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

[indio22]

Yea, I wouldn't pay a 2.5 million dollar markup either

It's the extra special markup for white glove treatment including argon in the tires instead of slumming it with plain old nitrogen.

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[phocion]

9 pages in, and no one has mentioned that OP had already found a dealership they were happy with, but Ford's allocation scheme and advice from its PR flack pressured them to deal with this scammer instead.

Ford, this is unacceptable.

 

[TailGunner]

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.

Review left, I hope they will make this right!

 

[TailGunner]

When the Bronco was first launched, dealers were required to sell the vehicle 80% of the time to the person who made the reservation or they would loose future allocations. The name match benchmark was lowered to 60% which encourages dealers to sell Bronco orders to the highest bidder. These are the nightmare stories that you see posted on this forum.

Thank you for explaining...so dishonest!

 

[iABC]

I'm sorry that happened to you. However, I bought my OB Non-Squatch from Golf Mill (delivered Nov 2021) and it was a great experience. Mario was amazing. Maybe you got a bad sales guy.

Did you reserve with them from the start? Did they charge anything extra? Did they contact you during the production/delivery process?

 

[DreamFolise]

They are the worst Ford dealer out there. I bought a car from them in the 90's and vowed to never go back. Good luck but they are scumbags..

 

[41Bronco]

I know its easier said than done but push, push, push the dealer and Ford even harder...squeaky wheel gets the oil!
Use social media and this forum as resource. Keep the pressure on everyday!
Get on Google review now! The owner seems to respond to the negative

 

[JeebusCripes]

Op

9 pages in, and no one has mentioned that OP had already found a dealership they were happy with, but Ford's allocation scheme and advice from its PR flack pressured them to deal with this scammer instead.

Ford, this is unacceptable.

OP did

 

[LionFury23]

At this point! What are the steps that need to be taken so this doesn't keep happening? When creating these orders, should we get dealerships to sign and get the documents notarized? So when it's delivered to the dealership this document can be shown at pickup. There has to be something to combat this from continuing to happen. It's a shame for people to have been waiting for so long and get let down like this. You handled yourself well.

 

[hemiblas]

I hope you get it worked out. This is the reason I'm sticking with Granger. Ford, I hope you are reading this and realize that your reservation system doesnt work.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Theres a good chance I would have left the dealership in handcuffs if I were put in a similar situation.

....
Not certain a Bronco is worth doing time for though.... but, I almost took my old military beater to the delivery.
I would have insisted to the bitter end it was an accident and I had panicked. Lol

In the end, dealer had honor and integrity, which is why I shop there to begin with.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

Ford will say they have no control over their independent dealerships, which is a lie. And the reservation/allocation changes are infuriating. I've never bought a Ford (the Bronco will/would be my first) but I already feel like Ford hates me.

 

[Mike w]

Did you reserve with them from the start? Did they charge anything extra? Did they contact you during the production/delivery process?

Yes I reserved with them from the beginning and they were great through the whole process. No markup and delivered as promised. There was some transit damage to the middle roof panel and they ordered me a free replacement with no hassle.

 

[BronkedUp413]

With all these threads, I am left wondering..do any of you live in states with a consumer protection division of the attorney general's office with any teeth? People can complain about Massachusetts and excessive government all they want, but I seriously doubt this would ever happen in my state, or the first call would be to the AG's office. Then , a lawyer could also help bring a private unfair and deceptive trade practices claim under our state law, where the consumer could theoretically be entitled to TRIPLE damages and attorneys fees (the idea is to provide a strong deterrent to this kind of nonsense).

I kind of assume there aren't any such protections in Texas, Florida, etc (not looking to get into political argument at all, its simply two different visions of state government, which is fine, that's what democracy is about), but i would think Illinois should have something?

Now that I gave this lecture, I am sure I angered the gods and my dealer will probably try this when my badlands arrives in a few weeks.

 

[MNBigfoot]

At this point! What are the steps that need to be taken so this doesn't keep happening? When creating these orders, should we get dealerships to sign and get the documents notarized? So when it's delivered to the dealership this document can be shown at pickup. There has to be something to combat this from continuing to happen. It's a shame for people to have been waiting for so long and get let down like this. You handled yourself well.

Yep, it would have been easy for Ford to do that, as a condition of a dealership accepting a reservation. Instead, Ford encouraged deceptive business practices.

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