Dealers getting in the way

[scoopman]

There have been very very few reports of dealers trying to renege on the price agreed to when placing an order on Ford.com. Virtually every ADM horror story is from someone trying to buy an orphaned order off the lot. That said, I recommend you get everything you want agreed to in an e-mail prior to placing your order.
X-Plan provides a 2% discount and caps doc fees at $100. There is a $275 admin fee, so you don't end up getting a full 2% off. The doc fee savings can be substantial, depending on what your dealer normally charges. Regardless, you will save a lot more than the $35 membership fee to the MCA. Heck, you might be eligible based on your employer or Ford stock ownership.

For me, the dealer tried to charge an ADM when converting my GT reservation to an order online despite written email with me stating otherwise.

So, another newbie here, and I am seriously interested in the Mach E. (Almost certainly the Premium ER AWD).

I am going to test drive the Mach E at my local dealer— so, while I am there I should ask them to put in writing that *when I do an online order they won’t charge ADM or any silly add ons…?
Have folks had success with that?
It sounds to me, from what I have been reading on the forum, that dealers sometimes (routinely?) change their position on markups when the car actually arrives (the smell of extra profit, I guess).
If they are crabby/hostile about it (or dismissive- I am a woman and I do meet that, on occasion) I know I can choose a different dealer on my order process but who’s to say they will be any better?

And-
What does the X-plan provide?
Thanks

My advice is as follows:

1. You can order yourself online. I would do this. The advantage of this is that you get to precisely pick the spec of your car. You could also have the dealer order the car for you, but this board has examples of the dealer ordering folks the wrong car, and not realizing this until it shows up. You do have to commit to the dealer that will take delivery upon placing this order. I think it's difficult to change the dealer (you can do so by calling Ford) and once the car enters production you can't change the dealer, so pick wisely. See #2.
2. Before placing the order yourself, visit said dealer and see if they appear somewhat reputable. Do they know about the car? Will they let you test drive it? etc.
3. Go on the dealer's web site and find the internet sales manager email address or the email of the overall sales manager. Email this person, telling them you are about to order a mach-e, and you want them to confirm by replying to your email the answers on whether: (1) they will sell you the car without any ADM added; (2) that they will accept X-Plan pricing for the vehicle; (3) that they are familiar with and will offer Ford Options on the vehicle. If they won't respond in the affirmative for all three of these via replied email, find another dealer. As for these three, these will help you to maximize the savings on the car. X-Plan pricing already discussed in this thread. But Ford Options, as an example, generally is offering $1000 or $2500 off as an incentive, and you can pay off Ford Options basically at any time, so it does not make sense not to do this and pay off the loan (refinancing if you need to) in order to get the additional incentive. Also, because of the delay between ordering and receiving the car, it doesn't make sense not to have all of the financing flexibility available to you. It's also a really bad sign if the dealer doesn't know what Ford Options is or won't participate in it.

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[MaggieBk]

For me, the dealer tried to charge an ADM when converting my GT reservation to an order online despite written email with me stating otherwise.


My advice is as follows:

1. You can order yourself online. I would do this. The advantage of this is that you get to precisely pick the spec of your car. You could also have the dealer order the car for you, but this board has examples of the dealer ordering folks the wrong car, and not realizing this until it shows up. You do have to commit to the dealer that will take delivery upon placing this order. I think it's difficult to change the dealer (you can do so by calling Ford) and once the car enters production you can't change the dealer, so pick wisely. See #2.
2. Before placing the order yourself, visit said dealer and see if they appear somewhat reputable. Do they know about the car? Will they let you test drive it? etc.
3. Go on the dealer's web site and find the internet sales manager email address or the email of the overall sales manager. Email this person, telling them you are about to order a mach-e, and you want them to confirm by replying to your email the answers on whether: (1) they will sell you the car without any ADM added; (2) that they will accept X-Plan pricing for the vehicle; (3) that they are familiar with and will offer Ford Options on the vehicle. If they won't respond in the affirmative for all three of these via replied email, find another dealer. As for these three, these will help you to maximize the savings on the car. X-Plan pricing already discussed in this thread. But Ford Options, as an example, generally is offering $1000 or $2500 off as an incentive, and you can pay off Ford Options basically at any time, so it does not make sense not to do this and pay off the loan (refinancing if you need to) in order to get the additional incentive. Also, because of the delay between ordering and receiving the car, it doesn't make sense not to have all of the financing flexibility available to you. It's also a really bad sign if the dealer doesn't know what Ford Options is or won't participate in it.

This is super helpful.
Thank you very much!

 

[deadduck]

I used to sell consumer electronics although not video.

The video crew used to love a specific tv brand because it had a higher margin. How did they sell it? They messed up the contrast / color on the other tv's, plus, gave prime space to that brand.

I'm sure those guys knew more about tv's than the average customer but whatever they were adding, it wasn't value to the customer.

 

[EELinneman]

There's simply no other consumer goods purchase that operates with such levels of disparity between prices paid by consumers, and a lack of control over the purchase experience by the manufacturer.

Having just signed a solar contract on Monday, I can tell you that solar seems to attract people with ethics that would shock most car dealers even the used car market.

Since I ordered my car in April, the salesperson at the dealer is gone, the internet salesperson who took over is gone and the dealer GM is gone. Dealerships are really, really struggling now and I think the attrition may naturally happen. Sometimes it takes a shock to the system to displace the status quo. This may be it.

 

[veronicablack]

I have an order through a dealer I used in the past (over a decade ago) and had zero shenanigans with and an overall enjoyable buying experience.

And yet I'm still nervous and full of anxiety that when my Mach E comes in they're going to try to pull something shady. It's a shame too because I've only read good things about this dealership (not specifically related to Mach E) but the industry as a whole has such a horrible reputation. Especially now with all the supply issues favoring the seller right now.

I have criticisms of Tesla's business practices, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't kind of jealous of their dealership-less model.

Still excited for my Mach E but man I wish I didn't have to worry about weird dealership stuff.

 

[BMT1071]

Having just signed a solar contract on Monday, I can tell you that solar seems to attract people with ethics that would shock most car dealers even the used car market.

Since I ordered my car in April, the salesperson at the dealer is gone, the internet salesperson who took over is gone and the dealer GM is gone. Dealerships are really, really struggling now and I think the attrition may naturally happen. Sometimes it takes a shock to the system to displace the status quo. This may be it.

I get the same vibe from the solar industry. It's one of the main reasons I don't have panels on my roof.

 

[Motomax]

I don’t get the benefit of the e-invoicing. The dealer still gets a cut, they just get it from ford instead of the customer. Plus they can add whatever markup they want but they are banned from offering discounts. How is that any better?
I bought my 4runner two years ago for less than invoice from a volume dealer. I was OTD with CA tax for less than MSRP. This can’t happen under e-invoicing, no haggle pricing is a scam and is only a benefit for people who don’t do their research.

 

[oadesign]

I'm new here and considering ordering a Mach-E from the Ford website… so is the implication here that the MSRP price that's listed when I place my order may not be honored by the dealer?

Or is this markup just something typically encountered by people who are trying to buy off the dealership's lot?

The latter. You’ll pay the price the website quotes when ordering, which is MSRP.

 

[oadesign]

I don’t get the benefit of the e-invoicing. The dealer still gets a cut, they just get it from ford instead of the customer. Plus they can add whatever markup they want but they are banned from offering discounts. How is that any better?
I bought my 4runner two years ago for less than invoice from a volume dealer. I was OTD with CA tax for less than MSRP. This can’t happen under e-invoicing, no haggle pricing is a scam and is only a benefit for people who don’t do their research.

Two years ago was pre-covid/supply chain issues/chip fiasco. Now if we get back to increased supply on dealer lots, I’d expect that to change, as Ford would HAVE to discount for dealers to move sitting cars off their lots.

 

[Motomax]

Two years ago was pre-covid/supply chain issues/chip fiasco. Now if we get back to increased supply on dealer lots, I’d expect that to change, as Ford would HAVE to discount for dealers to move sitting cars off their lots.

Yes I’m aware of pre-pandemic prices which is the only reason I’m even remotely okay with paying MSRP currently.
You’re missing the point, the dealer is not allowed to reduce the price of the vehicles. No discounts unless Ford tells them they can discount it. Ford is effectively eliminating dealer competition.
If this was about benefiting the customer they would have eliminated markups and allowed discounts.

 

[trutolife27]

with going away to order online or direct and no dealer. It's a double-edged sword. The price of a vehicle will be the price no more incentives. So if you are a smart car buyer and are used to searching dealers and different incentives to knock the price way down. Those days will be gone. The amount of money lost due to incentives by the manufacturers is massive. They are doing as much for their own pockets as for you.

The Audi E-Tron's massive incentives and discounts that went on early in the year will be a thing of the past. The price is 1,000 to order something online well that's the price. Also with the ordering, the days of just driving to the dealer and buying on the spot will be leaving.

Once cash was king to buy a car and we saw that old way fade away also.

 

[BMT1071]

with going away to order online or direct and no dealer. It's a double-edged sword. The price of a vehicle will be the price no more incentives. So if you are a smart car buyer and are used to searching dealers and different incentives to knock the price way down. Those days will be gone. The amount of money lost due to incentives by the manufacturers is massive. They are doing as much for their own pockets as for you.

The Audi E-Tron's massive incentives and discounts that went on early in the year will be a thing of the past. The price is 1,000 to order something online well that's the price. Also with the ordering, the days of just driving to the dealer and buying on the spot will be leaving.

Once cash was king to buy a car and we saw that old way fade away also.

Cash has not been king in decades.
The last information I read from Ford indicated they were looking to have 25% of sales be customer orders. There will still be plenty of buying off the lot.

 

[trutolife27]

Cash has not been king in decades.
The last information I read from Ford indicated they were looking to have 25% of sales be customer orders. There will still be plenty of buying off the lot.

Hmm like I said "once" cash was king. faded away. So hmm yeah thanks for pointing out what I said.

As far as direct orders ford is starting slowly which pretty much every company does with something new. They are putting out a filler to see what the consumer does. But your 25% as you say will be 50% than 100% quicker than you think. When the numbers were announced by CEO Farley of the amount of money lost with incentives. Yeah, cars sitting on the lot will be a thing of the past.

 

[scoopman]

I get the same vibe from the solar industry. It's one of the main reasons I don't have panels on my roof.

Yes solar was pretty shady as well. One of the main reasons I have Brand T's panels on my roof. Was a painless and scummy-free experience to order it, although I kinda hated to have to download the Tesla app, etc.

 

[blue92lx]

I like not having to haggle on a price (set from company), but agree there are dealers taking advantage. I saw one post talking about $1,000 for locking lug nuts and the dealer insisted upon it. Times are tough, but people won't take it sitting down.

My first order was cancelled by me because the dealer insisted on a $1700 paint protection plan that somehow was not removable from the purchase. F that. There's another dealership in the area charging $1100 pre delivery fee. Uh what?

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