Dealer refuses to sell the Lightning to the person who ordered. Marks it up by $50k and puts it on the lot.

[RainorshinePNW]

Noticed this review of Sunrise on Google from a week ago. Likes like a pattern @Ford Motor Company

Sponsored

 

[VTbuckeye]

I don't think Ford can legally do that. Ford sells to the dealer and then the dealer sells to you. Ford has limited control over what the dealer can do once they own it. Most they can do is impact future allocations and the use of the Ford name/branding.

There probably isn't or it has never been enforced, but some kind of conduct unbecoming or detrimental to the brand clause that would allow punitive action by the manufacturer. All you need to do is fine/withhold cars to a few dealers and the rest should stop the funny business.

 

[ppeterson]

We had really unsatisfactory (bad) experiences with new sales and with service from the dealer in Lockhart, Texas. When I wrote a bad review their response was to ban me from the dealership.

Direct to consumer sales can't come soon enough.

 

[VTbuckeye]

We had really unsatisfactory (bad) experiences with new sales and with service from the dealer in Lockhart, Texas. When I wrote a bad review their response was to ban me from the dealership.

Direct to consumer sales can't come soon enough.

Really mature reaction on their part... Middle schoolers should not be selling and servicing cars. Franchise agreements should not have to state that the franchisee must act like an adult, but maybe that language needs to be included.

 

[Jerry The Cowboy]

Maybe we should organize a demonstation at the dealer with picket signs and invited press.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

Exact same thing happened to me, paid for almost 2K in garbage and was not allowed to bring my own financing (I’m refinancing it out).

Can they legally prevent you from using external financing?

I mean that as a serious question. Mine hinted at it, but I thought it was a pressure tactic. I didn’t really think it was legal for them to reject a check that represented legal tender.

 

[F150LER]

Can they legally prevent you from using external financing?

I mean that as a serious question. Mine hinted at it, but I thought it was a pressure tactic. I didn’t really think it was legal for them to reject a check that represented legal tender.

I didn’t look into it, I asked the finance guy point blank. If I pay cash you’re telling I can’t buy the car and he said “that’s what my GM is telling me”.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

I didn’t look into it, I asked the finance guy point blank. If I pay cash you’re telling I can’t buy the car and he said “that’s what my GM is telling me”.

I had to look it up.

Looks like there’s no federal statute
https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm

Apparently this was a big deal during the pandemic and some states passed laws that prohibited this:
https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/S3000/2785_I1.PDF

 

[broncoaz]

Can they legally prevent you from using external financing?

I mean that as a serious question. Mine hinted at it, but I thought it was a pressure tactic. I didn’t really think it was legal for them to reject a check that represented legal tender.

Dealerships mark up the financing to increase their profit. Make sure it doesn’t have a prepayment penalty and refinance it after the fact. If the dealership doesn’t keep the loan at least 6 months or a year depending on the bank they will get charged back with a penalty. Let them think they got away with it then turn around and screw them out of their prize.

I buy a couple dozen trucks as part of my job. Last year I had a Toyota store try to mark up the 4% rate on an existing credit line to 7%, there is nothing in their agreement with the banks to prevent the markup. The finance manager was nonchalant about telling me his department needed to make net profit on top of the ~$4500 they were making off selling the car for MSRP. I fought him back to 4.5% and then paid off that loan after month 3 to screw them.

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

I got an email from them yesterday asking me to come down to their dealership. I told them to go pound sand.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I got an email from them yesterday asking me to come down to their dealership. I told them to go pound sand.

Are you the original order maker of the truck this thread is about?

 

[vbaker4444]

Definitely DM Mike Levine and Jim Farley’s twitter accounts regarding this. They have been pretty good about responding to abuse cases from what I’ve seen on there. This makes me appreciate my local dealer. I can’t believe that’s how some are treating customers. Unbelievable, and brand damaging.

 

[VTbuckeye]

Definitely DM Mike Levine and Jim Farley’s twitter accounts regarding this. They have been pretty good about responding to abuse cases from what I’ve seen on there. This makes me appreciate my local dealer. I can’t believe that’s how some are treating customers. Unbelievable, and brand damaging.

It is the brand damaging piece of this behavior that should give Ford the teeth to take action against these dealers. The good dealers should want this to happen for the good of the brand and so the dealership model can still be seen as adding value.

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

Are you the original order maker of the truck this thread is about?

No, I was searching for vehicles that they may have won the lot and asked them if there was a mark up and then they sent me an email offering that truck for a 108k.
I got another email yesterday telling me they don't do markups on orders.

 

[greenne]

No, I was searching for vehicles that they may have won the lot and asked them if there was a mark up and then they sent me an email offering that truck for a 108k.
I got another email yesterday telling me they don't do markups on orders.

Yeah..they don't do markups on orders..but apparently they do.

Sponsored