Waiting room

[thekingprawn]

I also noticed this morning doing an on-line build over coffee, the recent Warning Screen about part shortages, delays etc that you had to accept before proceeding didn't pop up.

I assume Ford realized how much freaking out that was causing and took it down, but now they're sending out the emails to the forgotten.

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[AmazingSieve]

I assume Ford realized how much freaking out that was causing and took it down, but now they're sending out the emails to the forgotten.

Would it be better if Ford didn’t accept orders for cars that couldn’t be completed in a reasonable time frame, from a consumer, perspective?

 

[Badlanders]

Hindsight being 20-20, a Green Window Sticker popped at a dealers website over Xmas break. I debated on making the 90 mile drive, but there was a raging 2-day blizzard in process. Besides, I just placed my order a couple weeks earlier.... wait can't be that bad Yeah, should have made the drive. Color and all but 1 option was there, Cargo Management - I could live without. By the time weather cleared and I could head there, a deposit was placed on it.

The thing was, it was a 2021, was cheaper and included the Moonroof I didn't order. The build date on the Window Sticker was 5/20/21, so it had been sitting, probably waiting for a chip install. It didn't show up to that dealer until late Dec. I'm guessing customer may have gotten tired of waiting and / or bought another vehicle.

Woulda coulda shoulda, only myself to blame.

 

[P-NUT]

Found the VIN (not on the dealer's website) and it's a green window sticker. The dealer is advertising a special order as inventory. Yet another reason I will never, ever give that dealership a single penny.

Most dealers will do what you have experienced. It brings potential buyers to their dealership / website. They will tell them the unit is sold but they can order one.

 

[thekingprawn]

Would it be better if Ford didn’t accept orders for cars that couldn’t be completed in a reasonable time frame, from a consumer, perspective?

Define reasonable I guess?

My heartache with the process right now is they are pumping out production from the factory. In February Ford sold over 10K Bronco Sports and only 23% of those sales were customer orders. How can Ford have that kind of production (with all the options from what inventory search shows) and still not be able to produce the handful of customer orders that are 4-5 months old at this point? It seems like their system is missing multiple opportunities to build vehicles for customer orders. I suppose the system is so automated that it can't help but do the best it can, but there are ways of overcoming that such as regional managers pushing up the priority on specific builds. I don't know that they have any incentive on that because making one customer happy is less beneficial than getting in more stock and making more, less picky customers happy. Take all that with a grain of salt because most of it is speculation because the process is super opaque.

 

[thekingprawn]

Most dealers will do what you have experienced. It brings potential buyers to their dealership / website. They will tell them the unit is sold but they can order one.

Sure we could use more company in the waiting room.

 

[P-NUT]

Most dealers will do what you have experienced. It brings potential buyers to their dealership / website. They will tell them the unit is sold but they can order one.

Sure we could use more company in the waiting room.

Sure we could use more company in the waiting room.

It is also possible that the person that ordered the unit backed out of the deal.

 

[Badlanders]

Most dealers will do what you have experienced. It brings potential buyers to their dealership / website. They will tell them the unit is sold but they can order one.

Yes, lets shoppers know what is on their lot, can be useful for tire kickers, or to see what a color looks like in person. It's where the knowledge of sticker colors helps. I had called first before contemplating a drive to see if it was even available.

 

[thekingprawn]

It is also possible that the person that ordered the unit backed out of the deal.

True, but then the dealer would post the VIN and window sticker.

 

[Badlanders]

True, but then the dealer would post the VIN and window sticker.

I've found that not all dealers post window stickers on their site. Why I go through the Ford Build site.

 

[thekingprawn]

I've found that not all dealers post window stickers on their site. Why I go through the Ford Build site.

This dealership posts the stickers for their dealer stock orders.

 

[P-NUT]

Yes, lets shoppers know what is on their lot, can be useful for tire kickers, or to see what a color looks like in person. It's where the knowledge of sticker colors helps. I had called first before contemplating a drive to see if it was even available.

Calling is very wise before heading to a dealer to look at a unit. Even though it may show up in their inventory, it could be in transit. I will always call, its easier to hang up than drive back pissed.

 

[Warpious]

Define reasonable I guess?

My heartache with the process right now is they are pumping out production from the factory. In February Ford sold over 10K Bronco Sports and only 23% of those sales were customer orders. How can Ford have that kind of production (with all the options from what inventory search shows) and still not be able to produce the handful of customer orders that are 4-5 months old at this point? It seems like their system is missing multiple opportunities to build vehicles for customer orders. I suppose the system is so automated that it can't help but do the best it can, but there are ways of overcoming that such as regional managers pushing up the priority on specific builds. I don't know that they have any incentive on that because making one customer happy is less beneficial than getting in more stock and making more, less picky customers happy. Take all that with a grain of salt because most of it is speculation because the process is super opaque.

I haven't dug into the numbers, but keep in mind that sold and built can be very different numbers.

 

[Badlanders]

Calling is very wise before heading to a dealer to look at a unit. Even though it may show up in their inventory, it could be in transit. I will always call, its easier to hang up than drive back pissed.

Sometimes I'll go for a ride to go for a ride within reason.... I've yet to see one close to what I ordered in person. It was the almost 200 mile round-trip in a blizzard that helped influence the no-go decision.

Side note - see Corsair in your info, I really wrestled between a Corsair and a BS BL. Somehow I just couldn't picture a Corsair with AT tires, something needed for a long uphill driveway in winter.

 

[P-NUT]

Sometimes I'll go for a ride to go for a ride within reason.... I've yet to see one close to what I ordered in person. It was the almost 200 mile round-trip in a blizzard that helped influence the no-go decision.

Side note - see Corsair in your info, I really wrestled between a Corsair and a BS BL. Somehow I just couldn't picture a Corsair with AT tires, something needed for a long uphill driveway in winter.

The corsair is nice but it's no off road machine. It does get around pretty good in 6" or less snow it's AWD. The only reason we will be trading it in on a BS is because it doesn't have adaptive cruise, and my wife likes the BS styling.

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