- Thread starter
- #1
Hello all--
Have read quite a few posts with similar experiences, difficulties, and frustrations about their Maverick orders.
After a 5 month (from order date) wait, we finally picked up our new Maverick yesterday (one day after it arrived) from the local dealer. Everything as expected on the vehicle, no nonsense on the price, etc. So the process works. You just need to make sure it works for you.
Having spent years in the car business, wanted to share my advice on how to avoid the nonsense:
Some inside baseball. Different dealers get allocations of vehicles "for inventory" based on their historic sales numbers at their location. The factory (Ford) has a formula they use to do the initial allocations of a new model. The other way they get cars is by customer orders by local customers. These usually are seperate and don't count against their "inventory" allocations. For a small dealer these are really important because its the only way they can get more cars.
So, when a car is in tight supply or high demand, your best way of getting a car is to order it. If you buy a car out of inventory, the price is set by the dealer and like everything else will likely reflect supply and demand. If they price it too high no one will buy it. Sadly it may be too high for "you" but someone else has made a different calculus that it works for them. It's not about "fairness" for the dealer, its about economics. It's a rare event where they have a "hot" car and can actually make a profit and when they have a chance to, they will. That's just business.
Given these two options, the best way is to *order* your own car build from dealer/Ford. You get exactly what you want, and you know the price up front. This gives you the most control.
Here was my process to order: You go online at ford.com, you choose your build/options, it shows the prices. You create an order. You get an email from Ford acknowledging this order request and it has been forwarded to your local dealer. The local dealer then contacts you, verify's what you want, and sends you a docusign link to approve it. It has all the costs laid out. You docusign it, the dealer docusigns it. You get a copy. You're done. You will receive an email direct from Ford acknowledging your order. I got mine about 48 hours after I docusigned. you wait. It comes in (eventually). You pay. Happy trails!
From what I've read, in some cases people are (1) never receiving any communication from Ford, or (2) receiving calls from their dealer saying their order got cancelled.
For #1, after you've docusigned and placed your order with the dealer, if you have not received an order acknowledgement within 48 hours **from Ford** then that is a red flag. Call the dealer and find out why. Maybe they didn't place the order--if not find out why right now. If the salesman doesn't know, just call the general manager. Word to the wise: all communication to the dealer in these types of transactions should be via email. This gives you an audit trail if you have an issue, and also makes the dealer aware (if they're smart) that you're savvy enough not to put up with any nonsense.
For #2, after you have an acknowledged order, if there is a problem you will receive an email from Ford. Any communication from the dealer outside of this process (custom order) should be viewed with skepticism.
If you do decide to buy an inventory car from a dealer, its caveat emptor--rules of the jungle apply. It's a seller's market. These dealers have very little inventory due to the chip shortage. Anything they have will be marked up, let alone a hot car like the Maverick. You might find a dealer that "in general" has a no markup policy that has a car in inventory. The irony here is that the nationwide auto contract laws that are designed to protect you (e.g. prevent the dealer from keeping your deposit) also give the dealer an out on accepting the deposit. Until you've executed a purchase agreement, given the the money, they've executed the agreement, and given you a copy, you have no contract and no recourse--outside of shaming them on social media which they're used to and most don't care.
Other: In my experience in the auto business, if the dealer has a "hot" car, they're not going to take a deposit or let people test drive it. It's first person there with the money. If you do find a salesman that asks you to put a deposit down (and has given you the final price) to "hold" a car in high demand, the best thing you can do is make a courtesy call the the general manager, introduce yourself, and just give them a headsup you're coming down, looking forward to doing business with them. On a hot car you have multiple salesman calling "their" customers. So this is Especially important if they're not a local dealer and you're traveling, investing time and money to go get it. Let the GM know--they will either do the right thing by assuring you you're good, or be a Dbag and give you a warning of what your likely heading in to so you can do an abort and save your time (and money). In general-- Kill em' with Kindness! People like to do right by people they like.
Hope this is useful.
Have read quite a few posts with similar experiences, difficulties, and frustrations about their Maverick orders.
After a 5 month (from order date) wait, we finally picked up our new Maverick yesterday (one day after it arrived) from the local dealer. Everything as expected on the vehicle, no nonsense on the price, etc. So the process works. You just need to make sure it works for you.
Having spent years in the car business, wanted to share my advice on how to avoid the nonsense:
Some inside baseball. Different dealers get allocations of vehicles "for inventory" based on their historic sales numbers at their location. The factory (Ford) has a formula they use to do the initial allocations of a new model. The other way they get cars is by customer orders by local customers. These usually are seperate and don't count against their "inventory" allocations. For a small dealer these are really important because its the only way they can get more cars.
So, when a car is in tight supply or high demand, your best way of getting a car is to order it. If you buy a car out of inventory, the price is set by the dealer and like everything else will likely reflect supply and demand. If they price it too high no one will buy it. Sadly it may be too high for "you" but someone else has made a different calculus that it works for them. It's not about "fairness" for the dealer, its about economics. It's a rare event where they have a "hot" car and can actually make a profit and when they have a chance to, they will. That's just business.
Given these two options, the best way is to *order* your own car build from dealer/Ford. You get exactly what you want, and you know the price up front. This gives you the most control.
Here was my process to order: You go online at ford.com, you choose your build/options, it shows the prices. You create an order. You get an email from Ford acknowledging this order request and it has been forwarded to your local dealer. The local dealer then contacts you, verify's what you want, and sends you a docusign link to approve it. It has all the costs laid out. You docusign it, the dealer docusigns it. You get a copy. You're done. You will receive an email direct from Ford acknowledging your order. I got mine about 48 hours after I docusigned. you wait. It comes in (eventually). You pay. Happy trails!
From what I've read, in some cases people are (1) never receiving any communication from Ford, or (2) receiving calls from their dealer saying their order got cancelled.
For #1, after you've docusigned and placed your order with the dealer, if you have not received an order acknowledgement within 48 hours **from Ford** then that is a red flag. Call the dealer and find out why. Maybe they didn't place the order--if not find out why right now. If the salesman doesn't know, just call the general manager. Word to the wise: all communication to the dealer in these types of transactions should be via email. This gives you an audit trail if you have an issue, and also makes the dealer aware (if they're smart) that you're savvy enough not to put up with any nonsense.
For #2, after you have an acknowledged order, if there is a problem you will receive an email from Ford. Any communication from the dealer outside of this process (custom order) should be viewed with skepticism.
If you do decide to buy an inventory car from a dealer, its caveat emptor--rules of the jungle apply. It's a seller's market. These dealers have very little inventory due to the chip shortage. Anything they have will be marked up, let alone a hot car like the Maverick. You might find a dealer that "in general" has a no markup policy that has a car in inventory. The irony here is that the nationwide auto contract laws that are designed to protect you (e.g. prevent the dealer from keeping your deposit) also give the dealer an out on accepting the deposit. Until you've executed a purchase agreement, given the the money, they've executed the agreement, and given you a copy, you have no contract and no recourse--outside of shaming them on social media which they're used to and most don't care.
Other: In my experience in the auto business, if the dealer has a "hot" car, they're not going to take a deposit or let people test drive it. It's first person there with the money. If you do find a salesman that asks you to put a deposit down (and has given you the final price) to "hold" a car in high demand, the best thing you can do is make a courtesy call the the general manager, introduce yourself, and just give them a headsup you're coming down, looking forward to doing business with them. On a hot car you have multiple salesman calling "their" customers. So this is Especially important if they're not a local dealer and you're traveling, investing time and money to go get it. Let the GM know--they will either do the right thing by assuring you you're good, or be a Dbag and give you a warning of what your likely heading in to so you can do an abort and save your time (and money). In general-- Kill em' with Kindness! People like to do right by people they like.
Hope this is useful.
Sponsored
