Overall Attitudes toward the process

[Red Ryder]

Splain this, I see many Bronco Sports on the road, did you order one ?

I did order. Some parts of the country have many, but they are still relatively scarce in my area, especially in upper trim levels. You could browse the Waiting Room forum at BroncoSportForum.com to get a real feel for this frustration shared by many.

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[Sitnbull]

Here is how Ford builds an F series at over 1 per minute in Dearborn:



Unfortunately, I have never seen the Maverick in production at speed. But if Hermosillo can produce a truck every 53 seconds, a 16 hour double accounting for shift swaps etc, they could do 960 a day so 800 a day sounds reasonable (again free of constraint)

I swear I saw my Maverick in that film, I'm going to have to watch it again ! ;-)

 

[Old Ranchero]

tis far easier to achieve internal state of well being by adjusting attitude vs. mystery processes

 

[M.A.C.]

Can’t in most states I believe

You are correct some states have laws/statutes on the books that prevent and strongly discourage direct to consumer auto sales that’s why car dealers are suing Tesla to keep them out of direct to consumer car sales…… the thousands of dealers across the country have a lot of power and influence….. unfortunately it not going to change any time soon.

 

[Old Ranchero]

You are correct some states have laws/statutes on the books that prevent and strongly discourage direct to consumer auto sales that’s why car dealers are suing Tesla to keep them out of direct to consumer car sales…… the thousands of dealers across the country have a lot of power and influence….. unfortunately it not going to change any time soon.

the original car sales model was basically ordering and wait for delivery to retail location. Cal Worthington popularized showrooms with display models for test drives, etc. and ordering at dealer instead of from catalogue. I happen to like having the local dealer so I can easily deal with recalls, warranty repairs, etc. Not liking the Carvana model as it seems sketchy on how you follow up on issues after delivery. I don't have any facts or direct experience to back that up tho...

 

[Eagle11]

the original car sales model was basically ordering and wait for delivery to retail location. Cal Worthington popularized showrooms with display models for test drives, etc. and ordering at dealer instead of from catalogue. I happen to like having the local dealer so I can easily deal with recalls, warranty repairs, etc. Not liking the Carvana model as it seems sketchy on how you follow up on issues after delivery. I don't have any facts or direct experience to back that up tho...

I wish we would go back to this, order the vehicle I want, not what some GM things I want.

 

[Old Ranchero]

I wish we would go back to this, order the vehicle I want, not what some GM things I want.

kinda seems like what Ford is doing now with reservations, then B&P online, then take delivery locally? BTW, Tesla is getting sued for their direct to customer marketing scheme.

 

[BDennis]

Not sure why you need to suppress people? Guess it’s the new way . All of this on the board is mostly conjecture anyway. Ford has the definitive say. Everyone has a choice to buy or walk away. We aren’t owed a Maverick nor is Ford entitled to our business. Just let it be! (Guess I’ll be blocked now).

Not suppressing, just a choice not to hear the option of certain people. We do this in real life all the time. It doesn’t block them for everyone else, just for the person who blocked them.

 

[Eagle11]

kinda seems like what Ford is doing now with reservations, then B&P online, then take delivery locally? BTW, Tesla is getting sued for their direct to customer marketing scheme.

They are getting sued because the dealers won't make huge money as they do now, the dealers order cars the dealer wants to sell, usually with options that many people don't want but will take because it's on the lot waiting for them.

 

[martyi48]

I give the process concept an A. I give Ford's implementation of it an F. The concept could not be simpler. Go to the Ford website and build and reserve your truck. Your closest dealer will call you and if you want to do business with them fine, if not, find another dealer to place your reservation in "order" status. Within a day or two you will get an email from Ford verifying the order has been received and is in the system. You will then receive additional emails for scheduling, build, etc. until the truck finally hits your dealership for pick up. You don't even have to go to the dealership or see your salesman in person until it is time to pick up your Maverick. Easy-peasy!

It is the implementation of this simple process where Ford lacks consistency and clear messaging. And it starts with a lack of training. Ford knew this would be a fairly popular vehicle but they put the process out there before training their customer facing front line sales and management people. At launch, the process worked flawlessly but those that had to implement that process did not have a clue what to do or how that process was suppose to work on their part.

I commend Ford for developing an innovated and well thought out product in the Maverick and an easy way for the customer to build and reserve one. But that is where it ends.

 

[bschurman]

Go to the Ford website and build and reserve your truck. Your closest dealer will call you and if you want to do business with them fine, if not, find another dealer to place your reservation in "order" status. Within a day or two you will get an email from Ford verifying the order has been received and is in the system. You will then receive additional emails for scheduling, build, etc. until the truck finally hits your dealership for pick up. You don't even have to go to the dealership or see your salesman in person until it is time to pick up your Maverick. Easy-peasy!

What have you seen that has been different than what you describe? That’s all I have done and now I’m just waiting on the emails indicating it’s been scheduled, built, shipped, etc…

What I am seeing is lots of complaining that their truck hasn’t been scheduled yet. Also, it appears that people want constant updates even if there is no change. It’s like my kids on a long trip asking if we’re there yet.

There have been a few, very few, people not getting a confirmation email after order but that appears to be an outlier situation.

Honesty, I don’t know how Ford could make everyone happy here unless they could produce a build to order truck in a day and that’s just crazy talk.

 

[Sam]

Estimates are 800 per day, if each month contains 12 Maverick days that’s 9600 a month. But that assumes 0 constraint on common items.

we will have a solid idea by the 3rd month of production what the general number per day is. The first cycle reveals issues to be fixed, the second cycle fixes those and reveals more, generally the 3rd cycle is close to standard, again barring constraints.

we just previewed and got cycle 2 scheduled (maybe cycle 1.5) next month will be a solid production run and should be very revealing.

Not sure why you need to suppress people? Guess it’s the new way . All of this on the board is mostly conjecture anyway. Ford has the definitive say. Everyone has a choice to buy or walk away. We aren’t owed a Maverick nor is Ford entitled to our business. Just let it be! (Guess I’ll be blocked now).

You and everyone who likes you!

 

[Eagle11]

I give the process concept an A. I give Ford's implementation of it an F. The concept could not be simpler. Go to the Ford website and build and reserve your truck. Your closest dealer will call you and if you want to do business with them fine, if not, find another dealer to place your reservation in "order" status. Within a day or two you will get an email from Ford verifying the order has been received and is in the system. You will then receive additional emails for scheduling, build, etc. until the truck finally hits your dealership for pick up. You don't even have to go to the dealership or see your salesman in person until it is time to pick up your Maverick. Easy-peasy!

It is the implementation of this simple process where Ford lacks consistency and clear messaging. And it starts with a lack of training. Ford knew this would be a fairly popular vehicle but they put the process out there before training their customer facing front line sales and management people. At launch, the process worked flawlessly but those that had to implement that process did not have a clue what to do or how that process was suppose to work on their part.

I commend Ford for developing an innovated and well thought out product in the Maverick and an easy way for the customer to build and reserve one. But that is where it ends.

What you write about is close to what is happening, Ford just needs to take the trip to the dealer out of the equation. Right now, no manufacture does everything you wrote, Hyundai has a reservation system for their new all-Elec SUV the Inoqi 5. YOu reserve one for $100 and when they arrive at the dealership you get a call. The biggest difference is, Ford allows you to customize the Maverick, choice of color, do you want a sunroof or not, etc. Hyundai does not, and their system isn't set up for that, well it is in South Korea, but that is all.

For any manufacturer to be fully transparent they would have to open up the order books online and I don't think they will do that. Back in 2014, I ordered a BMW 528i, I order it with the M sport package, on the 528i it did not come with the M suspension (BMW code 704) my Sales assistant contacted BMWNA and got permission to add it to my order for a grand. Yes, I had a unicorn 528i.

BMW, Audi, MB are set up for this, so are Ford and GM, it would be nice to reserve one, and tweak it how you want it (at the dealer). My Maverick is an XLT, with Pro-Pilot, Sunroof. I want the remote start from the luxury package (but don't want the luxury package) was told can't do it (don't make sense why not) but I can get it added after the truck arrives (scratching head.)

How Ford has the reservation system is a great gauge to see how many people are interested in the truck and which model people want.

 

[martyi48]

What have you seen that has been different than what you describe? That’s all I have done and now I’m just waiting on the emails indicating it’s been scheduled, built, shipped, etc…

What I am seeing is lots of complaining that their truck hasn’t been scheduled yet. Also, it appears that people want constant updates even if there is no change. It’s like my kids on a long trip asking if we’re there yet.

There have been a few, very few, people not getting a confirmation email after order but that appears to be an outlier situation.

Honesty, I don’t know how Ford could make everyone happy here unless they could produce a build to order truck in a day and that’s just crazy talk.

I have seen nothing different than what I have described. The section of my post you quoted is what I gave Ford an A, which is the process itself. It is the second part I posted that you did not quote that is my problem. When I called various dealers to obtain pricing they gave me every excuse imaginable why they could not place an order, from Ford is not taking orders to we don't have a price sheet yet. Of course, none of these excuses were valid at the time. The dealers and salesmen simply were not educated by Ford as to what to do when a customer reserved a truck.

I certainly don't expect Ford to build a truck in a day but I do expect that their employees know what to do when a customer makes a reservation.

 

[Eagle11]

I certainly don't expect Ford to build a truck in a day but I do expect that their employees know what to do when a customer makes a reservation.

There are too many moving parts to this, and the process should be just like ordering any other truck or SUV they have. I'm just wondering if Ford wasn't ready to"sell" the Maverick but got pushed into doing because of the leaded photos.

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