Article: Ford Will Soon Stock Up To 80% Fewer Vehicle Configurations

[OleFordGuy]

Thought this was interesting new article (IMO)

" the initiative is being called "inventory reframing," and will involve reducing dealer inventory in order to focus on the brand's highest-selling configurations leveraging regional sales data. "

Ford Will Soon Stock Up To 80% Fewer Vehicle Configurations - CarsDirect

Sponsored

 

[Decayed]

That actually makes a ton of sense. People that want odd configurations can get exactly what they want while Ford worries less about what configurations get stocked at the dealer. Simplifies and streamlines everything.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

That actually makes a ton of sense. People that want odd configurations can get exactly what they want while Ford worries less about what configurations get stocked at the dealer. Simplifies and streamlines everything.

Of course, they should just make three or four trim levels in three colors. Anyone who wants something different = "Aftermarket"! Every dealer gets the next truck load produced in rotation. Higher volume dealers can buy from lower volume dealers.

 

[Landric]

The problem with offering hundreds of different configurations/trim levels/colors/options is that it is almost impossible to find exactly what one is looking for in dealer stock (in normal times, not now, one can't find anything now).

All those options are fine for custom orders, and are actually preferred IMO. If Ford is moving to a custom order model (which is great if they can get delivery times down) then it makes sense to offer basically everything they offer now for custom order and to drop most trim level/options from dealer stock vehicles.

You want a XL crew cab work truck in white with the power package, tow package, and the 5.0 V8, that is a stock configuration.

You want a XL super cab 4x4 FX4 without a tow package, the 3.5 liter EcoBoost, power package, bucket seats/console, and SYNC 4 with voice activation in Race Red, custom order.

 

[Decayed]

The problem with offering hundreds of different configurations/trim levels/colors/options is that it is almost impossible to find exactly what one is looking for in dealer stock (in normal times, not now, one can't find anything now).

All those options are fine for custom orders, and are actually preferred IMO. If Ford is moving to a custom order model (which is great if they can get delivery times down) then it makes sense to offer basically everything they offer now for custom order and to drop most trim level/options from dealer stock vehicles.

You want a XL crew cab work truck in white with the power package, tow package, and the 5.0 V8, that is a stock configuration.

You want a XL super cab 4x4 FX4 without a tow package, the 3.5 liter EcoBoost, power package, bucket seats/console, and SYNC 4 with voice activation in Race Red, custom order.

Agreed. The biggest bottleneck with the custom order system is delivery times.

 

[Dun4791]

Won’t work. People are too impatient. I mean look around this site, seems like everyone is complaining about time from order to delivery. If ford goes to this model and doesn’t build in order of order submissions and uses allocation then it will never work. People will just buy something else. Waiting six months for every vehicle ford sells? Um, no. I mean to the people complaining about the maverick, there are ample Santa Cruz on the lots. People won’t wait, they will go elsewhere.

 

[jbpoole]

Won’t work. People are too impatient. I mean look around this site, seems like everyone is complaining about time from order to delivery. If ford goes to this model and doesn’t build in order of order submissions and uses allocation then it will never work. People will just buy something else. Waiting six months for every vehicle ford sells? Um, no. I mean to the people complaining about the maverick, there are ample Santa Cruz on the lots. People won’t wait, they will go elsewhere.

You may be right.

"Gotta have it. Gotta have it NOW."

 

[Landric]

Won’t work. People are too impatient. I mean look around this site, seems like everyone is complaining about time from order to delivery. If ford goes to this model and doesn’t build in order of order submissions and uses allocation then it will never work. People will just buy something else. Waiting six months for every vehicle ford sells? Um, no. I mean to the people complaining about the maverick, there are ample Santa Cruz on the lots. People won’t wait, they will go elsewhere.

What they need to do is cut dealerships out of custom orders entirely. You want to buy off the lot, that is fine, they can have a series of stock configurations that are available. That is good for people that "need something now" for whatever reason (tree fell on their car, engine blew up, they don't like to wait, the standard configuration is exactly what they would order anyway, etc.). For custom orders it should be entirely online; option it yourself, submit it to Ford with a deposit, and choose a dealer for delivery. It also needs to be first in-first out. Customers do not care at all which dealer sells the most vehicles and therefore gets the most allocations; if I order a car today and my friend Jim orders the same build next week, mine should come first.

 

[Dun4791]

You may be right.

"Gotta have it. Gotta have it NOW."

I want my golden ticket daddy and I want it now, and I don’t care how!

 

[Dun4791]

What they need to do is cut dealerships out of custom orders entirely. You want to buy off the lot, that is fine, they can have a series of stock configurations that are available. That is good for people that "need something now" for whatever reason (tree fell on their car, engine blew up, they don't like to wait, the standard configuration is exactly what they would order anyway, etc.). For custom orders it should be entirely online; option it yourself, submit it to Ford with a deposit, and choose a dealer for delivery. It also needs to be first in-first out. Customers do not care at all which dealer sells the most vehicles and therefore gets the most allocations; if I order a car today and my friend Jim orders the same build next week, mine should come first.

And you should get a 1k rebate for doing all of the online work without the help of any salespeople at the dealership. Upload your own license and deposit info.

 

[jbpoole]

I want my golden ticket daddy and I want it now, and I don’t care how!

My Maverick was purchased online with same day delivery via an Amazon drone.

 

[rlhdweman]

I think this would be the best idea for most. The dealer I ordered from used to have 30-50 of those 50k-80k trucks sitting on the lot, that has to cost somebody. Now they have about 15 of them. Build to order for most & if you are in dire need of a vehicle you get whats on the lot.

Sponsored