Dodged a bullet

[Eagle11]

So I reached out to my dealer this week to see what add-on they are adding to new vehicles sales.

So this is the email I received.

Thank you so much for choosing Rodeo Ford to facilitate your Maverick order. I want to provide clarification as to any premium or market adjustments. As we had previously disclosed Rodeo Ford will not charge any premium or market adjustment for any special order unit. That being said all incoming units per the GM will immediately have installed the addendum items such as our lifetime tint, One Armor paint/interior protectant as well as our D’fence security and tacking system. All of these items offer significant value and benefit to us as a dealer, as well as to you as the customer and are non-negotiable per the GM. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to let us know. Here are video links for the Dealer installed items:



I watched the videos and checked out the products. Not impressed, since the One Amror paint and interior protection is NOT what they show in the video....

I also asked how much the addendum items was costing, of course they never told. I've been busy withjust life issues, and today the GM wrote me, now mind you I never wrote the GM... This was his email to me.

"These are standard adds that we put on all our vehicles even before the shortage of vehicles if this is a deal breaker we will not add them to your order ."

I responded to the GM and thanked him for not adding them to my truck.

Sometimes it seems silence works. I'm surprised they caved so easy since the dealer markup on these things is insane.

Build week 2-21, which means it won't show up until Late March or early April, with my luck lately I'll get a call on April 1st.

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[06Warrior]

I wonder how many people fall for the added BS.

 

[boatman]

I wonder how many people fall for the added BS.

BS is right!!

 

[Rob Cactus Gray]

has a similar issue with Jim Click Ford. They refused to remove it.

 

[Ford88]

has a similar issue with Jim Click Ford. They refused to remove it.

I’d email Ford direct and CC dealer that they are requiring add-ons beyond your custom build sheet. The “required” will likely change to optional quickly.

 

[Eagle11]

I wonder how many people fall for the added BS.

We just traded in our 2018 Honda CRV for a 2022 CRV, the dealer discounted the added BS from 1800 down to 800, but wouldn't go any lower. I wanted to walk but hubby wanted 2022 (I reminded him that 2023 is a all-new CRV and we should wait for that one)

With the shortage of vehicles, I'm assuming many will just not fight it and take it.

 

[Eagle11]

has a similar issue with Jim Click Ford. They refused to remove it.

As I wrote, I'm very surprised they did give in. The dealers are in the driver's seat these days.

 

[FlyingScot]

Thanks for this - went through this Delray Ford and Pompano Ford when trying to figure out a dealer to order from. In addition to a bunch of fees they insisted were not market adjustments - on an order! - they both had “standard” add-ons you couldn’t remove. They did not disclose until pressed on the items. Needless to say we ordered from a different Dealer with no add-ons and no fees (Sawgrass Ford). Seem standard practice is to “hide” this and spring on the buyer when they go to get their truck - with this likely already installed.

Timely thread and for those with pending orders that are unsure suggest you do as the OP outlines and check. Great post and thank you.

 

[MLowe05]

Why are dealers installing shit like LoJack and this “d’fense” stuff? You don’t want this wired into your new car by some dealer tech. It makes no sense.

These are definitely markups. No value there.

 

[gman62]

Gotta know...What was the cost? You should go into the showroom and see if any cars on the floor. They may have this added to the window sticker.

 

[rosepedal99]

Why are dealers installing shit like LoJack and this “d’fense” stuff? You don’t want this wired into your new car by some dealer tech. It makes no sense.

These are definitely markups. No value there.

My wife fell for these when she bought her VW Atlas while I was on deployment. The Dfence is just an app that registers your vehicle through the smart screen, basically just a tracking tool. The safety thing basically just makes your brake light flash three times when you push the brakes, there was an aluminum plate installed on top of bumper under rear lift gate which has proved valuable since our old Flex had surface scratches from loading and unloading stuff. The protective coating is just that. I think dealer charged her like $1,499 for all the crap. Was already installed when she went to test drive, had window sticker and beside it was another piece of paper with the additional costs of the added crap, if I had been with her I would’ve tried to haggle them down but at the end of the day she’s happy with the car and I guess that’s all that matters. Have seen this more and more in the large dealerships in a conglomerate

 

[Eagle11]

Why are dealers installing shit like LoJack and this “d’fense” stuff? You don’t want this wired into your new car by some dealer tech. It makes no sense.

These are definitely markups. No value there.

Why, simple it's pure profit, not hard to understand. They go to the company in Scottsdale get a killer deal (say $75/per vehicle) and charge $900.

Now LoJack is a good product, however, more and more police departments are dumping the equipment needed for it. So it becomes a useless product. This d'fense product has a subscription service tied to it, they tell the fact that Factory alarms do NOT go off if a window is broken on if the door is open, so the alarm goes off (window broken) it also has a camera INSIDE the vehicle to take photos of the person (but most people wear a mask) and you get notified via an app if the alarm goes off. It sounds all well and good, but truly a waste of money.

 

[Eagle11]

Gotta know...What was the cost? You should go into the showroom and see if any cars on the floor. They may have this added to the window sticker.

If the GM writes me back I might ask what the added cost if.

 

[Eagle11]

Many dealers won't sell you the vehicle until it's on their lot because they have to have the mileage of the Vehicle. So contact your dealer and see what (if) they add on to their vehicles.

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