Direct Sales?

[RotorHead695]

How many of you would buy direct from Ford for full MSRP if it meant skipping the dealer (and the ADM's)?

I just sent a message to Ford on Facebook and was replied to by a customer service rep. He recorded all of my info and submitted it. Maybe if enough of us start sending in feedback they'll start to modernize the buying experience. Here is a link to their Facebook page in case you are interested in voicing your feedback.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company. 17,565,931 likes · 53,259 talking about this. Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right. #READYSETFORD

www.facebook.com

 

[Cranbery]

How many of you would buy direct from Ford for full MSRP if it meant skipping the dealer (and the ADM's)?

I just sent a message to Ford on Facebook and was replied to by a customer service rep. He recorded all of my info and submitted it. Maybe if enough of us start sending in feedback they'll start to modernize the buying experience. Here is a link to their Facebook page in case you are interested in voicing your feedback.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company. 17,565,931 likes · 53,259 talking about this. Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right. #READYSETFORD

www.facebook.com

I would. This is common practice in Europe, have experience with it. It's a far better system of purchase imo, like what Tesla does.

 

[Yeti]

I would. This is common practice in Europe, have experience with it. It's a far better system of purchase imo, like what Tesla does.

Yeah, too much shadiness going on between Ford and the dealership in many cases. Ford would be required to create/develop/build service and delivery centers which would be expensive and limit the potential of shrugging the blame to the dealers. Coincidentally the same reason Henry Ford ultimately pushed for private dealers.

 

[RotorHead695]

Yeah, too much shadiness going on between Ford and the dealership in many cases. Ford would be required to create/develop/build service and delivery centers which would be expensive and limit the potential of shrugging the blame to the dealers. Coincidentally the same reason Henry Ford ultimately pushed for private dealers.

I'm not talking about eliminating it completely, let's face it, some people still want to buy face to face and want to haggle. Even if you went to a 100% direct buy model you could still use the existing dealer facilities. They make far more on service than sales and you could still sell the trade-ins on the lot. And you could give them a cut of the sale, just as they get for selling at MSRP already.

 

[Yeti]

I'm not talking about eliminating it completely, let's face it, some people still want to buy face to face and want to haggle. Even if you went to a 100% direct buy model you could still use the existing dealer facilities. They make far more on service than sales and you could still sell the trade-ins on the lot. And you could give them a cut of the sale, just as they get for selling at MSRP already.

So take out the competitiveness of independent dealerships and pay them for existing?

I would prefer to see some dealership accountability over price fixing

 

[FaKtor34]

I can see that ordering directly from Ford vs the dealer might help keep problems down on special order models, like prioritizing dealerships based on size and order amounts. You see this comes straight from an owner of a dealership, car companies prioritize the dealerships based on size and volume, so if you order from a small dealership that doesn't do much volume you will be waiting longer than on a dealership that sales more volume, sorry for those still waiting.

So having special orders direct would be a quicker process for most, but as @Yeti stated it would cut out the competition between dealers, which would ultimately lend to paying more. JMO

 

[RotorHead695]

I can see that ordering directly from Ford vs the dealer might help keep problems down on special order models, like prioritizing dealerships based on size and order amounts. You see this comes straight from an owner of a dealership, car companies prioritize the dealerships based on size and volume, so if you order from a small dealership that doesn't do much volume you will be waiting longer than on a dealership that sales more volume, sorry for those still waiting.

So having special orders direct would be a quicker process for most, but as @Yeti stated it would cut out the competition between dealers, which would ultimately lend to paying more. JMO

Totally get what you're saying. I understand I wouldn't get the best price, I'd be paying full price for the convenience and I'd be OK with it.

 

[DingDongDoug]

How many of you would buy direct from Ford for full MSRP if it meant skipping the dealer (and the ADM's)?

I just sent a message to Ford on Facebook and was replied to by a customer service rep. He recorded all of my info and submitted it. Maybe if enough of us start sending in feedback they'll start to modernize the buying experience. Here is a link to their Facebook page in case you are interested in voicing your feedback.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company. 17,565,931 likes · 53,259 talking about this. Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right. #READYSETFORD

www.facebook.com

I would love this. I hate dealing with the endless markups and weird sales people.
Forgive me if you are a weird sales person. You have value, I just don't want to talk to you while they gas up my new car.

I would love to be able to just put in an order at a fixed price with Ford.
I have been talking mumbling about this under my breath forever, but obviously talking to Ford directly is a much better approach.

Ill add my .02 on the page.

 

[FaKtor34]

Totally get what you're saying. I understand I wouldn't get the best price, I'd be paying full price for the convenience and I'd be OK with it.

For many people that would be the quickest route and would leave out the frustration of dealing with the blame game that Ford and the dealers like to toss around. Sadly though your at the mercy of what they want to charge, which could be better than other places.

 

[RotorHead695]

I would love this. I hate dealing with the endless markups and weird sales people.
Forgive me if you are a weird sales person. You have value, I just don't want to talk to you while they gas up my new car.

I would love to be able to just put in an order at a fixed price with Ford.
I have been talking mumbling about this under my breath forever, but obviously talking to Ford directly is a much better approach.

Ill add my .02 on the page.

I was irritated I had to choose between the laughing emoji and the thumb up emoji as a response for this post. haha

 

[Erlo22]

I love the idea of direct sales but here in Texas it is illegal for a vehicle manufacturer to sell directly to the customer. Not sure how tesla works around that but I know it was a huge issue when they first started rolling out.

 

[Cranbery]

I love the idea of direct sales but here in Texas it is illegal for a vehicle manufacturer to sell directly to the customer. Not sure how tesla works around that but I know it was a huge issue when they first started rolling out.

Pretty sure you need to buy out of state for tesla there. It's also a law that exists to fk the consumer and protect the rigged interests. Talk about the hypocrisy of a free market, that law is the epitome of hypocrisy - a lot of things I admire about Texas but those types of laws aren't one of them

 

[Pierless]

Absolutely would... But how about invoice pricing though

I don't need commission on my sale. I would also drive to the plant to pick up it up or pay to ship privately

This could certainly create more jobs... Financing through Ford directly - setting up Fords public financing site/line to finance if needed.. needing someone on site to help finalize papers, confirm delivery, show the features on the car etc.

All issues still go through local dealerships - not any different than buying a Ford from another dealership for the deal but servicing locally

As more, , carvana's pop up it's going to force Ford & others to adapt. Start "small".

Not for everyone and a lot of good points made already. You'd expect extended build times, the experience may not be as smooth (imagine the debacle of changing orders / misinformation from ford here...).

I'm in though.

 

[DingDongDoug]

I was irritated I had to choose between the laughing emoji and the thumb up emoji as a response for this post. haha

@Yeti.
If you could figure out a way to have both the thumbs up and laughing emoji as a reaction to a post there's a bottle of bourbon in it for you.

 

[DingDongDoug]

Absolutely would... But how about invoice pricing though

I don't need commission on my sale. I would also drive to the plant to pick up it up or pay to ship privately

This could certainly create more jobs... Financing through Ford directly - setting up Fords public financing site/line to finance if needed.. needing someone on site to help finalize papers, confirm delivery, show the features on the car etc.

All issues still go through local dealerships - not any different than buying a Ford from another dealership for the deal but servicing locally

As more, , carvana's pop up it's going to force Ford & others to adapt. Start "small".

Not for everyone and a lot of good points made already. You'd expect extended build times, the experience may not be as smooth (imagine the debacle of changing orders / misinformation from ford here...).

I'm in though.

I actually prefer invoice and pick up at the factory idea much better.
But I would also entertain paying the MSRP if the sale was "dealer free" and they would deliver. I would consider it the price of convenience.

 

[Cheif2Slo]

There are a few manufacturers that sell direct, but for a higher price. SPC control arms for example. They say on their website it’s cheaper through their distributors. Maybe they can do something like that. Market it as an “experience “ pick up at the factory, you watch the final bolt, cigar and whiskey, certificate, ect. I would be in for that. Dealerships still exist and compete. Granger still takes in the bucks for listening to the customers, those that want dealer direct have it.

 

[BobBarker]

It’s been tried I know in Oklahoma and Utah and failed. https://www.deseret.com/platform/am...t-frustrating-customers-non-members-say-br-br

https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2...ahoma-plays-host-to-ford-sales-experiment/amp

Obituary

 

[Bannerman]

How many of you would buy direct from Ford for full MSRP if it meant skipping the dealer (and the ADM's)?

I just sent a message to Ford on Facebook and was replied to by a customer service rep. He recorded all of my info and submitted it. Maybe if enough of us start sending in feedback they'll start to modernize the buying experience. Here is a link to their Facebook page in case you are interested in voicing your feedback.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company. 17,565,931 likes · 53,259 talking about this. Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right. #READYSETFORD

www.facebook.com

Probably not going to happen. For Ford, dealers serve not only as a way to distribute their product, but also as a way to provide service/warranty work. Tesla makes this work by having their own corporate service centers, but that's not going to happen with the big, existing manufactures. Unfortunately, I think we are pretty well stuck with this current model.

 

[FaKtor34]

Probably not going to happen. For Ford, dealers serve not only as a way to distribute their product, but also as a way to provide service/warranty work. Tesla makes this work by having their own corporate service centers, but that's not going to happen with the big, existing manufactures. Unfortunately, I think we are pretty well stuck with this current model.

Ford has said that they are leaning towards having specific models for the dealerships and then have special direct order models from Ford, I don't know if it will be specific packages or what, but they did state that the dealerships would be limited on what they could order. Now when this will take place I have no idea, it could be 20 yrs from now.

 

[Yeti]

You asked for it. You got it. Welcome Model E to the growing list of direct sales companies.
Good call, man.