Mach-E online ordering direct vs dealership

[Jferrari427]

Who here would prefer to have a more Tesla based system of ordering your car online and picking up your vehicle vs having to deal with the dealerships?

The part I dread the most about buying a new car is the dealerships. I was seriously considering buying a Tesla over the Mach-E simply because I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of a dealership.

think…4 hours at a dealer, the upsells, the haggling, the back and forth, the feeling like you’re getting screwed, etc…

this is one thing Tesla nailed.

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[generaltso]

I ordered my Mach-E online and picked up at the dealership. I was there for 35 minutes.

 

[Jferrari427]

I ordered my Mach-E online and picked up at the dealership. I was there for 35 minutes.

I mean in traditional sense. Going to a dealer to buy a vehicle.

 

[generaltso]

I mean in traditional sense. Going to a dealer to buy a vehicle.

Ford would love to sell direct. It’s state dealer laws that keep them from doing it.

 

[Jferrari427]

Ford would love to sell direct. It’s state dealer laws that keep them from doing it.

interesting didn’t know that actually. How the heck did Tesla pull that off?

 

[generaltso]

interesting didn’t know that actually. How the heck did Tesla pull that off?

They haven’t in every state. They were exempted in a lot states because they never had any dealer agreements. There are some advantages to not having to carry 100 years of legacy baggage.

 

[kennethjk]

I ordered at the dealer and signed some paperwork at home before picking up car.

then 30 minutes at dealer mostly to have them explain it to me. No upsell of anything. family dealer for approx 80 years. I have found them to be great, coming from German car dealerships after 40 years I was concerned but they have been nothing but fantastic. No loaners and no free espresso but I don’t drink it anyway.

unfortunately not all dealers are like that European or otherwise.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

interesting didn’t know that actually. How the heck did Tesla pull that off?

The car dealer lobby is extremely strong and well funded. They championed laws many decades ago to prevent manufacturers from selling direct. Tesla used loopholes to bypass those restrictions, capitalized on unclear laws and got a few states to allow only those manufacturers with no dealerships and selling only BEVs to sell direct. It’s literally impossible for Ford, GM or Fiat-Chrysler (et al) to sell as Rivian and Tesla do. It puts some manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage imo.

While I’d love to see these laws challenged under the equal protection clause (among other ways), I’m also not the head of Ford or GM or any other car company — and for good reason too.

 

[c max]

Well, to each his/her own......I understand the attitude of non-dealer with this "Amazon generation", but being old, I still prefer human contact.....with my '21 Select, I reserved at my dealer, ordered from my dealer, and of course picked up from my dealer.....they know me......I helped them through the very early years of the Mach e, I knew more than they did (no sales tax or state inspection in NJ, etc)......they know no BS, no selling me what I don't want.....I make that clear from the beginning......

when I picked up my '23 Premium in late June, I was at the dealer about 45 minutes, maybe an hour.....some of that due to the problem Ford was having with connected Nav.....

Having a "relationship" with the dealer also makes service easier......I believe most dealerships help their customers differently, than they might a "walk-in".....it's like if you are a regular at a restaurant/pub, you do get treated differently.....

when I go to the dealer the GM says hello, my salesman says hello, 2 of the finance guys say hello (former salesmen who got promotions).....when I needed the windshield recall done on the '21 Select, GM walked me to service, made sure I got a loaner, and generally, made sure I was taken care of.......

I understand how/why some would like the non-dealer model, and it should be available to those who want it!!......this old guy still likes person to person contact, haha....

 

[Auto Motive]

I mean in traditional sense. Going to a dealer to buy a vehicle.

We bought our 2021 GTPE on line and it was seamless. But..the dealership esxperience was a 0. Worst 2 hours ever. I say never again and bough the new model y in Apr. took 5 minutes to order it and best experience in picking it up. Cranberry showroom in Pa with young professional staff in and out with all questions asked and answered.

 

[TRP]

I haven't had a Ford dealer that I really enjoyed dealing with in ages. I would prefer ordering online and having it delivered to my driveway.

The best dealer experience I've had was with BMW, 2 different ones actually.

A recent bad experience was with a Nissan dealer. Was helping my sone with a purchase and had the dealer put it in writing, I saved that paper. Came back 2 days later to complete the deal and they tried to change the price until I showed them the paper they signed. $2000+ difference in price. This is why I would rather just do it online.

 

[Reign of Ravens]

I understand how/why some would like the non-dealer model, and it should be available to those who want it!!......this old guy still likes person to person contact, haha....

I think most of us like this old guy's dealership and wish it was ours.

I sent in a message of inquiry about the Mach-E and markups to my dealership, which I didn't have an existing relationship with. Was told to order online as there would be no markup, whereas there was markup if I bought off the lot. So I ordered online. Went in to sign paperwork, figured it was establishing a relationship. A few weeks later, I noted that the listed price went up on my order, without communication from the dealership. They gave me the run-around in emails, so I went in person to sort it out. Was told that the original person I had communicated with online was no longer with the dealership, but they'd honor what he had said. A few months pass by and my car finally arrives. There's a different representative to complete the sales process with me. Nice enough guy, gives me his business card. A few months later I try to reach out to him for something, but I can't. He doesn't work at the dealership anymore, either.

Hard to establish a relationship when there's such high turnover. I'm not sure it's just this Ford dealership, either - I had a similar experience at a local Nissan dealership.

So yes, sign me up for the "don't want to talk to anyone in the dealership" camp. There's no relationship to be established these days, so I don't see the value added.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Old guy here. If I never had to deal with a car salesroom again, it'd be far too soon. For my 21 I reserved and ordered online and did the pickup and paperwork at the dealer as they did not offer that part ahead of time. They still don't. Next Ford (if there is one), I'll buy on the mainland from some dealer who does. In and out.

 

[tbrumleve]

Would be nice, but you’ll need each state to be on board. My experience was excellent. Credit info filled out before my appointment. We spent about 30 minutes on paperwork (no up sell whatsoever), and about 30 minutes setting up profiles, PaaK, and going over the car. Price I agreed to in Oct ‘22 was lowered by $4k and off we went!

 

[milepost1]

Think of many resaon tesla model works. Order your car pick it up. Mo haggling, everyone pays same. Tesla knows how many cars to make. Knows where to shop them. No nerd to goto differant dealers for price. Now thongs back to normal hagglr over price. Tesla always msrp. They set price end of story. They can rais or lowrr price easily. Dont have 30 cars on one lot and 0 on another. Dealers not involvrd to jack up price or sell at discount. Dealers loved.it when they coild add ADM. Now wish they could sell for msrp. Dealers will soon be pick up and service poonts

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