Dealership with the most reservations

[tshaw2009]

This guy's remarks are completely irrelevant on some points. With that being said, some of his remarks are spot on. It really depends on where you live in relation to these "below invoice" dealers. Keep in mind I'm just trying to be objective based on facts. If you live halfway across the country from these "below invoice" deals, and you qualify for X-Plan, you really aren't saving much if any by buying a plane ticket, a hotel room possibly, and then gas all the way back on your cross country adventure. If you are only a half day's drive or a state or two away, then the deal becomes more viable. Of course all of my comments are based upon the assumption that you've spent the $25 to become a Ford partner and will qualify for X-Plan. If you don't qualify for X-Plan, then a deal such as Granger's is sweetened a little more for those people due to the savings involved and is maybe worth the extra trouble driving or flying across the country. For me at least, Granger is just a 5 hour drive away from me, and I like the transparency from Albert and the Granger Ford team. Just for that reason alone, I have chosen to order from Granger Ford.

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[elmystico]

But it IS universally true that the selling dealer's service department is going to treat you better than if you had NOT bought it there.

And, for convenience sake, you would want to get it serviced at your local dealership. You dont want to drive hundreds of miles (or more) to where you bought it from, everytime you need an oil change for the first 36k.

There are easy ways to prevent yourself from being ripped of at a dealer's service department anyway. Just have them do what the maintenance book says, and nothing else. Just dont let them upsell you on anything. Just say "No" everytime. Then, when it runs out of warranty, find an independent shop. Thats good practice regardless considering the lower labor rate.

But what it sounds like you are actually saying is that a dealer's service department should be a factor in deciding where you buy from, and that supports my main overall point which is that, bottom dollar price for the vehicle shouldnt be the only criteria.

I actually don't agree it's universal, because I have had service reps at dealers I bought from take me completely for granted while nearby competitors did everything they could to court my business. I was much happier at a different service department in Seattle after ditching my original dealer. I thought I had enough first-person recommendations to trust the original dealer, but like I said, my mileage varied.

I agree on local patronage and your theoretical criteria for buying. You're right that people should consider all aspects before buying. I also know from experience that things don't always end up so cut and dried.

I would love to always have a reliable, trustworthy dealer in my area. In major metro areas, it's much more possible to shop around to find someone like that. But for a lot of the folks outside big cities, they might only have but one choice, and even that might be 25+ miles away. If their nearest dealer sucks, the next one is too far to get to and the upfront cost for a new vehicle is a gigantic consideration for them, what would be your advice to them? This scenario is often true out West where I live. It might be 3-4 hours to one dealer, much less a good one. If Bronco is a kick-ass vehicle but the nearest Ford dealer blows, both as far as the deal and the service they offer, what's the best strategy for buying AND getting serviced DTR?

 

[Studawg]

I actually don't agree it's universal, because I have had service reps at dealers I bought from take me completely for granted while nearby competitors did everything they could to court my business. I was much happier at a different service department in Seattle after ditching my original dealer. I thought I had enough first-person recommendations to trust the original dealer, but like I said, my mileage varied.

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If their nearest dealer sucks, the next one is too far to get to and the upfront cost for a new vehicle is a gigantic consideration for them, what would be your advice to them?

Again, you missed my point about the dealer service dept. Im not saying there isn't a dealer service department that won't treat you better than the one you bought your car from.

Im saying that the service department you get your car serviced at will treat you better if you bought it from that dealer than if you had not.

And if the next closest dealer service department is far enough away to cause a considerable inconvenience to getting your car serviced, you are going to end up getting your car serviced at the closer dealer, and you will be better served by that dealer service department if you had bought the vehicle from that dealer, than if you had not.

To your second question, you have to weigh the actual monetary price difference and then consider the tools you have to protect yourself from price gouging or being talked into needless services. Just say "No." to anything not on the manufacturer's recommended services.

 

[Gamecock]

But it IS universally true that the selling dealer's service department is going to treat you better than if you had NOT bought it there.

I don't think that's true...at all. I have had many company cars, all gotten at other than my local dealers by direction, and the service is completely indistinguishable from service on cars not bought there. They make the same money on service regardless...if the dealership is halfway decent, they want you back there every time, and try to earn that return business with every service engagement. Where you bought it is absolutely meaningless to the service department. They would LOVE to "steal" the service on a vehicle bought somewhere else. The only time it may be is if you have a dispute, you can call sales and have them weigh in. Otherwise, that statement holds zero weight.

 

[Marrowthirst]

Just my 2 cents....this video does nothing.

I have had so many nightmares with stealerships both in sales people and service departments that I am at the point I trust no one save myself when it comes with my vehicles. For the most part, new vehicles are commoditized. The warranty is universally accepted across all stealerships even if I buy from another state. I realize I have a lot more experience working on cars and doing pretty much everything myself (that plus 3 of my friends having gone to college getting automotive technology degrees and working in the industry)so my situation doesn't apply to most.

The sales people? I find in many cases I know more about the vehicle and its capabilities than they do.

The service people? I can't start to begin to tell you the nightmares on that. I am not saying all are like that, but I tend to fear going to the stealership like I fear going to the dentist.

I will leave my 2 cent opinion to that. I wouldn't let this person's video deter you from getting a solid deal on a brand new vehicle rolling off the factory floor.

 

[Studawg]

and the service is completely indistinguishable from service on cars not bought there.
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The only time it may be is if you have a dispute, you can call sales and have them weigh in.

Sure, all those normal services go off without a hitch 99% of the time. Thats not the issue.

Your last sentence is my whole point. Its if there's a problem, where a dealer might not want to honor the warranty over some sort of repair, for instance, where this comes into play.

Dealer service dept's dont want to do warranty work unless they have to, and if you had bought there, you have the leverage needed to get them to do it right.

Fighting battles with a service departments over your car in their shop is WAY more stressful than negotiating over a few dollars on initial purchase price. In my opinon.

 

[shieldsy]

Im saying that the service department you get your car serviced at will treat you better if you bought it from that dealer than if you had not.

Treat you better in what way? Service your car correctly if you bought from them? Charge less? Jump a wait line? Or just call you by name and shoot the shit with you?

In my experience, I have not been treated to any better service at a dealership I bought the car at versus a dealership I didn't.

I view this Bronco purchase as strictly transactional. I want to order a specific configuration, have it show up somewhere I can accept delivery and get tossed the keys. That is it.

The salesman video in this thread and many other attempts try to enhance and extend the dealership value proposition of a transactional commodity purchase. Your service will be better! We can help with trails! We are a direct line to Ford! We are Bronco Specialists!

IMO, at the end of the day, for a well informed buyer, the purchase transaction stands alone and the dealership isn't adding anything to that value prop.

 

[elmystico]

Sure, all those normal services go off without a hitch 99% of the time. Thats not the issue.

Your last sentence is my whole point. Its if there's a problem, where a dealer might not want to honor the warranty over some sort of repair, for instance, where this comes into play.

Dealer service dept's dont want to do warranty work unless they have to, and if you had bought there, you have the leverage needed to get them to do it right.

Fighting battles withe service departments over your car in their shop is WAY more stressful than haggling over a few dollars on purchase price.

This all still seems like a YMMV situation. In 35 years owning all kinds of vehicles, I have never fought so furiously with a service department that I wished for the days of haggling on a purchase price. Not saying you or others haven't. You're absolutely right that you are far more likely gonna spend more time in service departments than salesrooms, and I agree that it's a huge factor in picking a dealer. But I had a Chevy dealer 10 years ago that was absolutely crucially supportive in a fight with GM over an absolute POS I bought that needed all pistons and rings replaced before 15K. Then the contents of the transfer case exploded at 18K. The service rep was AWESOME in guiding me through the warranty repair process each time, which was brutal a lot of the time, even though I had bought from a different Chevy dealer. I never had to fight the dealer -- it was corporate I was fighting. So the warranty work isn't always a guaranteed battle at the dealer level. Again, YMMV.

 

[Gamecock]

Sure, all those normal services go off without a hitch 99% of the time. Thats not the issue.

Your last sentence is my whole point. Its if there's a problem, where a dealer might not want to honor the warranty over some sort of repair, for instance, where this comes into play.

Dealer service dept's dont want to do warranty work unless they have to, and if you had bought there, you have the leverage needed to get them to do it right.

Fighting battles with a service departments over your car in their shop is WAY more stressful than negotiating over a few dollars on initial purchase price. In my opinon.

Yeah, that possible advantage is so unlikely to actually have to be leveraged, that it is a complete non factor to me. I’ll take the best deal. The vehicle is the same. Warranty the same. The service is largely indiscernible no matter what. Just take the best deal every time in a purchase like this, and you are better off almost always.

 

[Gamecock]

Just my 2 cents....this video does nothing.

I have had so many nightmares with stealerships both in sales people and service departments that I am at the point I trust no one save myself when it comes with my vehicles. For the most part, new vehicles are commoditized. The warranty is universally accepted across all stealerships even if I buy from another state. I realize I have a lot more experience working on cars and doing pretty much everything myself (that plus 3 of my friends having gone to college getting automotive technology degrees and working in the industry)so my situation doesn't apply to most.

The sales people? I find in many cases I know more about the vehicle and its capabilities than they do.

The service people? I can't start to begin to tell you the nightmares on that. I am not saying all are like that, but I tend to fear going to the stealership like I fear going to the dentist.

I will leave my 2 cent opinion to that. I wouldn't let this person's video deter you from getting a solid deal on a brand new vehicle rolling off the factory floor.

True. I get why this guy is making the argument...he is getting beat on a lot of local vehicles by out of state dealers...but his arguments are weak at best. He says you won’t have “a friend”. Ok. Don’t need one. He says you “won’t get advice on local trails”. Ok. Don’t need that. The fact that he even mentions those type of things shoots the credibility of the entire rest of the video. Pay attention to facts and numbers...not emotional pleas as to where to buy from.

 

[Studawg]

This all still seems like a YMMV situation. In 35 years owning all kinds of vehicles, I have never fought so furiously with a service department that I wished for the days of haggling on a purchase price. Not saying you or others haven't. You're absolutely right that you are far more likely gonna spend more time in service departments than salesrooms, and I agree that it's a huge factor in picking a dealer. But I had a Chevy dealer 10 years ago that was absolutely crucially supportive in a fight with GM over an absolute POS I bought that needed all pistons and rings replaced before 15K. Then the contents of the transfer case exploded at 18K. The service rep was AWESOME in guiding me through the warranty repair process each time, which was brutal a lot of the time, even though I had bought from a different Chevy dealer. I never had to fight the dealer -- it was corporate I was fighting. So the warranty work isn't always a guaranteed battle at the dealer level. Again, YMMV.

Absolutely, "your mileage may vary". Agree 100%. But the service dept issue is just one of several things that factor in.

For me the biggest is convenience and time. I used to nickle and dime everything then over the years I realized how much time and energy I wasted doing that. Time IS money.

I have shipped dozens of cars across the country and have dealt with massive headaches with shippers not only NOT showing up on time, but having them damaged in transport, and thats a battle nobody wants to fight. Especially on their brand new special ordered Bronco they have waited a year and a half for.

Also traveled thousands of miles with trailer-in-tow, and loaded up the vehicle to haul it back. Fighting traffic and just wanting to be HOME the whole way. Then white-knuckled-praying someone doesnt pull out in front of me and cause me to wreck and destroy my new purchase.

To hell with that nonsense, Im too old for that and Im "only" 42!

But being able to pic and choose every aspect of a car and then have it show up at my local dealer, with NO risk to me? Keeping my money in my great state and supporting my local businesses? Showing up at my local dealer the day they call and say "Its here." so I can pick it up without anyone else's hands ever touching it? Getting all maintenance included for some agreed upon mileage?

Yeah, Ill take that, here's my $1000.

But, thats me!

 

[jonwithanelcamino]

Again, you missed my point about the dealer service dept. Im not saying there isn't a dealer service department that won't treat you better than the one you bought your car from.

Im saying that the service department you get your car serviced at will treat you better if you bought it from that dealer than if you had not.

And if the next closest dealer service department is far enough away to cause a considerable inconvenience to getting your car serviced, you are going to end up getting your car serviced at the closer dealer, and you will be better served by that dealer service department if you had bought the vehicle from that dealer, than if you had not.

To your second question, you have to weigh the actual monetary price difference and then consider the tools you have to protect yourself from price gouging or being talked into needless services. Just say "No." to anything not on the manufacturer's recommended services.

Pitching subjectivity as objectivity is a sure fire way to to come off as asinine. Especially on an internet message board where we read all comments as opinions. And if you think your opinion is not subjective you’re on another planet.

 

[Compta38]

Thanks for the "hope" sent, but I wouldn't worry too much. They'll be more than fine.

Oh, I'm not worried at all just adding thoughts. Thanks for the input though, I guess.

 

[Bronco4lyfe85]

Interesting takes in here. Anyways, I don’t look at the dealer doing me a favor selling me a car so they can service it for me. I’m doing them a favor by choosing them and if I like the outcome I’ll use them for my service needs.

Dealers are nothing without me and I have never met a service department that treated me any better if I bought a car there. Ive had dealers screw up after the car sale and I serviced elsewhere and it was no different then if I bought there.

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