

What do we consider bashing? Is bashing posting the actual experience that you've had with a business? I'm reluctant to post a negative review, but there are circumstances where I have. If a company is going to engage in social media for its benefit, it should be able to accept negativity when it doesn't live up to expectations.

If Ford and the dealer flagged the original poster as a trouble maker, I hope they reconsider that tactic.

 

[mkhuffman]

Actually, I did but I probably shouldn't have. I lost my temper, and I am not proud of how I handled it initially. And when I threatened leaving a bad review, he looked up my name and threatened me and my business. So yeah, I should not have gone there and I should have kept my cool.

The guy was a complete scumbag, but I got a refund and let it go. It is one of my vast number of mistakes that I have learned from.

 

[ThatGuyLando]

What do we consider bashing? Is bashing posting the actual experience that you've had with a business? I'm reluctant to post a negative review, but there are circumstances where I have. If a company is going to engage in social media for its benefit, it should be able to accept negativity when it doesn't live up to expectations.

If Ford and the dealer flagged the original poster as a trouble maker, I hope they reconsider that tactic.

You should never feel bad about writing a negative review. If any company gets pissed by a negative review I leave, then I'd just cut that particular company out of my purchase options, and just never recommend them when asked.

I see it as looking out for others who are about to drop $50k+ on a car.

Also, It's a bit concerning that this post is 4 pages long, @Ford Motor Company was tagged in the first comment and they still haven't responded at all.

 

[kennethjk]

The closest thing I have come to bashing anyone online is Ford for the handling of the HVBJB Recall.

I have been buying cars for over 50 years and probably close to 40 cars.

twice I was cheated by the same dealer. Before internet. All my other car purchases were handled pretty reasonably to varying degrees.

I walked out on one deal at the signing, the dealer called me back and said they would honor their original deal. They were reducing the buyback of a used car at closing so I left.

the other time, same dealer, put in a security system they told me I approved on a new car purchase. I accused the financial manager (kid) of lying, to his face in the GM’s presence. I was about to walk out and they said ok, you didn’t have to pay for it

Even if it had occurred during todays world, I doubt I would have trashed them on line, not my style.

I told friends about them and twice shame on me, never went back there.

 

[MachKet]

You should never feel bad about writing a negative review. If any company gets pissed by a negative review I leave, then I'd just cut that particular company out of my purchase options, and just never recommend them when asked.

I see it as looking out for others who are about to drop $50k+ on a car.

Also, It's a bit concerning that this post is 4 pages long, @Ford Motor Company was tagged in the first comment and they still haven't responded at all.

That account is pointless to complain to, it’s most likely run by interns with strict instructions on what type of posts to respond. Example: When someone says they love their mach-e they chime in and it gives the poster some sense of engagement from the company. More effective to call Ford and open up a ticket

 

[ThatGuyLando]

That account is pointless to complain to, it’s most likely run by interns with strict instructions on what type of posts to respond. Example: When someone says they love their mach-e they chime in and it gives the poster some sense of engagement from the company. More effective to call Ford and open up a ticket

Oh I know, they told me back in decemberish that someone would contact me after I had a charging issue. No one ever got in touch with me.

 

[Mirak]

Personally I don't find it helpful to bash a company I am doing business with on social media, even if they screw up. I think it is better to find ways to work with them using the processes available for that purpose, instead of trying to punish them by posting something negative on social media.

I have found treating people with respect and trying to find a solution together provides much more positive results. But that's just me.

Agreed… to an extent. Sadly, there are some businesses (airlines, appliance manufacturers) that have appalling customer service and appear horribly non-responsive through the private channels, but are more responsive through public channels.

It’s times like those that I wish I had social media accounts and followers. Even then, it’s best to voice your complaint constructively… the old “more bees with honey” approach.

Ford is kind of a mixed bag. It can be really frustrating getting beyond the frontline CSRs who don’t seem to know much of anything about our cars or software, and frequently give poor information. Once you get to the more knowledgeable folks, Ford can sometimes be very helpful - they just don’t make it easy.

And then sometimes you’ve got bugs like the interior motion sensors or remote start to guest profile that you have been complaining about for two years without a response. I’m not just talking about a substantive fix - Ford refuses to publicly acknowledge that these issues exist.

I’m still not aware of a dedicated phone number or email address for a dedicated EV team or SYNC team.

So… mixed bag. @Ford Motor Company

 

[A-A-Ron]

I really bet there was some fun game of telephone (you remember playing as a kid, where you pass a whisper around the room and see how it evolves) where the social media guy tells the BEV engineer to take a look at this issue, it's been to the dealership a couple times without resolution and the BEV guy calls the service department and tells them "I'm calling on behalf of Allen who says he's had his car in here a few times and you weren't able to fix it" and the service writer tells the manager "we've got an engineer here saying he's calling because someone is writing on the forums that we can't fix his car" and pretty soon the service manager is calling PO'd that you're bashing them on forums

 

[johnmark]

Ever played the game “telephone” as a kid? Pretty easy to get things mixed up the more people involved.

Exactly my thought. Something is getting lost in translation.

 

[Goodsam]

I think of vehicle forums as equivalent to leaving reviews on Amazon products. However, just like reading reviews on Amazon, one has to take in a number of reviews to make their best judgement as to the quality of the product. I try not to get tweaked based on reading a couple of comments.

 

[b Mach e]

I definitely bashed my purchase dealer in the reservations and order tracking thread section.

I bashed my dealer in the survey I was sent after purchase.

I don’t know your story but I felt in my case the dealer deserved an honest review and it was not flattering.

I'm not happy with Ford for price adjustments. I make a deal with the dealer before the order banks open and when the order banks open, MME is 8k more. I took delivery Dec 26 and within 30 days I can order the same car for 6k less. Not to mention the dealer bait and switched me on my trade value and i believe most likely because they were in the driver seat at that point. Now it looks like Ford is Willing to help out post 1/1/23 purchases but that will leave me out of luck with a 12/26 purchase. I'm happy with the car but the whole experiance has left me beyond upside down in a car in a matter of weeks

 

[Mach1E]

I'm not happy with Ford for price adjustments. I make a deal with the dealer before the order banks open and when the order banks open, MME is 8k more. I took delivery Dec 26 and within 30 days I can order the same car for 6k less. Not to mention the dealer bait and switched me on my trade value and i believe most likely because they were in the driver seat at that point. Now it looks like Ford is Willing to help out post 1/1/23 purchases but that will leave me out of luck with a 12/26 purchase. I'm happy with the car but the whole experiance has left me beyond upside down in a car in a matter of weeks

So the car lost a few thousand in value as soon as you drove it off the lot?

We really are starting to get back to a “normal” car market!

Sorry that experience sucked. It’s been a hot mess the last few months trying to figure out the government tax credits and pricing and some people got stuck in the middle. At least the $7500 tax credit will help you for last year.

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