Missed out on 2022 because dealer lied to me about my reservation, what now?

[craptacular]

I reserved on 5/19/21 at 9:09 CST and selected the dealer closest to me (Helfman Ford in Stafford, TX). Never received any communication from them. Got the December 2021 email stating that ordering would begin at the beginning of the new year. Lost track of time and was searching for something about the F-150 unrelated to the Lightning, and then realized that I had missed the first 2 ordering waves. Called my dealer and found out I was 12/300. Reading that most non ZEV dealers would be lucky to get between 2-6 allocations for 2022 and fearing that I would miss out, I spent hours on the phone calling 13 other rural dealers within 100 miles of me. I thought I may have found a unicorn (Cavender Ford in Columbus, TX). The salesman I spoke with confirmed that they had 0 reservations and that I would be the first with them, and they had no ADM. I called Ford and immediately transferred my reservation to them. They had me sign a buyers order and send my drivers license. After I missed out on wave 3, I called Ford and they told me I was actually 3rd in line at Cavender and they had placed 1 order already. The salesman assured me this was incorrect and that they had 2 allocations for 2022 and I was 1 of those lucky 2 (the other was the GM's accountant). After I missed out on wave 4, I received a call from a new salesman telling me the guy I had been dealing with previously no longer worked at the dealer. After not receiving a wave 5 invite, I contacted the new salesman and asked if he could contact their Lightning rep to verify that I'd be receiving a wave 6 invite. Then the new guy tells me that I'm #6 on their list and the 3rd person has yet to receive an invite. He never responded when I told him what I was previously told and question my place in line. Later that day I received the unfortunate email about 2022 ordering being closed. I called Ford and asked to file a complaint against Cavender Ford. I was told my case would be escalated to a supervisor, but I haven't heard anything since (per the reps suggestion, I also sent an email to [email protected] but have received no response). The rep was super helpful and hoped that I would get some kind of resolution, but what exactly can I hope for here? Are they going to magically open a spot for me to order a 2022, probably not. Can they prioritize my 2023 status, who knows with the uncertainty of how "Model E" ordering is going to work. For disclosure, I would have placed an order for the Lariat ER.

I know a lot of other first day reservation holders missed out on ordering a 2022, but it's hard not to feel angry about how I missed out based on what the dealer told me. Maybe if I knew that I'd be getting one of the first 2023's, then I wouldn't be too upset.

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[EaglesPDX]

Called my dealer and found out I was 12/300.

It turns out there was no reservation system. It all turned on what dealer you selected, what their allocation was and how they assigned the orders. Also a Day One reservation but I'm 35/25 so likely '24 some time which is about when I'd expect my Rivian reservation (actual in line reservation) or my Silverado reservation (entirely up to local dealer like Ford but so stated up front) to be available.

I'll probably stick to the Rivian as smaller truck and better suited for my day to day urban driving, also about $10k less than comparably equipped F150.

 

[RickLightning]

I think you know "what now?". Lesson learned is talk to the GM if you want a factual answer. Most salespeople are uninformed.

 

[PA Lightning]

I reserved on 5/19/21 at 9:09 CST and selected the dealer closest to me (Helfman Ford in Stafford, TX). I contacted the new salesman and asked if he could contact their Lightning rep to verify that I'd be receiving a wave 6 invite.

Hopefully you know that the word is there is no wave 6.

 

[craptacular]

It turns out there was no reservation system. It all turned on what dealer you selected, what their allocation was and how they assigned the orders.

Yeah, I never got confirmation but I feel like my original dealer may have prioritized some reservations ahead of me. I moved my reservation to the other dealer well after the prioritization list had to be submitted, and being told I was the first reservation with them I had no reason to believe that others would get placed before me.

I think you know "what now?". Lesson learned is talk to the GM if you want a factual answer. Most salespeople are uninformed.

LOL, yep I do wish all this info came straight from the GM. After calling Ford and having them tell me I was 3rd in line with 1 order having been placed, I called the GM and left him a voicemail. GM didn't return my call, but I spoke to the original salesman that same day who confirmed from the GM that they had 2 allocations and I was one of those.

Hopefully you know that the word is there is no wave 6.

Unfortunately I do

 

[FlasherZ]

Yeah, I never got confirmation but I feel like my original dealer may have prioritized some reservations ahead of me. I moved my reservation to the other dealer well after the prioritization list had to be submitted, and being told I was the first reservation with them I had no reason to believe that others would get placed before me.

You ever see cartoons like Bugs Bunny where the green $ signs flash in their eyes once they make a realization? That happened to a LOT of dealers. They keep reading about the demand and the dollar signs appear. It was a $100 lottery for a lot of the dealership staff at the time, get themselves prioritized, and flip flip flip... Not to mention that each time Ford sends a warning mail, the dealers are trying to figure out how to turn that to their advantage. "OF COURSE the GM's accountant wants this new truck (for 3 days during the eBay Motors auction)."

Back in the early Tesla Model S days (pre-release), the reservations were $5,000 for a "production" car and $40,000 for a "signature" car. That kept a lot of people from speculating on them, but it also locked out a lot of people. I think Ford's reservation deposit pricing was a bit too low, myself.

I also think (as I said in another thread) that Ford probably has more tools at its disposal to control the dealers here, but they're likely playing the long game. Let the dealers prove that they're the scumbags we always knew they were, and it'll make things much easier to support new sales models as part of Model E. 24% of Gen X Americans would rather have a root canal than deal with a car dealer. That's pretty telling.

 

[Ruination]

It's possible others found that unicorn too and you got bumped a bit.

Probably a little of column A and a little of Column B. Never trust a salesman, they are desperate.

 

[Dadofjax]

When the dealer called me he asked if I had any questions. I said nope I don't expect to see my Lightning until 2023/2024. His reply was "I wish more people understood that".

Probably shouldn't have gone in expecting to grab one in 2022 no matter what the dealer may have told you.

 

[craptacular]

I think Ford's reservation deposit pricing was a bit too low, myself.

I absolutely agree with this. $100 is nothing. Look at the over 1 million Cybertruck deposits. Still impressive, but what are they going to actually convert? 25%...maybe. I have a Rivian deposit which I placed 2 years ago, but I'd prefer the Lightning for the size (and I really like my current F-150). I was hoping to convince my wife to get the Rivian R1S, but with the whole pricing debacle I don't know if I'll be able to switch over and keep the cheaper pricing.

 

[craptacular]

Probably shouldn't have gone in expecting to grab one in 2022 no matter what the dealer may have told you.

Very true.

 

[DrZoidberg]

I can empathize. And I can also tell you Ford Corporate won’t do shit. They’re bigger cowards than dealers.
It took Texas DMV for me to get a resolution.

 

[Fordskeptic]

I can empathize. And I can also tell you Ford Corporate won’t do shit. They’re bigger cowards than dealers.
It took Texas DMV for me to get a resolution.

I think you are correct about Ford. All talk about bad dealers losing allocations. Ford needs to publish a hall of shame name dealers and list consequences meted out, otherwise it is just noise to appease the consumers.

 

[Fordskeptic]

I absolutely agree with this. $100 is nothing. Look at the over 1 million Cybertruck deposits. Still impressive, but what are they going to actually convert? 25%...maybe. I have a Rivian deposit which I placed 2 years ago, but I'd prefer the Lightning for the size (and I really like my current F-150). I was hoping to convince my wife to get the Rivian R1S, but with the whole pricing debacle I don't know if I'll be able to switch over and keep the cheaper pricing.

If the deposit is merely a measure of interest, as it appears it is, then $100 is appropriate.....perhaps high. If the $100 was an actual reservation as the average user of the English language would understand it, then maybe it is more valuable than $100.

 

[craptacular]

I can empathize. And I can also tell you Ford Corporate won’t do shit. They’re bigger cowards than dealers.
It took Texas DMV for me to get a resolution.

What happened where you had to get the Texas DMV involved?

 

[DrZoidberg]

What happened where you had to get the Texas DMV involved?

I made a post but the tl;dr

1. Made reservation last May and visited dealer in June. Told first on list and no markup.

2. When started rolling out in January for wave ordering inquired and said I made the list 6/6 allocations and no markup.

3. Get my wave invite. Order my lariat and see that in fact the dealer did not charge a markup in the ordering program like others reported. Ordered and paid the $500.

4. Dealer accepted order.

5. Called later and said there's a $10k markup (originally $20k).

6. I said bullshit and to contacted Ford to send my order to another dealer and Ford corporate said that since they accepted it they own the allocation build and I would have to reserve a new one from step 1. I said bullshit.

7. Contacted Texas AG who transferred me to the TX DMV. They sent an inquiry of records and I showed the purchased order, etc. From what I'm told they gave them an ultimatum because I got an email from dealer principal saying he's personally handling my order with no markup .


Here is the TFL article too. TFL Article

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