CDC5.0

There are definitely a lot of sales reps out there that don't know what they are talking about. When I was shopping for my 2011 I had the same sales rep quote me 3 different prices on the same truck....and not in descending order either. The third quote was higher than the two before it.
Suffice it to say I went and looked else ware.
The guy who I have bought both my trucks from was very knowledgeable and did not skip a beat when it came to pricing and options. Very good dealership to work with. He even admitted to me that most of the time customers will know more about the vehicles than the salesman because of how accessible information is online these days. I never take the word of a salesman as fact and will always do my own research. Having said that, not all dealers are bad, just don't be afraid to shop around until you find a good one

srg963

Over 22 vehicles, and over 25 years of driving....and I've only met 2 salesmen that knew what they were talking about.

I had to search and find the last Ford I purchased since they told me there were none within 300 miles that fitted my search. How about your sister dealership 15 miles away with the EXACT vehicle I wanted......I believe your search is broken Ford....

Curmudgeon

It took me several purchases over several decades to catch on to the Fleet Manager (FM) idea as I always assumed that they (commonly only one or two folks crammed into a messy back office or outbuilding) sold only to commercial buyers in fleet lots...not so. My introduction to the FM was on a recommendation from a friend who would receive $100 from the FM if I mentioned his name and purchased a vehicle from the FM...a common practice in my locale. A dealer's sales management team doesn't care what member of that team sells a vehicle to you. It could be an inexperienced kid, an obnoxious life-timer, or the jewel of the sales force, but there is a sales script that must be adhered to when dealing with sales floor personnel...some are just better experiences than others depending on the salesperson you've encountered. Buying from the FM avoids having to play to a script. Make an appointment (perhaps AFTER you have browsed the sales floor and done your due diligence/research of the vehicle you want) and spec the vehicle with the FM at your leisure.

Derodeo

Thanks. When I am prepared to place a factory order I will hopefully know everything I can possibly know before I contact a dealership. I have absolutely no need for a salesperson. The things I won't know are those particular to the dealer such as order allocation and, most importantly, an agreed upon price. In a past dealing, I discovered it is not necessarily easy to make contact with the fleet manager, most dealerships do not list that position as an email contact (some now do have an Internet sales contact though) and salespeople on the floor are none too anxious to introduce you - understandable I guess.

Curmudgeon

I suspect that dealing with a FM is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, i.e. not every dealer has one or perhaps the dealer restricts most buyers to the sales floor (e.g. to keep his/her commissioned sales personnel content). In other cases that I'm aware of, a saleried FM or Sales Manager doubles as the Internet Manager. Certainly, a one-dealer town will not compare with a very competitive market with 5-6 Ford dealers in a 35 mile radius as in my locale. In my experience, a dealer's website will often have a staff organizational chart with titles, names, and contact info (email) in determining who may be available to best assist you. Good luck.

Kantuckid

iTrader: (1)

I'll add to #25-
I've found that some staff are called "internet sales this or that" yet may be the web equivalent of the cute guys & gals that roam the lot, whose job is to keep you from leaving and get you engaged with a sales person a step above themselves. They can be a sort of stand alone decision maker on deals or they may be just an "email receptacle" for the mgrs that call the shots on deals & pricing.
Call em what you like but it seems to cut to the chase to go right to a manager if your chasing straight deals for a good price. If your upside down, bad credit-all that "stuff", well, good luck.
I have received "invoice price" from 5 dealers in KY to date. Some were small town & only place in town others were in Louisville,KY with Ford factory & large urban population with many dealers, like 5 or 6 there.
"My current challenge" is to get below invoice plus doc fee, minus the various Ford cash incentives.
My oldest son just bought a new truck last week (Toyota in NOLA area) and the finance mgr told him his job wasn't needed for customers like him anymore.

jmoore9

Most of us can run circles around any salesmen!

chrisrosprim

Wow... for any of you out there that listen to Jerry Reynolds radio show the Car Pro Show - heard many stations throughout the country on Saturdays - he will line you up with those in the know about the vehicle you want - specially Fords - since he was a Ford dealer for many years. You walk in to the dealer and mention you are a Car Pro Show guy and you get the red carpet, someone who knows the vehicle, no BS on price or bait, switch, etc. - just a good deal with extra discounts for being a Car Pro Show listener. Been listening to his show every Sat. for years and bought a couple of vehicles as a result. All types vehicles. He reviews them and gives you his honest opinion. NO Bull.

rgjr

I follow the old adage Caveat emptor I most of the time know more about the product then most of the sale people I ran into. I also shy away from mega lots and like the low key easy going lots. But like some of you said I too love the art of the haggle, the positioning my thought is everyone needs to walk away happy their job is to get as much money from me and mine is to give them as little as possible. let the game begin

Platinum T.C.

I would call Ford Customer Service and report the Salesman and the Owner of the dealership to Ford for hiring a Salesman/Idoit who doesn't know what he is selling.
Any Ford dealer can order a King Ranch or any truck you want. I doubt they can get it as fast as he said they could.
My dealer, Phil Long Ford of Denver, ordered 14 or 15 special customer orders. They all were ordered as stock inventory so the customers wouldn't have to wait a few months for their special order.
I talked with the General Sales Manager and he said they do that to help the Customer out and they sell trucks.
They don't keep any Dis-play Museum trucks.