These damned Ford dealers are unbelievable.

"Battery Tender Unnecessary" (carac) 02/12/2016 at 09:11 • Filed to: None

2

39

After conversing with this person for two weeks about a Focus RS, this is an email I get when I mention I might be a little late due to a birthday lunch and errands.

I don’t want a fucking truck. When I explicitly state the only car I’m interested in is a Focus RS and I get this, I get thesneaking suspicion you aren’t listening.

And this email is only partially auto-generated, someone had to add those personal touches referring to my weekend.

These people...

I’m actually relieved I can’t afford a Ford GT, saves me the trouble of dealing with a local shop that is so laser focused on sales volume that the presence of an actual engaged and interested customer vexes them.

Vimto > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:14

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They spelled their own name wrong in the grey banner.

Jayhawk Jake > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:17

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All dealers are annoying.

I actually blocked a salesperson’s phone number. He was calling me every day for updates on my car search. Look, guy, I’ll contact you if I see the car I want come through.

Another salesperson randomly texted me pictures of a ‘16 Camaro SS. ‘Have you seen these yet?’. What was the point of that?

64Mali > Vimto 02/12/2016 at 09:17

0

I had to go find it when you said that. Great Job Marketing!

X37.9XXS > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:19

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Go elsewhere, unless there is no place else.

Also, read this, when you get a chance

$kaycog > Vimto 02/12/2016 at 09:20

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Good eye!

cazzyodo > Vimto 02/12/2016 at 09:20

5

Or they spelled it wrong everywhere else.

Plot twist!

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:23

0

And dealers wonder why no one likes them...

Scary__goongala! > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:23

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Wow that’s pretty sad customer service. I just know there are Ford salesmen who don’t even know what a Focus RS is yet.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Vimto 02/12/2016 at 09:26

3

They are clearly “fari way” from doing a good job.

fourvalleys > Jayhawk Jake 02/12/2016 at 09:28

5

When I was looking for a Focus RS, I visited a handful of dealers. I also went a little bit out of my way to visit the highest-volume dealer in my state. Now, mind you, this was in August or September. The salesman boasted about getting $20k or $25k above MSRP on their GT350s. I told him I wouldn’t pay over MSRP no matter what, and he laughed and said that wasn’t possible. I left.

Of course, he still called me over the next few weeks. Each time, I told him that I would contact them if I was interested in working with them. Hint, hint. Eventually, I told him that I was no longer considering the Focus RS, which was true.

He said he’d check in with me in six months to see where I was at. I told him he didn’t need to do that. “I do need to do it - that’s my job.” I told him his job was to listen to the customer - he’d never sell a car to anyone if he makes them as uncomfortable as I was from the pressure. It was the worst feeling I’ve ever had from a car dealership.

StingrayJake > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:29

9

My goodness, Stephen! Aren’t you getting to be a big boy! And they let you drive all by yourself?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:31

2

I have only talked to two ford dealers about the RS: the first said they didn’t know if they would be getting one and wouldn’t I like a Focus SE 1.0 with the SFE package? That spam went on for days.

the second, I was honest and said flat out I wouldn’t be able to afford the car if they were planing on dealer markup, as it’s a financial stretch (one I’m willing to make) as is. I haven’t heard back from them. Which I guess is better than being spammed by sales bots. :/

yamahog > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:33

8

But it’s FERD TRUCK MONTH!

fourvalleys > fourvalleys 02/12/2016 at 09:35

5

Actually, I knew it was bad from the start. I actually sent a text while I was at the dealer to tell my friend how uncomfortable I was.

When I showed up, there were no fewer than 6 salesman having a smoke break right by the entrance. One of them approached my car - cigarette in hand - before I’d even turned off my car. He commented on my squeaky brakes (Carbotech) and asked what I was looking for.

When I got inside, he knew nothing about the Focus RS, other than the fact that they were planning to get no less than $8-10k over MSRP for their allocation. To be fair, he did admit that I probably knew more about the specifics of the car than he did. But don’t box me out on price in the first two minutes. And don’t brag about how much you made selling a different model.

When I told him I wouldn’t pay over MSRP, I told him I had no issues driving maybe 1000 miles to find a dealer that wasn’t charging a markup. He said “is it really worth it to save even two or three grand?” Okay, dude.

Needless to say, I won’t be recommending them to anyone. Quite the opposite, actually.

To contrast, I did find a couple of dealers that I actually really liked. One of the salesmen told me “I don’t know much about the car, but I can tell you that the first thing you’ll need to do is get snow tires.” That’s awesome.

I ended up buying my Fiesta ST from a dealer who my family has bought from before. Maybe not the cheapest, but a pretty incredible experience. No up-selling, no surprises, and a pretty solid experience (other than a small error on the contract.... which they corrected quickly). When I was looking for the Focus RS, he was up-front about their markup and essentially helped me talk myself out of it, even though it made them a lot less. The numbers were always 100% laid out. Very comfortable.

Rico > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:37

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Then they (and other manufacturers) sit back scratching their heads why they can’t get all the customer experience accolades the German’s get. They are treating you like they would treat the guy buying a used C Max meanwhile the German’s treat any customer like they are a prospective S Class/7 Series/A8 buyer.

I say vote with you wallet and take your business elsewhere but not before telling the manager or GM of the dealership why he won’t be getting the business, it’s the only way they’ll learn.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > yamahog 02/12/2016 at 09:39

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TRERKS! WE GERT TRERKS, TRERKS, AND MER TRERKS!

m2m, apex detective > Vimto 02/12/2016 at 09:40

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DAMN YOU, SPELL FARIY!

William Byrd > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:42

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I hate seeing stuff like this. Take the time to make it correct folks.

My local Fiat/Alfa Romeo dealer auto-generated a note to me about the Giulia sedan saying “congratulations, the car you are interested in is IN STOCK”.

Uh, no it’s not.

wiffleballtony > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:46

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But it’s truck month. TRUCK MONTH!!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Rico 02/12/2016 at 09:51

1

The biggest flaw here is that their idea of getting a sale on a higher price point vehicle is that they need to use the same sales tactics as their cheapest vehicle multiplied by the price ratio of the two. This is a horrible, horrible idea, but since it *almost* works for trucks, they refuse to learn differently.

CalzoneGolem > Vimto 02/12/2016 at 09:55

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Found the editor!

CalzoneGolem > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:56

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Doesn’t matter; had quota.

CounterTorqueSteer > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 09:58

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Haha, “Zane”

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > yamahog 02/12/2016 at 10:18

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I don't know why they say that when every month seems to be (and then some).

zeontestpilot > CounterTorqueSteer 02/12/2016 at 10:19

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Gravity falls? :).

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 10:26

2

Every time you post about your RS search I’m shocked with how the dealers are acting because our dealer for the Fusion was the total opposite. Of course our salesman had also worked for a BMW dealer prior so maybe that had an effect on it. My mom never even got another email after the initial one asking if they were interested in setting up a test drive of the exact car they picked out online, not a loaded Flex EcoBoost or something. It was also the most low-pressure sale at a dealer my mom had ever experienced she said.

Übel > yamahog 02/12/2016 at 10:27

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FORDRUARY

yamahog > Übel 02/12/2016 at 10:29

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TRUCKUARY

TRARCH

(for real everyone go on YouTube and look up “ferd fteenthousand”

BKosher84 > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 10:49

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A week ago I had someone at the dealership I leased my vehicle from (not my sales person) email telling me it was time to trade in my lease. I started the lease back in September.....

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > yamahog 02/12/2016 at 11:23

1

it’s true! Its Truckuary right now, and Trarch is just around the corner! You won’t see deals this good until next Trucktober! (to paraphrase a thing)

eight ball!

yamahog > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 02/12/2016 at 11:31

1

Brb finding horses the size of houses

CounterTorqueSteer > zeontestpilot 02/12/2016 at 11:32

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Gravity Falls :)

Jayhawk Jake > fourvalleys 02/12/2016 at 11:44

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That seems like a pretty typical experience.

It’s amazing how dichotomous dealership experiences can be. I’ve had either really good or really bad, never in between.

While I understand that their goal is to sell a car, I hate when dealers are so quick to push a sale. When I’m looking at a car, I’m looking to see if I like it. When you immediately ask me how I’m paying it, what my trade is, etc and don’t actually try to tell me anything about the car it’s off putting. If I decide I want to buy it then lets talk financing and trades.

zeontestpilot > CounterTorqueSteer 02/12/2016 at 11:44

1

Amazing show. Eagerly awaiting the final episode. :)

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > yamahog 02/12/2016 at 11:47

1

saving people the effort:

spreading the good word!

gahhhhhH!

fourvalleys > Jayhawk Jake 02/12/2016 at 12:02

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I’d estimate I probably went to 6-7 dealerships to leave my info for the Focus RS. That was was the only really bad one. Most of the others were “fine.” I would have bought the car from any of them (except maybe that one) if it was the best deal.

Of course, of those 6-7 I only ever heard back from three of them when the order rolls opened. So maybe they just didn’t care enough to pressure me.

ranwhenparked > Jayhawk Jake 02/12/2016 at 22:30

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Now, now, according to NADA, dealers exist solely for our protection. If it wasn’t for dealers, manufacturers would just quote us a fixed price, and we’d pay it.

ranwhenparked > Battery Tender Unnecessary 02/12/2016 at 22:31

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As if we needed more proof that Ford dealers are totally disinterested in selling anything other than pickups or crossovers.

Jayhawk Jake > ranwhenparked 02/12/2016 at 23:44

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Thank god the dealers are around to add tint and mark the car up $2000