My Fiesta-buying Experience.

[MatteoLC]

The worst car-buying experience...
Let's count the inconviences/issues that I've encountered trying to buy a Ford Product.
1 – At the dealership June 15th, I was told I could still order a 2011 Fiesta. (I could not)
2 - Was then told my color Monterey Grey was discontinued for 2012. (unknown to salesman)
3 - Could not view the replacement color Violet grey. (order it blindly?)
4 - Was forced to order a 2012 in a color I did not want, and would lose the $500 cash back offer which expires July 5th 2011. (Since there wasn’t one in stock at any store nearby)
6 - Found a vehicle online that was headed to a dealer 3 hours away – that could not be sent to Michigan since I already contacted the dealership. (i will drive to pick it up).
7 - Was told I'd receive a call with an "update" of arrival time. (which 10 days later has never happened).
8 - On Ford 'chat' today, was informed the vehicle should have been received by dealer on June 19th. (12 days ago – yet they have no idea, or curiosity why it’s not there)
9 - Called dealer for more info, could get nothing. ("We dont know when it will be here").
10 - Salesman went on vacation until July 5th. (again costing me the $500 cash back Ford is offering).
11 – Still waiting. No car. No discount. No idea when it will arrive. “No Idea” when my $15,000 car will arrive?
I can send a pack of tic-tacs across the ocean, and know where they are every minute along the way - but Ford can't tell me where my car is???? If I don't get the $500 off that vehicle, they can keep it. Ridiculous!! No wonder Americans buy Toyota.

[Karma]

Things like this happen all the time for one simple reason. Consumers buy a vehicle every few years and car dealers sell dozens or more every month. Who do you think has the upper hand in this scenario? First off I'd suggest you visit carbuyingtips.com. It will help you learn the ins and outs of the process and how to avoid not getting taken to the cleaners - which usually happens most when you are sitting at the desk in the Finance office signing your documents.

As for your individual case. Yes the $500 incentive technically expires on July 5th but I'd be willing to bet it is either extended or perhaps even increases on remaining 2011 models to help clear them out. Of course the dealer doesn't tell you that because they want you to think you better buy NOW or you'll lose. Plus, whenever I've orderd they've told me that whatever rebate is in effect when the order is put in the system will be honored at time of delivery, even if it's no longer in effect. You can ask for that when you place an order if they don't volunteer it, and if they don't agree, order it someplace else that will.

I don't know if your deal is done and now you are just waiting but if you still can buy someplace else if it were me I'd find another dealer and deal directly with their internet dept. They usually cut to the chase and don't play games. I actually have a Violet Gray, Black and Candy Blue 2012 on order but my dealer didn't even take a deposit because they don't care whether or not I buy any of them when they come in. Why three? Well as you said I don't know what any of these colors will actually look like in person on the 2012 because all three are new for the year.

Again, I'd find another dealer because most of the points you raise are just lazy or poor selling practices. Keep in mind though that the profit margin on these is not much for the dealer - $1200 tops and often less, so you aren't gonna get the same level of attention that you would if you were buying something that they were making $3k on - but it's still not an excuse for their behavior.

Keep us posted and good luck with it!

[MatteoLC]

You're right - the dealer always has the upper hand...

I can't fault the dealers on much of this, though.
1 -My local dealers paperwork indicated I could order a 2011 thru Jun 21. (Ford's fault)
2 -On the computer order guide, we saw "violet gray" with no picture to
show how it looked (Ford's fault)
3 -I wanted a very specific model that (with 2011s being finished) was very
hard to find. (my 'fault') Then ordered my 2012. A color/price I didn't want.
4 - Dealership 2 entered the discussion because my car (supposedly) was en route to them on June 23 (delivery est. June 19th)- when I located it online.
5 - 13 days later. July 2nd, here I sit. No car. No update. Waiting for my 2011 after cancelling my 2012 order.

I'm waiting to hear "Sorry, your car has already been sold to someone else" or "It was dropped off in Seattle". Because nobody KNOWS anything.
It's all: "Should be" and "most likely" and "it looks like".

Sooo...I have no choice but to wait for the car I want - and keep my fingers crossed that it's on a hauler to be delivered someday soon and the driver didn't go to Alaska - because apparently, he doesn't have a cell phone - and nobody knows or cares where he is. Except me.

[GapBoyPCS]

Originally Posted by MatteoLC

The worst car-buying experience of my life.
Let's count the inconviences/issues that I've encountered trying to buy a Ford Product.
1 – At the dealership June 15th, I was told I could still order a 2011 Fiesta. (I could not)
2 - Was then told my color Monterey Grey was discontinued for 2012. (unknown to salesman)
3 - Could not view the replacement color Violet grey. (order it blindly?)
4 - Was forced to order a 2012 in a color I did not want, and would lose the $500 cash back offer which expires July 5th 2011. (Since there wasn’t one in stock at any store nearby)
6 - Found a vehicle online that was headed to a dealer 3 hours away – that could not be sent to Michigan since I already contacted the dealership. (i will drive to pick it up).
7 - Was told I'd receive a call with an "update" of arrival time. (which 10 days later has never happened).
8 - On Ford 'chat' today, was informed the vehicle should have been received by dealer on June 19th. (12 days ago – yet they have no idea, or curiosity why it’s not there)
9 - Called dealer for more info, could get nothing. ("We dont know when it will be here" – and sounds like they don’t really care, either).
10 - Salesman went on vacation until July 5th. (again costing me the $500 cash back Ford is offering).
11 – Still waiting. No car. No discount. No idea when it will arrive, and losing faith they will even call me to take my money.
Is this how customers are treated by Ford? “No Idea” when my $15,000 car will arrive? I can send a pack of tic-tacs across the ocean, and know where they are every minute along the way - but Ford can't tell me where my car is????
If I don't get the $500 off that vehicle, they can keep it.
This is a disgrace. No wonder Americans buy Toyota.

Try another salesperson or possibly another dealership. Usually, a good dealership will credit the sale to whomever started it and such. There shouldn't be any harm in dealing with someone else (like the manager), and giving credit to the salesperson you dealt with.

Since you're in Detroit, there should be a lot of dealers in the Southeast Michigan area. I'm just actually on Jack Demmer's website for something else, and they show they have a 2011 SE in Monterey Grey. The issue with some dealer trades is the dealers have to "work together", which can be hard in competitive times. You can possibly find the car you want, but it really depends on if the dealer wants to do the trade (or not).

Read the fine print on the $500 off. It should be clear whether it only applies to in-stock or ordered vehicles, as well as model years.

[MatteoLC]

OF COURSE!!!!

Once I'm at my wits end...the car shows up!
I'm picking it up in Cleveland and driving it to Buffalo,
then coming back home...

Woo-Hoo!!!!

[Karma]

So you just found out now? Congratulations! ROAD TRIP!!

[dan-c]

Originally Posted by Karma

So you just found out now? Congratulations! ROAD TRIP!!

Full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes...Let's go to Buffalo

[grafxman]

My car buying experience occured as follows:

1. I posted a query online that broadcast out to all the Ford dealers in the area.

2. I specified exactly what I wanted (Blue SES stick) with no accessories.

3. I stated I wanted email contact only, NO PHONE CALLS.

4. I stated I would not pay more than $19,000 drive away total costs.

5. I had to include my phone number to send the communication so of course my phone started ringing.

6. Every dealer who called was scratched from my list of dealers that I would do business with.

7. Some dealers emailed me insisting that I just come in for a test drive. I didn't do that because according to their online inventory they didn't have what I wanted in stock.

8. Finally I got an email from a salesman that offered me a black one. I declined.

9. This particular salesman, Doug Lawrence at Mike Shad Ford Avenues, then emailed me back and told me he would search for one. He eventually located my car in Orlando, had it moved to Jacksonville and I bought it.

Frankly I was amazed at the number of salesmen who contacted me and ignored my simple instructions. After I told them not to contact me by phone, some would continue to call even though they didn't have what I wanted. It was the same with emails. I have to wonder about the IQ of some of those people. I suspect they are so arrogant they just feel they can sell me anything on the lot by the sheer force of their "personality" and "salesmanship".

[Norm201]

Originally Posted by grafxman

Frankly I was amazed at the number of salesmen who contacted me and ignored my simple instructions. After I told them not to contact me by phone, some would continue to call even though they didn't have what I wanted. It was the same with emails. I have to wonder about the IQ of some of those people. I suspect they are so arrogant they just feel they can sell me anything on the lot by the sheer force of their "personality" and "salesmanship".

I agree with you except that it must be effective otherwise they would not do it. The majority of people would be willing compromise especially if it involves two people.

[Karma]

Originally Posted by grafxman

My car buying experience occured as follows:

1. I posted a query online that broadcast out to all the Ford dealers in the area.

2. I specified exactly what I wanted (Blue SES stick) with no accessories.

3. I stated I wanted email contact only, NO PHONE CALLS.

4. I stated I would not pay more than $19,000 drive away total costs.

5. I had to include my phone number to send the communication so of course my phone started ringing.

6. Every dealer who called was scratched from my list of dealers that I would do business with.

7. Some dealers emailed me insisting that I just come in for a test drive. I didn't do that because according to their online inventory they didn't have what I wanted in stock.

8. Finally I got an email from a salesman that offered me a black one. I declined.

9. This particular salesman, Doug Lawrence at Mike Shad Ford Avenues, then emailed me back and told me he would search for one. He eventually located my car in Orlando, had it moved to Jacksonville and I bought it.

Frankly I was amazed at the number of salesmen who contacted me and ignored my simple instructions. After I told them not to contact me by phone, some would continue to call even though they didn't have what I wanted. It was the same with emails. I have to wonder about the IQ of some of those people. I suspect they are so arrogant they just feel they can sell me anything on the lot by the sheer force of their "personality" and "salesmanship".

You sir, understand how to purchase a new vehicle. Nice job. I posted similar advice to Honda Element owners seven years ago, which was made a sticky and am proud to say over 55,000 people have read my instructions since. Here it is for anyone interested: Ready to buy a new one? My proven strategy. - Honda Element Owners Club Forum