Dealership sent me home with the wrong Mach-e

[WallyS56]

You’ve got to check it when you call your insurance to get coverage. I do so looking at both the insurance-vehicle VIN and the paperwork.

Sponsored

 

[bradlee313]

Did you activate all of the free trials on the current car? Might get to reset everything as new, including your mileage! I'd agree to the swap in exchange for something minimal like a free extended service plan that really costs them nothing.

 

[J5hort]

I've learned that there are way too many people involved at the dealer and there is usually a communication issue between departments (sales, finance, service). Sales people are usually trying to match buyers to cars and unless they check, the car in question may already be in the process. Not discounting that there just may have been a mistake in your situation as dealers use a separate stock/unit number vs. the VIN. When I bought my 2021, even though we were under P&S, another sales person sold our Mach-e. Just so happens that there was an exact match at another dealer location, so we got what we wanted. My guess is something similar happened here.

 

[ReverendPete]

I wouldn’t say that I check the VINs on my cars. I memorize them.

Wow, I can't get my dog to memorize anything except the words "snack", "food", "dinner", "walk", and "bed". She doesn't even understand "sit".

 

[milepost1]

Got an email from the dealership saying the car I leased 2 months ago and have in the driveway doesn’t match the VIN on my lease/insurance... they’re asking to swap it out. Same color, model, package etc.

In addition to the hassle and me already painting the calipers (oops I guess?), I’m actually a little concerned. I didn’t have the greatest leasing experience where they messed up the monthly price and had to amend it. Was off only by like $6 but I can’t tell if they’re incompetent or scamming me somehow.

I’m hoping to get advice. I’d prefer to just keep the car I have and then fix the paperwork. Is that possible? Anyone ever experience this? And is asking for some compensation for this fuck up reasonable?

If for identical (or newer) car with 0 miles trade. Or better yet upgrade for hassle. I have turned leases in with more than painted calipers. Honestly how many of you actually checked the vin? TBH I used paperwork for VIN to insurance company. And up to this moment had no idea if paper work matched VIN.

 

[Adventureboy]

Now I want to go check my VIN.....

 

[bradlee313]

My dealer had 3 similar cars. Only difference was pricing on the way the same options were listed on the window stickers. Odd that they change so drastically on cars produced so close together. I definitely checked to make sure I was getting the correct (cheaper) one
And then confirmed when I had to scan the VIN to add the car to Ford pass.

 

[J5hort]

Actually got a call when they tried to register it. In MA, registration cannot happen unless there is an insurance binder. Registration application, title and insurance all need to have the info match exactly. There were 2 different VINs, probably just someone at dealer looking for a gray Mach-e on the lot and grabbing the VIN from it.

 

[Schmedlack]

I think that it is not unreasonable to ask your dealer if they can switch cars and have you sign paperwork at your residence. Time is valuable.

 

[Monke]

Your dealership was nice enough to ask you nicely.

https://www.jalopnik.com/1981957/dealership-mistake-causes-coast-guard-officer-arrest/

If I were in this situation, I would go for an out of town dinning trip before I swap the car. I would complain if the new car has more than couple hundred miles on it.

 

[load97]

Wow, I can't get my dog to memorize anything except the words "snack", "food", "dinner", "walk", and "bed". She doesn't even understand "sit".

Dang. I’ve got two dogs that let them self outside and in whenever they want. They open their own interior doors, exterior doors, and the one does the wood fence gate even. I feel for you…

 

[RickMachE]

Any dealer worth their salt checks the VIN before selling a vehicle. When I buy vehicles, I am handled the Monroney window sticker, and yes, I review that the VIN matches all the preliminary communication (emails, electronic window sticker, and of course my insurance card that I have to bring to sign the paperwork).

When I go out to the vehicle, I ensure that the last few digits match.

 

[MBCook]

This ALMOST happened to me many years ago. I found a car I liked, went to buy it, and it was the wrong one.

I didn’t check the VIN. The only reason I noticed was it was missing a BTO option that couldn’t be changed later.

They hadn’t noticed either. When I pointed it out they tried to get me to buy that one, then went scrambling to figure out what happened.

Turned out another local dealership had it, there was a mix up offloading new cars fresh from the factory to the dealerships and two got switched.

So it could happen.

 

[CameraCarl]

OP: It has been most of a week now. Tell us what happened.

Sponsored