Ordered Maverick, dealer added on $2.5K of features. What should I do?

[huunvubu]

All I can say is at the time of your order you should have done a "Signed Buyer's Order" with all prices/fees listed with a total out-the-door price that you agree with signed and dated by you and the dealership's General/Sales Manager.

If that was done none of this would have happened and yes getting a "Signed Buyer's Order" has been mentioned many many times here on this forum and Tim @fordvideoguy has talked about it in a number of his videos.

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[mattzar]

I'd walk away. Leave a Google review and never set foot near that dealer again. It's just a truck. I know we are all here because we want one and we ordered one, but if your situation was mine...I'd walk.

 

[Finklejag]

$1500 ceramic coating is the price a professional detailer charges, and that includes paint correction. They are probably just using a $20 bottle of ceramic spray wax on the truck. The Covid cleaning fee triggers me the most, WTF!

 

[HiYoAu]

Bruh,
Your in a okay spot since you don’t need the truck.

I’d be calling dealerships on the mainland seeing what’s available now. You already set a price level that you could stomach for that trim level, so what would be price shipped from the mainland?

You might try a counter to their add-ons. Say no to them (or at least the vIn etching and Covid cleaning (who else has been in the vehicle?!)) and tell them instead you’ll buy an extended warranty- get the Ford one, no 4th party warranty. That way you are getting something that has a potential payback.

Walking away is a strong option as you said you dont need it and there will be the annoyance that the dealership did some shenanigans on ya.

Although I’m on the mainland, I’m sympathetic to you folks on the islands being held hostage to a limited supply of goods.

Good luck

 

[boe757]

So I ordered a Maverick XL in January and it just came in. I got the base model upgraded with the gas engine, a tow hitch, and tail gate lock which made the truck about $22K. Dealer told me that their markup was $3995 due to the high demand and limited supply of this truck. This wasn't going to be open to negotiation. I knew the market situation is what it is but I was really looking forward to this truck so I said ok and signed the order form. No down payments, just the price of $26K and it also said "*plus taxes and fees".

Well the truck came in, I test drove it, and there was $2,500 in additional costs. totaling over $28,000 WTF?!
$400 for VIN etching on the window
$500 for cleaning fee (covid related)
$1500 for ceramic coating.

I am pissed now because I didn't order or want any of that. I thought taxes and fees were sales taxes and registration fees, not add-ons. A ceramic coating isn't even a fee like a cleaning fee, it is a product! The salesman's boss said he could take $500 off the ceramic coating but I told him I didn't want to pay for a ceramic coating at all and even said I was willing to pay for the cleaning and VIN etching. I said I would come back Monday (tomorrow) so the wife could see the truck but basically I have to decide by tomorrow. I want the truck because I am tired of throwing 2 sheets of plywood and logs on my SUV roof but our current cars work fine and we aren't in need of a new car. What do you guys think I should do?

1. Pay the price
2. Demand they take off the dealer add-on costs and threaten to contact the BBB and leave negative Yelp reviews if they don't comply? (The have a wait list and know they can get full asking price so the only real bargaining weight I have is bad press)
3. Buy the truck and try to turn around and sell it for a small profit
4. Walk away, wait an additional 6+ months to order a new one and specify no dealer add ons. (dealer mark up may be higher in future depending on demand/supply, they were talking about increasing markup by another $2K)

i posted "dealer junk fees" in

So I ordered a Maverick XL in January and it just came in. I got the base model upgraded with the gas engine, a tow hitch, and tail gate lock which made the truck about $22K. Dealer told me that their markup was $3995 due to the high demand and limited supply of this truck. This wasn't going to be open to negotiation. I knew the market situation is what it is but I was really looking forward to this truck so I said ok and signed the order form. No down payments, just the price of $26K and it also said "*plus taxes and fees".

Well the truck came in, I test drove it, and there was $2,500 in additional costs. totaling over $28,000 WTF?!
$400 for VIN etching on the window
$500 for cleaning fee (covid related)
$1500 for ceramic coating.

I am pissed now because I didn't order or want any of that. I thought taxes and fees were sales taxes and registration fees, not add-ons. A ceramic coating isn't even a fee like a cleaning fee, it is a product! The salesman's boss said he could take $500 off the ceramic coating but I told him I didn't want to pay for a ceramic coating at all and even said I was willing to pay for the cleaning and VIN etching. I said I would come back Monday (tomorrow) so the wife could see the truck but basically I have to decide by tomorrow. I want the truck because I am tired of throwing 2 sheets of plywood and logs on my SUV roof but our current cars work fine and we aren't in need of a new car. What do you guys think I should do?

1. Pay the price
2. Demand they take off the dealer add-on costs and threaten to contact the BBB and leave negative Yelp reviews if they don't comply? (The have a wait list and know they can get full asking price so the only real bargaining weight I have is bad press)
3. Buy the truck and try to turn around and sell it for a small profit
4. Walk away, wait an additional 6+ months to order a new one and specify no dealer add ons. (dealer mark up may be higher in future depending on demand/supply, they were talking about increasing markup by another $2K)

I posted a video connection under "dealer junk fees" in General auto Talk

worth a look

 

[KenJ45]

I would also contact Ford directly and see if you can file a complaint against this dealership.

 

[nj-mav]

I’d walk away!
Even if the increase of cost was no financial problem for you , take your sale to another dealer who respects you and your business with them.
This dealer clearly does not!

 

[jbpoole]

Suggest you find the order form for your Mav and speak with the dealership. Unless the dealership has proof you authorized the work, advise you will be contacting Ford for resolution. In short, deceptive business practices are illegal.

Illegal? Probably not. Unethical? Of course.

Contacting FoMoCo is very likely a waste of time.

The vast majority of car dealers are masters of shell games and deception. They are professional liars. They do it all day, every day. They train for it. From the first moment they meet you, they are sizing you up. The warm handshake and fake smile are part of the "good experience" they hope you buy into.

Virtually all dealership employees are suspect. The salesman, sales manager, finance guy, general manager and owner are working you for every dime possible. Most employees are paid on commission. This includes the service advisors and even the parts counter guys. Employees who don't produce enough revenue are shown the door.

They are holding all of the cards unless you have a signed buyers order.

 

[TacoHolder]

Before anyone else says walk away, keep in mind that OP is in Hawaii where there are only 3 Ford dealerships to choose from unless you want to pay and wait for a truck to be shipped by sea.

 

[skadizzle]

Part of the OP's problem is he lives in Hawaii. I'm sure there aren't many options when it comes to Ford dealers there, especially if not on Oahu. Don't know how much it would cost to transport one by ship from the mainland, but might cost more.

 

[KenJ45]

Illegal? Probably not. Unethical? Of course.

Contacting FoMoCo is very likely a waste of time.

The vast majority of car dealers are masters of shell games and deception. They are professional liars. They do it all day, every day. They train for it. From the first moment they meet you, they are sizing you up. The warm handshake and fake smile are part of the "good experience" they hope you buy into.

Virtually all dealership employees are suspect. The salesman, sales manager, finance guy, general manager and owner are working you for every dime possible. Most employees are paid on commission. This includes the service advisors and even the parts counter guys. Employees who don't produce enough revenue are shown the door.

They are holding all of the cards unless you have a signed buyers order.

Thanks for your OPINION. Don't know what was so funny about my post. When you speak with Ford about any issue you're having with a dealer, they will create a case about it. You don't think Ford cares about customer experience when they walk into a Ford dealership? They recognize, like every other auto maker, that most people don't see dealerships as privately owned companies but see them as a reflection of the brand. I believe that if enough people complain about the same issue Ford will be inclined to do something about it to keep their brand reputation from being too tarnished from this. If you disagree because apparently you have such vastly greater knowledge than the rest of us, great, everyone is free to have their opinions.

 

[jbpoole]

Before anyone else says walk away, keep in mind that OP is in Hawaii where there are only 3 Ford dealerships to choose from unless you want to pay and wait for a truck to be shipped by sea.

It's obviously a bad situation for the OP. I suspect the 3 dealerships in Hawaii are all in bed together and there are no fair deals to be had.

Maybe shipping from the mainland is less costly than the "mandatory" dealer add-ons.

I can't speak for anyone else, but if I were in his situation, every time I got in the truck, I would feel victimized all over again. Peace of mind is worth a million dollars.

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