I have no problem with dealers asking whatever price they want for stock units. But *ANY* price agreement made with an ordering customer should be honored, whether verbal or written, at the time of the order. And in cases of written/signed price agreements, this is where Ford corp needs to really clean up dealer relations, any dealers changing terms after the fact need to be punished for such deceiving practices, as it also reflects poorly on Ford corp. Given this is the model (customer orders) moving forward, Ford needs to figure out a way to keep the shady dealers in line, or they (Ford corp) may ultimately pay the price of losing future customers.

 

This is one of the best things you could ever ask for from Tesla. Now Tesla themselves have done a few crazy things by moving prices up and down based on different things including the Federal Tax Rebate of $7500, however on any given day when anyone orders you know what you are going to pay for the vehicle. A few clicks online, you can reserve, pay for and order your car. There is no reason the days of the greed dealers, slimy finance guys and pressure tactics haven't disappeared. The games of the invoice price compared to kickbacks vs MSRP should be gone. Most dealers earn very nice paychecks. The good ones own multiple dealerships and are multi-millionaires and a good number of them even own private jets. Give them a good profit - just make it the same for each vehicle sold and get rid of the disaster we know of buying a vehicle today.

 

A recent study by Deloitte allegedly found that most car buyers want to buy their next car from a dealer. Either they don't know any better or it is a lie.
See some of Steve Lehto's videos for dealer antics. Like kidnapping ie not letting you leave the dealership.
Dealers would not still exist unless they had the extra money for lobbying.

 

A not-Ford tried the kidnapping thing on me once holding the key to my potential trade. At one point I pulled the spare key out of my pocket and played with it on the desk. Enjoyed it for about 2 hours letting them drill home how I would never buy from them. The receptionist was cute between times the salesman kept disappearing to a back room. She was also much smarter, am certain she knew exactly what I was doing. When I announced I was leaving, salesman balked. Brought in assistance. Then I read the riot act. “You lured me here promising the vehicle and price I stipulated last time. It is clear you do not have and can not get this vehicle or better. This is non-negotiable. It has to have those options to be of any use to me. I am leaving. I will find my truck and if the gate is closed it won’t be shortly.” They brought my truck around, got my key back, never again.

 

Yeah. Why all the hassle when you can order your car with the options you want, in your pajamas, from your phone, and then pick it up a few weeks later and never talk to anyone. Even at the pickup.

 

I am trying to figure out if the extra cost, about $15K is really worth it for this lightning? if I can get the $7500 tax credit, then maybe it would be.

 

What is the extra $15K you speak of? Is that over a gas powered version? I think Ford has most of their 200K tax credits still available, but have not checked. So you should qualify for the $7500.

 

I suspect he is talking about the $15,000 to $30,000 some dealers are demanding over and above MSRP of those on the preorder list to remain at the front of the list.

 

Not just demanding over and above, but came back AFTER all of the reservations had been filled, emailed all the customers telling them that, to KEEP a top 25 reservation AT THAT DEALERSHIP, they would have to pay an extra $30,000, or to keep a non-top 25 reservation at that dealership, they would have to pay an extra $10,000. Oh, and if you cancel your order now, you lose your $100 fee.

Yesterday, appears Ford issued a warning to their dealers that presenting a "negative customer experience" would not be tolerated, and specifically indicated they will withhold F150s from any dealership that does not comply with their franchise terms. I don't believe the terms have any kind of limit on ADP, but this appears to be a shot over the bow in response to the high ADP's that are gaining media coverage.

They have also indicated they want to put a one-year resell hold in the purchasing agreements to kill off scalping.

 

It says that Ford supports the dealers doing this, not that they want to do it. It's optional, and the dealership must ensure it complies with local laws before doing it.

My purchase will be A-Plan, which requires holding the vehicle for 6 months. I would not be happy with a 1 year requirement, and I suspect my dealer won't mention it, because my buying every 6 months is a good long term arrangement for them, if in fact I do that. I ordered a 2021 Mach-E which became a 2022 that might be made this week. I picked up a cancelled order a month after I ordered, and have owned it for just over 6 months. I plan on selling the 2021 and taking the 2022, and netting a small profit.

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/f...ucks-scalpers/