Dirt Mountain 3.0

[swamp2]

If they would rather keep give dealers access to the information and have the dealers keep us updated- works for me.

As for confidential information- Ford is a publicly traded company with an obligation to disclose any information regarding its performance that could negatively impact its earnings and, in turn, shareholder value. These disclosures are part of the quarterly 10-Q filing they and every other public company files.

Production issues, supply chain problems, labor shortages or any other reasons that impair the performance of Ford as a company is expected and required to be disclosed. Jim Farley has already publicly blamed supply chain, labor, and even his own management team for Fords weak financial performance in 21 and 22. If they considered that confidential and proprietary- Jim didn’t get the memo.

Absolutely, things happening in a publicly traded company must be reported, but details can and will purposefully be left out. Also, such issues will be reported in the aggregate not with individual products and probably not even with individual lines. Again, most of this is left out for reasons of it being competitive or proprietary (or even embarrassing). The Board of Directors will not even get past a certain level of granularity nor specifics.

My basic conclusion remains true. Ford chooses what they will share with Dealers and with consumers. You are not yet even an owner of a vehicle in production or on order. It isn't going to change and Ford doesn't owe you anything more than they provide. Again, extremely frustrating and not entirely within all norms we expect as consumers with tremendous choice, but IMHO Ford isn't really doing its customer facing updates "wrong".

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[WT205]

Absolutely, things happening in a publicly traded company must be reported, but details can and will purposefully be left out. Also, such issues will be reported in the aggregate not with individual products and probably not even with individual lines. Again, most of this is left out for reasons of it being competitive or proprietary (or even embarrassing). The Board of Directors will not even get past a certain level of granularity nor specifics.

My basic conclusion remains true. Ford chooses what they will share with Dealers and with consumers. You are not yet even an owner of a vehicle in production or on order. It isn't going to change and Ford doesn't owe you anything more than they provide. Again, extremely frustrating and not entirely within all norms we expect as consumers with tremendous choice, but IMHO Ford isn't really doing its customer facing updates "wrong".

So you agree- ordering, production, sales and fulfillment information is not confidential or even proprietary if its subject to disclosure or voluntarily provided- actually they already publish that aggregated data every month in their produced versus sold numbers. If it isn't confidential or proprietary in the aggregate, it isn't confidential or proprietary in specifics.

Whether you think I'm "owed" better communication or not, Ford is CHOOSING not to share this information and you wrote it above- it is "embarrassing" and potentially harmful to the board or shareholders- therefore- they don't want to disclose it. You are right, that is a common practice- its also obfuscating facts from shareholders and other stakeholders (like dealers) which I don't think you're condoning.

I'm not sure why anyone would defend Ford in how they are communicating with dealers or "order holders." They have created a miserable buying experience for many CUSTOMERS who may never consider any Ford products in the future (this would be my third Ford FWIW)- all because they didn't want to create a better, more detailed reporting process? That's the very definition of poor management and short-term thinking.

 

[swamp2]

So you agree- ordering, production, sales and fulfillment information is not confidential or even proprietary if its subject to disclosure or voluntarily provided- actually they already publish that aggregated data every month in their produced versus sold numbers. If it isn't confidential or proprietary in the aggregate, it isn't confidential or proprietary in specifics.

No, I disagree. Ford won't share non-aggregate data nor will they share individual data, therefore it is confidential. It's pretty well confidential by definition! Also, as you know, very little is shared about specific causes of delays.

Whether you think I'm "owed" better communication or not, Ford is CHOOSING not to share this information and you wrote it above- it is "embarrassing" and potentially harmful to the board or shareholders- therefore- they don't want to disclose it. You are right, that is a common practice- its also obfuscating facts from shareholders and other stakeholders (like dealers) which I don't think you're condoning.

Yup, their choice, and with a plethora of reasons to balance, not even mentioning a fundamental lack of IT/CRM infrastructure to offer such individualized information, they believe it is better to not share such information. Not with dealers and not with us. You don't own the vehicle yet and as such you simply don't have such privileges. If you happen to be an individual shareholder you can probably get some additional aggregate and non-confidential information, but not what you want.

I'm not sure why anyone would defend Ford in how they are communicating with dealers or "order holders." They have created a miserable buying experience for many CUSTOMERS who may never consider any Ford products in the future (this would be my third Ford FWIW)- all because they didn't want to create a better, more detailed reporting process? That's the very definition of poor management and short-term thinking.

The fundamental problem here is a big one and despite what seems like ineptness, Ford surely has some very bright and motivated people (with large bonuses and stock options in play) working on delivery delays. They want to get paid absolutely as soon as possible and they are being punished every day, for every vehicle delayed. I'm sure there are both things largely within their ability to control and others, say chip shortages, which they couldn't have foreseen and can't really control either

The delay itself is THE problem for all parties, FMC, dealers and us. We would be totally happy with the plethora of manual and automated tracking services Ford provides, IF schedules were normal.

Finally, let's assume their was some massive software in place that could provide individual customers with a huge trove of causes of delays, part or subsystem information and ETAs. Obviously, this wouldn't solve the delay itself and thereby wouldn't address individual customers primary concern - too long to get my vehicle! The information would also very likely be in a constant state of flux, making it largely useless and almost for sure more aggravating, not less!

I'm terribly anxious myself for more information as I placed my order (and dealer placed their corresponding order with FMC) 6 months ago and I'm yet to get an allocation (Raptor). I'll probably have a $10k total cost increase if I slip to '24. I dig around all the time here, the other forum and other sources, feeling a bit starved for information. In the end, too bad for me. I went with the largest dealer in the US and that is about all I could do to stack the deck in my favor (given that I'm not willing to pay a huge ADM). I remain anxious but not particularly angry, frustrated or anything else with my dealer nor with FMC. I knew what I was signing up for.

Best of luck to you on your journey and with your truck.

 

[OBX23]

Aside from the pissing match...

I think an added spot on the Tracker that indicates "Held" or even moving it back to "IP" would at least tell me my Bronco isn't sitting in the back line due to idiot parking plans. Customer service says it's has been released to the shipping company. ...sooooo okay?

...cause right now, in my mind, its sitting there ready to go 60+ days ago, parked in the back line behind the last line.

Yeah...there is some miscommunication. It affects the buying experience 100%.

 

[swamp2]

Aside from the pissing match...

I'd actually call it a reasonable and cordial debate on a topic that obviously is important to many.

 

[Danny's Bronco]

I'd be fine if they just said they were keeping it private. I am not cool with the "marketing" team just flat out lying on the phone. Last year they sent an email promising "more regular updates" like the 45 days email they sent last week. I never heard anything until my order finally shipped 5 months later. Ever car I have owned has been a Ford except 1 for 30 years. I'm thinking of buying a Toyota now that they held up my second Bronco the day after I traded in the old one. Nuts

 

[Sk3tchy]

Just had someone from marketing pull the freight history and she explained it looked like my bronco went from wayne to canton and was back in wayne as of Friday. This was all new information (but apparently has been available since it happened). Thinking i was a part of whatever QC was going on too. I’m hoping this means forward progress this week since it seems we are back at MAP

The Canton lot is pretty much across the street from the MAP.

 

[Cchas]

The Canton lot is pretty much across the street from the MAP.

Yea I figured that out. But i was moved to built today so guess going back to MAP meant something
Now just gotta wait it out for shipping.

 

[Sk3tchy]

Yea I figured that out. But i was moved to built today so guess going back to MAP meant something
Now just gotta wait it out for shipping.

If it went back to MAP, you could have either the Dana axle issue, or seat belt clip.

 

[Realtor]

4/17, picked up today. Wonderful trip home in our Wildtrak. See ya on the trail.

 

[DuneLife]

My update; Finally shows built as of 6/22 and now waiting for shipping… maybe see it before August

 

[Acadist]

If I had knowledge they were fixing an issue- I would agree with your statement but given that's a gracious assumption @Ford hasn't earned IMHO, I'm not on that page yet. Simple solution though- just tell us what's going on.

I agree, but by not telling you they have plausible deniability. If they tell you there’s an axle problem, and the axle goes out, well you get the picture. Yes, it is sooooooooo frustrating not knowing. It was ok when it was ordered and nothing, but now that the ball starting rolling and stopped I am ready to scream!

 

[dpequip]

I just picked (7/1) up my OBX ordered 3/27 The manufacture dates stamped in the sheet metal indicate they were stamped out 6/15. The vehicle went from a roll of metal to a delivered vehicle in SC in just a little over 2 weeks. The dealer was kind of dumbfounded how quickly it arrived. This was a Lux package Hardtop build.

 

[Acadist]

Guess after waiting 2+ years I’m not going to be the first one to fart in my Bronco after all

I just wish they would link it on my fordpass so I can see it on the gps

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