Negative Dealer Feedback Requested

[smalas]

Dear MachE Family! I need your help. I know there have been a million posts about markups and there is a list of dealers who don't impose markups on ordered vehicles. I know that it is recommended to get a signed document stating they would not impose a markup. I know I did not do either of these things as I did not realize the forum existed before I placed my order. I was told several times "We do not markup orders" and naively took that for granted and placed an order for my MachE back in August.

Over the course of the next 6 months I waited patiently as it was given 3 production dates and then delayed over and over (y'all know the feeling). When it finally shipped I felt like a kid on Christmas and my excitement was palpable, I tracked the order meticulously as it was trained from Mexico to MO then to Delaware and then to the dealer in Maryland. I downloaded the Ford Pass App and added my car with the VIN, even named it the Millennium Falcon.

When I got to the dealer they had tacked on an extra $10k reneguing on their original promise and even going so far as to adding an additional bogus $1,495 delivery fee (delivery fee is already included in the MSRP). They held my car hostage giving me 24 hours to decide. I did ultimately purchase the car with an ADM under $10k but it was not what we agreed on back in August. I know... I gave in but with the price increase of the '22 and knowing they'd have no problem selling the vehicle for $5-10k over I caved.

I understand the market is crazy but in my opinion a promise is a promise and they broke theirs and exhibited repeatedly unethical practices. On my side, I've written my review, contacted Ford to leave them a complaint, Here is my ask, if any of you have time please leave this business 1 star review. I think this is the best way we can ensure they don't hurt other people. I've attached their information below:

Lindsay Ford of Wheaton (search Google to leave a google review)
Facebook
Yelp
Dealer Rater

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[Logal727]

Dear MachE Family! I need your help. I know there have been a million posts about markups and there is a list of dealers who don't impose markups on ordered vehicles. I know that it is recommended to get a signed document stating they would not impose a markup. I know I did not do either of these things as I did not realize the forum existed before I placed my order. I was told several times "We do not markup orders" and naively took that for granted and placed an order for my MachE back in August.

Over the course of the next 6 months I waited patiently as it was given 3 production dates and then delayed over and over (y'all know the feeling). When it finally shipped I felt like a kid on Christmas and my excitement was palpable, I tracked the order meticulously as it was trained from Mexico to MO then to Delaware and then to the dealer in Maryland. I downloaded the Ford Pass App and added my car with the VIN, even named it the Millennium Falcon.

When I got to the dealer they had tacked on an extra $10k reneguing on their original promise and even going so far as to adding an additional bogus $1,495 delivery fee (delivery fee is already included in the MSRP). They held my car hostage giving me 24 hours to decide. I did ultimately purchase the car with an ADM under $10k but it was not what we agreed on back in August. I know... I gave in but with the price increase of the '22 and knowing they'd have no problem selling the vehicle for $5-10k over I caved.

I understand the market is crazy but in my opinion a promise is a promise and they broke theirs and exhibited repeatedly unethical practices. On my side, I've written my review, contacted Ford to leave them a complaint, Here is my ask, if any of you have time please leave this business 1 star review. I think this is the best way we can ensure they don't hurt other people. I've attached their information below:

Lindsay Ford of Wheaton (search Google to leave a google review)
Facebook
Yelp
Dealer Rater

That’s messed up

 

[RickMachE]

You want us to give negative reviews to a business based on your story?

That's messed up.

 

[dwee415]

Looking through their reviews on Yelp, it looks like you’re not the only one they screwed over. This dealership looks shady.

 

[mkhuffman]

Sorry for your experience but I cannot leave a review for a business I have never delt with. They may be dishonest, but asking people to leave fake reviews is also dishonest. Maybe what you are doing to them is worse than what they did to you.

 

[veronicablack]

I'm sorry you went through that BS, OP. But unfortunately, I think the best thing is for you to leave your legit bad feedback and have us just listen. If these sites start getting flooded with negative reviews from people who didn't actually have a personal bad experience with them, the sites will rightfully take them down.

You seem like a good guy who got the bad end of the stick, but that's between you and the dealer. I mean, for all we know, this is a bs story. I don't think it is but... I mean I know they say you can't just come on the internet and lie but I'm pretty sure I've seen it happen a time or two.

Again, really sorry that happened to you. It's my fear right now with my car expecting to come in in the next week or so. But I think if I were you, I'd take down the request you made. Leave your story up if you want, but I'd end it at that.

 

[Dancefreak]

If the experience was so bad and you feel that they were dishonest and ripped you off, why did you cave and still buy the car? Trying to leverage internet outrage to generate viral fake reviews is counterproductive.

 

[rfrommd]

I think @CapitolE had a similar experience with that dealer and got the ADM removed by threatening to make a complaint with the MVA. That might be a more productive route than Yelp-bombing them.

 

[Auto Motive]

Dear MachE Family! I need your help. I know there have been a million posts about markups and there is a list of dealers who don't impose markups on ordered vehicles. I know that it is recommended to get a signed document stating they would not impose a markup. I know I did not do either of these things as I did not realize the forum existed before I placed my order. I was told several times "We do not markup orders" and naively took that for granted and placed an order for my MachE back in August.

Over the course of the next 6 months I waited patiently as it was given 3 production dates and then delayed over and over (y'all know the feeling). When it finally shipped I felt like a kid on Christmas and my excitement was palpable, I tracked the order meticulously as it was trained from Mexico to MO then to Delaware and then to the dealer in Maryland. I downloaded the Ford Pass App and added my car with the VIN, even named it the Millennium Falcon.

When I got to the dealer they had tacked on an extra $10k reneguing on their original promise and even going so far as to adding an additional bogus $1,495 delivery fee (delivery fee is already included in the MSRP). They held my car hostage giving me 24 hours to decide. I did ultimately purchase the car with an ADM under $10k but it was not what we agreed on back in August. I know... I gave in but with the price increase of the '22 and knowing they'd have no problem selling the vehicle for $5-10k over I caved.

I understand the market is crazy but in my opinion a promise is a promise and they broke theirs and exhibited repeatedly unethical practices. On my side, I've written my review, contacted Ford to leave them a complaint, Here is my ask, if any of you have time please leave this business 1 star review. I think this is the best way we can ensure they don't hurt other people. I've attached their information below:

Lindsay Ford of Wheaton (search Google to leave a google review)
Facebook
Yelp
Dealer Rater

My wife and I read this and know history of dealers pulling this off on unsuspecting buyers. When my wife decided to order her GTP we searched dealers in our area 100 mile radius and found one only 3 miles away which sent us an email specifying no markup and exact cash payment since we're not financing. Shultz Ford of Wexford Pa was honest on pricing. At 74 I remember the $5000 markups on the PT Cruiser that people actually accepted as a normal thing. Glad you didn't except that markup. Older friends of mine rejected $20000 markups on the 2021 corvette that were msrp $59900. Thanks for your story and shame on Ford!

 

[RickMachE]

A dealer is not Ford...

 

[CapitolE]

I think @CapitolE had a similar experience with that dealer and got the ADM removed by threatening to make a complaint with the MVA. That might be a more productive route than Yelp-bombing them.

Yes I did. Same dealer. They wanted 6K over MSRP for a GTPE so they appear to be getting even more brazen. I was *fortunate* in that I had email correspondence with the salesman agreeing to honor x-plan. Ultimately I did draft a complaint to the MVA and gave them 24 notice prior to mailing it. They called the next day and said they would sell to me at x-plan.
Not surprisingly, they also tried to add about $2k in dealer fees including “dealer freight” but removed that, too, after I pointed out the x-plan rules. Oh, and they drilled the bumper in the time between when they tried to pull the bait and switch and ultimately selling me the car.
Super shady, indeed.

 

[Logal727]

A dealer is not Ford...

We gotta stop using this excuse until we can buy from Ford directly, which will never happen. They gotta control this sketchy stuff or just lose any goodwill altogether. It’s already hurting them really badly. You are messing with peoples lives if you jack up an ORDER someone placed six months in advance. I can see it being fair game if it’s just a lot car but come on.

 

[RickMachE]

We gotta stop using this excuse until we can buy from Ford directly, which will never happen. They gotta control this sketchy stuff or just lose any goodwill altogether. It’s already hurting them really badly. You are messing with peoples lives if you jack up an ORDER someone placed six months in advance. I can see it being fair game if it’s just a lot car but come on.

Not going to happen.

And, as you know, it's not just Ford.

As long as dealers are franchisees, then this is the way things are going to go. The really absurd thing is the number of people that think that a company name on something implies ownership. Do these people think all Hilton or Marriott hotels are owned by the companies?

"it's already hurting them really badly". No, it's not. People read a forum comment and think that's a huge business impact. It's not. The vast majority of Mach-E owners will never come to this or any other forum. The vast majority of car owners don't visit formers, nor do they even read the manual.
In short, most people go about their lives in a totally clueless manner.

 

[Logal727]

Not going to happen.

And, as you know, it's not just Ford.

As long as dealers are franchisees, then this is the way things are going to go. The really absurd thing is the number of people that think that a company name on something implies ownership. Do these people think all Hilton or Marriott hotels are owned by the companies?

"it's already hurting them really badly". No, it's not. People read a forum comment and think that's a huge business impact. It's not. The vast majority of Mach-E owners will never come to this or any other forum. The vast majority of car owners don't visit formers, nor do they even read the manual.
In short, most people go about their lives in a totally clueless manner.

They need to own their shady business model. It definitely is being noticed which is why dealers get notices about losing privileges if they don't stop jacking up or holding orders hostage. Can't believe you're defending this practice.

 

[RickMachE]

They need to own their shady business model. It definitely is being noticed which is why dealers get notices about losing privileges if they don't stop jacking up or holding orders hostage. Can't believe you're defending this practice.

Don't put words in my mouth. I'm not defending any dealership doing anything. I'm saying you can get mad at the company all you want, but they only have so much control, legally. If you don't like it, deal with someone else.

I have 3 Ford dealerships near me. If I widen out to say 20 miles, I have 8. I used to do business with the closest dealership, then my salesperson retired. Had issues with service, mostly the qualified tech (for hybrid) was off that week, or backed up.

One of the other 8 dealerships did us a solid when a vehicle failed during an "emergency". Brought us a free rental so we could get to someone's deathbed. Promised I would repay them by giving them business. Went to give them business and their response was "we have no more allocation".

So, I moved my business to one of the other close dealers, and deal directly with the GM, the Service Manager, and the Body Shop Manager. No games.

If you don't like how a franchisee treats you, switch to another. If they are company-owned, switch to a different company.

I don't do business with some companies due to their business models, or business practices, or employee policies. Never had Chick-fil-A, never will. I don't shop at Hobby Lobby either.

But don't waste your time whining about something that a company cannot fix. And leaving bad business reviews for a company that you've never done business with is unethical.

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