BEWARE OF DEALER MARK UP

[CharlesLupes]

Now that you have it in writing from them you absolutely need to get Ford corporate involved. Let us know what Ford says and if you get a customer service agent that tries to gloss it over ask for a manager.

I have contacted them and have an open case. All customer service people I spoke with were amazing and pointed me in the right direction to get the complaint filed with higher management. If that actually happens is still yet to be seen but it has been filed

Sponsored

 

[Turtle]

Who are those 2 folks that are referenced for "Twitter posting"?

FORD CEO and VP

 

[vjvjMali]

I picked up my ordered Maverick at AutoNation Ford Frisco TX on 12/13 and paid Invoice price with no-dealer adds or markups.

I did have a signed buyer's order with all costs listed and signed by me and the general sales manager. For reference to others do this now to protect yourself before delivery.

Getting back to AutoNation Ford Frisco I inquired if any other Mavericks were delivered with mine. I was told that only mine and one dealership stock Maverick (sold immediately) were delivered. I asked about what if any markups were on Maverick's. The answer is if your order the Maverick then none, you get it for MSRP. On stock Mavericks no ADM fee but you must purchase the dealer add-ons. I didn't get how much that costs but most are between $1400 to $1800.

Steve,
I got the email today expect to see my truck before the end of the year. would appreciate if you let me know how to get the truck for invoice price.

Great news! Your 2022 Maverick XLT has been built. We are performing some final inspections on your vehicle and getting it ready for shipment.

Our current estimate for delivery to AutoNation Ford Frisco is between December 29, 2021 and January 4, 2022.

 

[Big Kahuna]

I have contacted them and have an open case. All customer service people I spoke with were amazing and pointed me in the right direction to get the complaint filed with higher management. If that actually happens is still yet to be seen but it has been filed

Just for reference - I read an article about that Bronco guy that had this happen and it sounds like Ford themselves state they are limited in what they can do (see below). If they don't step in then you're limited to telling the dealer that these practices can lead to bad PR. You do have to be careful to not cross the line to slander though. If you can't get them to budge you might reach out to someone like Chapman PA who was offering good deals and tell them your story and I'm sure a good dealership will help out a military family. Another 6-8 month wait would suck but sometimes walking about from something like this is the best way to go. Another dealer might even sell you one at MSRP based on this tale for some good PR for their dealership.

Said Deep, Ford's North America product communications director, noted this was accurate and continued to explain that when it comes to dealer tomfoolery, the company's hands are often tied either way. "Ford dealers are independent franchises," Deep explained. "We remind customers that before converting a reservation to an order, they should negotiate the final price they will pay with the dealer they select. If they cannot agree, Ford can help the customer find another dealer they will be happier to work with."

That last part might technically be true, but it's worth noting that Hendra claims the automaker wasn't much help in his situation. "Throughout this whole process Ford was useless," Hendra said. "I called them at least eight times, I asked to speak to anybody higher-up, and all they told me they could do is take the information, then send it off to their 'dealer relationship specialist,' and that if I don't hear back from them in a week, I should go back to the dealership and resolve it myself." So when Ford says that dealers are independent franchises, they mean it. Sometimes there's not much the automaker can do.

You might try contacting people via Linkedin who have that title - Dealership relationship specialist

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-thomson-9b47652a

 

[Turtle]

Could not agree more. This is a large dealership in a small military town. The family that owns this owns at least one other chevy dealer in this town. The $4,500 mark up at the end of the day most likely means little to them. For me, the markup will have me walking away from a special order truck ive been waiting 6 months for. Then they just sell it to the next guy making there money.

Go ahead and do the twitter thing then will al go in and comment.

 

[Mavforever]

I am not entirly sure I mentioned them both in a tweet. Seem to be prominent social media car guys with solid following. There twitter user names are mentioned somewhere in this thread

Ford should realize that if this becomes a common practice folks then won’t bother to order their vehicles because the dealer will just do whatever when it arrives . So Ford should be proactive to stop this on special orders

 

[bgillen35]

I have contacted them and have an open case. All customer service people I spoke with were amazing and pointed me in the right direction to get the complaint filed with higher management. If that actually happens is still yet to be seen but it has been filed

I hate to add some pressure here, but Mavericks have not been staying on the lot for more than 5 days according to Ford press releases. So I really hope you get your justice in the end and the dealer gets what they deserve, but I hope it happens before they sell your truck and you have to wait for another order to be built...

 

[MavRow]

Just for reference - I read an article about that Bronco guy that had this happen and it sounds like Ford themselves state they are limited in what they can do (see below). If they don't step in then you're limited to telling the dealer that these practices can lead to bad PR. You do have to be careful to not cross the line to slander though. If you can't get them to budge you might reach out to someone like Chapman PA who was offering good deals and tell them your story and I'm sure a good dealership will help out a military family. Another 6-8 month wait would suck but sometimes walking about from something like this is the best way to go. Another dealer might even sell you one at MSRP based on this tale for some good PR for their dealership.

Said Deep, Ford's North America product communications director, noted this was accurate and continued to explain that when it comes to dealer tomfoolery, the company's hands are often tied either way. "Ford dealers are independent franchises," Deep explained. "We remind customers that before converting a reservation to an order, they should negotiate the final price they will pay with the dealer they select. If they cannot agree, Ford can help the customer find another dealer they will be happier to work with."

That last part might technically be true, but it's worth noting that Hendra claims the automaker wasn't much help in his situation. "Throughout this whole process Ford was useless," Hendra said. "I called them at least eight times, I asked to speak to anybody higher-up, and all they told me they could do is take the information, then send it off to their 'dealer relationship specialist,' and that if I don't hear back from them in a week, I should go back to the dealership and resolve it myself." So when Ford says that dealers are independent franchises, they mean it. Sometimes there's not much the automaker can do.

You might try contacting people via Linkedin who have that title - Dealership relationship specialist

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-thomson-9b47652a

I don't think "the company's hands are often tied either way". Right now, when we place a retail order and already has a "preferred" dealer, we are stuck with that preferred dealer. Ford can simply "ease" their system and let people change his/her "preferred" dealership, then maybe just charge a transportation fee or whatever change-of-dealership fee.

 

[huunvubu]

Steve,
I got the email today expect to see my truck before the end of the year. would appreciate if you let me know how to get the truck for invoice price.

Great news! Your 2022 Maverick XLT has been built. We are performing some final inspections on your vehicle and getting it ready for shipment.

Our current estimate for delivery to AutoNation Ford Frisco is between December 29, 2021 and January 4, 2022.

We got invoice price because my wife works for AutoNation in the finance department. Normally that would have qualified us for the A-Plan price which would have saved about another $800 off invoice price. But as you know these are not normal times so we were happy at invoice. At invoice saved $504 off the MSRP price.

When I picked up my Maverick on Monday I asked what the dealership charges for stock units or customer units. They charge MSRP on customer orders and on stock sales I believe it is also at MSRP but you have to pay for the dealer add-ons.

 

[Nw_adventure]

I hate to add some pressure here, but Mavericks have not been staying on the lot for more than 5 days according to Ford press releases. So I really hope you get your justice in the end and the dealer gets what they deserve, but I hope it happens before they sell your truck and you have to wait for another order to be built...

Just chain yourself up in the bed of the truck to prevent a sale to a different party..

 

[Dan]

I ordered my Hybrid and when it came time to finally discuss financing, the dealer told me they are marking it up $2,000! But I got a “deal” instead of the normal $3,000 markup they are charging.

 

[AeroMech21]

Charles what trim/model did you order? At the end of the day if these guys fall through, I still believe you could find the trim/model (maybe not hybrid) from a cancelled custom order with same build somewhere across the country here (in 1-2 weeks) and have it shipped for cheaper than all of this. I'll even help as this is what I did to get my truck faster.

 

[Mavforever]

I ordered my Hybrid and when it came time to finally discuss financing, the dealer told me they are marking it up $2,000! But I got a “deal” instead of the normal $3,000 markup they are charging.

 

[MavGrabber]

I know, I know, I know....... I should have got something signed when I ordered my Mav back in July. I was told in my meeting during ordering that
I was locking in price and would avoid the almost guaranteed rise in value as demand goes up. Waited close to 6 months eagerly checking status of my order dang near everyday. Truck get delivered this morning 12-15-21. Dealership calls this morning to tell me there would be a $4,500 dealer mark up. Being that I am already out of that state due to a military PCS I would already have to buy a $500 plane ticket as well as almost 12 hour drive back to my new home I have decided to back out. So now a beautiful Ford Mav sitting in Altus, Oklahoma at a very crappy dealership of Wilmes Ford. At a awesome $4,500 mark up, which they may change to almost $8,000 as they are telling me they gave me a half off discount on the mark up!!!!!!! How kind of them for thinking of me in doing that!!!! Nope go screw yourself Wilmes Ford of Altus, Oklahoma.

Added in the email I received with explanation.

One final note..... As my wife and I found out about our move to a new state I was in full contact with the dealership. Even looked at price of shipping it to my new home and was quoted at $1,800 for the trip from Altus, Oklahoma to Great Falls, MT. I was in constant contact with the dealer. He had every opportunity to be open and honest that there could be a mark up upon arrival. He did not mention this once in our exchanges. He waited till delivery had happened to let me know. That is why I believe this was his plan all along. To have me walk and sell it to the next guy at a profit. At the end of the day I guess as the buyer all I can do is be mad as they sell my custom order to another inidividual.

Call ford. Period

You can get them "black listed." The military has a lot of power in military towns. I grew up in an Air Force town. Some Airmen got cheated at the Chevey dealer so the base threatened to make it so none of the active duty guys could buy cars there. The dealersip made thing rite real quick.
Share your story with somone in leadership at the base an see what happens.

 

[Livinthedream]

My salesman told me upfront in July that there was a $2000 markup.

Sponsored