Ford CEO want's on line ordering only

[MXGOLF]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...AAY0VmV?cvid=a9815793816a4051ba94355de601f119

I was wondering if this is the way of the future car/truck buying!

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[Dereku]

Hey if dealer mark ups went away. I would not be too upset. As long as there was a way to do a test drive.

 

[Aonarch]

I like Jim Farley, he is a nice guy and a genuine enthusiast. I've met with him a few times.

He is going to run up against extreme resistance from the dealer network.

I don't think this will ever happen with any of the big three.

Telsa can do it, because they never had an independent dealer network.

 

[MXGOLF]

Alec that makes cense if we can get past all the shortages and other problems that dealers have. I can see where that would put a lot of car salesmen out of a job too. The dealers will push back for sure. Also like Derek said a test drive is essential for most people before buying any vehicle. Like most things I buy I like to touch and feel and try on before I buy.

 

[shadesofgray19]

LOL. Since ordering vehicles is going so well for them.

 

[Trigganometry]

If that’s the future model they want to use they’re face planting hard right now with release of new models and existing orders. They can play the blame game only so long before reality catches up to them. If every manufacturer goes to this model then it might work, but we all know that isn’t realistic. Otherwise major lost sales and revenue

 

[AdamHarris]

The dealership network is that old fat uncle who moved into the basement and just won’t leave.

To phase it out Ford is splitting the company up with an ICE decision and an EV division. EVs will be direct sale while ICE will continue on with the dealer network, once it’s all set up.

 

[Yinzcity]

This might be trouble for the flexibility of the assembly lines. Currently if they have a part restriction with something, then they're just going to build with what they have to keep the line going because even if none ordered it, a dealer will take it as inventory. You will see that with paint colors on the assembly lines now, you'll get 4-6 vehicles of the same color in a row cause it's easier to build that way. Going to be a lot harder to schedule the line. if every order is custom. May lead to longer build times if they wait till they have enough similar orders to schedule in a batch. I'd also imagine they'll offer less options to select from to simply things. The Lightning is already like that compared to the standard F150.

 

[wanted33]

.

If that’s the future model they want to use they’re face planting hard right now with release of new models and existing orders. They can play the blame game only so long before reality catches up to them. If every manufacturer goes to this model then it might work, but we all know that isn’t realistic. Otherwise major lost sales and revenue

Damn right Rick. One only has to have a Bronco order in to see how Ford has handled the online ordering debacle. Yes, supply line issues have caused some problems. But, some of Ford's decisions has caused many unnecessary headaches. And sadly, I don't think Ford has learned a dang thing for those missteps.

 

[Joeiconic]

Damn right Rick. One only has to have a Bronco order in to see how Ford has handled the online ordering debacle. Yes, supply line issues have caused some problems. But, some of Ford's decisions has caused many unnecessary headaches. And sadly, I don't think Ford has learned a dang thing for those missteps.

All I know is that I see Broncos everywhere now, so plenty of folks are getting them.

 

[wanted33]

All I know is that I see Broncos everywhere now, so plenty of folks are getting them.

That's true, but sadly many that have day 1 & 2 reservations are being bypassed because of a decision that was made by Ford. I reserved on 10/03/20, and my original build date was expected to be around now. But due to Fords decision to kiss the asses of the mega dealers, if I'm lucky I'll get a build date in '24. I'm kinda over it now, and am looking at going in a different direction.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Dealerships are a relic. Created by the Super League of Boomers, then carried on by their children.

I view dealerships like that 80 year old who finally decides to get with the times, but buys a flip phone.

Zero reason not to go to online purchases, or set purchase prices, cept for a bunch of very old farts who will fight tooth and nail under the old mantra of, "This is the way it has always been and how we will continue to do it."

How else are they going to afford their alcoholism, divorce decrees, and country club memberships.

 

[Yinzcity]

I suppose another potential downside to this is that warranty service will get much worse for us. Without the incentive to play nice with the customer so they come back and drop more $$$ on a new vehicle purchase in the future, I can't see the dealers putting much effort into taking care of customers for warranty claims. Unless Ford steps up their reimbursement to the dealers for warranty expenses as I don't think the dealers make much off of claims now as it is.

 

[Chris M]

Two things I've noticed from my local PHX area Ford commercials and ads:
Rarely do I see Rangers advertised on TV...and only marginally in print.
TV commercials lately are using phrases that indicate they really want to build you the exact truck you want...pushing the order concept far above coming to the lot to see something in person.

I don't like either of those things. But times are a-changing and I reckon we all have to get used to things slowly becoming different than what we all grew up with.

 

[JasonTremor]

I forsee a lot of brick and mortar dealer storefronts closing up if this happens. It will only hurt the consumer in the long run as the margin on warranty work isn't enough to keep a storefront up and running. So look for longer waits in the queue for service at fewer service centers as time goes by.

I see a happy medium being cutting back on inventory on hand, but having some available to test trive and look at. They also need to be able to deliver a vehicle in a reasonable time frame from initial order.

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