So, I've been trying to build a new truck and lock in pricing and have gotten pricing from two different dealers. When I print the build sheet summary, It'll have an MSRP, a $2,000 discount for the XLT Chrome or Sport Appearance Package, and a total. (MSRP - $2,000.) I am under the understanding the 302a discount is from Ford (not the dealership.) Am I wrong?

So I move on the pricing summary page, they carry over the full MSRP (not accounting for the $2,000 302a option package discount) and then subtract a "Dealer Discount" and in some instances a "Rebate." So they, give you a $2,000 option package discount, take it away and then give you a "Dealer Discount" that may or may not match the option package discount? This is confusing at best and misleading at worst.

Also, how are you navigating negotiating your trade allowance if your truck is not arriving for months? I'm getting frustrated with the process.

 

With respect to this part, when I ordered my truck, the dealer told me that if it came in and i didn't want it, they would just sell to someone else since they have zero trucks on the lot basically. I did not have to put anything down to special order. I did read that Ford doesn't always allow the dealer to do this, so if a deal falls through they reserve the right to send that truck anywhere they want to. I suppose it all has to do with that dealers relationship with ford.

With respect to the discount, I got the XLT High discount, and the Copilot assist discount on the window sticker, but I think all of the other discounts are tacked on after it gets to the dealer. I'm just looking at the order build sheet, I don't have the window sticker in front of me...maybe there was something else too. I don't think they take away the xlt high discount when they write it up or at least I don't think they should.

I think the way it works is the $2000 xlt high (302a high?) discount is something that anyone who orders a MY22 is going to get. When you build it, its part of that build. Everything else, should come off in the form of a dealer rebate, ford rebate, some other stackable rebate, etc. At least that is my understanding of the process, but I could be wrong.

 

Thanks. For kicks I attached my build and pricing sheets. Am I thinking about this wrong?

 

What my closest dealer started doing is posting the price before the package discounts and labeling it MSRP on their website. Then giving the package discount some other discount name and adding it to the other general rebates in the area. I called them on that one. Told them to start at the final MSRP on the sticker before applying rebates. I did mention wanting to see the invoice price and they refused. The truck sold when I checked a few days later.

 

I think you are. Just because it says "xxx dealer discount" doesn't necessarily mean thats coming from the dealer itself. They probably have a computer program that only lets it populate a field a certain way. Or you have a lazy salesperson. But every dealer does something a little different.

I think I would ask dealer 2 what the $2500 discount is for. Either they are giving something extra that is specific to their dealership, or a discount that maybe you don't qualify for?, or maybe dealer 1 left something off that you do. Both had the $2000 discount for the xlt high. I would work that angle first (what is the $2500 discount for), and then either work dealer 1 for it, or dealer 2 for the bigger trade allowance.

 

Yeah, both had the $2000 discount for the xlt high, but that subtraction was not carried over to the top of the second page. Look closely at the numbers.

 

Fwiw I just ordered an XL 4x4 with very few options. The Ford website only lets you build a 2021 but the dealer can only order 2022's...perhaps the different years have different incentives? The 2022's have a higher MSRP and the STX package is about $500 more expensive. That being said, the truck I built online was about $700 less expensive then the 2022 I ordered due to these factors.

Regarding trades, I talked to 8 dealers before selecting who I went with (I chose a dealer selling the custom order at MSRP minus my Ford Cash Rewards w/ zero deposit) they all had similar responses to trades: We can give you a ballpark # today about what we THINK it will be worth but when the truck you ordered comes in we'll essentially give you a new #. This freaked me out as the trade is the only negotiation we'll have and they will hold it over your head as you stare at your shiny new truck. I decided to sell my old truck private party and got nearly what I paid for it 4 years ago and 35K miles ago. My wife and I will share her car while we wait for the new F-150.

 

Yes it was.
On dealer 1, (baierl) its located on page 1 under "baierl ford savings" and on page 2 under "XLT HIGH CHRM OR SPORT".
On dealer 2, (shults) its located on page 1 under "XLT HIGH CHRM OR SPORT" and on page 2 under "Total Rebates".

My question is for the second dealer as to what the "Discount" of $2500 is.

Just because its in a different spot on the form, or has a different label, doesn't mean its different. I bet if you inquire to each place about the $2000 rebate, they will tell you as much. Where the $2500 discount on the second one is coming from I don't know, nor do I know why the first one doesn't have it as well.

Because I don't know exactly (nor do you), I can only make an "assumption" that the $2000 xlt high discount is on both of those pages somewhere. Why they break it down the way I they do. you would need to contact them.

 

Don't they have to do it this way though? Today, when we look at your truck it is clean and has xxxxx miles on it. 2 months from now, after you went cross country 4 times and it was rear ended and fixed twice and now has xxxxxx miles on it, it is now worth this amount.

Kinda makes sense to me.

It could also be true that used car market favors the seller even more, and their ballpark price goes up even more. Or your monthly payment is $1000 but you really were hoping for $925/month so they talk to the used car guy and squeeze another $1500 on the trade or something.

Nothing wrong with what you did, but your coming with cash now, so you have no more negotiating power other than adding more cash. Maybe you can get a dealer to come off the price some, but in this market right now, its pretty tough. I think its easier for dealers to offer you $1500 more in your trade to lower that price than to back down $1500 off the sticker unless they are getting reimbursed somehow. To me backing off the sticker is like opening the wallet and pulling out money. To offer more for the trade is like opening the wallet and putting a little less in it. Just my .02 cents though which in reality is worthless haha.

 

Yeah I'm not saying it's good, bad or indifferent. Dealers don't have much choice but to do it this way. I have just bought, sold and traded too many cars to leave the fate of my trade value up to the dealer once the new truck arrives. They could theoretically give you a super high estimated value 3 months in advance and then try to screw you when the new vehicle arrives. The customer will be all googly eyed over their new truck and/or feel obligated to accept whatever the dealer offers as far as trade value.
I am lucky that I was able to sell my current truck for current fair market retail price private party. My wife and I luckily work from home about 80% of the time so we can live with 1 vehicle while we wait for the new truck to arrive.