Dealership Keeps Refusing to Enroll in Program that Provides $1500 Grant (Los Angeles/Pasadena)

okunney

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There's a Clean Fuel Reward incentive that pays the dealer $1500 of my purchase price. However, this dealership has been giving me the run-around, promising me that they would enroll only for me to find out that is not exactly true (softened it from being a "lie"). There is really no reason for them not to enroll - the application is a one pager - and I suspect (maybe unreasonably) it's because they want me to cancel the order so one of the dealership's people can keep it for themselves or sell for a profit due to the demand for the vehicle. Or probably fear of change. Who knows?

I considered switching to another dealership but Ford Marketing won't let me and said I will have to put in another order.

I feel cheated. Any thoughts on what I can do?

For those of you who ordered recently, how long is the vehicle estimated to be built?

Edit:

The purpose for naming the dealer (Bob Wondries Ford) is to share it with the group and other potential members in the Pasadena area of LA.

Not all dealers have enrolled yet but some are definitely better about doing it than others. Hopefully, other members in the LA area can avoid being stuck between walking away and potentially losing $500 deposit, which I might be in because I chose a dealer due to proximity.
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mylittlepony

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I had the same situation with my dealer Gosch Ford in Temecula. I was in contact with the program representatives through email and showed the dealer all the responses I received. It convinced the dealer to sign up! I did not want to cancel the order because it would have put me back in square one. Try to convince them to sign up. Good luck.
 

malba2366

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No one is cheating you. The dealer is an independent business and they have the option to participate in this program or not, and you have the right to walk.

They probably don't want to do it because they don't want to be left holding the bag if the state denies the payment for some reason. Also, they may not wish to finance the $1500 at no interest while waiting for the state to pay. Maybe if you agree to sign an agreement saying you will pay the full price and the dealer will refund the $1500 if and when the rebate comes in they will go for it.
 

mburtsvt

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I had my original order with Rio Vista Ford and they had said that they would not participate in ANY programs at all. Their excuse was basically "why would be put out X amount of money and wait to get paid. I switched , (re ordered) to Fremont Ford because they do both of the programs I'm using along with X-Plan.
 

mburtsvt

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No one is cheating you. The dealer is an independent business and they have the option to participate in this program or not, and you have the right to walk.

They probably don't want to do it because they don't want to be left holding the bag if the state denies the payment for some reason. Also, they may not wish to finance the $1500 at no interest while waiting for the state to pay. Maybe if you agree to sign an agreement saying you will pay the full price and the dealer will refund the $1500 if and when the rebate comes in they will go for it.
I'm going to respectfully disagree with that solution. If ford wants to be a BEV player they need to put pressure on all of the BEV dealers to participate in all rebate and grant programs. Ford needs to start asking themselves "What would Tesla do".
 


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okunney

okunney

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No one is cheating you. The dealer is an independent business and they have the option to participate in this program or not, and you have the right to walk.

They probably don't want to do it because they don't want to be left holding the bag if the state denies the payment for some reason. Also, they may not wish to finance the $1500 at no interest while waiting for the state to pay. Maybe if you agree to sign an agreement saying you will pay the full price and the dealer will refund the $1500 if and when the rebate comes in they will go for it.
Maybe, but I still feel cheated and want to explore my options, especially because the majority of their competitors are enrolled and have been for some time.

The only leverage they have on me is the earlier receipt date. The only question is whether I want to wait or just pull the trigger with another dealership now.
 

ChasingCoral

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You can also start reaching out to Ford to get them to apply pressure. Tell them both you're ready to walk away from the car if this continues. Tell the dealer you will be sure to encourage no one buy a BEV from them and reach out to your local EV associations to publicize this.
 

UW2

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You can also start reaching out to Ford to get them to apply pressure. Tell them both you're ready to walk away from the car if this continues. Tell the dealer you will be sure to encourage no one buy a BEV from them and reach out to your local EV associations to publicize this.
I suspect this forum has some "customer power". Perhaps starting a Name and Shame list of such dealers would also put pressure on them.

Also my dealer in Torrance is enrolled and my contact there, Joseph, is reasonably hip. Perhaps you guys could contact him and see if HE can get your orders routed through AutoNation here? I can provide his contact.
 

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Maybe, but I still feel cheated and want to explore my options, especially because the majority of their competitors are enrolled and have been for some time.

The only leverage they have on me is the earlier receipt date. The only question is whether I want to wait or just pull the trigger with another dealership now.
If you order now you may be looking at April or later build date. Its that versus when you would receive your original car and the value of 1500 to you. Its a tough situation to be in.
 

jhalkias

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Maybe, but I still feel cheated and want to explore my options, especially because the majority of their competitors are enrolled and have been for some time.

The only leverage they have on me is the earlier receipt date. The only question is whether I want to wait or just pull the trigger with another dealership now.
Sent you a message with some information on possible contacts.
 

Razorbak86

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There's a Clean Fuel Reward incentive that pays the dealer $1500 of my purchase price. However, this dealership has been giving me the run-around, promising me that they would enroll only for me to find out that it's a lie. There is really no reason for them not to enroll - the application is a one pager - and I suspect it's because they want me to cancel the order so one of the dealership's people can keep it for themselves or sell for a profit due to the demand for the vehicle.

I considered switching to another dealership but Ford Marketing won't let me and said I will have to put in another order.

I feel cheated. Any thoughts on what I can do?

For those of you who ordered recently, how long is the vehicle estimated to be built?
Why the dealer-shaming thread title? Do you think that will help you get a quicker resolution? ?‍♂
 
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okunney

okunney

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Why the dealer-shaming thread title? Do you think that will help you get a quicker resolution? ?‍♂
More like sharing it with the group and getting some feedback? There's already threads for dealers that refund/no refund deposits, sell at msrp/mark up beyond msrp, or honor xplan/not honor xplan.

Why is this any different? I can change the title but I figured it would help anyone else who is trying to figure out which dealer is not on board yet but is willing to enroll to get their customers the extra money.

That way, other members in the LA area can avoid being stuck between walking away and potentially losing $500 deposit.
 
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ARK

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I'm going to respectfully disagree with that solution. If ford wants to be a BEV player they need to put pressure on all of the BEV dealers to participate in all rebate and grant programs. Ford needs to start asking themselves "What would Tesla do".
Ford Mustang Mach-E Dealership Keeps Refusing to Enroll in Program that Provides $1500 Grant (Los Angeles/Pasadena) BDAE8C9E-54D7-41D3-BD0A-E34B18C81341


Tesla would be one of the first to sign up and advertise this additional discount as a banner on their configurator page if you access their site from California.
 

ARK

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I had a good experience with Sunrise Ford in North Hollywood about this. I recently found out who the Mach E guy was at the dealership (had never been in contact with him before).

At first he thought I was talking about California’s $2,000 income tax credit, but I told him this was a new and different program launched only in November. He listened to what I saw saying, looked into it, and a couple of days later said he had submitted his dealership’s application to participate in the program. I am very pleased and this is a turnaround from my recent experience.

California buyers are now up to $11,000 in government rebates on their Mach Es ($7,500 federal tax credit, $2,000 California tax credit, $1,500 California Clean Fuel Reward).
 

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