JLTD

Emphasis on "should be"....sales teams are encouraged to move/sell vehicles from the lot rather than order new. Dealerships are paying by the month for every vehicle on their lot, and often the sales incentives for the sales person is better than what it would be when ordering new. IME it's the rare bird that wants to make sure you have the correct vehicle for the job.

That said, I have heard of sales people, and spoken to some, that offer to order a vehicle when what you want/need is not on the lot, so it does go both ways.

Speaking of both ways, agree completely about buyer having in mind what they need, especially in a truck. Suzie college girl needs "a car" so specs don't really matter to her. But if you are using a truck for work, you need to calculate what you need and tell the sales person up front, and verify what they are selling you is what will handle your job.

A salesperson can't read a buyer's mind; if you don't tell them you regularly haul a certain weight, there is no way they can know.

A7B2FX4

Have definitely gotten some insights on dealer vs customer so far. Have recently ordered my 40th new truck in about as many years and for me it hasn't been a problem because I always knew exactly what I needed. I was never aware dealers prefer selling off the lot. I had thought it was cheaper to order one and save them flooring costs. Now I know otherwise.
For the 1st time truck purchaser they can look all they want on the specs but how many know to look for the yellow sticker? There's been some pretty savvy buyers who found out the hard way that their Limited payload was exceeded with 4 hefty adults and a dog.
So buyer beware for sure but better yet find a salesperson knowledgeable and not the one who chased you down on the lot. People on this forum are into trucks but every other month payload and tow rating are once again hashed out as to how they are derived.

balreadysaid

the towing and payload capacity should be presented in a better way to the buyer so they can decide for themselves if that truck that is being shown to them is what they need. Ifit was stated in big bold letters as the fuel mileage is it wouldn't really be as big of a problem.

sportster07

I don't get the huge deal of people scared to buy a 3/4 ton truck. I know quite a few guys who do regular hauling with half tons, some of which are totally unfit for the job. Instead of having the right truck, they buy half tons. An f250 can be had (gas that is) for not really that much more and will be much more approperiate and it won't be so hard on the truck. Half tons aren't work trucks, they're occasional toy haulers. You buy the right tools for the job so why fear buying the right truck?

il_duce

Say what?

SIC_HDPP

Attempt to kill fords entire f150 marketing strategy?

MynameisMatt09

iTrader: (-1)

There are plenty of local farmers in my area that drive F-150s and Silverados...

smurfs_of_war

Same here. Likely more driving half tons than are rolling in HDs.

Abn150

I've owned three F-150s and each was was ordered, not bought off the lot. I do my research (internet like this forum, USAA car buying service, consumers Reports, KBB, etc) and then develop a list of exactly what I want my truck to look like. Dealers don't like you going directly to their ordering guy, so you have to deal with a salesman. I give him my list and say if he has this truck on the lot i'll buy it right now. Or if he can find it in a few days i'll buy it. Otherwise, I'm in no hurry, I will order the truck and take delivery when it gets it. Then never have the truck I want, so I always order. They still make some money.

atvtinker

I too have to order all my trucks because they are never the "easy popular sellers" that the dealers are trying to push for more sales. The last time I went to order my last truck the owner of the dealership with whom I always talk to just happened to be busy so a salesman tried to get me set-up and all he wanted to do was sell me a truck off the lot that would no way could have handled the 33' travel trailer that I have. I walked out and ended up coming back a couple days later and ordered the truck I needed. The owner deeply apologized for not being available, but he says that the floor salespersons job is to try and move anything on the lot first if at all possible. That's just business. They are in the business of moving volume so Ford can make the profits.