Thoughts on bargaining with dealers prior to official ordering process?

[pbojanoski]

If you are in an area with multiple Ford dealers, any reason not to visit them all and get the best price prior to placing the official order with a dealer? That could ensure no ADM and maybe even get you something lower than sticker. Thoughts?

 

[jlauro]

I am not expecting any ADM, and if the dealer attempts to charge any I will walk away and submit a complaint to Ford about the dealer. I may or may not try another dealer after that, but probably not.

You could try to negotiate a better price, but I doubt they even have the final numbers yet of what they can work with, and demand will probably exceed supply for at least the first few months. If you want to get a significantly lower price, you might have better luck with that strategy if you can wait another year. Certainly wouldn't hurt to verify no ADM, but I doubt few dealers will attempt to do ADM on this vehicle for those who have a registration.

 

[pbojanoski]

I am not expecting any ADM, and if the dealer attempts to charge any I will walk away and submit a complaint to Ford about the dealer. I may or may not try another dealer after that, but probably not.

You could try to negotiate a better price, but I doubt they even have the final numbers yet of what they can work with, and demand will probably exceed supply for at least the first few months. If you want to get a significantly lower price, you might have better luck with that strategy if you can wait another year. Certainly wouldn't hurt to verify no ADM, but I doubt few dealers will attempt to do ADM on this vehicle for those who have a registration.

I can't disagree with anything you said, but thought a little negotiation with multiple dealers closer to when we will place orders might yield some benefit. The dealer you ultimately buy from (and who currently holds your reservation) can be changed prior to placing a formal order. This might clear up a few things instead of being surprised when the order process starts. If a dealer does not hold your reservation, but can get it if they give you a "deal", why wouldn't they do that?

 

[timbop]

If you are in an area with multiple Ford dealers, any reason not to visit them all and get the best price prior to placing the official order with a dealer? That could ensure no ADM and maybe even get you something lower than sticker. Thoughts?

Good plan, although I don't think any of them will sell below MSRP. I have been buying from a small dealership nearby to support a small business, but I've been thinking about a larger dealer taking BEVs more seriously - as in having more EV maintenance infrastructure/mechanics.

 

[mark360]

There is an article discussion this. Dealers can not sell the vehicle below MSRP, and are strictly told not to mark it above MSRP otherwise they will face penalties. Can't find the article.

The way it works is a dealer has to sign up to sell or deliver the Mach E. There are strict rules they must abide by in order to continue to sell the vehicle. I couldn't imagine why, if you buy one through the Ford website, they would charge you more than a DOC and taxes on your purchase at dealership.

 

[FredT]

There is an article discussion this. Dealers can not sell the vehicle below MSRP, and are strictly told not to mark it above MSRP otherwise they will face penalties. Can't find the article.

The way it works is a dealer has to sign up to sell or deliver the Mach E. There are strict rules they must abide by in order to continue to sell the vehicle. I couldn't imagine why, if you buy one through the Ford website, they would charge you more than a DOC and taxes on your purchase at dealership.

Explanation from salesman at my dealer is the they cannot add a markup for cars with a deposit, but if I hypothetically decided not to follow through and buy the car after it arrived, it would then be their car and they could add a markup.

 

[jlauro]

There is an article discussion this. Dealers can not sell the vehicle below MSRP, and are strictly told not to mark it above MSRP otherwise they will face penalties. Can't find the article.

The way it works is a dealer has to sign up to sell or deliver the Mach E. There are strict rules they must abide by in order to continue to sell the vehicle. I couldn't imagine why, if you buy one through the Ford website, they would charge you more than a DOC and taxes on your purchase at dealership.

Ford said they can't ADVERTISE the Mach E below MSRP (at least not initially), but dealers can do whatever they want on the final sale price. It's only advertising they are strongly discouraging, and even that they don't have full control over.

(So, I assume if they advertise a generic $500 of all new vehicles it would be ok.)

 

[pbojanoski]

Ford said they can't ADVERTISE the Mach E below MSRP (at least not initially), but dealers can do whatever they want on the final sale price. It's only advertising they are strongly discouraging, and even that they don't have full control over.

(So, I assume if they advertise a generic $500 of all new vehicles it would be ok.)

Exactly. No advertising below MSRP. Ultimate price is up to the dealer and customer to agree on.

I have several Ford dealers near me. I think it would be an easy and useful exercise to ask if they are interested in my reservation and what price they would be willing to offer me. Might not change anything, but maybe I will be pleasantly surprised. A dealer who doesn't have my reservation can still make some money on my vehicle if they offer me a deal and I change my reservation to them. With the cost of a GT model, I'm certainly interested in a little help with the price.

 

[Res Nullius]

I have several Ford dealers near me. I think it would be an easy and useful exercise to ask if they are interested in my reservation and what price they would be willing to offer me. Might not change anything, but maybe I will be pleasantly surprised. A dealer who doesn't have my reservation can still make some money on my vehicle if they offer me a deal and I change my reservation to them. With the cost of a GT model, I'm certainly interested in a little help with the price.

This is exactly what I've begun doing too. I've got a verbal promise from my preferred local dealer to charge no ADM but in case that falls through I want to have a couple of backup dealers who won't charge ADM. That way I can just switch my order over without having to scramble.

 

[Stickboy46]

There is an article discussion this. Dealers can not sell the vehicle below MSRP, and are strictly told not to mark it above MSRP otherwise they will face penalties. Can't find the article.

The way it works is a dealer has to sign up to sell or deliver the Mach E. There are strict rules they must abide by in order to continue to sell the vehicle. I couldn't imagine why, if you buy one through the Ford website, they would charge you more than a DOC and taxes on your purchase at dealership.

As others have stated it is they cant ADVERTISE it below MSRP. I guarantee the reason for this is because some shady dealer will start advertising it as MSRP - 7500 (for the tax credit plus what ever other random credits that exist that they might be able to throw in there) in order to pull more customers in when in reality they aren't doing anything different for you. Ford's main competition on this is Tesla which has a really straight forward (but broken in other ways) buying process.

 

[Lukas]

As others have stated it is they cant ADVERTISE it below MSRP. I guarantee the reason for this is because some shady dealer will start advertising it as MSRP - 7500 (for the tax credit plus what ever other random credits that exist that they might be able to throw in there) in order to pull more customers in when in reality they aren't doing anything different for you. Ford's main competition on this is Tesla which has a really straight forward (but broken in other ways) buying process.

Tesla also plays loose with some of the pricing listed on their official website. Along with the MSRP they list a "price after potential savings" which factors into the price how much money you potentially save from gas savings and state/federal incentives.

 

[tangme]

If your dealer accepted the order, it says they agree to sell it at that price. I would assume anyone who ordered on line with the reservation process would be protected from any dealer mark up. Thats more or less a contract.

Dealers don't generally make a ton of money selling new cars. What they get you on is the trade in and used car sales, finance referrals, and their service department. I don't think many dealers embrace the electric car business because there are no oil changes, no engine tune up...etc.

Dealers can do ADM...they are independent retail outlets...they just can't do it on vehicles they all ready agreed to sale at a price when you ordered it.

 

[MattG]

I don’t think you’ll be able to do better than MSRP right now, but if you’re in a state without legal limits on doc fees, negotiate that, it can save you hundreds.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I don’t think you’ll be able to do better than MSRP right now, but if you’re in a state without legal limits on doc fees, negotiate that, it can save you hundreds.

Your best bet is X-plan pricing.