Bait and switch

[reciprocating_ravioli]

"A fraudulent advertising claim or sales offer for a product or service that is not available or not for sale at the stated price, made with the intention of luring customers who are then offered something else or forced to spend more money to get the same thing. "


Ford offered a certain vehicle for a certain price, and allowed more orders than they are capable of producing. They made the choice to continue hybrid orders beyond their estimated capacity.

Now for the same price, you order the inferior version that very well could make them more money.

Or Ford says "Sorry, we ran out for this year - order again next year for a higher price"

I'd say that satisfies much of the definition of a Bait and Switch.

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[Redneck Garage]

"A fraudulent advertising claim or sales offer for a product or service that is not available or not for sale at the stated price, made with the intention of luring customers who are then offered something else or forced to spend more money to get the same thing. "

Personally Id say is a grey area as far as a true bait and switch. How many mistakes has Ford made - wow let me count. First rolling over last years orders because they took too many orders THEN this year, changing nothing and accepting 80K ( or whatever the unobtainable number is ) orders and continuing to send out emails " Please understand that while getting your vehicle into production is taking longer than usual, we are doing all we can to minimize the delays. " rather than informing select customers that their orders will not be fulfilled because at this point they know they will not build all the trucks ordered. The list goes on. A bait and switch is more a situation where you advertise something to lure someone in then switch them to something more expensive ( hmmmm like maybe if the Eco Boost was more expensive than the hybrid ..... ) They cant even build all the orders with a standard ICE engine. Ive been watching since before they built the first one - and I got my truck a year after my order and I just shake my head at the way Ford has and continues to - screw up their ordering process. When first everything is blamed on " supply chain" and some folks even defend Ford on that still today, I call BS on that. After this length of time Ford knows what their production will look like and certainly could take fewer orders then if production increases - hey we can take more orders. No - Ford should fix this jacked up system not only with the Maverick but the Bronco, Lightning, ETransit - the customer deserves better.

 

[KevCuRaoi]

According to Lexus, the hybrid costs more to produce than the ICE version - in 2021 when I bought my Lexus Hybrid the ICE model which was identical on the outside was approx 3K less than my hybrid. I believe the ICE Maverick vs the Hybrid ( both 2wd) that the Hybrid has a higher cost to manufacture. Blue Oval Bean counters determined that it would first benefit Ford to sell Eco boosts at the same price as the hybrid then said - wait a minute - we need to "constrain" the hybrid especially the XL due to profit margins and let people switch to ICE . While Ford may blame it on "supply chain blah blah blah" its really more about profit margins. How in the world could someone make the argument - the XL is constrained but the XLT is not ......... its all about profit boys and girls.

Yes, hybrids probably do cost more to produce (especially now when the hybrid-specific parts are in high demand and low supply).
But that is not the reason that Ford can't make enough hybrids to meet demand. The conspiracy theories on here are getting out of hand....

The Maverick is a low-profit, entry-level, vehicle. There is not much profit. Ford makes $ on the F-series, Explorers, etc.

I doubt they have make any significant $ on Maverick... or Ecosport. They didn't make anything on Focuses or Fiestas either.

 

[KevCuRaoi]

So as I stated - why is XL models constrained and XLT not ? Ford wants to make every XL order that was placed ? Nope- they are bean counting because the "global everything shortage" argument only works if the XL had MORE parts and features not LESS.

Base-level trims are always constrained to a low % of production.

 

[Bodageta]

Anyone else think Ford’s ordering process borders on a bait (Hybrid) and switch (Eco)? The hybrid is a cheap and probably not a very profitable model. It drew us in. Now, we’re told they can’t deliver, and we’re given an untenable option. Ford stands to make a bundle.

Anyone else think Ford’s ordering process borders on a bait (Hybrid) and switch (Eco)? The hybrid is a cheap and probably not a very profitable model. It drew us in. Now, we’re told they can’t deliver, and we’re given an untenable option. Ford stands to make a bundle.

Yes, bait and switch. The evidence is in ford making if the hybrid the standard/base engine and the cheaper engine at least for MY22.

 

[Redneck Garage]

Base-level trims are always constrained to a low % of production.

Yes that is part of bean counting.

 

[Bodageta]

Yes, hybrids probably do cost more to produce (especially now when the hybrid-specific parts are in high demand and low supply).
But that is not the reason that Ford can't make enough hybrids to meet demand. The conspiracy theories on here are getting out of hand....

The Maverick is a low-profit, entry-level, vehicle. There is not much profit. Ford makes $ on the F-series, Explorers, etc.

I doubt they have make any significant $ on Maverick... or Ecosport. They didn't make anything on Focuses or Fiestas either.

They also make money by lowering the CAFE mpg average with sales of the Maverick. It reduced penalties on sales of bigger truck with low mpg. It’s a credit game.

 

[Redneck Garage]

The Maverick is a low-profit, entry-level, vehicle. There is not much profit. Ford makes $ on the F-series, Explorers, etc.

I doubt they have make any significant $ on Maverick... or Ecosport. They didn't make anything on Focuses or Fiestas either.

Ford – for every average priced car that Ford sells for about $ 22,000, they make $ 2,200 as gross margin

 

[reciprocating_ravioli]

Personally Id say is a grey area as far as a true bait and switch. How many mistakes has Ford made - wow let me count. First rolling over last years orders because they took too many orders THEN this year, changing nothing and accepting 80K ( or whatever the unobtainable number is ) orders and continuing to send out emails " Please understand that while getting your vehicle into production is taking longer than usual, we are doing all we can to minimize the delays. " rather than informing select customers that their orders will not be fulfilled because at this point they know they will not build all the trucks ordered. The list goes on. A bait and switch is more a situation where you advertise something to lure someone in then switch them to something more expensive ( hmmmm like maybe if the Eco Boost was more expensive than the hybrid ..... ) They cant even build all the orders with a standard ICE engine. Ive been watching since before they built the first one - and I got my truck a year after my order and I just shake my head at the way Ford has and continues to - screw up their ordering process. When first everything is blamed on " supply chain" and some folks even defend Ford on that still today, I call BS on that. After this length of time Ford knows what their production will look like and certainly could take fewer orders then if production increases - hey we can take more orders. No - Ford should fix this jacked up system not only with the Maverick but the Bronco, Lightning, ETransit - the customer deserves better.

It is def a grey area. I think you'd have to clearly establish an intent by Ford to deceive customers. Ford just being incompetent isn't the same - though it certainly feels that way at times. It's just this idea that Ford allowed way more hybrid orders than they can make, then is offering a chance to switch to an (imo) inferior product just doesn't sit right.

 

[KevCuRaoi]

Yes that is part of bean counting.

Sure, they only order a certain amount of components to build whatever trim level. There still is no bait and switch.

Usually, retail orders are a small % of orders. Most orders are dealer stock. So they fill the retail orders and restrict dealer stock orders to whatever parts they have.

With Maverick (and some other popular vehicles), the vast majority of ordered vehicles are retail orders. Ford will still build w/in the the constraints of their ordered/available parts.

22 Hybrid orders were cut off early. Many remained unscheduled. We all knew early on that hybrids were high in demand and they were having trouble getting enough parts to build. I ordered by hybrid the 2nd day possible in June of 2021. It took me 11 months to get mine. I wasn't sure if mine would be built the first year.

Most people who ordered hybrids knew that they would have a long wait. Most people who ordered 23s knew when they submitted that there would be more demand than supply, and that there was a chance that theirs wouldn't be built.

Some people have been asking Ford to allow them to switch to EB so that they have get a Maverick. Now they have that choice. No one is forcing anyone to switch. If someone wants to hold out and wait for a hybrid, they have that choice. Not all 23 hybrid orders will be built. We all know that.

 

[KevCuRaoi]

They also make money by lowering the CAFE mpg average with sales of the Maverick. It reduced penalties on sales of bigger truck with low mpg. It’s a credit game.

Yes, that is certainly one reason that more hybrid models are available. (Any why there were cheap low-profit gas vehicles w/ good fuel economy like the Ford Focus.......)

 

[KevCuRaoi]

Ford – for every average priced car that Ford sells for about $ 22,000, they make $ 2,200 as gross margin

How many average priced cars does Ford sell for $22,000??????

 

[Ponypower50]

I don't think the Hybrid is cheap at all. Depends on the options you order.

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