Sorry for the long post but it's needed to paint a picture of my experience with Ford and Dealerships
I am a lifetime Ford Fan and a owner ever since I was 15. My love for Broncos began when I was in 3rd Grade and a Friend's folks got a brand new white Bronco with the Eddie Bauer trim. I knew I wanted one when I got old enough to drive. I was devastated when they where discontinued and replaced with the 97 expedition.
Fast forward a few years. I couldn't afford a used bronco that hadn't been driven into the ground. I saved my pennies and bought my 1st vehicle at 15 , a 1985 Mustang LX. I loved that car even though it was a carburetored 2.3 4 cylinder and a month older than me.
That was the start of me always having a Ford product, from there it was a 95 Ranger, 91 Mustang LX 5.0, 97 F250, 01 ZX2, 65 Mustang, 07 Mercury Milan, 11 F150, 13 Escape. I still have the 65 and always will. I just sold the 11 F150 with 270k trouble free miles. And currently driving my wife's old car, a 15 Outback until the Bronco arrives.
After tech school I was thrilled to get a mechanic job at the local Ford store and then went up front as a service advisor later became master certified. Unfortunately, the dealer I worked for I found, was a less than admirable. I was let go because I wouldn't swindle my customers. After that I chose to leave the industry as I saw that the dealership I worked for was not a anomaly but the norm. as I was uncomfortable selling people unneeded services. They got what was coming to them as Ford pulled the franchise from the owners during the downturn of 2008.
I have done business with all the major Ford dealers in the St Louis area and have had less than stellar experiences with either sales and/or service. The current business model for these dealerships is toxic to not only the customers but the employees too. The sigma that all dealerships are out the screw you is very much earned.
However the buying process at the two Subaru dealers my wife and I have bought from ( Outback and Ascent )has been the exact opposite of the Ford stores in the area. Full of product knowledge and made the buying process pleasant. They both wanted to make sure we got the exact one we wanted and not just what's on the lot. (BTW the Ascent has 19 cup holders)
When the new Bronco was announced, I was pleasantly surprised that Granger Ford was braking with the toxic pattern of dealerships, (the get them for every penny you can with smoke and mirrors.) Doing so I spoke with the late Albert and was confident in choosing to do business with Granger Ford even though they are a State away with no doubt Dozens of dealerships along the way.
Ford appeared to be trying to change the toxic pattern too with the reservation system and saying they will build all customer orders before dealer stock units. Plus, the timestamp for your place in line and the ability to move your reservation.
Now it looks as I was wrong, it seems Ford has chosen to punish Granger Ford , Stephen's Auto Center and their customers with constant movement of the goal and changing to allocation for distubtion of Broncos and not filling customer orders in order as it was advertised from the get go. And insulting the customers by saying dealer stock will be built before all orders due to allocation...
Ford, isnt one in hand better than two in the bush?
Remember a small group can make a big noise!
I am a lifetime Ford Fan and a owner ever since I was 15. My love for Broncos began when I was in 3rd Grade and a Friend's folks got a brand new white Bronco with the Eddie Bauer trim. I knew I wanted one when I got old enough to drive. I was devastated when they where discontinued and replaced with the 97 expedition.
Fast forward a few years. I couldn't afford a used bronco that hadn't been driven into the ground. I saved my pennies and bought my 1st vehicle at 15 , a 1985 Mustang LX. I loved that car even though it was a carburetored 2.3 4 cylinder and a month older than me.
That was the start of me always having a Ford product, from there it was a 95 Ranger, 91 Mustang LX 5.0, 97 F250, 01 ZX2, 65 Mustang, 07 Mercury Milan, 11 F150, 13 Escape. I still have the 65 and always will. I just sold the 11 F150 with 270k trouble free miles. And currently driving my wife's old car, a 15 Outback until the Bronco arrives.
After tech school I was thrilled to get a mechanic job at the local Ford store and then went up front as a service advisor later became master certified. Unfortunately, the dealer I worked for I found, was a less than admirable. I was let go because I wouldn't swindle my customers. After that I chose to leave the industry as I saw that the dealership I worked for was not a anomaly but the norm. as I was uncomfortable selling people unneeded services. They got what was coming to them as Ford pulled the franchise from the owners during the downturn of 2008.
I have done business with all the major Ford dealers in the St Louis area and have had less than stellar experiences with either sales and/or service. The current business model for these dealerships is toxic to not only the customers but the employees too. The sigma that all dealerships are out the screw you is very much earned.
However the buying process at the two Subaru dealers my wife and I have bought from ( Outback and Ascent )has been the exact opposite of the Ford stores in the area. Full of product knowledge and made the buying process pleasant. They both wanted to make sure we got the exact one we wanted and not just what's on the lot. (BTW the Ascent has 19 cup holders)
When the new Bronco was announced, I was pleasantly surprised that Granger Ford was braking with the toxic pattern of dealerships, (the get them for every penny you can with smoke and mirrors.) Doing so I spoke with the late Albert and was confident in choosing to do business with Granger Ford even though they are a State away with no doubt Dozens of dealerships along the way.
Ford appeared to be trying to change the toxic pattern too with the reservation system and saying they will build all customer orders before dealer stock units. Plus, the timestamp for your place in line and the ability to move your reservation.
Now it looks as I was wrong, it seems Ford has chosen to punish Granger Ford , Stephen's Auto Center and their customers with constant movement of the goal and changing to allocation for distubtion of Broncos and not filling customer orders in order as it was advertised from the get go. And insulting the customers by saying dealer stock will be built before all orders due to allocation...
Ford, isnt one in hand better than two in the bush?
Remember a small group can make a big noise!
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