[UPDATE - I'm SOL] Golf Mill Ford Stole my Bronco

[BriscoGun]

They are stopping customer orders, but nothing is stopping dealers from getting their allocations filled that have not been filled yet. I think you will start seeing a more 4 door Big Bend soft-tops in dealer stock while we continue to wait.

I hope it does help with getting the reserved Bronco's out but I think it is more Ford trying to make us feel that we might have a chance of getting one.

Time will tell.

Yes but orders are now coming out of dealer allocations, so if the number of orders outweigh the actual allocations, then all incoming units will be orders (in theory). This is a change that happened January 2022.

Sorry. we now return you to your regularly scheduled thread...

Hope your situation gets resolved OP. Sounds like the Bronco is still there so there is hope they may come around?

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[taperunner]

I wish I had some good news to report but as of now I don’t. I’ll definitely update once the situation is totally resolved but I don’t want to step on any toes behind the scenes while things are still going on.

 

[Bonnie6G]

I wish I had some good news to report but as of now I don’t. I’ll definitely update once the situation is totally resolved but I don’t want to step on any toes behind the scenes while things are still going on.

Keep fighting the good fight man!

 

[wtcrabtree]

Looks like they got google to delete all the bad reviews.
OP, you need to send an email to Andrew Frick at Ford to explain this situation.

Mine is still up, probably all the 1 stars with no words or the ones that were saying this happened to someone else. I based my review off of the fact their website only has MSRP on all the vehicles when they are clearly charging ADM. Not as strong as the OP but the 1 star review stayed and thats the point.

 

[Drex]

Hate to say this, but your bolded statement will likely lead to the review being removed.

Similar thing happened at Worstway Ford, when they wiped out TONS of 1* Reviews because the responses insinuated that review was via 3rd Party.

Though that might have been true, it’s best to keep those details vague if you want the impact of notifying future consumers of this dealership (and others) unethical business practices.

Not that the mob cares, but the terms of use on the various review sites are almost identical; That you have to be an actual customer of that business is in all of the terms and conditions for posting a review. They are not valid reviews (not necessarily untrue, but not valid), that is why they remove them. Myself, I am not interested in signing terms and conditions that I don't intend to follow to use a service. While I don't believe anyone will ever be sued or prosecuted over theft of services, I am not Ford, I follow that to which I agreed.

I am not advocating writing invalid reviews to blackmail a company, that is legally engaging in negotiation, to force them to meet a specific customers specific price. Just so that is perfectly clear, but for God's sake, don't be stupid if you love the mob. One star ratings are easy to catch, remove, or ignore. Two star ratings are not going to be yanked so quickly and are not so transparant.

 

[Evergreen]

Mine is still up, probably all the 1 stars with no words or the ones that were saying this happened to someone else. I based my review off of the fact their website only has MSRP on all the vehicles when they are clearly charging ADM. Not as strong as the OP but the 1 star review stayed and thats the point.

You've got the right idea.

If you email or open an online chat asking about pricing and are given a deceptive answer, you can leave a 100% legitimate review on their practices towards you as a potential customer and they have no grounds to have it removed. Having a rapid influx of negative online reviews is purely because they've got a popular new vehicle generating a lot of interest and they are repeatedly getting caught price gouging.

 

[fazer8]

You've got the right idea.

If you email or open an online chat asking about pricing and are given a deceptive answer, you can leave a 100% legitimate review on their practices towards you as a potential customer and they have no grounds to have it removed. Having a rapid influx of negative online reviews is purely because they've got a popular new vehicle generating a lot of interest and they are repeatedly getting caught price gouging.

That’s the way to go. This dealer needs some repercussions for shady business practices.

 

[Marauder]

Not that the mob cares, but the terms of use on the various review sites are almost identical; That you have to be an actual customer of that business is in all of the terms and conditions for posting a review. They are not valid reviews (not necessarily untrue, but not valid), that is why they remove them. Myself, I am not interested in signing terms and conditions that I don't intend to follow to use a service. While I don't believe anyone will ever be sued or prosecuted over theft of services, I am not Ford, I follow that to which I agreed.

I am not advocating writing invalid reviews to blackmail a company, that is legally engaging in negotiation, to force them to meet a specific customers specific price. Just so that is perfectly clear, but for God's sake, don't be stupid if you love the mob. One star ratings are easy to catch, remove, or ignore. Two star ratings are not going to be yanked so quickly and are not so transparant.

The burden of proof would be impossible to show that someone wasn’t a customer if the complaint is made in such a way as to associate a personal experience.

In theory, a customer is very ambiguous. Is a “potential” customer a customer? By association with Ford, are we not customers linked to their potential services and the service network as a whole?

We are a customer to the system that suggests the dealership & reservation holder have a binding agreement that dictates a vehicle is tied to the reservation holder until that holder has relinquished their rights to it. So, criticizing that system inherent with the fraudulent dealership is no different than a bad batch of parts needing recall.

At its worst, Google/Yelp reviews become more waited the closer to 4.0 than originally estimated considering factors that would allow those systems to remove ratings without prejudice

 

[stonerdoom]

So needless to say I'm feeling pretty dejected at the moment. I thought I did everything correctly (in hindsight I know I missed something) and what Ford suggested to get a Bronco. But at the end of the day, not only am I not getting my Bronco, the dealer was straight up rude and told me they wouldn't even sell to me at their markup.

Here's the full story. I had a reservation, later than many of you and I went with Granger. I think it was around May 15, 2021. I knew I'd be far down the list. Granger thought I'd maybe get one around Q2/3 of 20222. That was fine by me. As we all know, Ford then changed allocation formulas and Granger let us know it was going to severely impact them. I wouldn't be getting a Bronco from them until probably 2025. So I did what Ford and Mike Levine told people in my position. I looked for a high volume dealer and I made a build that was less constrained (dropped the MIC top). I went to Golf Mill Ford in Niles, IL. First thing I asked, are there any ADMs because I won't pay them. They said no, all custom orders are at MSRP. So built out my order. I asked for a purchase agreement and I was told they didn't really have anything like that they could give me. So I had them print out the order sheet, wrote out I'll pay MSRP plus tax, title and license. I had a sales manager sign in. I asked if I needed to put down a deposit or reservation and they said no. This was October 20th or so and it was when reservations weren't available but I could go into the dealer to order. The guy taking my order was very clueless but I asked a few times about putting money down but he told me I didn't need to. They placed the order, I had the signed order confirmation and thought I was good.

I was in the 2/8 build week and it got pushed due to the MAP closure. It was built with an EDD of 3/11. Well this past weekend on Saturday they called saying it was in. I was pumped. I needed to move money to my checking to write out the down payment check so I said I couldn't come in until monday. I spent the day getting the garage ready for the second car. Today I had my wife drop me off at the dealer. The salesman took me to see it and it was sweet. An Eruption Green Badlands. I was picking it up around 5pm so the sun was making that paint look like everything I'd hoped it was. Took it out for a drive and it was great. I was so pumped. We go in and get started on paperwork. You already know where this is going....


They tell me most cars are getting a 7.5k Market Adjustment. And they're only adding 5k to my Bronco. I immediately said I wouldn't be paying that. I rehashed that it was literally the first thing I asked and that I had the signed price of MSRP. So the salesman walks off and comes back giving me the runaround of how they have to do it in this market. Offers to come down 2.5k. Again I tell him I'm not doing it. I have signed stuff showing I'm paying MSRP. So then someone else comes over and I just keep getting the run around on this market, blah blah blah. You guys know all the spin they try to use. Finally after they see the photos of the signed paperwork he disappeared for awhile. Comes back and tells me it's 5k more. Take it or leave it. Their main reasoning was that I did not place a deposit on it. So nothing was binding. Even though I said multiple times, I asked if I needed to put money down and was told no. Not to mention, it shouldn't be on me to do your job. It's something you should have asked/taken care of. I want to preface with I did not yell, swear, threaten or act like a fool. But at this point I was most definitely raising my voice but it was not screaming by any means. Again they told me take it or leave it. I continued to press "what good is signed documentation from you for my custom order and now you will not honor it?" At that point someone else walked over and told me to leave. So in an effort to bide time so they wouldn't try to sell my car right away, I said "Fine, I'll go home and talk to my finance company to see if I can take out more for the ADM". I was still not intending on paying it, after I walked out the guy that told me to leave said "Don't bother talking to your finance company. We're not selling you this car for any price". I asked "you changed the price on me and I'm visibly upset. I didn't yell at you or anyone else but you kicked me out of your store and now you won't sell to me even if I paid the 5k markup"? He said "Yep, I don't want the bad press or to have to deal with you". And that was it. As I was waiting for my Uber to get me they were putting my Bronco in one of those 'marquee' spots right in front next to the main road. I know they were thrilled about this. They'll probably mark it up 15-20k now.

I tweeted at Mike Levine and @Ford but haven't heard anything yet. Honestly with them throwing me out of their dealership I wouldn't even expect this to somehow be resolved. I'm pretty crushed. I know lots of people that have been waiting longer than I have are fed up but still waiting. I hope you guys all get your vehicles and it's a smooth process. But at this point, I'm so soured on the whole thing. I'm going to chill for a few days but I don't think I want to start at the back of the line again so I might just be looking at another manufacturer. I thought I did everything they (Ford and Mr Levine) suggested to get a Bronco as quickly as possible and without hidden fees but I still got screwed.

Update - 3/2 1PM Central - I've been in touch with Ford but nothing yet. I've made some other inquiries as well but I'll hold off detailing those until I know more. I do really appreciate everyone's support in this. I've had multiple DMs with advice and just well wishes.

I would have told this guy you just made the decision to get bad press. Enjoy. You should bring the forces of hell on this and still not buy the truck. Letting it go, only emboldens them.

I'm in Northern IL myself. I am still with Granger mainly because Ford would not approve my transfer. Almost glad they didn't. But here I am with a day 2 rez and I won't get my truck until 20345?!

Ford does not honor it's reservation holders.

 

[stonerdoom]

Hit up their Yelp post negative reviews

https://yelp.to/oU6aVSv01nb

They are blocking all Yelp reviews for the dealershit. I wonder why...

 

[stonerdoom]

I wish I had some good news to report but as of now I don’t. I’ll definitely update once the situation is totally resolved but I don’t want to step on any toes behind the scenes while things are still going on.

Keep your head up. This is just beyond horrid and one of the worst examples of dealer bad behavior that we have seen yet.

Ford does not honor it's reservation holders.

That line should trend on twitter daily until they do right by all of us regardless of dealer. Enough!!

 

[BriscoGun]

I wish I had some good news to report but as of now I don’t. I’ll definitely update once the situation is totally resolved but I don’t want to step on any toes behind the scenes while things are still going on.

I was just wondering, have you tried speaking to the GM and/or owner? I'm just saying, in most dealerships, once you get to the top of the food chain, they are much more likely to acquiesce and give in than the SM's are. These guys don't like dealing with problems and upset customers, and they hate bad press.

With the truck still there, seems like there's got to be a way that this thing can still be put together! Keeping good thoughts for you, OP!

 

[niterider006]

Still no resolution?

 

[DJN1985]

After I got screwed in the same fashion from Gillespie in Gurnee (10k dealer hardship fee), I went to Golf Mill after talking to them on the phone and being assured 'the one you want is in stock, at msrp.' Long story short, vehicle 'just sold an hour ago, but we have another one available...at markup." Go to Kunes in Antioch. They told me 'if you are willing to place the order and wait, we will sell it to you at msrp.' Even got a signed purchase order with an out the door price. Go see Nick Kretsch, tell him Lukas sent you. Super great guy to work with.

I went and saw Nick too!

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