Our Chevrolet dealer use to have the bling department, and also havd a mini museum of sorts in thier show room. Had various memoribila of chevrolet motorsports, vinatge chevrolet ads and other vintage trinquits. So even if by chance all associates were busy and you did have to wait, you could walk around and be entertained. If your wait was long enough to look at everything and you began to get bored....The receptionist was watching and attentiive she would make it appoint to ask if youd like anything or if she could get you the keys to something while you waited.

Not anymore......... like I said it's just like the Ford dealer was....

 

Hmm... My local Ford dealer has a Ford GT hidden in the back... Wonder if I could use that as entertainment when my parents go to buy a new car and truck here soon.

 

Cool, an automotive theme sandbox.

 

It appears to me that many posting are over looking exactly what the first post was intended to highlight which is “customer service”…

It’s not about free food or playgrounds and the first post did not point those out as reasons. What the first post pointed out is what many people have experienced which is lack of “overall” customer service provided by Ford Motor Company.

You can get great prices ANYWHERE so that is not the point. Trust me Ford does not own the market on great deals. The ONLY reason Ford has such great deals now is purely survival because without those great deals Ford would become extinct sooner.

However, focusing on refreshments, playgrounds, knowledge of the dealer ect. are important factors to consider when selecting what brand of vehicle to purchase. Those little things one manufactures dealers do is an insight on what one could reasonably expect from the manufacture itself if and when a problem arises with your vehicle.

It’s like a first impression and first impressions are EVERY THING when it comes to business. Ford currently has, and has for some time now, an extremely bad first impression and they do their best to prove their first impression is what you can reasonably expect WHEN a problem arises with your vehicle.

Ford’s first impression, which has for some time been proven spot on, is to get your money and leave you alone. If you have a problem Ford really don’t care and thus will just leave you alone to figure out and correct your issues on your own at your own expense.

What Steve pointed out in his first post is the fact, at least in my experience and thousands of other Ford owners, that Ford has crappy uncaring dealers and Ford does not intend in any way to ever have a customer service department. Perhaps with Ford losing so much money they just can’t afford to fund a customer service division in Ford.

And, regardless what Ford thinks, believes or wishes they ARE DIRECTLY responsible for how customers are treated at THEIR dealerships. You can call them franchises or privately owned entities all you want but at the end of the day Ford Motor Company IS 100% responsible for their dealers actions because their dealers ARE an extension of Ford.

If Ford continues in the fashion they are currently exercising I don’t think we will see Ford vehicles 10 years from now because Ford will cease to exist especially since any of the other manufactures like Toyota, Chevy, Dodge etc can easily replace any vehicles Ford is manufacturing. The only tough one will be the Mustang but anything is replaceable and that includes the Mustang…

 

If you really think about---a paradox exists. We are very concerned about how much a vehicle costs---that is why we shop from dealer to dealer. But most people forget the "how much" quickly and are more conerned about the service aspect. (I know I do---I own a vehicle for a long, long time.) Several foreign companies have recognized this---Toyota and Honda---and that is what keeps people coming back. While one may argue about US vs. Foreign Companies as to reliability---I really believe that one point that is fairly solid is that several foreign companies have a rock solid understanding of what it takes to keep people happy---and therefore the people keep coming back.

Ironically, dealerships make very little of their profit on new cars--it is service (refunded by the maker) and used cars. In talking to people in the business, all have said that Honda and Toyota work harder at keeping their customers happy---andthey come back. Also keep in mind that the best advertising is word-of-mouth---and these happy customers are spreading the word, as well.

TSC

 

Here is what is even more interesting…

Toyota could very well end up purchasing Ford and that would be AWESOME as quality would go up through the roof, customer service would be present, and we would have less to worry about when it comes to vehicle problems…

God willing Toyota will make it happen but one can only wish for now…

 

If Matty is still lingering around, you know he is flipping out at this moment. Chompin at the bit trying to figure out a way to creat an account just so he can comment on Toyota not buying Ford.

 

The point Steve's trying to make is that it's nice to go car shopping and not get treated like dirt, even if you aren't gonna spend any money with 'em.

 

The part that I really despise is when you pull into the parking lot in front of the dealership, and three salemen look around and figure out whose turn it is to work over the customer. Then one comes out, and the sleeze begins...

The internet is a powerful tool, and it has helped the consumer. Too bad some dealerships do not understand that part yet. I don't want to be treated as a long, lost cousin, nor do want to be treated rudely; I simply want to be treated with the respect that anyone deserves.

When I bought my Taurus, I went to a dealership about 50 minutes away, as they gave me the best price for the new car over the internet. I figured that driving 45-50 minutes to save $1500 was worth my while. I did my homework on my trade-in---and, when they began to screw with me, I said, "Listen, I know how much my trade in is worth---do not insult me. Another question to ask youself is this: How much is my business worth? You know what you can sell the Taurus for---I will give you ten minutes to talk to the sales manager---if is a go, fine, if no-go, I'm walkin'." I drove the car home. I am not the type of person to play games. The saleperson knows how much they can move a car for---so let's cut all this bull poopy out and either say "OK", or "No."

I used to ref (on occasion) with a car salesman, and he even said that, as a salesperson, you knew that you would sell a car 1 deal out of ten---nine others would walk. On a good day, 2 out of ten. But he also said that he tried his hardest to treat everybody with dignity, and he had a ton of repeat customers---even when he changed dealerships.

TSC

 

My last experience (May, 2006) was mixed. The sales people bent over backwards, fed us, barely pressured us, and made the whole sale end of the deal very pleasurable.

However, when the car we bought (2005 Taurus) had a problem the first week we had it, they basically bent us over and didn't even bother to put sand in the Vaseline so we could feel it too.

In fact, if it wasn't for Quintin, they would have gotten away with it. (Thanks again Q!! )

When I bought my truck, I went to many different Ford dealers. There were huge differences between them all as far as how they treated us and what they would do for sales. I'm still kicking myself for not buying the Taurus from the same dealer I bought my truck from, but I have learned that lesson now, and when I go back next year (2008) to buy a Mustang, I will go where I bought my truck even if it's not the best deal in Denver. The after-sales service is what has made my mind up.

 

Just like Steve says, I too, have also noticed some craziness at the local Atlanta Ford Dealerships. I try to look for the “Blue Oval” that signifies what should be the better dealerships, but if they are the best, I don’t even want to see the others.

I feel like I get "sized up" and it seems like the salesperson gets "cooler" towards a customer that they realize is a knowledgeable buyer and won't be paying full retail price. I will share a story about that at the end of this.

For several months I have been looking for an F-150 when I can find one at
MY price (which I will also explain later). I know that a dealership can eventually sell a truck at “their” price if I don’t buy it, but I also know that there are tons of F-150’s for sale at numerous Ford Dealerships, so I feel sure that I can also find a truck at “my price” as long as I keep looking.

Around Atlanta recent ads for Ford F-150’s on the radio advertise things like
“$1,000 off invoice – then customer also gets all the other incentives”. I have seen printed ads touting “$9,000 off MSRP for an F-150 from current stock". I saw an ad for new STX’s for $17K not too long ago.

I was originally looking for an ’04 or newer F-150, but at these prices – IF I could find a dealership that will actually honor them once I get there I would be silly to buy used instead of a new truck. There is a regionally focused paper called “Truck Trader” that when looking at prices in there, one could often buy a new truck for less, or not very much more than an ’04 or newer F-150 advertises for in that Truck Trader, mostly because of the incentives regularly offered by Ford Motor Company. Sometimes those incentives tend to keep resale prices of F-150’s down IMHO.

Sometimes just looking for or at new trucks is difficult. Salesmen just don’t seem to understand what “just looking right now” means and they sure don’t seem to want to take no for an answer to anything.

Many seem to try to price a new vehicle by taking MSRP, adding all kinds of dealer packs, then discounting incentives and adding all fees including junk ones. Getting quotes that way, prices are always higher than I am willing to pay for as many Ford Dealerships and Ford trucks there are around here.

I would prefer to price my truck by starting at invoice, then add a FAIR amount for a dealer profit, subtract all incentives (I also know that there is always an additional $750-$1,000 available at Sales Managers discretion that they will never admit to, but it is there…) then add tax, tag and title for a drive-out price. For that I would get a nice truck at what I feel is a good price, and they still make what I think is a fair profit. If a dealership will not agree to do that, I walk. I TRY to determine that a dealer will do this even before I start to look at trucks, but that part is very difficult. If they will not sell at my price I don’t much care what they have in stock.

Recently I stopped at one “Blue Oval “ Ford Dealership and he just was
NOT going to let me get out of there without buying a truck from him, so I let him help me find one, price it out, and it was the same old thing, driveout was just too high for me. Even when they went back to do better, their best price wasn’t even CLOSE for me.

They also have a contraption that reads your DL to tell you if you have “won” anything, basically just a ruse to get your DL information I would bet. I never gave him my phone #, but still have received several calls from his asking me why I never came back.

So I went to another “Blue Oval “ Dealership. I was met by a YOUNG sales girl before I ever even could get out of my truck.

(Made me think that I was in a Toyota Dealership, LOL).

I told her that I knew someone there, and really should see him just to be fair. Whatever and anything I said went in one ear and out the other. She kept asking me what I was looking for, and I said to see the salesman I knew, that I didn’t even care to look at ANY trucks until I knew how they handled their pricing.

Finally I went to the Sales desk, and the Manager told me that the guy I knew was no longer there, so he assigned me to her, and her to me. I soon found out that she had been working there for about 6 weeks, and had sold 4 vehicles so far. This wasn’t going well at all.

We got to her desk, and the FIRST thing she asked for was to have my DL so she could make a copy. I asked her WHY she needed it, didn’t matter WHO I was until I (the pesky customer) had even decided whether to buy from them or not. Then I proceeded to tell her what I expected in terms of pricing, which didn’t seem to register with her. Then she wrote something out on a piece of paper, with a line at the end for my signature...

Basically, what I was supposed to be signing said was that if I found a truck at a good price I would agree to buy it TODAY!

As soon as I saw that, I said nothing, picked up my DL and walked out.

2 B cont'd...

 

...cont'd

A Sales Manager chased me out to my car, basically blocking my exit until I spoke with him. When he asked me what was wrong I told him the story and my expectations. He apologized SINCERELY, and ASKED for another chance, and he PROMISED that he would email me an example of what I was looking for at a good price if I bought a truck from them.

You guessed it, that was the last I ever heard from him.

I also emailed what I was looking for along with my expectations to SEVEN Atlanta Ford Dealerships. Told them I would start at invoice, pay a fair markup or theor profit, then take the incentives and pay tag, tax and title to arrive at a fair driveout price.

I haven’t had very much response in the 10 days since I sent it out. I still hear Fords ads – Year end closeouts! / $1,000 under invoice plus incentives
(which was already in my ballpark) / $9,000 under MSRP for any F-150 in stock.

I saw an ad at one dealership for a NEW ’05 Supercab for sale so I inquired about it just to see what it was about. What I found it to be was a Manager’s demo that had 10K miles on it. It was priced at $27,775, and when I asked what their best driveout price was they told me I could have it for $30K and some change – FOR AN ’05 DEMO! Like Noah (Bill Cosby) said
“RIIIIIIGGGHHHHHHHT!”

I had already seen an ’06 F-150 Scab demo somewhere else with 20K miles for $21K which was a lot more appealing had I wanted black, which I don’t for what I do.

I have had my share of new vehicles, and have owned 4 Ford Trucks since 1996, and another one in 1987.

Being honest, and also trying to be fair about it, I can say that I have been treated better at ALMOST ANY kind of vehicle dealership than the treatment I usually get from Ford Dealerships recently.

I want a new truck, and for me F-150 is the ONLY option. Since my truck now has so many miles (218,000) I rent a truck when I travel, which is usually a Dodge, and after doing that some I wouldn’t have one. Same with Chebby. And I just do not consider the Japanese branded ones to be real trucks. I wish that the F-150 was made by Toyota or even Nissan, or that either one would end up owning Ford, since Ford doesn't seem to have a clue as to how to treat customers and potential buyers.

I already mentioned that I realize that there are tons of F-150’s and Ford Dealerships, so I feel sure that I can eventually find a truck at “my price” as long as I keep looking.

I didn’t find one by the end of the year, but more Ford incentives can’t be to far off…

Here's that true story about pre-judging and sizing up a customer -

Several years ago in the Summer of 1985, I went with a friend in to a Porsche dealership to drive a new car home for him. He was dressed in cutoff jeans, a raggedy t-shirt and and was wearing flip-flops. I could hear the salesmen laughing the "let's give that ratty-looking customer to the new guy" attitude.

After introductions, the conversation went something like this (TRUE STORY!)

"What do you have in a new Porsche 944?" asked my friend...

"We have several, but only two colors in stock, Red, and Black"...

"Do you have a Black straight shift?"

"Yes!"

"What about a Red Automatic?"

"Yes" Said the salesman.

"Do they both have sunroofs?"

"Yes, which one would you like to see?"

"Good!, said my friend, I want both, I will take the Black one for me, and the Red one is for my wife. I can pay cash with a check, here is the phone # for my Banker so you can verify funds. I don't care much about the price, I just want both so I can drive them away TODAY!"

You could nearly hear the jaws drop, those guys who didn't size my friend up as one who would ever be a serious buyer...

It really is a true story!

LOL

 

HAHA
I'll tell you how bad it is at our local dealer, the big 2 city block one Iwas talkign about earlier....
We stoped by early this evening too get a glimpse at a couple we found on the net and make sure they were there...... Ther were 6... SIX... S I X other cars driving around teh lots looking because we all knew no one would be there!!!!!

MUHAHAHAHA

 

We recently purchased a Toyota Highlander and our shopping experience was kind of eye opening too. Ford wasn't even in the running as we were replacing my wife's 01 Windstar which has been through two transmissions in 38,000 miles - both out of warranty. We went to a Toyota dealer about 50 miles away without our trade in vehicle. The salesman was very friendly, went on a test drive with us and explained the vehicle features very well. We told him we were interested and he said he would hold the vehicle for us for a week while we shopped around. He gave us a ballpark figure for our trade without even looking at it. He did not try to sell their service department or show us any frills or fluff. It was just a very friendly experience with very little pressure.

We went to another Toyota dealer that was closer to home, about 20 miles away. They have a huge lot with a large service area with a kids play space and a large plasma TV. We looked at an identical Highlander and had them work us up a deal. The salesman seemed like he had been on the job for about a week. As they were working our deal, one of the managers was dealing with a customer who was offended by their offer for her trade. He was really rude about it and did it right in the showroom - cutting down her trade and telling her how her car was worth next to nothing. After the lady stormed out, the salesman came back to his desk and said "I think you are going to like this deal". It was almost $6,000 more than the deal at the other dealership. We would have basically been paying over invoice and giving them our car for free. Two days later we returned to the first dealership and drove our new Highlander home.

My dad just took his Ford to the dealer for service yesterday and went out to the showroom. When a salesman approached him he said, I'm looking for a Lincoln Navigator. The salesman said "Don't have any, got one coming in a couple weeks" and walked away. Now that's service.....

 

what were the two Toyota dealers you went to?