Advice for newbie dealing with dealerships?

[Jatrax]

Dealers have a well-tuned process to up-sell you on stuff you don't need. Your salesperson will hand you off to the sales manager and then the sales manager will hand you off to the finance guy. Each one will try very hard to sell you stuff. They will make it sound as if it is in your best interest to get it now because later it will cost more. In general, you need none of this stuff, and if you do it's likely cheaper elsewhere. But you will still have to listen to the sales pitch.

My advice is to not even listen, just start shaking your head no when they open their mouths. If you start listening, they WILL sell you something. They are very good at it and it's how they make their money.

This whole process is what I hate the most about buying a new vehicle. Something that should be fun and exciting ends up feeling slimy.

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[Bodageta]

My advice is @longmcarthur

 

[22Ford XL Basic]

It was a local dealer who was identified by Ford in my original reservation 6/16/21. Following Ford's instruction it was specified with the order no modifications or add on's. I was never able to contact the original salesperson again and no modifications were ever brought up. It should be noted that once the vin was known the selling dealer listed my order in their inventory. This gave them several months of marketing. I believe the vehicle had other deposits before I was even aware it had been delivered.

 

[Peps]

The other day I called a toyota dealership and ask for the internet sale agent. Talk to and got zero information from her. I was asked to come to their physical location, it’s our policy..
It is like sending an email by typing it on the computer, printing it and put a postal stamp at the end

 

[cavemold]

Hey all, I'm considering ordering a new Maverick. Any advice for dealing with dealerships?

1. Get price protection in writing
2. Find a dealer that is knowlegable and is not mom and pop dealership. More allocation the better
3. Things like bed liner can be built after your truck is delivered.
4. when asked if you want Dealer add ons say no . It’s not free.
5. As far maverick eco is quicker built .

 

[cavemold]

Yep, Grody. See my profile pic to the left.

https://www.kengrodyfordorangecounty.com/new-vehicles/maverick/ is this the one ? That site is freaking train wreck . Holy .

 

[cavemold]

1. Don't pay over MSRP.

2. Make sure you find a dealer that understands Ford's ordering and verification (COVP) process.

3. Ask the dealer to show you a list of 2022 Maverick orders and explain how many of their orders have been scheduled, delivered or pushed to MY23.

4. Get a final, out-the-door price, in writing, from the dealer that shows the price of the truck, any dealer/doc fees and any required "add-ons" they like to slip in like nitrogen in the tires, wheel locks, and ceramic coatings. You don't have to take that crap. If they insist, go to the next dealer.

5. Don't feel you have to put a deposit down to order. Ford does not require deposits. Many dealers do, but that's their choice. Furthermore, IF you put down a deposit, under no circumstances should it be non-refundable. You are likely to wait a year or more for this truck, and despite what the dealer tells you, there is NO GUARANTEE Ford is going to build it for you -- ever. You should have the option to get your deposit back if you change your mind or need to purchase a different vehicle in the meantime.

6. Find a dealer that likes to communicate with customers and does not mind providing regular (monthly, at minumum) updates about the status of your order and what they are seeing overall in Maverick fulfillment for their customers.

All this as well

 

[Last Truck Ever]

Find a dealer who advertises on their website that they can do the entire deal online, the last time I bought a new car, and this was years ago, I did EVERYTHING via email, even though the dealer was literally across the road from me. It was just easier, to me, than putting up with the in-person crap. Also gave me the luxury of being able to take all the time in the world to examine the details and fine print, at my leisure. Day of sale, I walked in, had them just confirm the agreed-upon trade in value of my old car, sign the paperwork, in and out in about 20 minutes. Easy.

 

[Mr Mayor]

https://www.kengrodyfordorangecounty.com/new-vehicles/maverick/ is this the one ? That site is freaking train wreck . Holy .

I emailed them to get a test drive. The reply email said stop by, ask for Ms. X, I drove down there and there was NO Maverick to drive and no Ms. X. I showed them my email from her and shared my candid thoughts on how bad their bait-and-switch looked. A week later got a call for a test drive, again. This time a salesman let me drive a truck that a customer did not buy. But they wanted $12,500 over MSRP. I again asked the salesdude to convey my thoughts to the manager making this bad stealership decision.

 

[Fletch_KC]

Have you thought of ordering from Long McArthur in Salina KS? They do have up to $1K in shipping if you finance w them? Checkout there YouTube channel at Long McArthur or “Ford Video Guy” presented by Tim Bartz.

Thanks for the tip. Salina KS is within driving distance for me (even have some family in that area).

 

[Fletch_KC]

1. Get price protection in writing
2. Find a dealer that is knowlegable and is not mom and pop dealership. More allocation the better
3. Things like bed liner can be built after your truck is delivered.
4. when asked if you want Dealer add ons say no . It’s not free.
5. As far maverick eco is quicker built .

Are dealer ad-ons called out separately on the window stickers?

 

[4sambos]

Thanks for the tip. Salina KS is within driving distance for me (even have some family in that area).

Heck if you go there this Saturday 11-2pm there having a vehicle show in a park in Salina. Call Long McArthur to get info asap
Ask for Sarah or Tim Bartz & tell them I sent you since I can’t make it.
best

 

[iwantmymav]

Are dealer ad-ons called out separately on the window stickers?

I'm in KC as well. I'd recommend https://www.maxfordofharrisonville.com/.
If I hadn't ordered thru Granger I'd take them.

 

[Finnster]

It was a local dealer who was identified by Ford in my original reservation 6/16/21. Following Ford's instruction it was specified with the order no modifications or add on's. I was never able to contact the original salesperson again and no modifications were ever brought up. It should be noted that once the vin was known the selling dealer listed my order in their inventory. This gave them several months of marketing. I believe the vehicle had other deposits before I was even aware it had been delivered.

Thanks for this information! It may save me on my 2023 order!
I really want to buy local, but the sales manager is a little vague about whether or not I can get out of there without choosing an add-on to include with the purchase. And I would still be okay with it if I actually wanted rust-proofing or some such thing, but I don't.
I think my credit union has a "Hired" car buyer guy. I'll check into what that is, and what it costs.
After that fails, I'll start looking for a web literate Ford sales dealer. This six week delay in the order bank opening has possibly saved me some cash and maybe more!

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