Order still shows in Transit - yet it's on the Dealer Lot, and they are allowing waitlist customers to test drive....

[danhoward]

Just a warning for the most part. The Lariat, which I ordered, and have a deposit on, is currently being used for test drives, and is on their website for sale.

When I asked for my deposits back, as I don't want to buy this truck as a USED vehicle, they tell me that I must contact FORD. Any thoughts on getting help with this?

Georgia is a buyer beware state, so they can do as little or as much as they like.

I have found the used inventory is rising, so there are beginning to be some deals around the South.

My reason for posting this is more or less a warning. The Ford Tracking Site still shows the vehicle in Transit.

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[vandy1981]

I don't understand. Why haven't you purchased it if it's on the lot and you ordered it?

 

[TaxmanHog]

Is it possible they have two Lightnings in the same trim and color and the one you see driving around is the other???????

 

[danhoward]

The truck has the VIN I was assigned. The dealership has not be ethical in this. Plain and simple. So no, I not interested in buying from them. I’m not in a hurry for the truck. you’re welcome to it it though.

 

[mr.Magoo]

Warning as in "this could happen to you too" or as in "beware of this (unnamed) dealer" m

 

[TaxmanHog]

I’m not in a hurry for the truck. you’re welcome to it it though.

Already have mine, BTW, if they are letting it out for demonstration, then a discount should be offered to you the original order maker, I hope they get a penalty for breach of %% order/buyer match this quarter/year

 

[s_c]

Welcome!

As of today, my Order Status says my order is Shipped with Estimated Delivery 1/27/2023 - 2/2/2023. She's parked out front at work having just rolled 1000 miles at my behest. I picked her up 2/13, and that was after 3 weeks of fighting the dealer on price protection which I'm still working on. And of course, the Order Status was going up and down all the time before any of that happened.

So the Order Status is useless, certainly. I would be very upset if my dealer was giving test drives in my ordered vehicle. How did you learn of this? Did they straight up tell you they were going to do this or did you catch them somehow? Do you know how many miles have been put on it?

 

[vandy1981]

The truck has the VIN I was assigned. The dealership has not be ethical in this. Plain and simple. So no, I not interested in buying from them. I’m not in a hurry for the truck. you’re welcome to it it though.

Something is missing from your story. Did they not honor your original purchase price or something else?

Dealer websites will often automatically post customer-ordered vehicles once they are in shipment even if they already have a deposit. Even some brand-new vehicles have 50+ miles on the odometer if they were selected for quality control at the factory.

 

[Silenze]

Contact local tv station and ask if they have someone who helps consumers. Most do.

 

[EdRudy]

Mine came with 36 miles on the odometer...

 

[Zprime29]

Some had even more than that for a "new" truck if I recall. Miles on the ODO doesn't mean it was being lent out for test drives. I hope there was just some misunderstanding there.

 

[brewski]

Mine, purchased in Middle GA, sat on the lot for about a week as it arrived the day I left town.
It did show in their online inventory, but it was never driven.

 

[detansinn]

When you order a Lightning, it will show up on the dealer website as if it was part of their inventory. This is automation that Ford has with its dealer web solution. That doesn't mean the order isn't yours. It also doesn't mean that the dealer is trying to sell it from underneath you. If you see a Lightning in "inventory" anywhere, when you check availability, you'll find that the truck on the website is actually a customer ordered Lightning.

With the transit hold, Ford did put some miles on these trucks. Mine also had around 39 "Ford" miles on it. Sure, higher than expected for a truck that just rolled off of the carrier, but not usual given Ford's recent testing. Actually, from other posts in this thread, quite typical.

Please don't forget that the tracking is not real time. My truck was on the dealer lot before my app updated. My sales guy let me know that it arrived. They had my check and I had my truck in the same day.

As for being driven as a demo? High risk for a dealer to be doing that with a customer truck. They're given demo Lightnings. Why take the risk of something happening to that customer truck? Most assuredly, the dealer techs did drive it. What's the big deal? It's an EV. There's no break-in period. It's not like they took it up to redline and bounced the tach off of the rev limiter.

I think that demanding your deposit back is quite extreme. The dealer will easily sell that truck to someone else and if you try to order another one, you're going to pay the price increase and wait months, if not longer.

 

[danhoward]

Ford came through. I spoke with Customer Service. I did not really want a Lariat. I originally tried for an XLT. A Ford Sales and Inventory Specialist located a dealer in South Carolina who was taking delivery of one that their customer had cancelled. She was aware of the truck from discussions with them. They show it in transit. Once it hits the lot they will reach out. I already have a tentative sales agreement.

I did go by the dealership. They were apologetic, that it was a misunderstanding, etc. They were using it to "presale" (their word) other customers. So, I could still buy it with a small discount (thank you for the suggestion). But I had already spoken with the SC dealer and accepted his offer. The dealership cut me a check for the deposits, and we left on good terms.

Thank you for sharing the issue with the tracking - that just shows that there is a disconnect somewhere.

 

[Amps]

When I asked for my deposits back, as I don't want to buy this truck as a USED vehicle, they tell me that I must contact FORD. Any thoughts on getting help with this?

Unless the dealer changed ownership after the reservation, the dealer has your money. Check your receipts for both payments you made through the online system.

(Edit: Simultaneous posts, I See you got it resolved)

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