[UPDATE - I'm SOL] Golf Mill Ford Stole my Bronco

[silent700]

Because we all know Chicagoland car dealers are known for their honesty!

Yeah, grain of salt and all that, but what does "suspended from receiving" mean? If my order is with them and my Bronco gets made soon (ha), they won't deliver it to GMF? What recourse does a buyer have in that case?

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[BabeTheBlueOBX]

Welcome to the forum, Michael!

Meanwhile… “My dealer said…”

Drink up boys and girls.

Because we all know Chicagoland car dealers are known for their honesty!

Thanks for the warm welcome! Haha isn't that the truth. Are there any honest dealers out there? We worked with a guy named Darwin at Golf Mill and he was just terrible and our reason to switch dealers upon meeting him. Happy Friday and cheers. I'll drink a scotch to that.

 

[BabeTheBlueOBX]

gfgs

Yeah, grain of salt and all that, but what does "suspended from receiving" mean? If my order is with them and my Bronco gets made soon (ha), they won't deliver it to GMF? What recourse does a buyer have in that case?

Well let's keep in mind the message was from another dealer. Not sure what the truth of the matter really is but I'm guessing they aren't able to receive any customer orders at this time or submit orders in queue for allocation. That's how I understood it. Guess it's best to contact the actual source and or ford to find out if it's going to delay your order.

 

[silent700]

Well let's keep in mind the message was from another dealer. Not sure what the truth of the matter really is but I'm guessing they aren't able to receive any customer orders at this time or submit orders in queue for allocation. That's how I understood it. Guess it's best to contact the actual source and or ford to find out if it's going to delay your order.

We've already got war, (chip) famine and pestilence holding us up, why not add a fourth horseman?

 

[Razorbak86]

Well let's keep in mind the message was from another dealer. Not sure what the truth of the matter really is but I'm guessing they aren't able to receive any customer orders at this time or submit orders in queue for allocation. That's how I understood it. Guess it's best to contact the actual source and or ford to find out if it's going to delay your order.

Ford recently closed the 22MY Bronco order window for all dealers, and it won't re-open until later this year for 23MY deliveries, so technically, "Golf Mill Ford in Niles, IL has been suspended by Ford from receiving customer orders [for Broncos]..." as have all other dealers.

 

[gryphon1231]

So needless to say I'm feeling pretty dejected at the moment. I thought I did everything correctly (in hindsight I know I missed something) and what Ford suggested to get a Bronco. But at the end of the day, not only am I not getting my Bronco, the dealer was straight up rude and told me they wouldn't even sell to me at their markup.

Here's the full story. I had a reservation, later than many of you and I went with Granger. I think it was around May 15, 2021. I knew I'd be far down the list. Granger thought I'd maybe get one around Q2/3 of 20222. That was fine by me. As we all know, Ford then changed allocation formulas and Granger let us know it was going to severely impact them. I wouldn't be getting a Bronco from them until probably 2025. So I did what Ford and Mike Levine told people in my position. I looked for a high volume dealer and I made a build that was less constrained (dropped the MIC top). I went to Golf Mill Ford in Niles, IL. First thing I asked, are there any ADMs because I won't pay them. They said no, all custom orders are at MSRP. So built out my order. I asked for a purchase agreement and I was told they didn't really have anything like that they could give me. So I had them print out the order sheet, wrote out I'll pay MSRP plus tax, title and license. I had a sales manager sign in. I asked if I needed to put down a deposit or reservation and they said no. This was October 20th or so and it was when reservations weren't available but I could go into the dealer to order. The guy taking my order was very clueless but I asked a few times about putting money down but he told me I didn't need to. They placed the order, I had the signed order confirmation and thought I was good.

I was in the 2/8 build week and it got pushed due to the MAP closure. It was built with an EDD of 3/11. Well this past weekend on Saturday they called saying it was in. I was pumped. I needed to move money to my checking to write out the down payment check so I said I couldn't come in until monday. I spent the day getting the garage ready for the second car. Today I had my wife drop me off at the dealer. The salesman took me to see it and it was sweet. An Eruption Green Badlands. I was picking it up around 5pm so the sun was making that paint look like everything I'd hoped it was. Took it out for a drive and it was great. I was so pumped. We go in and get started on paperwork. You already know where this is going....


They tell me most cars are getting a 7.5k Market Adjustment. And they're only adding 5k to my Bronco. I immediately said I wouldn't be paying that. I rehashed that it was literally the first thing I asked and that I had the signed price of MSRP. So the salesman walks off and comes back giving me the runaround of how they have to do it in this market. Offers to come down 2.5k. Again I tell him I'm not doing it. I have signed stuff showing I'm paying MSRP. So then someone else comes over and I just keep getting the run around on this market, blah blah blah. You guys know all the spin they try to use. Finally after they see the photos of the signed paperwork he disappeared for awhile. Comes back and tells me it's 5k more. Take it or leave it. Their main reasoning was that I did not place a deposit on it. So nothing was binding. Even though I said multiple times, I asked if I needed to put money down and was told no. Not to mention, it shouldn't be on me to do your job. It's something you should have asked/taken care of. I want to preface with I did not yell, swear, threaten or act like a fool. But at this point I was most definitely raising my voice but it was not screaming by any means. Again they told me take it or leave it. I continued to press "what good is signed documentation from you for my custom order and now you will not honor it?" At that point someone else walked over and told me to leave. So in an effort to bide time so they wouldn't try to sell my car right away, I said "Fine, I'll go home and talk to my finance company to see if I can take out more for the ADM". I was still not intending on paying it, after I walked out the guy that told me to leave said "Don't bother talking to your finance company. We're not selling you this car for any price". I asked "you changed the price on me and I'm visibly upset. I didn't yell at you or anyone else but you kicked me out of your store and now you won't sell to me even if I paid the 5k markup"? He said "Yep, I don't want the bad press or to have to deal with you". And that was it. As I was waiting for my Uber to get me they were putting my Bronco in one of those 'marquee' spots right in front next to the main road. I know they were thrilled about this. They'll probably mark it up 15-20k now.

I tweeted at Mike Levine and @Ford but haven't heard anything yet. Honestly with them throwing me out of their dealership I wouldn't even expect this to somehow be resolved. I'm pretty crushed. I know lots of people that have been waiting longer than I have are fed up but still waiting. I hope you guys all get your vehicles and it's a smooth process. But at this point, I'm so soured on the whole thing. I'm going to chill for a few days but I don't think I want to start at the back of the line again so I might just be looking at another manufacturer. I thought I did everything they (Ford and Mr Levine) suggested to get a Bronco as quickly as possible and without hidden fees but I still got screwed.

Update - 3/2 1PM Central - I've been in touch with Ford but nothing yet. I've made some other inquiries as well but I'll hold off detailing those until I know more. I do really appreciate everyone's support in this. I've had multiple DMs with advice and just well wishes.

Update -3/8
So at this point I can provide a more in depth update as it seems I'm out of options and left out to dry. A user was able to get me in touch with Mike Levine at Ford the morning after this post. I reached out to him and he said he'd look into things and get back to me. Last Friday he emailed saying something like "I was told you're good to go, can you confirm" and I let him know I hadn't heard anything from anyone. I think he probably got his wires crossed with me and the user who was getting screwed at Cranes. He got back to me later Friday and said the dealership told them I was planning on flipping the bronco after I bought it so there was nothing he could do to help. I wrote a long email back saying that was an outright lie. I was willing to put in writing that I wouldn't sell the car. I told him to look up my post history, I've ordered some accessories. This is just the dealership straight up lying to make this go away. He replied back saying he'd get back to me. As of Monday afternoon I hadn't heard anything so I sent an email and I said it looks like this won't be resolved. I laid out three different options asking if they could either bump my priority up on my reservation at Granger, transfer that reservation to a smaller local Fold dealer that would help me get it faster or bump up the priority on my new order I placed at the aforementioned dealer. I don't have a constrained build but since Granger and the new dealer I'm trying to work with aren't high volume, allocations hurt me there. He replied back and I'm kind of paraphrasing but it was mostly like "even if we got you scheduled today, it would still be three months out and it would then bump back anyone ahead of you"
So that's pretty much it. Golf Mill got away with screwing me over. Mike was responsive but at the end of the day, there is nothing they can or are willing to do to help me out. So big dealer wins, I lose.

I have filed complaints with the FTC, the Illinois Attorney General's Office and the BBB. I did reach out to a couple of news stations but only one replied and told me they didn't cover these types of consumer stories.

I also spoke with a lawyer and he had to remain vague but Illinois only considers something a contract if something changes hands (money). So in my case, it's not a contract it's a promise. He told me I could pursue it and possibly win but it wouldn't be super cut and dry or a slam dunk. I might ask him for a couple referrals but the odds of litigation are most likely slim.

Lastly, if any of you had been holding off on bashing this dealer on Google, Yelp or Facebook, please feel free to start! Hah. I know a lot of you already did and thanks for that. I didn't encourage it early on because I'd hoped Mike could do something behind the scenes but that ship has set sail. F this dealership, I'll try to generate as much negative publicity as I can. Thanks to everyone who reached out via DM or on here, submitted on star reviews or anything else. I really hope all you guys have better experiences than I did. As I mentioned, I did place a new order and if I can get it by maybe August or Sept (longshot at this point) I can hold off. But with the family expanding, one car isn't going to cut it. I hope I can still get a bronco but like many of you I've been holding my breath for long time and I'm close to throwing in the towel.

Just curious, but what would you hope to gain through litigation, other than bad press for the dealership? Getting Ford to build you another Bronco sooner?

 

[broncocoy]

Seriously might be the sleezyst dealership I have ever seen... they list everything at MSRP on their website and then based upon reviews seem to hit everyone with an ADM once they get the buying process started.... LOL I just sent in a request to see if they honor their MSRP for fun to both waste their time and demonstrate just how bad these guys are. They advertise "the most new vehicles on their lot in the area..." yea I wonder why that is lol

 

[broncocoy]

Well figured if they could waste the OP's time, I could waste some of theirs just to see how bad these guys really are.... can confirm they are more sleezy then I could have imagined... will report back as I continue to play along... or until they put two and two together that I left an bad review on their page when the OP originally posted this thread... LOL

 

[jon]

Well figured if they could waste the OP's time, I could waste some of theirs just to see how bad these guys really are.... can confirm they are more sleezy then I could have imagined... will report back as I continue to play along... or until they put two and two together that I left an bad review on their page when the OP originally posted this thread... LOL

SHADY F***ers

 

[BabeTheBlueOBX]

SHADY F***ers

Haha just wow. What a terrible business practice. I hope they are on the markup list.

 

[Oilman]

They have a fixed priced ad on eBay right now for $52,000 which is sticker price I called them up and they said 20,000 over even though the ad clearly states 52,000 isn’t it against eBay laws. I’m thinking about getting in contact With eBay over it,they are shameless.

 

[RubiconSasquatch]

Somehow they still have a 4.1 rating on Google. Let’s see what we can do about that.

 

[BabeTheBlueOBX]

Well figured if they could waste the OP's time, I could waste some of theirs just to see how bad these guys really are.... can confirm they are more sleezy then I could have imagined... will report back as I continue to play along... or until they put two and two together that I left an bad review on their page when

Somehow they still have a 4.1 rating on Google. Let’s see what we can do about that.

Trying to text them now and once they inform me of the markup I plan to pretend to be a ford employee conducting an audit on dealerships with bad business practices taking advantages of their customer.

 

[JonD79]

locals should just go test drive them and really beat the piss out of the on the test drive. Then after that just get out and laugh and say "Oh you thought I was going to actually buy from you and leave" Waste their time and put some wear and tear on their truck they are trying to rip someone off on

 

[PSUTE]

Thanks for the warm welcome! Haha isn't that the truth. Are there any honest dealers out there? We worked with a guy named Darwin at Golf Mill and he was just terrible and our reason to switch dealers upon meeting him. Happy Friday and cheers. I'll drink a scotch to that.

To answer your question, yes. My experience with my local family owned dealership was the best buying experience I ever had. Diehl's Ford, Grantsville MD...

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...ealership-if-they-honored-msrp-pricing.40616/

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