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

krafty81

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BlueMach

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This does identify a fundamental issue I think exists with how Ford is handling reservations and orders - that the orders aren't transferable between dealers. Really, we should be allowing the dealers to compete for the pickup location of the vehicles we ordered, not this strategy of having to "go to the back of the line" and order a second car just to change dealers. When the dealers don't cooperate with the customer, it's hard to justify their stated defense of their own existence - that they help customers stay protected from the big bad OEM.
 

jksu

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i reached out to star ford, glendale when i first found out about the program here and they were not listed on the website.

at the time, only a few dealers were - not even galpin, a large dealer in the valley. the person at star hadnā€™t heard about it but i emailed her the link to the peogram and she said she would talk to the dealershipā€™s general manager about enrolling.

not much happened for a few weeks but i had read about delays in processing dealerships paperwork, etc. i even emailed the ca clean energy folks to see if they had a ā€œyour dealership is in processā€ but got nothing. when i checked the website a few weeks later, i saw a lot dealerships were now listed, including galpin, but not star ford. so i inquired with star ford again. she said sheā€™d forwarded the info to the GM. i was getting nervous since my mach-e was potentially to be delivered by end of january. if it was due to be delivered later, i wouldnā€™t feel the need to rush the dealership. but i was also worried star not committing to the program.

in any case, maybe due to the holidays, but about a week ago, star ford was listed as well.

so, try telling your dealer in pasadena about other dealerships being enrolled (they want to be competitive) and be helpful providing them the link to enroll (some just need some hand holding). you shouldnā€™t have to do all of that. but selling it EVs is new to most of them. i assume ignorance before ill intent in most situations. at this point itā€™s worth a try. and if youā€™re not far enough along in the process, maybe you can still call ford still to have your order transferred to another dealer?

i was too far along for that... i could only imagine how annoyed about the whole deal to know my dealership deprived me of $1500 that the state was readily offering for ev buyers.
 
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okunney

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i reached out to star ford, glendale when i first found out about the program here and they were not listed on the website.

at the time, only a few dealers were - not even galpin, a large dealer in the valley. the person at star hadnā€™t heard about it but i emailed her the link to the peogram and she said she would talk to the dealershipā€™s general manager about enrolling.

not much happened for a few weeks but i had read about delays in processing dealerships paperwork, etc. i even emailed the ca clean energy folks to see if they had a ā€œyour dealership is in processā€ but got nothing. when i checked the website a few weeks later, i saw a lot dealerships were now listed, including galpin, but not star ford. so i inquired with star ford again. she said sheā€™d forwarded the info to the GM. i was getting nervous since my mach-e was potentially to be delivered by end of january. if it was due to be delivered later, i wouldnā€™t feel the need to rush the dealership. but i was also worried star not committing to the program.

in any case, maybe due to the holidays, but about a week ago, star ford was listed as well.

so, try telling your dealer in pasadena about other dealerships being enrolled (they want to be competitive) and be helpful providing them the link to enroll (some just need some hand holding). you shouldnā€™t have to do all of that. but selling it EVs is new to most of them. i assume ignorance before ill intent in most situations. at this point itā€™s worth a try. and if youā€™re not far enough along in the process, maybe you can still call ford still to have your order transferred to another dealer?

i was too far along for that... i could only imagine how annoyed about the whole deal to know my dealership deprived me of $1500 that the state was readily offering for ev buyers.
Yeah at this point I want them to act more than I want to change it. Good tips. I am in the same boat because production for mine set for Feb.
 

TheSeg

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As I mentioned in the other thead, my dealer The Ford Store San Leandro was very accepting and did sign up.

I emailed the GM the day the program was announced. Explaining that it was just announced that day and asking for them to look into it. About few days later the GM responded they submitted paperwork, and about 2 weeks later they showed up on the website. What a relief that was, for sure.

I really hope the best for everyone to be able to take advantage of this grant program. Dealerships not participating may get that short-term lockin, but I doubt new buyers of EVs will want to start a deal with them.
 


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I had my original dealer cancel my original order for a Mach E. I have placed an order with another dealer. The main reason was that the original dealer was not going to participate in any of the current state rebate programs.

My closing line in the email to the dealer was on why I canceled is something every Ford dealer needs to consider if the want to be an EV dealer. Ask themself WWTD.

What would Tesla do!
 

engnrng

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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.
Interesting speculation, did you read the dealer application? My dealer said it doesn't affect the dealership financials and they are happy to help their customers have a great purchase experience, enough for me to give the dealership a top score on the FORD customer satisfaction survey! Apparently that can be a pretty big incentive for dealers who used to like to play games with customers. Perhaps your dealership doesn't care what Ford finds out about your delivery experience? I wonder....
 

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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 Californiaā€™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 dealershipā€™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).
This is very interesting! Richard at Sunrise called me today to let me know they had a Mach-e that someone backed out of and asked if I wanted to come see it. I told him I was waiting for approval for the Clean Vehicle Grant and explained what it was - he didnā€™t know about. (Thatā€™s ok - not everyone does and they have the opportunity to apply.). He told me they donā€™t want to pursue the grant nor the $1500 Clean Fuel Reward because itā€™s very difficult to get the money from the state. When I asked about the opportunity for future sales, he said they get maybe one a year asking about this. (How many EVs do they have?). I kindly told him that I appreciated his honesty and that I would be going to another local dealer when the time came. I let him know to get in touch if they changed their mind.
 

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This is very interesting! Richard at Sunrise called me today to let me know they had a Mach-e that someone backed out of and asked if I wanted to come see it. I told him I was waiting for approval for the Clean Vehicle Grant and explained what it was - he didnā€™t know about. (Thatā€™s ok - not everyone does and they have the opportunity to apply.). He told me they donā€™t want to pursue the grant nor the $1500 Clean Fuel Reward because itā€™s very difficult to get the money from the state. When I asked about the opportunity for future sales, he said they get maybe one a year asking about this. (How many EVs do they have?). I kindly told him that I appreciated his honesty and that I would be going to another local dealer when the time came. I let him know to get in touch if they changed their mind.
Did you go to Sunrise in Fontana or North Hollywood? I went to NoHo and didnā€™t deal with a Richard. From what I was told, Sean Butts is their Mach-E person and he has been 100% great. If youā€™d like, Iā€™d be happy to PM you his email. He definitely gave me the $1,500 California Fuel Reward when I bought the car on Wednesday.
 

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This does identify a fundamental issue I think exists with how Ford is handling reservations and orders - that the orders aren't transferable between dealers. Really, we should be allowing the dealers to compete for the pickup location of the vehicles we ordered, not this strategy of having to "go to the back of the line" and order a second car just to change dealers. When the dealers don't cooperate with the customer, it's hard to justify their stated defense of their own existence - that they help customers stay protected from the big bad OEM.
I think the fundamental problem is the way CA structured this program. They should have the rebate going directly to the buyer.
 

Brian-e

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Did you go to Sunrise in Fontana or North Hollywood? I went to NoHo and didnā€™t deal with a Richard. From what I was told, Sean Butts is their Mach-E person and he has been 100% great. If youā€™d like, Iā€™d be happy to PM you his email. He definitely gave me the $1,500 California Fuel Reward when I bought the car on Wednesday.
North Hollywood. Richard is the internet person. Sure, please send the email. Iā€™m waiting for approval for the grant, so that will be another couple months. At any rate, itā€™s a poor response from someone that wants your business. They are basically saying they are unwilling to do something of value for their customers. I hope (as it seems) that this isnā€˜t the case. Iā€™m new here, but Iā€™m guessing their is a private message. Please do share there if itā€™s possible.
 
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okunney

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Wondries finally got into the rebate program after some pressure from corporate.
 

ARK

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North Hollywood. Richard is the internet person. Sure, please send the email. Iā€™m waiting for approval for the grant, so that will be another couple months. At any rate, itā€™s a poor response from someone that wants your business. They are basically saying they are unwilling to do something of value for their customers. I hope (as it seems) that this isnā€˜t the case. Iā€™m new here, but Iā€™m guessing their is a private message. Please do share there if itā€™s possible.
Just sent you a PM!
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