So... Uh.... Dumb Question...

[Mr. Flibble]

How do I continue to order my lightning?

I got an email from Ford a while back that I had my reservation, but because of the way my local dealer worked, I needed to contact them directly to continue with my reservation. I naively just went to their website, and sent an email giving my reservation details, and ask to be contacted so I could get my truck (or at least get in line) and.... crickets.

Am I going to just have to call and nag?

I was hoping for a more online and dealer-free experience, but it seems like this won't be the case.

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[beatle]

I see your signature references a 2023 truck. I don't think Ford is converting any reservations into 2023 trucks yet. The ordering process starts when you receive an email from Ford saying it's time to order. The ones for the 2022s looked like this:

What email did you receive from Ford that said you needed to go through your dealer? You should be able to complete the process exclusively online. I would visit your dealer to give them a heads up of what you plan to order since it's a Lariat ER. I started visiting back in November, but my salesperson has not been very responsive via email. I never had an issue talking to anyone in person though. I think these conversations may factor into your priority there since the higher trim trucks offer them a higher margin are are more likely to be available. I didn't think of this at the time, but my dealer asked me to build my truck and send them the PDF even in advance of the first wave. I'm guessing they were probing people to see how serious they were and what they were planning to get. Your daily dose of conspiracy.

 

[Mr. Flibble]

I see your signature references a 2023 truck. I don't think Ford is converting any reservations into 2023 trucks yet. The ordering process starts when you receive an email from Ford saying it's time to order. The ones for the 2022s looked like this:

Ah, ok. That makes sense! I got this email about my deposit a while back:

I made the mistaken assumption that having my deposit refunded suggested that the process was now kicked over to my dealer. Now that I see your post, and what the actual reservation looks like I understand where I am in the process.

I put down 2023 in my signature because my reservation date was 06/11/2021, so I fully expected to be so late in the reservation chain that mine would not arrive until next year. Then, after getting the above email, and hearing nothing, I assumed that I needed to contact the dealer to continue. Seems I was wrong about that.

 

[VTbuckeye]

Other posters have stated that when their dealership changed ownership they had to order at the dealership vs online.

 

[Mr. Flibble]

Other posters have stated that when their dealership changed ownership they had to order at the dealership vs online.

So then I do have to go through my dealer to ensure my reservation continues? If I don't contact them, I am more or less frozen in the process?

 

[beatle]

I find it interesting that they refund your $100 but you keep your reservation. I don't know what that has to do with your dealer changing hands. I don't think you need to do anything but wait for Ford to send you a "time to order" email. I would still touch base with your new dealer and ask them any questions. Make them work a bit for their commission.

 

[VTbuckeye]

I find it interesting that they refund your $100 but you keep your reservation. I don't know what that has to do with your dealer changing hands. I don't think you need to do anything but wait for Ford to send you a "time to order" email. I would still touch base with your new dealer and ask them any questions. Make them work a bit for their commission.

When I changed dealers in January they refunded me the 100. I didn't pay anything else (1k) to Ford/dealer until my order was accepted on Feb 18. The new dealer could charge the 100 dollar reservation deposit it they wanted to (per Ford), but they didn't have to.

 

[rdr854]

I find it interesting that they refund your $100 but you keep your reservation. I don't know what that has to do with your dealer changing hands. I don't think you need to do anything but wait for Ford to send you a "time to order" email. I would still touch base with your new dealer and ask them any questions. Make them work a bit for their commission.

Ford told me that the reservation deposit is refunded because that money went to the prior dealership. I have gone through two dealership sales.

 

[p52Ranch]

I find it interesting that they refund your $100 but you keep your reservation. I don't know what that has to do with your dealer changing hands. I don't think you need to do anything but wait for Ford to send you a "time to order" email. I would still touch base with your new dealer and ask them any questions. Make them work a bit for their commission.

Same thing happened with my Bronco reservation. When I switched dealers I got my $100 back. The new dealer didn’t ask for a similar deposit. Now if I could just get my Bronco scheduled for production.

 

[greenne]

I find it interesting that they refund your $100 but you keep your reservation. I don't know what that has to do with your dealer changing hands. I don't think you need to do anything but wait for Ford to send you a "time to order" email. I would still touch base with your new dealer and ask them any questions. Make them work a bit for their commission.

I recently switched dealers due to non communication from my original reservation dealer.

Here's what the Ford Rep told me. He said Ford takes a reservation on "behalf" of the dealer. Its a small token to compensate them upfront for their time, and the money goes to the dealer(not Ford corporate). It is intended to show the dealer/Ford you are somewhat serious about your reservation.

So when you switch dealers, that original dealer is no longer obligated that money, but Ford is not allowed to just take that money back, even if they are intending to give it to the new dealer. Something written in the franchise laws is what the agent said. The only thing Ford can do, within their franchise agreement is require the dealer to give it back to the consumer. Ford just chooses not to collect the $100 again for the new dealer as its awkward and I guess they figure you're committed if you go to all the trouble of changing dealers. (i.e, you are a serious consumer)

Again this is what the Ford rep told me on the phone...

I'm imagining they will figure out a better plan once the new EV division gets up and running and Ford switches to a more direct sales model for upcoming EVs.

 

[TaxmanHog]

OP, sit back and wait until August 2022, then start nagging the dealer in person to know if you're in range of their 2023 model allocation on the reservations list, of which I'm sure you're still in the mix, no worries until then.

 

[Amps]

If you keep reading the forum, I'll bet there will be lots of posts when the 2023 reservation conversion process starts.

 

[danchristy]

How do I continue to order my lightning?

I got an email from Ford a while back that I had my reservation, but because of the way my local dealer worked, I needed to contact them directly to continue with my reservation. I naively just went to their website, and sent an email giving my reservation details, and ask to be contacted so I could get my truck (or at least get in line) and.... crickets.

Am I going to just have to call and nag?

I was hoping for a more online and dealer-free experience, but it seems like this won't be the case.

If you haven’t picked one up and you’re willing to get one, Town & Country in Alabama is an awesome dealership. I live in Melbourne Florida and drove all the way there to pick mine up because they were so good.

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