Price gouging dealership

[olderbudwiser]

Both @clippedwings and @olderbudwiser went to their dealers to solidify their orders and prices. It seems like both came away with assurances but no Buyer's Order signed by both parties. Even though both have been on this forum enough to have seen all the horror stories and recommendations about enforceable contracts.

So... why did it turn out like that? Maybe it's totally innocent and everything is going to work out fine. Probably most dealers will honor their word, even if they legally don't have to. But we've seen that some won't.

I'm hoping that, as more deliveries occur, people will take the time to post about how it went down.

Totally agree.

In my case if for some reason they want to jerk me around I move on. It's why all my vehicles are not Fords right now.

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[clippedwings]

Yeah, one thing this fiasco has done for me - Waiting in the void for two months has NOT increased my temptation to get this vehicle no matter what. In fact, it has made me realize that I can get through life just fine without it. If I don't see one by year's end I may well pull the plug and wait for the world to settle down before I do ANYTHING, which is probably the smart move anyway.

 

[marpolsdofer]

Just Say No and walk away. What comes around goes around.

Totally agree.

In my case if for some reason they want to jerk me around I move on. It's why all my vehicles are not Fords right now.

I would do the same. However if they do screw me I will have to make a choice. Depending on when I get my vehicle to when they release 2023 pricing and options I will decide to pay it or not. If the vehicle stays the same but prices go up will pay it or walk. If the prices stay the same I walk and order a 2023 some place else.
They would get a bad review and all that. Looking at the reviews up until 2019 they had good reviews. This year rand last year all the bad review was service department related and they end up firing several people over it.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Maybe where you live there are other options but for many vehicles are an absolute necessity. Think of how much time you personally have spent looking into this vehicle, how it will work for you, pricing, options, etc, etc, and finally deciding to place your order. Once you find that vehicle that you like that works for you to find out it’ll be months before it’s ready or you can buy one now at a markup. Maybe your vehicle caught fire and you need it now. Maybe you are starting a new family and your baby was born early where you need it now. Maybe you just got a new job but it involves packing around large display items so you need it now. There’s thousands of examples that can be used here that may make someone need their vehicle now verses waiting to pay msrp. People are attacking dealerships of selling above msrp when it’s a business and supply and demand is part of everything every day.

Yes do not buy unless you absolutely have to have it if you do NOT need it BAD leave it for some poor soul that absolutely has to have it!

 

[olderbudwiser]

Yes do not buy unless you absolutely have to have it if you do NOT need it BAD leave it for some poor soul that absolutely has to have it!

Yup!

I kinda like the idea of a little truck. Never had a hybrid thought I would give that a try. If I don't like, sell it. F/E no big deal. Any thing over 15mpg I'm happy.

F250 with a 7.3L first choice.....but garage too small.

 

[sseiler]

I find it a bit comical people are calling out dealerships for this when even Long McArthur Ford which many of us rely on and look to for information also has a maverick listed above MSRP. They even shared that auction sites are offering $6,000+ above msrp to dealerships to buy their units so why wouldn’t they do it as that makes sense when you are running a business especially when supply is extremely limited. It also makes good business sense to list above msrp for dealerships that get a unit in for hopes of it being able to stay on their lot longer so that it can be used as a showroom vehicle or for test drives which in turn could generate even more sales and profit.

Look at it differently: last year as toilet paper and paper towels were hard to find as supply was low and they bumped prices up 20%+ pretty sure we still paid it. As the deep freeze happened and heaters nearly doubled in price also pretty sure we still paid it. Meat and eggs prices up 16-28% with a meat surge of 40%+ pretty sure we still paid it. Needed wood and freaked at the cost they were selling for bet you still paid it. Had a furnace go out and the rate went from $110/hr to $225/hr still needed heat so still paid it. Do I think there is a limit yes however this makes perfect business sense and if anyone on here owned their own dealership or really any business that has a product or service that is limited or in high demand you’d be considering the exact same thing.

I agree with you, generally. They get a Mav on the lot, they should feel free to Jack up the price as high as they’d like. They have just about unicorn status right now. If the market was flooded with them, they certainly couldn’t do that. A Mav is not a need; it’s a want. You make a great point, but getting a Mav will not provide us shelter or nutrition. It is not necessary for survival or basic comfort. It will provide transportation, but there are many other vehicles out there that can do that. Heck, even if you want a hybrid, you can get a Prius for less than $10k. Getting a Mav is purely a want. To that end, more power to the dealers who want to mark them up. it sucks if you want one and didn’t order one or just don’t want to wait for it to come in. However, the extra $$$ maybe is that consequence. Heck, the better advice is to maybe get something else or hang on to what you have until 2023.

Hey, if they want to charge $50k for that base XL, and you can’t wait for yours to come in or to order a 2023 model, then it’s there if you want it bad enough.

I’m not sure all (or, I’d like to think, most) business owners would consider marking up need-items erroneously just because they are in high demand, e.g., gasoline, toilet paper, food. This, I feel, is unethical. These are items needed for survival and basic comfort.

Also, regarding the Mav, the unethical move would be for the dealer from which you ordered your Mav jacking up the price once it arrives. My local dealer has an MSRP policy for ordered vehicles. They do not increase the price over MSRP. Their fees are also transparent and established. This is the ethical policy that all dealers should follow. They can’t sell a car that isn’t built yet, so they can’t necessarily give you the out-the-door price w/ trade, etc. They can tell you that MSRP is MSRP, and that they will not charge over that, and they can tell you their fees. It’s basically a gentleman’s agreement. I get that doesn’t hold up in court. However, it’d be really unethical for them to promise one thing and then change the deal once the Mav arrives because they know you really, really want it. Honestly, living in a small town when most of their sales are local, it’d be a really bad business decision, too, to do this.

 

[Olldladieslovemavericksto]

I am glad I haven't seen such ridiculous mark up on them in Michigan. I sure wouldn't pay that.

 

[DryHeat]

I'm puzzled to see so many posts where people speculate about what might happen when their Maverick comes in -- theorizing about business ethics, business reputations, walking away, etc. -- when most folks could just go down to the dealership and either nail the deal down or have a pretty good idea that there is a problem.

So here's a question to a those of you who are wondering if your price is protected:

Why aren't you going in and trying to get a signed contract (Buyer's Order)?

I'm not pushing you to do it. It's a real question. I'm just wondering why.

 

[clippedwings]

I tried to do it, with limited success. I believe I have enough documentation to establish that we agreed on an OTD price. I don't feel they are going to screw me. But even if they do, and even if they refuse to return my $500 deposit if I walk, it's no more than what I reluctantly pay Dish Network for two months of crap TV that my wife seems to need. It won't be the end of the world, and it will be a lesson on how NEVER to buy a vehicle again. This was to be my next work vehicle, so the pressure on me was probably greater than on someone for whom this is just a ride choice. There are other options, but none as suitable and economical as the Maverick, so I really hope this works out in the end. The biggest mistake I made was in attempting to buy what was just a promise, during a world apocalypse that shut down most of Human society. How dumb was that?

 

[Bbot]

I tried to do it, with limited success. I believe I have enough documentation to establish that we agreed on an OTD price. I don't feel they are going to screw me. But even if they do, and even if they refuse to return my $500 deposit if I walk, it's no more than what I reluctantly pay Dish Network for two months of crap TV that my wife seems to need. It won't be the end of the world, and it will be a lesson on how NEVER to buy a vehicle again. This was to be my next work vehicle, so the pressure on me was probably greater than on someone for whom this is just a ride choice. There are other options, but none as suitable and economical as the Maverick, so I really hope this works out in the end. The biggest mistake I made was in attempting to buy what was just a promise, during a world apocalypse that shut down most of Human society. How dumb was that?

I'm puzzled to see so many posts where people speculate about what might happen when their Maverick comes in -- theorizing about business ethics, business reputations, walking away, etc. -- when most folks could just go down to the dealership and either nail the deal down or have a pretty good idea that there is a problem.

So here's a question to a those of you who are wondering if your price is protected:

Why aren't you going in and trying to get a signed contract (Buyer's Order)?

I'm not pushing you to do it. It's a real question. I'm just wondering why.

I would NEVER order a product any product without stipulating the Exact purchase price including all related accessories or dealer added costs.I walked away from the desk after negotiating on a Maverick because the dealer would not deduct his upcharge(profit).
Frankly I am happy I did ,after seeing the Lariat upgrade package I thought it was low grade material for the trim. In other Ford products the Lariat and Titanium packages are higher trim packages, in the Maverick it was not much for the additional cost. This computer chip situation will eventually balance out, the auto companies will do as they always do and rush to produce and fill lots and rebates will be back. Just wait for 2023 and watch. It always happens , they are just Greedy and trying to capitalize on scarcity.
That being said it is Not All Dealerships ! Check out Mullinax Ford
in Florida , they are not up charging or charging a upcharge fee .
mullinaxford.com

 

[dalola]

Call me old-school, but I've always had good luck with looking someone in the eye and a hand shake. These days of doing everything online, it's easy to be "unpersonal", and behave in ways one might not if face-to-face.

When I ordered, had a face-to-face with the sales manager, and shook hands on the Mav I wanted priced on x-plan. I have no reservations about this not happening when the truck is delivered.

Diligent research on who you are dealing with also helps.

At the end of the day, everyone answers to their own God, and will be judged accordingly.

 

[olderbudwiser]

I would NEVER order a product any product without stipulating the Exact purchase price including all related accessories or dealer added costs.I walked away from the desk after negotiating on a Maverick because the dealer would not deduct his upcharge(profit).
Frankly I am happy I did ,after seeing the Lariat upgrade package I thought it was low grade material for the trim. In other Ford products the Lariat and Titanium packages are higher trim packages, in the Maverick it was not much for the additional cost. This computer chip situation will eventually balance out, the auto companies will do as they always do and rush to produce and fill lots and rebates will be back. Just wait for 2023 and watch. It always happens , they are just Greedy and trying to capitalize on scarcity.
That being said it is Not All Dealerships ! Check out Mullinax Ford
in Florida , they are not up charging or charging a upcharge fee .
mullinaxford.com

Conversely I have never ordered a vehicle and asked for or received a signed piece of paper. Usually a dealer form with what I ordered, with a price at the bottom.

Buying A/Z/X changes that. You can build and price out with your own printed copy.

 

[olderbudwiser]

Although back in the old days hourly employees and salaried employees below a certain pay grade were no allowed to purchase with A plan.
Changed some time in the 70's.

 

[PriusHater]

As much as I bad mouth dealerships that do crazy markups, the simple truth is that if someone offers me $5k-$15k above MSRP for my Maverick hybrid once it is finally built and delivered next year, I may have a hard time saying now.

Plus if the new EV tax rebates make it through Congress, I’ll seriously be looking at getting a PHEV within a couple of years anyway. Or maybe a Rivian.

 

[BMCGC]

My dealer gave me a signed buyers order and no deposit.

The dealer also has this Maverick on the lot for sale.

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