Had a verbal deal at MSRP, but dealer reneged and wants $5k over MSRP

[Didj]

Sadly, this is a story told far too often. I had a “back & forth” to the sales manager once while making a “deal” and finally demanded that we just go to the manager’s office together. Did it help…probably not, but at least I knew the exact conversation that was happening in the office. We are in a car seller’s market and I have been seeing $5000 over MSRP on almost every truck at dealerships in my area. Or…when online, the window sticker says the correct price but the summary page says “call dealer for price.” I can only imagine that that means that there is a mark up on that truck.

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[clippedwings]

Not to be insensitive but there is no excuse in the internet era for diving into these shark-infested waters unprepared. Yes, there are exceptions and degrees, but by-and-large the car-buying system is still rigged against the unwary. If you are lame enough to go in unprepared, you are very likely to be taken for a very bad ride. You are about to dump five figures on one of the biggest expenditures most of us make. And this is NOT an investment. Isn’t it worth taking a few hours to be knowledgeable and prepared? Your response was correct, but before you do this again, sharpen your sword and polish your shield.

 

[Ronaldo]

It would be a shame if you had a sharp item in your pocket and sit in several of their vehicles and accidentally caused about 5k or more of damage. I like sitting on leather seats myself.

 

[Old Ranchero]

There's a difference?

I assume part of Elon's move to Texas is a back door political agreement to legalize Tesla direct sales in Texas. If so, that and the cyber truck roll out here in Texas will be a HUGE wake up call to Ford and its truck sales to solve this needless middleman interference between the customer and the manufacturer.

If and that's a BIG IF, Cybertruck ever hits production it will have ZERO effect on Ford's truck sales. Ford has been the leader in truck sales for decades and beaten back all challenges along the way. Supposedly Tesla has deposits for ~150,000 Cyber trucks? Ford sells more than that every quarter year in and year out. Ford F-150 Lighning has same amount of reservations and is not as Fugly/polarizing as that Cyberjunk- and I'm betting will hit production long before Cyber as Musk keeps pushing back dates. I really don't know where you youngsters come up with this stuff

 

[Old Ranchero]

It's the only way to stop these type of dealerships

in what universe? Dealerships don't need to be "stopped" regardless of sales approach. It's your choice to find 1 you like and not patronize any that don't treat you right in a free country.

 

[Old Ranchero]

It would be a shame if you had a sharp item in your pocket and sit in several of their vehicles and accidentally caused about 5k or more of damage. I like sitting on leather seats myself.

so 1st thing that enters your mind is vandalizing products instead of walking? That's pretty sad.

 

[Eagle11]

Went to see and test drive the the maverick and the salesperson told me he knows Toyota is charging 5k over MSRP, but his dealership isn’t yet. I sat down with him and he wrote up two quotes. One with 5k markup and one without. I said can you do the one without and he said yes, you live locally and I can get it done for you. I told him I would buy it at full MSRP. He proceeded to go through all of the rebates to see if any applied and then discussed financing and gave me the monthly payment. I said ok, I will buy it at those terms. He then went into the office for a few minutes and when he came out he said I have to charge you 5k over MSRP. I was stunned, I didn’t know what to say and my son was sitting with me and so excited about buying the truck for him. So I said we had a deal at MSRP, I’m not paying 5k over and walked out.

I feel we were severely misled and bait and switch occurred. Is this common practice? Is this unethical sales practices? Do I have any recourse?

Please let me know your thoughts and any suggestions you may have.

If it's not in writing you don't have a binding contract... Tell the dealer to F O, and contact another dealer.

 

[medgar]

There's a difference?

I assume part of Elon's move to Texas is a back door political agreement to legalize Tesla direct sales in Texas. If so, that and the cyber truck roll out here in Texas will be a HUGE wake up call to Ford and its truck sales to solve this needless middleman interference between the customer and the manufacturer.

Tesla has already found away around the dealership state laws crap. They are opening up dealerships on tribal lands where possible to avoid state laws. The traditional dealerships are crying it isnt fair eventhough they have been the ones backing the unfair practice of dealerships for years.

 

[Old Ranchero]

Most car salesman are idiots - not knowledgable about the product or their dealer's policies. A few are honest, and the rest are basically sociopaths manipulating the customers (and the managers) to maximize their commissions. Never forget that the salesman, the sales manager, and the finance manager are all commission based, and looking to maximize the profit off you. In some ways the salesman and the finance manager are in competition for that commission, with the salesman getting paid off the gross profit of the vehicle itself, while the finance manager gets paid off the profits from financing and warranty sales. I guarantee that some finance managers are suing these added dealer markups to bury the cost of the extended warranties, padding their commission at the expense of the salesman.

Where are you getting this information? You might want to research that a little more. Car sales compensation model has been changing for years. Many moved to a salary + commission, some are straight salary. In my experience Non-sales positions are usually salaried since back when I worked as a "lot boy" in 1976.

Recent personal experience, I bought a Ford truck at our only dealer in our small town back in 2018 and have visited often since then and even more frequently last ~12 months digging for any Maverick info since before Ford even admitted Maverick existed. Even during pandemic and supply chain shortages when there were almost no cars on the lot the same sales people have been present in their showroom all along since 2018. If they were on 100% commission they would have starved and moved on. That indicates they are on salary or a salary + program.

 

[DryHeat]

From the OP's description of events, it seems pretty clear this was a stock unit on the lot. So my comments are in that context.

Is this common practice? Is this unethical sales practices? Do I have any recourse?

To answer those in order: Yes... not in any actionable sense... no

Sadly, this is a story told far too often. I had a “back & forth” to the sales manager once while making a “deal”

You're right, it's pretty standard. The salesman wants to appear to be on your side against the big bad manager, so that you will believe he is getting you the best deal he possibly can. He's usually on your side only to the minimum necessary to make the deal so that he gets the commission. And even that evaporates if he thinks he himself can sell the same car to someone else at a higher price.

 

[Ronaldo]

so 1st thing that enters your mind is vandalizing products instead of walking? That's pretty sad.

Walking allows the dealer to screw over the next guy for 5k. I would never vandalize it, just trying to figure out a way to keep dealers from treating people like a piece of crap. I ordered a bronco from Alhambra CA Ford on the first night and they told me list price. A few weeks later they told me 5k over so I ordered from another dealer at list. It’s been close to two years and I still don’t have it. They screwed me over, so yes my mind wonders.

 

[V2WIN]

Went to see and test drive the the maverick and the salesperson told me he knows Toyota is charging 5k over MSRP, but his dealership isn’t yet. I sat down with him and he wrote up two quotes. One with 5k markup and one without. I said can you do the one without and he said yes, you live locally and I can get it done for you. I told him I would buy it at full MSRP. He proceeded to go through all of the rebates to see if any applied and then discussed financing and gave me the monthly payment. I said ok, I will buy it at those terms. He then went into the office for a few minutes and when he came out he said I have to charge you 5k over MSRP. I was stunned, I didn’t know what to say and my son was sitting with me and so excited about buying the truck for him. So I said we had a deal at MSRP, I’m not paying 5k over and walked out.

I feel we were severely misled and bait and switch occurred. Is this common practice? Is this unethical sales practices? Do I have any recourse?

Please let me know your thoughts and any suggestions you may have.

If Ford watches with their heads in the sand, their idea of orders only getting full msrp no incentives etc goes in the dumpster. Plus if enough greedy dealers pull this Mavericks will start stacking up like cord wood. If this is the plan I'll keep driving my Escape with 48k on it until they're begging me to buy at 20% off. The Harley business plan of the 90s will not fly on a Maverick. Santa Cruz will be everywhere.

 

[V2WIN]

If Ford watches with their heads in the sand, their idea of orders only getting full msrp no incentives etc goes in the dumpster. Plus if enough greedy dealers pull this Mavericks will start stacking up like cord wood. If this is the plan I'll keep driving my Escape with 48k on it until they're begging me to buy at 20% off. The Harley business plan of the 90s will not fly on a Maverick. Santa Cruz will be everywhere.

Start looking, they're are several dealers in my area Illinois that are selling stock at msrp. One crappy dealer is trying the 5k stuff. There has to be a few dealers closer to you that want to be in business after this shortage stuff is over. A year will pass pretty quickly. I'm putting my mindset of not being too in love & not even blinking on walking.

 

[asel3121]

Call ford directly and complain about the dealer. This is the only way we can get this to stop.

Report them to Ford, Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, and blast them on every possible review site, social media platform, etc.

 

[Rexus99]

I don't understand why you are afraid or don't want to name these dealers. As long as it is the truth. They are not ashamed of it and in fact seem to be proud of it. I feel like if you don't want to call them you helping them over charge the next guy and choosing to be involved in a questionable act. They are not afraid or ashamed. Help them out, name them!!!!

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