Picked up BS BL today. Dealer claimed $1,000 order incentive did NOT apply to Bronco Sport!

[Caliope]

My bank limits debit cards to $5k. It would be easier if I could just swipe and be done. I did rummage around in the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet and find a checkbook with all the right data on it. I'm ready to go as soon as my BS is built and delivered.

When I got my loan through my credit union, the loan officer asked if I had any checks for my checking account, because they wanted to deposit the loan proceeds into my checking account. If I didn't have checks I'm sure they would have issued a cashier's check. I liked the freedom of not having to make a stop at the credit union to pick up check.

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[Pmk1710]

I had the same issue happen to me. Was working with a dealer who swears “no additional markup above invoice” and blah blah blah.

I built my own on ford.com, found out that the dealership was charging $500 more per added options packages that was on thenBS I was looking at… totaling $1500 more than sticker just for the option upgrades. Plus another 7.5% above base sticker.

I walked into the dealership the next day (I had put a $2k cash hold on the BS I wanted for 24 hours to research/prep insurance/prep financing) and first called them out of their false claim on their pricing and demanded the correct price. I got the “aw crap, he can do math” deer in headlights stare and a lot of stuttering.

They adjusted the price down and added the $1000 discount incentive too. Printed the new total which ended up being a total of 3.1% markup above invoice (options included). I still called them out on their false claim, but agreed to the new price and signed the final offer.

10 minutes later they told me “oops, the discount doesn’t apply, so here is the new offer.” Yeah… not ok. I held them accountable for their false markup claims again, pulled out my credit card and asked for my $2k hold refund so I could walk out the door.

I got the discount, and my BS, and a few free upgrades accessories

 

[thekingprawn]

10 minutes later they told me “oops, the discount doesn’t apply, so here is the new offer.” Yeah… not ok. I held them accountable for their false markup claims again, pulled out my credit card and asked for my $2k hold refund so I could walk out the door.

I got the discount, and my BS, and a few free upgrades accessories

It sucks that it' like that. Any other business that operated on maximum abuse of customers would fold, but the dealership model incentivizes this kind of behavior, especially in today's market where the option of just going somewhere else doesn't really exist without a considerable cost in time.

 

[Pmk1710]

It sucks that it' like that. Any other business that operated on maximum abuse of customers would fold, but the dealership model incentivizes this kind of behavior, especially in today's market where the option of just going somewhere else doesn't really exist without a considerable cost in time.

I figured with the rising success of online shopping with places like Carvana and Shift, actual dealerships would be doing anything to get customers on their lots, including price matching and incentives.

 

[thekingprawn]

I figured with the rising success of online shopping with places like Carvana and Shift, actual dealerships would be doing anything to get customers on their lots, including price matching and incentives.

Some of those things have problems as well, and they don't sell new cars. I guess the best you can really get is the Costco program or something like that.

 

[baja_bob]

My bank limits debit cards to $5k. It would be easier if I could just swipe and be done. I did rummage around in the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet and find a checkbook with all the right data on it. I'm ready to go as soon as my BS is built and delivered.

My credit union let me run that $15K without even verifying it was me that made the charge, sometimes I'll get a text or email asking if I made certain purchases.

 

[Pmk1710]

Some of those things have problems as well, and they don't sell new cars. I guess the best you can really get is the Costco program or something like that.

I’m waiting for the car vending machines

 

[sajohnson]

I had the same issue happen to me. Was working with a dealer who swears “no additional markup above invoice” and blah blah blah.

I built my own on ford.com, found out that the dealership was charging $500 more per added options packages that was on thenBS I was looking at… totaling $1500 more than sticker just for the option upgrades. Plus another 7.5% above base sticker.

I walked into the dealership the next day (I had put a $2k cash hold on the BS I wanted for 24 hours to research/prep insurance/prep financing) and first called them out of their false claim on their pricing and demanded the correct price. I got the “aw crap, he can do math” deer in headlights stare and a lot of stuttering.

They adjusted the price down and added the $1000 discount incentive too. Printed the new total which ended up being a total of 3.1% markup above invoice (options included). I still called them out on their false claim, but agreed to the new price and signed the final offer.

10 minutes later they told me “oops, the discount doesn’t apply, so here is the new offer.” Yeah… not ok. I held them accountable for their false markup claims again, pulled out my credit card and asked for my $2k hold refund so I could walk out the door.

I got the discount, and my BS, and a few free upgrades accessories

That's outrageous!

It's amazing that unethical behavior and outright fraud like that still goes on in 2022.

Car dealers are their own worst enemy. It's looking like the direct to consumer sales model will be the end of traditional auto dealers unless they straighten up and treat customers with respect.

Regarding the $1,000 order credit, based on what I've read, It seems safe to assume that in almost all cases in which they claim the credit does NOT apply to the BS, they know damn well that it does. After all, it's been in effect for months!

Question: In cases where they are able to convince the customer that their purchase does not qualify for the $1,000 credit -- how does that benefit the dealer? Does Ford not confirm that all credits/incentives/rebates go to the customer? Can the dealer just take it?

 

[sajohnson]

Some of those things have problems as well, and they don't sell new cars. I guess the best you can really get is the Costco program or something like that.

Months ago, when this process started, we looked into the Costco program since we're members. It turns out that:

1) Costco only works with a limited number of dealerships. You cannot just pick any Ford (or other mfr) dealer. You must use a Costco approved store.

2) The closest Costco Ford dealer is Koons Ford in Silver Spring, MD. That's a solid hour drive, with no traffic. Of course there is almost always traffic...

3) The next closest dealer was in Tennessee!

4) The Costco discount (in this case anyway) was only $300 below MSRP/sticker.

5) The rep at Koons LIED to me, told me there was no Costco deal, and if we wanted a BS BL we had to buy one off the lot for $5,000 over MSRP. I had to call Costco to get that straightened out.

6) Even if I hadn't been lied to, there was no way we were going to drive to Silver Spring to (potentially) save $300. One concern -- which is also why we did not buy from Granger -- is getting warranty repairs. It's all but guaranteed our local dealer's service dept. would throw a tantrum if we bought the BL from Koons and then took it to them for warranty repairs. Life's too short for hassles like that.

Bottom line, it was definitely not worth it in our case, but it very well might be a good deal for anyone who has a Costco approved dealer nearby -- assuming they have a good rep.

 

[MJE]

Months ago, when this process started, we looked into the Costco program since we're members. It turns out that:

1) Costco only works with a limited number of dealerships. You cannot just pick any Ford (or other mfr) dealer. You must use a Costco approved store.

2) The closest Costco Ford dealer is Koons Ford in Silver Spring, MD. That's a solid hour drive, with no traffic. Of course there is almost always traffic...

3) The next closest dealer was in Tennessee!

4) The Costco discount (in this case anyway) was only $300 below MSRP/sticker.

5) The rep at Koons LIED to me, told me there was no Costco deal, and if we wanted a BS BL we had to buy one off the lot for $5,000 over MSRP. I had to call Costco to get that straightened out.

6) Even if I hadn't been lied to, there was no way we were going to drive to Silver Spring to (potentially) save $300. One concern -- which is also why we did not buy from Granger -- is getting warranty repairs. It's all but guaranteed our local dealer's service dept. would throw a tantrum if we bought the BL from Koons and then took it to them for warranty repairs. Life's to short for hassles like that.

Bottom line, it was definitely not worth it in our case, but it very well might be a good deal for anyone who has a Costco approved dealer nearby -- assuming they have a good rep.

Thanks for the review! I hear nothing but good things about the costco car buying program, which of course we don’t have up here. So appreciate hearing that I’m not necessarily missing out by not being able to purchase through costco.

 

[sajohnson]

Thanks for the review! I hear nothing but good things about the costco car buying program, which of course we don’t have up here. So appreciate hearing that I’m not necessarily missing out by not being able to purchase through costco.

No problem.

As I said, it might be worth it to someone who has a Costco approved dealership nearby -- esp. if they are already a Costco member. Even if not, it might be worth joining.

All else equal -- approx. same distance from home; similar reputations, etc. -- might as well save some money. My guess is that the discount is typically more than $300, but with the BS being in such high demand, that's all Costco could get.

A potentially larger benefit is not being jerked around. Costco claims the ordering and purchase process is smooth and hassle-free. If that's true -- if there is no attempted extortion; no claims that the customer must pay any MSRP increases; no trying to STEAL $1,000 order credits; no unwanted dealer ad-ons -- that's worth a lot.

Anyone considering Costco Auto might want to read some reviews to get an idea what the process is typically like.

 

[Meanderthal]

I am very surprised to hear people believe that a car dealer would not give them warranty service if they purchased the vehicle from another dealer. The dealerships get paid by Ford (or any other brand) for any warranty work that they do. Yes, you do get some emotional credit for buying from the dealer that is going to service it, but overall I have never had a dealer turn up their nose because I didn't buy from them for either warranty claims or other work.

 

[Meanderthal]

No problem.

As I said, it might be worth it to someone who has a Costco approved dealership nearby -- esp. if they are already a Costco member. Even if not, it might be worth joining.

All else equal -- approx. same distance from home; similar reputations, etc. -- might as well save some money. My guess is that the discount is typically more than $300, but with the BS being in such high demand, that's all Costco could get.

A potentially larger benefit is not being jerked around. Costco claims the ordering and purchase process is smooth and hassle-free. If that's true -- if there is no attempted extortion; no claims that the customer must pay any MSRP increases; no trying to STEAL $1,000 order credits; no unwanted dealer ad-ons -- that's worth a lot.

Anyone considering Costco Auto might want to read some reviews to get an idea what the process is typically like.

For what it's worth, I live in Denver and when I looked at the Costco program for the BS, they didn't have any dealers for me to contact.

 

[kyle_conrad]

Thanks for the review! I hear nothing but good things about the costco car buying program, which of course we don’t have up here. So appreciate hearing that I’m not necessarily missing out by not being able to purchase through costco.

In the "before times," it was a solid way of buying - but right now, it's basically useless. Most dealerships aren't participating in it and the ones that are really aren't offering any sort of discount (maybe $50-100 off MSRP).

 

[MaxVelocity]

A potentially larger benefit is not being jerked around. Costco claims the ordering and purchase process is smooth and hassle-free. If that's true -- if there is no attempted extortion; no claims that the customer must pay any MSRP increases; no trying to STEAL $1,000 order credits; no unwanted dealer ad-ons -- that's worth a lot.

That was our experience in 2011 when we ordered our Focus using Costco. Straight forward and no haggling over price, which was invoice + $200 or 300 dollars, then minus incentives if I remember correctly.

As others mention, our dealer was not participating with Costco this time for ordering the BS, but we still had a good experience, MSRP and no funny business. It too was smooth and hassle-free, but maybe we're just lucky.

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