The awful purchase process

[rpowell]

I wanted to post my purchase experience today after 10 months of waiting for my Route 1 to arrive. So I purchased back in November 2021 and today I get the call that my car arrived. Here is how it went down:
1. Price Protection: They wanted to charge me the MSRP on the window sticker. I obviously had price protection and sent them the order sheet and the sheet Ford sent to dealers saying that customers were price protected if cars were ordered before December. Once I showed those two pieces of info they quickly relented to price protection. So that took the MSRP from 53,550 to 51,875 for a "savings" of $1675.
2. $500 deposit: They said they never saw that I paid a $500 deposit when I placed my order last November. So my $500 deposit was gone and I gave up trying after I showed them proof I paid a deposit. They just shrugged.
3. Options: The manager had no idea that I could do ford options from last November. They called some other places and got is sorted. I was happy to save $2500 by doing Ford Options so that was a win. I believe them that they didn't know as I could easily overhear their convo with some off-site manager. Savings of $2500.
4. X-Plan: I learned about about x-plan a couple months ago and qualified through my wife's work. I got the 7 digit pin and was all set. They said they couldn't do x-plan AND price protection which seemed very common after reading a couple other posts. There didn't seem to be a way to convince them and I saw nothing on the forums to make the point. So there went $750.
5: Park-Assist: So the window sticker showed the -$325 for Park Assist. I brought this up but they shrugged and were like we don't know how to reduce the price $325 since you are on price protection. So that's a loss of $325.

I have to believe my situation went better than most thanks to the tons of helpful info from this forum. It's still an absolutely miserable process that dragged for over 3 hours. And for those wondering I purchased this at Frontier Ford in Santa Clara (SF Bay Area). I don't want to single them out as being bad. In my mind the fault lies with Ford not able to help their customers or their dealers through the purchase process.

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[Socalsp3]

I lost price protection on my order. In my experience the dealers have no incentive to know any of these things. In fact they have incentive to play dumb and keep your money. Because your choice is accept their terms or walk away after waiting for a year.

 

[RedStallion]

I thought my experience with them was bad, yours just awful. Give them feedback when then send you a survey. And let us know what BS excuses you get from Luke, if they still haven't fired him.

 

[KSpen]

I thought my experience with them was bad, yours just awful. Give them feedback when then send you a survey. And let us know what BS excuses you get from Luke, if they still haven't fired him.

My dealer made it simple on the price protection. They charged current x plan price -325 and I get the difference in MSRP from order to purchase dates back in a check. Didn’t even have to ask for it they just said it’s sent out once they get reimbursed from ford after they verify that I was the original person who ordered the car. Morgan Hill Ford Store… I truly will never go somewhere else.

 

[rpowell]

My dealer made it simple on the price protection. They charged current x plan price -325 and I get the difference in MSRP from order to purchase dates back in a check. Didn’t even have to ask for it they just said it’s sent out once they get reimbursed from ford after they verify that I was the original person who ordered the car. Morgan Hill Ford Store… I truly will never go somewhere else.

How did they deal with your initial $500 deposit?

 

[KSpen]

How did they deal with your initial $500 deposit?

They just refunded it to my original payment in my case a credit card.

 

[ripperAZ]

LOL. Dealers. The only thing that makes cars less enjoyable than changing a tire in the pouring rain storm or a blizzard

Their days are numbered. Many companies are now selling direct and Ford is threatening to do the same. They’re going to become repair centers and places that replace the scented thing that hangs off your mirror if you want to pay for that so also offer you nitrogen for your tires, which does nothing.

The fact that they couldn’t find your deposit means that they’re probably dealing with paper trail for deposits, which maybe puts them into the Neanderthal class of dealer a little bit before the Cro-Magnon’s

Holy crap will they all just go away? Can we all just buy stuff at the same price please

Jes sayin. I tamed mine a few years ago, but every once in a while, new guy crops up, and I have to slice his head off you all have to get better at putting them in their place.

effing car dealers. Giving the motor vehicle division of every state a run for incompetence awards and career retirement watches as societies worst customer relations ….what parties they must have when they leave

I am scheduled to go in before the end of the year and I’m bringing three people with me and we’re all going to jibber jabber common sense at them
We’re gonna take them down with family being as annoying as possible

 

[rpowell]

LOL. Dealers. The only thing that makes cars less enjoyable than changing a tire in the pouring rain storm or a blizzard

Their days are numbered. Many companies are now selling direct and Ford is threatening to do the same. They’re going to become repair centers and places that replace the scented thing that hangs off your mirror if you want to pay for that so also offer you nitrogen for your tires, which does nothing.

The fact that they couldn’t find your deposit means that they’re probably dealing with paper trail for deposits, which maybe puts them into the Neanderthal class of dealer a little bit before the Cro-Magnon’s

Holy crap will they all just go away? Can we all just buy stuff at the same price please

Jes sayin. I tamed mine a few years ago, but every once in a while, new guy crops up, and I have to slice his head off you all have to get better at putting them in their place.

effing car dealers. Giving the motor vehicle division of every state a run for incompetence awards and career retirement watches as societies worst customer relations ….what parties they must have when they leave

I am scheduled to go in before the end of the year and I’m bringing three people with me and we’re all going to jibber jabber common sense at them
We’re gonna take them down with family being as annoying as possible

yeah the missing deposit still baffles me. they had no idea that ford required a deposit to place an order. again it was 10 months ago which isnt helping anyone except the "forgetful" dealer.

 

[MachKet]

Only really worthwhile thing you can do is give them 1’s on the survey and google reviews, can’t wait for actual online ordering

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

yeah the missing deposit still baffles me. they had no idea that ford required a deposit to place an order. again it was 10 months ago which isnt helping anyone except the "forgetful" dealer.

I would call Ford Customer Service and ask for their help in getting the $500 deposit refunded.

 

[Socalsp3]

You should be able to get that deposit. Thats cut dry. the money went to dealer. Call your credit card co if you need to or report to bbb.

 

[Anvina72]

You should be able to get that deposit. Thats cut dry. the money went to dealer. Call your credit card co if you need to or report to bbb.

I was told by my dealer that I will get that back along with price protection $ after Ford reconciles based on RDR(Retail Delivery Receipt??).

 

[BigMach-E]

That's not even terrible. Sorry to tell you, but I would have loved your experience in contrast to mine at Hilltop Ford. Never go there.

 

[generaltso]

yeah the missing deposit still baffles me. they had no idea that ford required a deposit to place an order. again it was 10 months ago which isnt helping anyone except the "forgetful" dealer.

Did you show them your credit card statement with the $500 charge to the dealer? I don't see how they could say they didn't get it with that evidence. Did you have them include resolving the deposit issue on the IOU sheet?

 

[rpowell]

I showed them proof of my deposit from Ford. I didnt bother with the cc info given their reaction. Whats an IOU sheet? I have not seen that before.

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