Non-refundable $2500 deposit normal?

[BronchoPeat]

I’m bracing for impact on the deposit with my dealer. I contacted them on 12/14 to see if they would be asking for any additional deposit and they said “no” and I hit them up again on their Facebook page asking if they had any new information and now it’s “our Bronco specialist will be reaching out starting 1/20 based on reservation time stamp to convert to an order and collect the deposit.” As long as it’s refundable I’m cool. Although $2,500 is a lot of dog food and diapers ?

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[DealerInsider]

 

[JPNC]

My dealer is asking for a non-refundable $2500 deposit. Is this normal? Seems a bit steep for non refundable.

Not normal. I would find a new dealer. I think the baseline for normal actions by dealers can be found by watching @StephensAutoCenter and @Granger Ford.

 

[Bronco4lyfe85]

Apparently you forgot about this post.

That was good shit.

 

[Parrett]

My dealer is asking for a non-refundable $2500 deposit. Is this normal? Seems a bit steep for non refundable.

If they get $2500 each and someone backs out, now they have your $2500 plus the $5000+ they can add on to the model you backed out of. Win win for them. Typical dealership BS.

 

[jxc]

No. Unless you are ordering some super weird spec the dealer will have no trouble selling your car if you decide not to take it. Hell I've even had a car show up at the dealer and I changed my mind, they didn't hassle me about it one bit. Refunded my $500 and sold the car off the lot a few weeks later.

If you were ordering say a fully loaded Bronco with a manual transmission and a pink exterior then yeah, they may have trouble selling. Otherwise as long as your build is down the fairway it shouldn't be an issue.

At this point there will be no trouble selling any configuration. These things are like gold.

 

[splathead]

Yes, and think of the thousands (I don't think 10 thousand, but who knows) who will split them up at different dealerships and wait to see which one arrives first.

None initially. We didn't even know about allocation until later in the process. And once we did know adding a 2nd reservation to game the system seemed pointless because Ford said builds would be done in order by reservation #. So those who made 2 reservations did so because they wanted 2 vehicles.

Look around this forum here, if you don't think there are a lot of folks who wouldn't risk an extra $100 to hedge their bets on getting one a month or three sooner, you would be wrong.

They aren't risking anything. The $100 is completely refundable if you don't pull the trigger on the purchase.

 

[Omwil297]

I wouldn't mind dropping a deposit like that if there was an actual bronco at my dealer to look at so I knew for sure what I was getting into, this isn't amazon where I can just return at any kohls

 

[Wanted33]

I expect to give a $500-1000 refundable deposit. Worst case scenario is that I back out and he sells it with ADM. I'd run. You have until March 19th to transfer your reservation...

That's what I was thinking. Why would a dealer want a $2500 deposit (non-refundable at that) when he could probably sell the the dang thing with an ADM more than that. Way to high at this point. If I get a notice that my Bronco has a blend date then I would be willing to ante up that much. But, not until then.

 

[BEM-S4]

I've gotta say this whole process has been the messiest I've ever experienced. C19 partly to blame, sure, but...

I've put $500 deposits down with my dealer to reserve a place in line for cars just based on rumors e.g. I had their first spot for an RS4 Avant if Audi ever decided to sell one in the U.S. They'd call me every Jan when reviewing their annual results and see if I wanted to keep it or refund. BMW same thing I had $500 on an M2 years before it came out, I forgot about it and they called me to tell me my allocation was ready, I passed and got my money back no problem whatsoever.

 

[Wanted33]

My dealer says it’s 2500 because it will prevent people making multiple order. I thought I smelled BS. Thanks y’all!

Umm, wouldn't he be the one that makes sure no one makes multiple orders? He surely can't police other dealers orders. That just sounds like a BS way to have money to deposit, and draw interest for him while you wait.

 

[Bronco88]

I’m getting one in BC as well. Which dealer are you working with?

Brown Bros. Ford.

 

[dwbronco]

My dealer says it’s 2500 because it will prevent people making multiple order. I thought I smelled BS. Thanks y’all!

The reservation system is what keeps people from making more than two orders. That dealership is hoping you make a non-refundable deposit and cannot figure out financing. They'll be up $2500 and have your Bronco to sell. That salesperson is a tool. Run, don't walk, run.

 

[Heffe66413]

For $2,500 deposit on a vehicle that the build date is a moving target I would say ok but I need to have daily updates on the delivery status.
If you miss an update day I get $100 off the price for every day the dealer misses.
The funny thing about games is "everybody gets to play".

For the $2500 are they guaranteeing a 2021 model? If the dealer can’t deliver that - what is the dealers penalty?

 

[rtsherry73]

Your state law may prohibit auto dealers from keeping your deposit. For example, Maryland.

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