Ford needs to get its act together

[PNWEV]

A side note about something you said in your original post. Offering a cash payment doesn't entice dealers like it used to. It's actually a turn off for most. With interest rates in the tank they would much rather get you into a lease or finance agreement because that's the way they make money. Especially true with the MME which has a $1 profit to the dealerships. In fact, you should never tell a dealership up-front that you are paying cash. If your intent is to do so, keep it to yourself until the car arrives and you are in the final process of making the purchase.

Also, with the Ford options program you could get a rebate and then just pay it off immediately and save yourself some cash or better yet invest what you have for a better return than the relatively low interest rate.

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[Rfehl62]

I ordered on July 21st and still don't have a build date. Call my dealer and they are completely useless, say they'll look into why I haven't gotten a build date and then get a call back saying they don't know anything.

There are things that Ford can't control and I understand that. What I can't understand is how people who ordered months after me are getting build dates and their cars while I've heard nothing. This has taken all of the fun out of the car buying process. Even if I get a build date this week it will be about a year since my order date to me actually getting my car. Again, if everyone was waiting a year then thats what it is. But thats not the case. Why should I even want a car from a company that can't simply prioritize the oldest orders first? The lack of contact or any updates at all is just maddening.

I'm going test driving cars this weekend and most likely going to cancel my order. Primarily because I'm just sick of waiting on a car that they seem to have no interest is selling to me. Fortunately I'm at the point in my life where I can just go get the car I want and pay for it up front. If Ford doesn't want my money thats fine with me. The F-150 I was planning on getting next year is being converted to a Ram or Toyota as well because I tend to hold grudges.

Cars being test driven this weekend

Genesis GV70
VW ID.4
Maybe the Kia/Hyundai electric

Any other suggestions?

Man, I get it BUT you will run into the exact same issue with every manufacture right now. Judging by your post I do not think you are someone who would consider paying over MSRP which is what they will all be doing on in stock units.

 

[GrayWolf]

If you really wanted the car and could buy it outright, I would have been searching every local inventory with every state near me.

Could do this I guess but it sounds like it would take a lot of time. Time is a luxury I don't have at the moment. If I had extra time during the day I'd probably be trying to buy from whatever dealer was in a 2 hour drive. Was fine with waiting on an order but now my car is starting to act up so I started looking into why my order was taking so long. Will need a car soon or invest in repairs on my current car.

Quotes mildly snipped for brevity. @fictitious_owner - Did you check https://www.cars.com ?

https://www.cars.com/shopping/resul...ist_price_max=&maximum_distance=200&zip=55403

I found a random zip code for Minneapolis and found 19 cars within 200 miles of that zip code (some are within 9 miles).

Not sure if that helps, but wanted to point the site out since I did not see anyone else sharing the link. Good luck, no matter what you choose to do!

 

[mach_e_hopeful]

Sucks you are experiencing this OP.

Unfortunately right now if you want any of these EVs you have to:

• Wait a long time
• Spend a significant amount of time calling dealers within 200 miles for no markup
• Pay the dealer markup

I am going to replace my mach e around April and am going to start calling every Kia dealer around me beginning of March trying to get an ev6.

I have the luxury though of not having to buy anither car any time soon as I can always keep the mach e.

Not sure I'd be willing to fly somewhere and drive the car home but who knows.

The Genesis is a nice car. So is a 5 series. You are on an EV forum so people are extremely biased against these cars. Hope you find a situation that works for you!

 

[Bigfeets]

I ordered on July 21st and still don't have a build date. Call my dealer and they are completely useless, say they'll look into why I haven't gotten a build date and then get a call back saying they don't know anything.

There are things that Ford can't control and I understand that. What I can't understand is how people who ordered months after me are getting build dates and their cars while I've heard nothing. This has taken all of the fun out of the car buying process. Even if I get a build date this week it will be about a year since my order date to me actually getting my car. Again, if everyone was waiting a year then thats what it is. But thats not the case. Why should I even want a car from a company that can't simply prioritize the oldest orders first? The lack of contact or any updates at all is just maddening.

I'm going test driving cars this weekend and most likely going to cancel my order. Primarily because I'm just sick of waiting on a car that they seem to have no interest is selling to me. Fortunately I'm at the point in my life where I can just go get the car I want and pay for it up front. If Ford doesn't want my money thats fine with me. The F-150 I was planning on getting next year is being converted to a Ram or Toyota as well because I tend to hold grudges.

Cars being test driven this weekend

Genesis GV70
VW ID.4
Maybe the Kia/Hyundai electric

Any other suggestions?

I am hanging on to my MME order (day 67 of predicted 196-day wait, unless plant suspension pushes it out even more.) However, I've been looking at nearby Ford dealers (central Orange County) who advertises several tens of MME to see if I might find one that is available. All are "in transit special orders" or still being built, thus not available for sale to me. A few are on the lot but only at the dealer that assesses huge markup (yep, defying CEOs "no markup" edict.)
So, I have also been looking to Hyundai Ioniq 5-Ltd at 2 dealers; one assesses huge markup, one says they do not. I asked each for contact if they got the model I sought. Also, have been looking for Kia EV6-GT-AWD. Again, talked to two Kia dealers. One (in person) was indifferent to my interest and proudly declared a huge markup. The other wouldn't answer the question online, urging me to come to them. When asked to confirm if they had one on the lot, as they claimed, they stopped responding. So, I assumed the worst, that they were prone to bait and switch and markups. This might be too harsh. I'll keep looking, but, to me, ADM is price gouging and luring me to their shop to work their sales magic is repulsive practice.
Waiting and examining options are a personal journey and the variety of experiences related on this forum are very useful and interesting.

 

[nvabill]

You know you should absolutely cancel your order, show Ford you mean business and go buy vehicles from another manufacturer. I’m sure you will find dozens of other vehicles to purchase immediately or order without any type of delay whatsoever. For the life of me I can’t understand why Ford is having so much trouble delivering vehicles when other manufacturers are not having any problems whatsoever. ?

 

[Jimrpa]

Ok, thats fine. But Ford is the company that has dealership allocation. I don't have the time to care about their internal policies. Maybe Ford doesn't care that I'll go get another car but as a buyer thats all the influence I have.

Ever thought about going to another ford dealer?

 

[Bigfeets]

You know you should absolutely cancel your order, show Ford you mean business and go buy vehicles from another manufacturer. I’m sure you will find dozens of other vehicles to purchase immediately or order without any type of delay whatsoever. For the life of me I can’t understand why Ford is having so much trouble delivering vehicles when other manufacturers are not having any problems whatsoever. ?

Cuautitlan Assembly Plant is idle (week of 7 Feb) and is not alone among Ford plants. See:
Ford Motor Company Production Status (fordauthority.com)
Restart date is next Monday (14 Feb). If they actually do restart AND start solving their supply problems, thus improving their delivery dates, I'm less likely to pursue your latter option of finding an alternative.
If not, I don't expect to give up the MME order, but I am looking at other options. My message to Ford would be to follow up on their "threat" to punish dealers who impose significant markups on MME. That's the same message I give to Hyundai and Kia dealers who assess huge markups on Ioniq 5 and EV6.
Anyway, I think Ford has lost sales due to the global microchip shortage (perhaps failing to deal with it as well as Tesla who built 800,000 BEV in 2021 while Ford built~65,000 MME). But their sales system (FoMoCo-dealers-people) actually punishes the people who want to buy if they allow dealers to abuse them.

 

[Bigfeets]

Ever thought about going to another ford dealer?

Being unfamiliar with Ford and custom ordering, I filed my MME order online with Ford only to discover I had to choose a dealer, about whom I knew absolutely nothing. I called the dealer about the return policy on their huge deposit ($1500). They said I had to prove I was a real person by coming to them to show ID and sign an order sheet, and that they would honor the "price guarantee". To this day (day 67 of predicted 196-day wait) they've never responded to my requests for updates on priority, what their MME allocation is, how many orders they've filled, how many orders they have pending, where my order ranks among all those still pending. They've advertised many MME but never had one on the lot. Those I've inquired of were going to another networked dealer (Autonation). This forum says switching an order between dealers is near impossible. I do wish I'd known the role that dealers play in Ford's system before I got locked into one. I still don't know if it will significantly matter. The question you posed should be a "first" question before the order is filed.

 

[All Hat No Cattle]

OP, you are 100% right to be PO'd.

I got ticked when ordering my wife's Edge in 2017, enough to write the CEO a letter, below. Personal info redacted.

Mr. Mark Fields, CEO

Ford Motor Company



Feb. 15, 2017



Dear Mr. Fields,



I am writing this letter as a concerned Ford stockholder, and as a lifelong buyer of 10+ Ford/Lincoln vehicles. Over the years I have watched many CEOs on financial news shows being questioned about problems that their business may have, that they are completely unaware of. This letter may be of help to you, because I firmly believe that you are not aware of this problem.



On Nov. 4, 2016, I ordered a 2017 Ford Edge Titanium in a configuration that I could not find at any of the Ford dealers in Las Vegas. About 3 weeks ago, my dealer, Gaudin Ford, called to tell me that a Vin number has been issued for my vehicle, VIN 2FMPK4K98HBB57051. Since then, I have not been able to get any more information about a scheduled build date or delivery date.

I have contacted Ford Customer Service by e-mail last week, and never received a reply. On Monday, Feb. 13, I talked to Ford Marketing at 1-800-334-4375. The CS agent said that all she could find out from the VIN is that maybe the vehicle might be built around March 20, but there was no information available about a possible delivery date. So we are talking about a 5 month or more delivery for a 2017 Edge that is exactly the same as the 2016 model year.

This is especially disappointing, since just last year, I ordered a 2016 F-150 Platinum 4x4 on Jan. 19, 2016, and took delivery on March 4, 2016. So I know that Ford has the ability to deliver a vehicle in 2 months, are you aware that Ford Edges are taking 5 months? We will never know how many people get tired of waiting that long, and just decide to buy another brand.

So, I would really appreciate if someone at Ford could tell me why there is such a long wait for a vehicle that is a guaranteed cash sale, and what the real status of my ordered vehicle actually is.

Sincerely,

I never received a reply from Ford, but the dealer called a week or 2 later, to tell me it was on the way. I received it about a month after the letter.

That was the good news, LOL. The bad news was that it showed up with a black interior, after we strenuously emphasized to the salesman that a white interior was the only acceptable option. The dealer's ordering guy screwed up.

So, for the price of sending a USPS 2nd day certified letter, I think that I got some personal satisfaction.

The re-order, with another dealer, took just over 2 months. I can't prove it, but I suspect I may have been in Ford's system??

Hey, what can it hurt?

 

[deadduck]

I'm coming up on 3 months since I ordered. Supposedly, what I ordered is 20+ weeks from order. I think that + is going to do a lot of work that it shouldn't be.

 

[Jimrpa]

Being unfamiliar with Ford and custom ordering, I filed my MME order online with Ford only to discover I had to choose a dealer, about whom I knew absolutely nothing. I called the dealer about the return policy on their huge deposit ($1500). They said I had to prove I was a real person by coming to them to show ID and sign an order sheet, and that they would honor the "price guarantee". To this day (day 67 of predicted 196-day wait) they've never responded to my requests for updates on priority, what their MME allocation is, how many orders they've filled, how many orders they have pending, where my order ranks among all those still pending. They've advertised many MME but never had one on the lot. Those I've inquired of were going to another networked dealer (Autonation). This forum says switching an order between dealers is near impossible. I do wish I'd known the role that dealers play in Ford's system before I got locked into one. I still don't know if it will significantly matter. The question you posed should be a "first" question before the order is filed.

Ugh. Horrible dealer experience. I’m sorry to hear about it. I would note that there are many reputable dealers out there who don’t pull this stuff. To be honest, the first thing to do, since you’re ultimately purchasing from a dealer and not Ford, is to check out the dealer. If you haven’t signed anything, you should be able to get your money back. If you have signed something, you’re sort of locked with them unless you’re willing to walk away from your money and start from scratch. Transferring orders is tough. I’d physically walk into the dealer and ask to speak to the sales manager or dealer GM. Demand to see the vehicle visibility report for your vehicle VIN and explain that you plan on making yourself quite comfortable in the showroom until you get the report? Do you happen to have any small children, or can you borrow some small children? Bring them along and make sure to let them know that they’re allowed to play with all the cars in the showroom - open and close doors, run around, play, basically be kids. Yeah, be that guy. After all, they’ve been “that dealer” to you. If they ask you to “control your kids” just look helpless and ask about progress on the vehicle visibility report. Offer the kids some high-sugar content snacks.

 

[EELinneman]

I think it's just a bad time to be a retail customer with most of these dealers. They might not have much inventory, but they know well that people will do whatever it takes to get a damn car now.

The ADM mess is making national news. There is no perfect answer, but Ford needs to step up and hammer some of these dealers, but I suspect that they are advantaged by this too.

43% ADM? Check!
https://nypost.com/2022/02/12/dealer-jacks-up-trucks-msrp-43-amid-auto-industry-crisis/

 

[FLmac]

I’m in sales so not working means not making money. I decided on a Monday (2 weeks ago) to try to find my order on a lot. I got some advice from some great people here and used cars.com, fords inventory lookup and auto trader. For two days (sporadically) I emailed dealers within a 1000 miles of me. I didn’t call or answer calls. I answered texts and emails. Asked up front about specific stock numbers, if it was in stock, ADM, dealer fees, etc. Most were easy and quick because they were a customer order, not real, or crazy ADM.

Wednesday morning I found the exact match in VA. Negotiated the ADM down and put a hold on the car in less than an hour via text and one phone call for a card number. I picked it up last Monday. Totally worth it. I also got a few calls after of others that came available.

If you’re open to color and specs you could probably find one with no markup or a slight markup (which you’ll probably pay for anything on a lot right now) with a couple of hours of work.

Good luck and I hope you find whatever car you decide is the best fit for you and your family!

 

[fictitious_owner]

Reading through the messages it looks like I picked the wrong dealer. So instead of doing research on the car I should have also done research on dealer allotment of cars. Oh well.

I wish I had started looking into why I wasn't hearing anything from Ford earlier. My mistake for thinking that I needed to do more than to place the order.

After seeing replies I did call my dealer and ask questions. All I came away with is that they haven't hit their allotment limit, but if I want my car I'd have better luck if I didn't live in Minnesota. My response was "so you've hit your allotment for the Mach E". Their response was, no, but other geo-locations have higher priority.

Since the cars are built in Mexico I don't know why it matters where they are shipped but whatever. I still think this is Ford's problem and not the individual dealerships. Honestly, if Ford doesn't sell to customers they only sell to dealers then they should remove the "Order your Ford" section from their website. That would take minutes to do...

I'd even feel better if they'd reach out to let me know that my order is still pending and that they're trying to increase production to meet demand. I think it would take minutes of someone's schedule to do that.

In fact....

if (daysSinceOrder > 180 && buildDate == null) {
emailCorporateBs();
}

There... where do I send the bill for that elegant code?

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