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Unfortunately, I am coming to find out that there is nothing like ordering with Lou Fusz Ford. I placed a reservation in july 2020 for a Bronco. I chose Lou Fusz Ford due to my 10+ years of sterling experience with Lou Fusz Kia. I sadly assumed that the Lou Fusz brand was a trust-worthy, well-oiled machine.
In the beginning, I was in communication almost immediately with my assigned sales person (Corey Hughes) regularly. Corey did an outstanding job, answered all my questions with honesty and clarity, and responded timely.
I ended up needing to place two orders with him due to supply chain constraints. However, this was not a troublesome situation because the communication was fantastic, and the constraints were not from the dealership, but rather, Ford production. And then, the Ford sales manager entered into the frayā¦
I recognized almost immediately that there was going to be a problem. On February 22, 2021, I was asked to make an additional $1500 down-payment for the privilege of selecting the Lou Fusz Ford dealership. As it was explained to me, this would ensure that the customer, me, would not back out of a purchase and impact the dealershipās percentage metrics with Ford to deliver vehicles to reservation holders. I wrote the check, and was committed. In conversations with the sales manager, he made it abundantly clear that he did not care about my commitment; just the $1500.
Orders were due March 19 for 2021 Broncos and the Ford Company incentives that came with them. March 26th arrived with an email from Ford about a commodity constraint impacting my order that would likely push delivery of my July 13, 2020 reservation to potentially september 2021, at the earliest. Again, I reassured Corey that this was not a problem and all was set to proceed as is with the order.
On June 26th, another email from Ford arrived, this time suggesting the constrained commodity would push me to a potential (unknown) 2023 model year at the earliest possible. Since I was no longer taking delivery in 2021, and had no idea when it would occur, I made a request to have some, if not all, of my $1500 returned. Sales Manager Corey Laneman not only declared that he would not do this, but also threatened to cancel my reservation entirely.
I knew then what I know todayā¦ I should not have trusted this dealership. I was very displeased with the response, since that was no right of his to extort. Not only was he using Ford Company incentives on my reservation to hold me hostage, but he was threatening the prospect of canceling my order with Ford without my consent.
I relented from my request of my funds and communication from anyone at the dealership halted.
October arrived with a new opportunity to place an order for model year 2022 and potentially switch dealerships. After communicating with Corey Hughes, I felt convinced thatI wouldnāt have any unsuspected hiccups or additional ADM. Corey took exceptional notes and my confidence was restored. I placed my order with the notion that I would put down a large down payment on my Bronco, and then finance the rest. However, Corey accepted a new position and my sales representative switched to Alondra. Her lack of enthusiasm, knowledge, and communication were shocking. The only reason I discovered my build date and VIN# was through Fordās online resources and customer service. Frankly, any information I uncovered was either from Fordās customer service department, or Ford emails. Any questions I submitted to Alondra were ignored or glossed over.
When I got the build email from Ford on March 17th, I knew we were getting close enough that we could start talking finance rates. I knew my credit score and was ready to get all my ducks in a row for the potential early-to-mid April Delivery. Alondra became very evasive in her communication.
Therefore, I knew then that I should make other financing plans and come to the table approved with the remaining money after my down-payment. I was quickly pre-approved for a great rate (2.49-2.99% depending on the number of months) and all I needed was the official Buyerās Order from Lou Fusz Ford. When I asked thisā¦ Alondra became a ghost. No one would respond to my request. I explained what was going on to the company backing my loan and they discovered how difficult it was to work with Alondra and Corey Laneman, who avoided calls.
Fortunately, I had contingency plans in case Lou Fusz Ford went full-bore unethical. The delivery of my vehicle was a 5 hour clown-show. Not only was I talked to in a condescending manner in front of my father, who was only there because he didnāt want me to be stuck there when all the signs pointed to Lou Fusz Ford acting without my best interests, but I was threatened with losing the right to purchase the Bronco I reserved and waited 632 Days to make delivery on.
They withheld information, refused to show their work, blamed the Ford Motor Company for misleading customers, blatantly disregarded FACTS ON FORDās WEBSITE, and told me how horribly other customers responded to their closing tactics. The arrogance was off the charts!
They even tried to claim information was up to date with obsolete information. Mr Laneman used a document dated January 12, 2021 to justify a Ford rebate for 2021 Guaranteed Pricing, even though I correctly asserted the fact an additional price change, reflected in my February 2, 2021 & March 24th Window Sticker, occurred on February 14, 2022, almost a month and a half before the Delivery Date. I am unsure how Mr. Laneman can deny a rebate from the actual Ford Motor Company.
The Sales Managerās Response was essentially accept it or weāll sell your Bronco for $10K over the asking price to the next customer. I should add that he did verbally claim he could be trusted to call and tell me if the remaining $2K was discovered. No phone call has occurred, and I am sure that it never will occur.
The next topic was the financing. I was capable, but not allowed, to buy the vehicle with my own financing. I had NO DESIRE for the financing being forced from the dealership, and had NO IDEA AT WHAT RATE I had to accept in that moment, because regardless if I had a cashierās check for the full cost, he was not going to sell me the vehicle.
Iād like to add here that prior to my arrival to the dealership on 4/5/2022, I asked Alondra over the phone what form of money should I provide for my down-payment. Her response was they would accept cash, check, cashierās check, but only $3K on credit. So, prior to showing up, I was informed my money was in fact acceptable, but apparently just not to the Sales Manager Cory Laneman (Discriminatory Practice I wonder?).
The story continues with the knowledge I needed to finance with their bank or lose my right as a 2021 Reservation Holder to buy the vehicle I reserved the night of the Ford Bronco Launch, July 13, 2020. I answered questions for a credit query I was well aware was rated Excellent (March 23, 2022 Inquiry for 2.49% Financing through West Community Credit Union), and the Sales Manager soon revealed that not only did I qualify for an egregious rate (6.84%!!!!), but I had to make a minimum of 3-months worth of payments until I could refinance.
When I balkedā¦ his claims were āwe donāt apply ADM like other Dealerships,ā āthis is how we make our money,ā āI will only make 1% from the interest generated from this loan,ā āweāve done business like this for years,ā āwhen was the last time you bought a new vehicle,ā āgiving you the Regional Ford Saleās Repās contact information will get me fired,ā and āwe are philanthropic in St Louis.ā
It was enough to make my dad bury his face and voice extreme disappointment.
Soā¦ I included my own personal clauses on the contract and signed after the Sales Manager Corey Laneman initialed on my clauses.
My enthusiasm COMPLETELY VANISHED. I wrapped up in the finance managerās (Bryan Andersonās) office, who I felt was the most genuine person I dealt with during that whole April 5th experience.
I only gave him a 4/5 because he told me how to fill out the survey.
The night culminated with no demonstration of features on a $54K vehicle, and a half-hour excruciating drive home where I ranted to my wife. Since my purchase date, no one from the dealership has reached out to show me any details on my vehicle.
Iāve never understood the expression āthat made me sick to my stomach,ā until I found myself buying A RESERVE/ORDERED vehicle from Lou Fusz Ford. I slept so poorly, because I was so upset by how the whole ordeal went that I just kept thinking about what I could or should have done differently.
What I realized was what I could doā¦ recall it as best as I couldā¦ ALL OF ITā¦ and share my truth of the unethical manner in which Lou Fusz Ford conducts their business.
Iām at peace with what happened. I can only hope this helps someone attempting to or going through the process of buying a very expensive asset. Thank you for allowing me to therapeutically release remaining feelings.
4/10 Update:
just a follow up, I proceeded to file an internal investigation with the Missouri Attorney General, and a filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
Also, I included 1* Reviews on the following Review Sites:
Dealerrater.com (will be published 4/25)
Yelp.com
Google.com
I would greatly appreciate any support, by apply a thumbs up or āThis was Helpfulā on the Reviews.
it sucks it had to come to this.
In the beginning, I was in communication almost immediately with my assigned sales person (Corey Hughes) regularly. Corey did an outstanding job, answered all my questions with honesty and clarity, and responded timely.
I ended up needing to place two orders with him due to supply chain constraints. However, this was not a troublesome situation because the communication was fantastic, and the constraints were not from the dealership, but rather, Ford production. And then, the Ford sales manager entered into the frayā¦
I recognized almost immediately that there was going to be a problem. On February 22, 2021, I was asked to make an additional $1500 down-payment for the privilege of selecting the Lou Fusz Ford dealership. As it was explained to me, this would ensure that the customer, me, would not back out of a purchase and impact the dealershipās percentage metrics with Ford to deliver vehicles to reservation holders. I wrote the check, and was committed. In conversations with the sales manager, he made it abundantly clear that he did not care about my commitment; just the $1500.
Orders were due March 19 for 2021 Broncos and the Ford Company incentives that came with them. March 26th arrived with an email from Ford about a commodity constraint impacting my order that would likely push delivery of my July 13, 2020 reservation to potentially september 2021, at the earliest. Again, I reassured Corey that this was not a problem and all was set to proceed as is with the order.
On June 26th, another email from Ford arrived, this time suggesting the constrained commodity would push me to a potential (unknown) 2023 model year at the earliest possible. Since I was no longer taking delivery in 2021, and had no idea when it would occur, I made a request to have some, if not all, of my $1500 returned. Sales Manager Corey Laneman not only declared that he would not do this, but also threatened to cancel my reservation entirely.
I knew then what I know todayā¦ I should not have trusted this dealership. I was very displeased with the response, since that was no right of his to extort. Not only was he using Ford Company incentives on my reservation to hold me hostage, but he was threatening the prospect of canceling my order with Ford without my consent.
I relented from my request of my funds and communication from anyone at the dealership halted.
October arrived with a new opportunity to place an order for model year 2022 and potentially switch dealerships. After communicating with Corey Hughes, I felt convinced thatI wouldnāt have any unsuspected hiccups or additional ADM. Corey took exceptional notes and my confidence was restored. I placed my order with the notion that I would put down a large down payment on my Bronco, and then finance the rest. However, Corey accepted a new position and my sales representative switched to Alondra. Her lack of enthusiasm, knowledge, and communication were shocking. The only reason I discovered my build date and VIN# was through Fordās online resources and customer service. Frankly, any information I uncovered was either from Fordās customer service department, or Ford emails. Any questions I submitted to Alondra were ignored or glossed over.
When I got the build email from Ford on March 17th, I knew we were getting close enough that we could start talking finance rates. I knew my credit score and was ready to get all my ducks in a row for the potential early-to-mid April Delivery. Alondra became very evasive in her communication.
Therefore, I knew then that I should make other financing plans and come to the table approved with the remaining money after my down-payment. I was quickly pre-approved for a great rate (2.49-2.99% depending on the number of months) and all I needed was the official Buyerās Order from Lou Fusz Ford. When I asked thisā¦ Alondra became a ghost. No one would respond to my request. I explained what was going on to the company backing my loan and they discovered how difficult it was to work with Alondra and Corey Laneman, who avoided calls.
Fortunately, I had contingency plans in case Lou Fusz Ford went full-bore unethical. The delivery of my vehicle was a 5 hour clown-show. Not only was I talked to in a condescending manner in front of my father, who was only there because he didnāt want me to be stuck there when all the signs pointed to Lou Fusz Ford acting without my best interests, but I was threatened with losing the right to purchase the Bronco I reserved and waited 632 Days to make delivery on.
They withheld information, refused to show their work, blamed the Ford Motor Company for misleading customers, blatantly disregarded FACTS ON FORDās WEBSITE, and told me how horribly other customers responded to their closing tactics. The arrogance was off the charts!
They even tried to claim information was up to date with obsolete information. Mr Laneman used a document dated January 12, 2021 to justify a Ford rebate for 2021 Guaranteed Pricing, even though I correctly asserted the fact an additional price change, reflected in my February 2, 2021 & March 24th Window Sticker, occurred on February 14, 2022, almost a month and a half before the Delivery Date. I am unsure how Mr. Laneman can deny a rebate from the actual Ford Motor Company.
The Sales Managerās Response was essentially accept it or weāll sell your Bronco for $10K over the asking price to the next customer. I should add that he did verbally claim he could be trusted to call and tell me if the remaining $2K was discovered. No phone call has occurred, and I am sure that it never will occur.
The next topic was the financing. I was capable, but not allowed, to buy the vehicle with my own financing. I had NO DESIRE for the financing being forced from the dealership, and had NO IDEA AT WHAT RATE I had to accept in that moment, because regardless if I had a cashierās check for the full cost, he was not going to sell me the vehicle.
Iād like to add here that prior to my arrival to the dealership on 4/5/2022, I asked Alondra over the phone what form of money should I provide for my down-payment. Her response was they would accept cash, check, cashierās check, but only $3K on credit. So, prior to showing up, I was informed my money was in fact acceptable, but apparently just not to the Sales Manager Cory Laneman (Discriminatory Practice I wonder?).
The story continues with the knowledge I needed to finance with their bank or lose my right as a 2021 Reservation Holder to buy the vehicle I reserved the night of the Ford Bronco Launch, July 13, 2020. I answered questions for a credit query I was well aware was rated Excellent (March 23, 2022 Inquiry for 2.49% Financing through West Community Credit Union), and the Sales Manager soon revealed that not only did I qualify for an egregious rate (6.84%!!!!), but I had to make a minimum of 3-months worth of payments until I could refinance.
When I balkedā¦ his claims were āwe donāt apply ADM like other Dealerships,ā āthis is how we make our money,ā āI will only make 1% from the interest generated from this loan,ā āweāve done business like this for years,ā āwhen was the last time you bought a new vehicle,ā āgiving you the Regional Ford Saleās Repās contact information will get me fired,ā and āwe are philanthropic in St Louis.ā
It was enough to make my dad bury his face and voice extreme disappointment.
Soā¦ I included my own personal clauses on the contract and signed after the Sales Manager Corey Laneman initialed on my clauses.
My enthusiasm COMPLETELY VANISHED. I wrapped up in the finance managerās (Bryan Andersonās) office, who I felt was the most genuine person I dealt with during that whole April 5th experience.
I only gave him a 4/5 because he told me how to fill out the survey.
The night culminated with no demonstration of features on a $54K vehicle, and a half-hour excruciating drive home where I ranted to my wife. Since my purchase date, no one from the dealership has reached out to show me any details on my vehicle.
Iāve never understood the expression āthat made me sick to my stomach,ā until I found myself buying A RESERVE/ORDERED vehicle from Lou Fusz Ford. I slept so poorly, because I was so upset by how the whole ordeal went that I just kept thinking about what I could or should have done differently.
What I realized was what I could doā¦ recall it as best as I couldā¦ ALL OF ITā¦ and share my truth of the unethical manner in which Lou Fusz Ford conducts their business.
Iām at peace with what happened. I can only hope this helps someone attempting to or going through the process of buying a very expensive asset. Thank you for allowing me to therapeutically release remaining feelings.
4/10 Update:
just a follow up, I proceeded to file an internal investigation with the Missouri Attorney General, and a filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
Also, I included 1* Reviews on the following Review Sites:
Dealerrater.com (will be published 4/25)
Yelp.com
Google.com
I would greatly appreciate any support, by apply a thumbs up or āThis was Helpfulā on the Reviews.
it sucks it had to come to this.
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