Bronco Sport Price Increases Coming April 13, 2022

[fordvideoguy]

Oh, I thought I answered a question similar to this on the stream last night. I recommended that they call Ford Complaint Line, 800-392-3673. Outside of that I don't know what else can be done. It's a shame that they are allowed to do that after signing a buyers order saying they will. Ford pays them the difference on the price increase so they aren't out that money. And they shouldn't be saying they will do MSRP if they had no intention to do it.

Forgot to answer the rebate, they can raise the price and show the rebate in the computer to scoop the rebate as gross. But the rebate should be yours and they can honor the order date incentives on all ordered vehicles by clicking on the Protect Date button on the details in SmartVincent.

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[MNVKSFN]

Forgot to answer the rebate, they can raise the price and show the rebate in the computer to scoop the rebate as gross. But the rebate should be yours and they can honor the order date incentives on all ordered vehicles by clicking on the Protect Date button on the details in SmartVincent.

question on this then:
is the finance rate at the time of order considered an incentive or is it just rebates that you get to choose?
i.e., if at the time of my order I could get 0% for 36 will that be an option at time of delivery?

 

[fordvideoguy]

question on this then:
is the finance rate at the time of order considered an incentive or is it just rebates that you get to choose?
i.e., if at the time of my order I could get 0% for 36 will that be an option at time of delivery?

Incentives are rebates and interest rates. You can choose to take the rebates and rates available at the time of order (protect date) or purchase (sale date).

 

[sajohnson]

Yeah- this. I ordered from a very small family-owned dealership in my area (Crouse in Taneytown). Definitely not pushing the most units in the area but they're honest and that goes a long way. My build is scheduled for Monday and the 6 months wait was worth it.

Hey Taneytown!

I also ordered from a family-owned dealership. I'm not sure how they compare to others as far as size, but they are not ginormous. They have been in business over 100 years as well, and have decent reviews (relatively speaking) so I was surprised that we were treated the way we were.

I hope your BL arrives ASAP. Ours was just under a month from build to delivery

 

[sajohnson]

Forgot to answer the rebate, they can raise the price and show the rebate in the computer to scoop the rebate as gross. But the rebate should be yours and they can honor the order date incentives on all ordered vehicles by clicking on the Protect Date button on the details in SmartVincent.

That makes sense, thanks.

I'm still wondering though -- why they would lie about the $1,000 order credit not applying to the Bronco Sport? They went so far as to show us a Ford webpage that had incredibly small font (that we could not read) and claim that:

a) The BS was not listed as a qualifying vehicle.
b) The "Bronco SUV" is the same as the BS(!!), and it does NOT qualify.

Then, after I found a Ford page confirming that the BS does indeed qualify -- they did not even look at it. Likely because they knew all along that it did.

Finally, for some reason they insisted that only the Badlands gets the $1,000 credit. Ours is a BL, so that lie served no purpose.

A cynical/rational person might conclude that there is some way for the salesperson or dealership to keep the $1,000 for themselves if the customer can be convinced that it does not apply.

 

[Elegance]

Oh, I thought I answered a question similar to this on the stream last night. I recommended that they call Ford Complaint Line, 800-392-3673. Outside of that I don't know what else can be done. It's a shame that they are allowed to do that after signing a buyers order saying they will. Ford pays them the difference on the price increase so they aren't out that money. And they shouldn't be saying they will do MSRP if they had no intention to do it.

Sir, you are a saint. Posting that screenshot was genuinely fantastic of you. I feel like I'm not going into the purchase completely unarmed so long as I've got that printed out with me. I'm not sure why my dealer told me I'm responsible for any increases to MSRP while I wait for my order, but now I can actually refute that thanks to you. Fantastic stream, by the way. Very informative.

 

[sajohnson]

Oh, I thought I answered a question similar to this on the stream last night. I recommended that they call Ford Complaint Line, 800-392-3673. Outside of that I don't know what else can be done. It's a shame that they are allowed to do that after signing a buyers order saying they will. Ford pays them the difference on the price increase so they aren't out that money. And they shouldn't be saying they will do MSRP if they had no intention to do it.

You may have answered someone else's or mine. After it appeared that mine was overlooked I watched a while longer and then went to something else.

Thanks for the complaint line #!

To be clear, my question is NOT about routine MSRP increases and price protection -- I am asking about dealers who promise to sell for a certain firm price and then, after the buyer has waited anxiously for months, jacks up the price of the car just before delivery. They don't care if the customer walks because they know they can sell it for well over MSRP.

If I am reading your reply correctly, it seems there is nothing preventing dealers from charging last-minute ADM. Nothing in the franchise agreement? It does not matter if the dealership principal signs the order summary?

If a buyer does encounter this sort of extortion, and they cannot get it resolved in a reasonable amount of time (long hold on complaint line, or unable to help) how long does the dealer have to hold the vehicle for the buyer before putting it on their lot for MSRP + (say) $5,000?

 

[fordvideoguy]

You may have answered someone else's or mine. After it appeared that mine was overlooked I watched a while longer and then went to something else.

Thanks for the complaint line #!

To be clear, my question is NOT about routine MSRP increases and price protection -- I am asking about dealers who promise to sell for a certain firm price and then, after the buyer has waited anxiously for months, jacks up the price of the car just before delivery. They don't care if the customer walks because they know they can sell if for well over MSRP.

If I am reading your reply correctly, it seems there is nothing preventing dealers from charging last-minute ADM. Nothing in the franchise agreement? It does not matter if the dealership principal signs the order summary?

If a buyer does encounter this sort of extortion, and they cannot get it resolved in a reasonable amount of time (long hold on complaint line, or unable to help) how long does the dealer have to hold the vehicle for the buyer before putting it on their lot for MSRP + (say) $5,000?

Sorry that I misunderstood. I don't think there is a time frame that they are required to hold it before seeking it to someone else unfortunately. It's not right but I'm not sure if Ford will actually do anything. I have heard stories where the Ford Rep it the head of the region has called the dealer and made them honor the agreed upon dealer when the order was submitted. I'm not sure who they contacted to get that accomplished.

 

[sajohnson]

Sorry that I misunderstood. I don't think there is a time frame that they are required to hold it before seeking it to someone else unfortunately. It's not right but I'm not sure if Ford will actually do anything. I have heard stories where the Ford Rep it the head of the region has called the dealer and made them honor the agreed upon dealer when the order was submitted. I'm not sure who they contacted to get that accomplished.

Thanks Tim.

I imagine that the unethical behavior of a large percentage of dealers bothers you as well, because it makes your job more difficult.

It's particularly sad because it does not have to be this way. As you know, a dealership can do very well financially by being honest and treating customers with respect -- getting referrals and repeat business.

Had my wife and I not been lied to, the deal would have been no different (financially). The salesman and the dealership gained nothing by attempting to mislead us. The bottom line total would have been the same had they been honest. The difference would have been that we would have come away with a positive impression and been very likely to recommend the dealer to others.

Instead, I am working on a summary of our experience that will be posted on all of the review sites I can find.

By the way, a few months ago I spoke with Kyle Davis a couple times. I just wanted to say that he was very friendly and helpful -- even though he knew my wife and I were probably going to buy locally due to concerns about warranty work. The second time we spoke Kyle was not even at the dealership but he answered his phone anyway. As soon as I realized it was his day off I said I'd call back but he went ahead and answered my question anyway. That's the kind of treatment people remember.

 

[fordvideoguy]

Thanks Tim.

I imagine that the unethical behavior of a large percentage of dealers bothers you as well, because it makes your job more difficult.

It's particularly sad because it does not have to be this way. As you know, a dealership can do very well financially by being honest and treating customers with respect -- getting referrals and repeat business.

Had my wife and I not been lied to, the deal would have been no different (financially). The salesman and the dealership gained nothing by attempting to mislead us. The bottom line total would have been the same had they been honest. The difference would have been that we would have come away with a positive impression and been very likely to recommend the dealer to others.

Instead, I am working on a summary of our experience that will be posted on all of the review sites I can find.

By the way, a few months ago I spoke with Kyle Davis a couple times. I just wanted to say that he was very friendly and helpful -- even though he knew my wife and I were probably going to buy locally due to concerns about warranty work. The second time we spoke Kyle was not even at the dealership but he answered his phone anyway. As soon as I realized it was his day off I said I'd call back but he went ahead and answered my question anyway. That's the kind of treatment people remember.

You idea of completing review can help others know how a dealer fits for others. Glad Kyle helped you, he tried very hard to help everyone. I've been an example of helping others regardless. Gives you good Karma, lol. Plus he better, he's related to me. His brother is married to my daughter.

 

[Osco]

These salesmen, all over are fully trained in what they can do.
Their best tactic is to make a customer feel special and make them think they got some kind of special treatment or deal. They are doing/selling at the rate/price they are told.
If not they are fired.
These big dealers with the over priced cars that are selling is doing so because of the customer and the common, ‘I got to have it now’additude.
All the market will stand for.
A sales meeting is simple,
Boss says to squeeze every last penny out of the customer you can get.
Salesmen comply or they are job hunting. It’s that simple.

 

[sajohnson]

You idea of completing review can help others know how a dealer fits for others. Glad Kyle helped you, he tried very hard to help everyone. I've been an example of helping others regardless. Gives you good Karma, lol. Plus he better, he's related to me. His brother is married to my daughter.

I just noticed you wrote "tried" (past tense). Did Kyle leave the dealership or was that a typo?

Needless to say, no businessperson can spend a large amount of time helping people who most likely will not do business with them, but as you said, to the extent possible, doing so promotes good karma.

My family had a dog boarding kennel here in Maryland in the 1970s. After the first few months, my mother never paid for advertising. Word of mouth was all that was needed.

If/when I am asked for recommendations for a good Ford dealership, Long McArthur will be on the short list. I would let them know that I did not ultimately buy from Long McArthur (primarily due to dealers out here throwing tantrums when asked to perform warranty work on vehicles they did not sell) -- but based on my interactions with you and Kyle I'd be very surprised to learn that Long McArthur does not treat people right.

 

[Barry S.]

So my decked out BL that's being built 4/18 will get the price jacked up (unless the dealer honors the signed order)? Hmm...

I'm not a lawyer but a signed order is an enforceable contract.

 

[thekingprawn]

I'm not a lawyer but a signed order is an enforceable contract.

I'm also not a lawyer, but there's no real property extant upon order. The dealership may contract to sell a vehicle at a specific price, but not the specific vehicle (as identified by the VIN) that is delivered to the dealership fitting the description of the order placed. A good lawyer could probably wriggle right out of a signed purchase order.

 

[sajohnson]

I'm also not a lawyer, but there's no real property extant upon order. The dealership may contract to sell a vehicle at a specific price, but not the specific vehicle (as identified by the VIN) that is delivered to the dealership fitting the description of the order placed. A good lawyer could probably wriggle right out of a signed purchase order.

Exactly.

I am also not an attorney (although my father is a retired law prof) but that's my understanding from what I have read over the last few months -- the state auto dealers association essentially writes the laws that apply to dealerships.

They can lie, cheat, and steal (to a point) and get away with it.

This C&D article may explain some of the confusion:

Buyer's Order for Car: Everything You Need to Know:
https://www.caranddriver.com/research/a32799056/buyers-order-for-car/

"The vehicle's VIN number should be indicated on the buyer's order as well."

So without a VIN, it seems we should be using a term other than "buyer's order". Perhaps "order summary". A signed buyer's order may have some legal weight, but not the typical order summary that does not have a VIN.

A related thread:
https://thebronconation.com/forums/threads/last-minute-10k-increase-from-dealership.10645/

"(Post #8, from moderator): Without a VIN basically all you had is a price agreement for a Bronco. Not your Bronco. Many dealers are pulling this and they are getting away with it. Ford was stepping in early on but now take the stance of ordering from another dealer if you aren't happy with the price.

With the order banks closing this is only going to get worse. In fact many dealers are hoping people walk away. That gives them another stock Bronco to sell for whatever they want."

It's a nasty business.

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