ADM is now a Ford problem

[RobbyBronco]

But on this forum you will get the typical response in the first two comments. There are people that just don’t care and have money to burn and they will blame everyone but the dealer.

Maybe you hadn’t noticed how many dealers have accounts here. They try to blend in like customers but their comments make it fairly obvious.

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[Cheshire]

No - I didn't sign a contract for a $53k vehicle, sight unseen, never driven and no idea when it will arrive.

I did sign a build sheet with them that authorized my order to be placed in Ford's system based on the options that I have selected. I confirmed via e-mail that my price matched my dealer's build sheet and I got them to state in the e-mail that was the agreed upon price and there would be no add ons.

Take them to small claims court for the $5000. If you have the agreement in the email, you should AT LEAST get half in arbitration.

 

[Coal Powers America]

Maybe you hadn’t noticed how many dealers have accounts here. They try to blend in like customers but their comments make it fairly obvious.

100% not a dealer here and I think it’s shady if a dealer raises your price IF you have an agreement. That being said I actually do feel bad for sales folks right now. I deal with local dealerships and live in a relatively small community. I'm dealing with people i know i see them around town, i legitimately don't think they are trying to rip people off. They are trying to make a living and support their families and they are in a very tough position right now. I was on two car lots today one had 8 new cars the other had 11, both the dealerships both normally have over 100 cars. If your livelihood is based on moving product and you have no product to move it's a tough situation to be in. I think there are some bad apples out there (there is one dealership around me i 100% wouldn't deal with) but in 2021 with the amount of information that is available on the internet both for pricing and dealer reviews I don't think it behooves a dealer to try to rip people off. I try to live my life by the golden rule and think you can find a lot of honest dealers out there that a handshake is still enough to honor a deal.

 

[Tadel001]

I think many are missing the point. I have the evidence to prevail in a small claims. Should I really have to do that? Besides, my choice was to not buy the Bronco and sue them. What would be my remedy? Can’t get specific performance because the Bronco is sold someone else. Money damages? I would have to buy a replacement and charge the difference, assuming I could find what I wanted.

Keep thinking your signed contract is the hammer in hand.... The only hammer in this equation is Ford and the customer. As we can see on this simple thread, the customers won’t align. So in the end, it is Ford at the dealer. The dealership wants Ford product. Hence my original title... This has to be and is a Ford problem. They need to deal with this. The consumer doesn’t have a practical solution.

 

[WyoBronc]

I just paid $5k ADM on a BB that someone ordered and refused to buy. The dealership called and told me up front of the ADM. The salesman told me the GSM wanted $10k over MSRP, but he talked him down to $5k due to all we’ve been through. And he knows I’m keeping my 2dr BL reservation for 2022 delivery. He also told me someone offered $10k over after it was offered to me at $5k over. I’m ok with it and since I needed a gap vehicle, that was better than paying $43k for a 2018 4Runner Premium with 40,000 miles on it. It’s crazy out there……check your expectations at the door, because it’s a new world.

 

[cpmartin1999]

Go straight to Mike Levine on Twitter. Tagging FMC on this website won't get you very far. Mike has been really good about reaching out to customers with issues like this on twitter and following up with the dealers. Not sure you'll get anywhere, but he has taken on these situations over the last couple months. Good luck.

edit: This is another reason the long game with Granger, Chapman of Horsham and Stephens Auto Center was the right play for me and many others. I'm with Granger, but this situation is eliminated for buyers at these 3 locations. I should throw in the Texas Group Buy dealership as well, but I'm not sure what dealership that is. Again, good luck to you in getting some traction with Mike Levine or Ford on this.

Im with Stephens too, but hoping we dont run into this, its easy for a dealer to put that markup on paper. Just bought my daughter a new VW and after i thought i had a deal on phone and email, went to dealer to get ADM of $1695, not a lot, i know, but shopped it around on phone while in their showroom, ended up taking it off, bt that wasnt a Bronco which seems high demand!!

 

[Jhopkinson]

My 2 cents on the situation. If a dealer has a stock vehicle on it's lot then mark it up all you want. If a customer special orders a vehicle ADM should not be a option. The dealership would not even have that vehicle had the customer not ordered it. I know some law exist to prevent it so I've heard, but Ford needs to either sell vehicles directly to customers or threaten to cut off dealers that put and ADM on special orders.

 

[WCP-82]

My 2 cents on the situation. If a dealer has a stock vehicle on it's lot then mark it up all you want. If a customer special orders a vehicle ADM should not be a option. The dealership would not even have that vehicle had the customer not ordered it. I know some law exist to prevent it so I've heard, but Ford needs to either sell vehicles directly to customers or threaten to cut off dealers that put and ADM on special orders.

I ran into this when deciding to change dealers back in October. I called my local dealer that I went with when reserving and was transferred to a salesman. I said I had a reservation with his dealership and asked about pricing. He told me that if they could even get one of those Broncos on the lot they would be charging at least $10k over invoice. I explained to him that I reserved one and when it is ordered it will be coming to your lot. I had to further explain that it was my Bronco going there so what's the price? I knew about the Stephens deal and told him about it. (Invoice - $1000) He basically called me a liar and said there was no way any dealer was doing that. Well he finally talked to sales manager and the manager said most likely MSRP.

I moved my reservation to Stephen's the next day.

 

[Gloff]

I know this topic has been discussed a few times. However, the ability for dealers to hold reservation holders hostage at purchase by forcing the buyer to accept ADM up charges or forgo the order is wrong. We made the reservation for the Bronco. We spec’d it out and placed the order. We anticipated Ford delivering to us our Bronco. Pricing was established at the order. Granted, there are dealer fees associated with delivery, tax, title, etc. But a pure mark up based on demand is wrong. The challenges with delivering Broncos has added to the demand. Dealers know it and are using it to their advantage. I purchased my Badlands yesterday. There was a $5K markup. When I balked at it, they said that is the going rate right now. I pushed back. I was basically left with either buying my bronco with a markup or watch it be sold to someone else and have to wait another year plus for a replacement. Ford has talked about holding pricing but that is meaningless when dealers are permitted to mark up the Bronco.

I love this Bronco. It is really an awesome Truck. Ford has done an excellent job. It sucks that the experience is tainted by BS practices of dealers. The worst part, I moved my early reservation from one dealer (that was non-response) to this dealer. So they would not have had my early reservation but for me. They Would have to wait on their other MIC top, constraint laden orders.

Hoping @FordMotorCompany can find a way to deal with this.

Reputable dealers don't operate this way. If you have a deal in writing they should honor it. It makes the @Granger Ford, @flip, and my dealership look bad.

 

[Granger Ford]

Reputable dealers don't operate this way. If you have a deal in writing they should honor it. It makes the @Granger Ford, @flip, and my dealership look bad.

Mark up on any vehicle, especially a mass produced one, is unethical and we do not ever charge any mark up. It sucks, but what can we do about it.

 

[Bullitt]

I read Ford's email prior to ordering which stated to have a purchase agreement with the dealer prior to ordering. So, that's exactly what I did and what they and I signed. My local dealers would not sell at Invoice, so I shopped around and went with a dealer who would...even though that dealer is about 500 miles away.

 

[rugbysecondrow]

Yeah, its not a Ford problem. Ford sells to the dealer. The dealer chooses what cost/prices they want to pass on to you.

For example, my window sticker shows a $1,400 destination fee. My dealer is not charging me that on my written agreement.

Take your issue to your dealer, because Ford isn't going to do anything more than what they have already outlined.

You might be legally correct, but you are incorrect when it comes to the spirit of the agreement. Ford touted a customer rsvp/ordering model. With that comes a level of responsibility not seen prior in the customer relationship.

If Ford desires their new business model to work, then they have to protect the customers from dealerships that retaliate with ADM.

 

[flip]

Mark up on any vehicle, especially a mass produced one, is unethical and we do not ever charge any mark up. It sucks, but what can we do about it.

This

 

[flip]

Maybe you hadn’t noticed how many dealers have accounts here. They try to blend in like customers but their comments make it fairly obvious.

Please explain. Most of use have no issue saying who we are and here to help folks either with an order or information. When other dealers f customers it turns into, “all dealers are crooks”, and is a ladel we have to push back against.

 

[da_jokker]

Reputable dealers don't operate this way. If you have a deal in writing they should honor it. It makes the @Granger Ford, @flip, and my dealership look bad.

Happy to have some extra encouraging news....you aren't planning on leaving Serramonte any time soon are ya?

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