Ford's communication around this is unbelievably bad

[Tahotrvlr]

Well those expensive FORD commercials you see on TV are not for gathering more dealerships .....they are rather for obtaining and keeping customers.
Word of mouth is everything in this business!!!!
So if you think pissing off a few decade long loyal customers is inconsequential... well guess again.

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[Paul Gagnon]

When I was a kid, we had a Chevy Citation. I think I win the citation contest, homeslice.

The Citation X-11 was a neat little car.

 

[Razorbak86]

I understand the venting, but it really won't change a thing.

The Five Stages of Grief:

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Trust the process.

 

[Bronco2021RV]

This, is correct. Ford DGAF about us as individual customers. Hell, they barely give a crap about all but their biggest dealers. It's on page 2 of their annual report:

Thank you very much for this post . It is proof in writing FORD does NOT care about the loss of a “ few customers “. So.... if your not happy just don’t buy a Ford. I guess it really is that simple As far as Ford is considered.
edit: I hope I don’t get in trouble for posting what is on Ford’s website.

 

[John Bronco_ I am here]

I can answer that for you right now. Ford is keeping their word, they just change what their word is at their whim. The lion's share of reservations were made before Ford invented the allocation wrinkle, until then people believed it was first come first served (within reason). Went from one line (that folks paid $100 to get in, a good faith gesture that was not reciprocated), to a line at every dealer to dealers being able to sell or give away a jump to the front of the line still later.

It was obvious this was going to happen once allocations were added (although perhaps not to the extent seen so far), however to claim that Ford was consistent and has kept their word with the original contract (money was exchanged for a place in line to order with the stipulation that they would be filled in approximate order) is in no way supported by facts. They are unilaterally changing the fulfillment of that original contract (their lawyers were smart enough to give extra Pass Points as compensation for modifying the contract and our continuing to wait implies acceptance), so here we are. While some might be indifferent to the changes, those that are not most assuredly have the right to grumble about the actual changes, acceptance aside.

Hear! Hear!

 

[Ranger6G]

PRIORITY ORDERS = BS!!!!!
THEY (FORD) WENT OUTSIDE THE ORIGINAL PROMISE TO KEEP THE RESERVATION ORDERS TAKEN CARE OF FIRST (sequentially i.e. to the best of their ability given commodity issues).

WHEN A GUY WHO POSTS VIDEOS FROM "KING OF THE HAMMERS" GETS A JUNE BUILD....PRIORITY ORDER WITH A JULY 29 RESERVATION.... DO YOU REALLY EXPECT EVERYONE TO BE HAPPY WITH THIS?

REALLY? ...

FOR THOSE OF US THAT PLAYED BY THE RULES WITH DAY 1-2-3 RESERVATIONS.....
THIS IS PLAIN AND SIMPLE "RUBBING OUR NOSES IN IT!!!!"

AND IF YOU GIVE ME SHIT ABOUT (YELLING) WITH THE CAPS... YOU CAN KMA!!!!

angry customer alert

 

[Tahotrvlr]

no, this is a ZACK DANGER alert!!!!
As my deceased dad would say; ...."he talks like a man with a PAPER ASS!!!!"

 

[ZackDanger]

no, this is a ZACK DANGER is an x-hole alert!!!!
As my deceased dad would say; ...."he talks like a man with a PAPER ASS!!!!"

 

[johnston.zach]

PRIORITY ORDERS = BS!!!!!
THEY (FORD) WENT OUTSIDE THE ORIGINAL PROMISE TO KEEP THE RESERVATION ORDERS TAKEN CARE OF FIRST (sequentially i.e. to the best of their ability given commodity issues).

WHEN A GUY WHO POSTS VIDEOS FROM "KING OF THE HAMMERS" GETS A JUNE BUILD....PRIORITY ORDER WITH A JULY 29 RESERVATION.... DO YOU REALLY EXPECT EVERYONE TO BE HAPPY WITH THIS?

REALLY? ...

FOR THOSE OF US THAT PLAYED BY THE RULES WITH DAY 1-2-3 RESERVATIONS.....
THIS IS PLAIN AND SIMPLE "RUBBING OUR NOSES IN IT!!!!"

AND IF YOU GIVE ME SHIT ABOUT (YELLING) WITH THE CAPS... YOU CAN KMA!!!!

SO U MAD

 

[jwoobs]

Thank you very much for this post . It is proof in writing FORD does NOT care about the loss of a “ few customers “. So.... if your not happy just don’t buy a Ford. I guess it really is that simple As far as Ford is considered.

For what it's worth, I'm sure this is boilerplate in every car company's annual report. The point isn't that they don't care about customers as much as it is no one customer could stop ordering cars and put them out of business.

But at the end of the day, dealers buy 1000's of cars per year, where you and I might buy a couple per decade and to that end Ford wants to keep the dealers happy first and foremost.

 

[Mustang Mike]

You make a great post. I do want to say that the information has been available... even exactly that you're suggesting.

Yes something like this but with updated information regarding priority 1 orders, email notifications and shared/sent prior to these benchmark dates. Currently they’re operating in a “do a thing” then a few days later send out a reactionary email or post clearing up the confusion. I’m just pointing out it’s been a bit backwards and it’s been that way for a while.

 

[WyoBronc]

In the Army there is a saying, "Hurry up and wait" which seems to be the way this is going. A good thing that having been in the Army I am used to waiting in line.... I understand the venting, but it really won't change a thing.

As a retired USAF Airman, I can appreciate that sentiment, and even though I retired over 16 years ago, I don’t recall while I was in the waiting phase of the “hurry up and wait” process, having my OIC come along at random intervals and placing other “hurry up and waiters” in the form of lower ranking, newer recruits , in front of me and my group, and poking me in the eye ever so often without some justification. Even then., rank had its privilege. Perhaps your Army experience was different, but there was a method to that madness......something that has obviously been lacking in this process.

Thank you for your service my brother in arms.

 

[AZshot]

"Priority orders" just feel like:

• Someone cutting in line (which is literally what it is)
• Celebrity and famous get theirs before what we were told.
• Good ole boy network.
• The squeaky wheels gets the bronco
• Politics
• 1%ers always win
• Payola - bribes

Not sure why Ford would do this. I've seen other companies do it and then crash and burn from the 99% that are following their ordering rules.

 

[WyoBronc]

For what it's worth, I'm sure this is boilerplate in every car company's annual report. The point isn't that they don't care about customers as much as it is no one customer could stop ordering cars and put them out of business.

But at the end of the day, dealers buy 1000's of cars per year, where you and I might buy a couple per decade and to that end Ford wants to keep the dealers happy first and foremost.

At the risk of entering into a “chicken or the egg” type argument, I would venture to say that If customers are treated so poorly that they mosey on over to the Toyota or Chevy dealership next door and the dealership has trouble selling said vehicles, without heavily discounting them, then drastically reducing future purchases from Ford, then there will be massive, expensive outreach program designed to reel those customers back in. It shouldn’t be an either or dilemma between the dealerships and the customer for Ford. They are not mutually exclusive, and Ford will reap what it sews if Ford customers are not treated fairly in deference to its dealerships.....after all it’s Ford’s name on the product and we toss the dealer plate holders and go to great pains to remove their shitty dealership advertisements from our Ford vehicles.

 

[Tahotrvlr]

WELL SAID!!!

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