[Lightning Man]

Hi all,

I just got word that my Lightning has landed. Dealer wants me to pay an additional $10K and they will throw in some accessories for "free."

In other words, they are giving me at best $2K in accessories but charging an additional $10K.

This was never disclosed to me when I paid the deposit and waited. I feel that this dirty tactic is not something I endorse but the sales guy said that there are 7 others waiting for this exact truck and that the dealer can sell it with the $10K markup no problem.

Question remains: shall I go ahead with this? Any thoughts?

 

[IGF150]

Me personally I wouldn't pay a markup on a car. I would fight tooth and nail to get it removed. Reject the "free" accessories and tell them your prepared to sit there all day until you get what you want. I understand the situation with this car but that is no excuse for a dealer to do this.

Did the sales guy say that exactly to you? That sounds like a threat to me and I would call out them individually for doing that with their GM. No one should threaten you with YOUR car and that 7 others are waiting.

 

[Lightning Man]

Me personally I wouldn't pay a markup on a car. I would fight tooth and nail to get it removed. Reject the "free" accessories and tell them your prepared to sit there all day until you get what you want. I understand the situation with this car but that is no excuse for a dealer to do this.

Did the sales guy say that exactly to you? That sounds like a threat to me and I would call out them individually for doing that with their GM. No one should threaten you with YOUR car and that 7 others are waiting.

Yup, sales guy literally said it right in my face. They don't seem to care about customers. Had I not ordered it, they wouldn't even have had the truck to begin with. Now they are selling it to me at $10K over MSRP...

 

[maelstop]

Which dealer?
I can only tell you what I would do. I’d probably end up paying it but letting them know I’m gonna do my best to let every single person they have on their wait list know this is what they are doing.

They run the risk of people moving their reservations somewhere else.
They may not care but a few hours of your time might cost them some business.

 

[Fryballin]

I would fight hard to not pay the extra $10k but at the end of the day if it meant turning the truck away, I would pay it because with the $7500 tax credit (assuming you and the truck qualify) then you are only looking at $2500 over MSRP versus what reservation holders are having to pay for a 2023 model this fall. My local dealer priced their demo unit right at $100k when it becomes available in Dec. and they sold me my truck at MSRP.

 

[208]

They are holding your truck, that you ordered hostage. I would never pay it, and I would take any and all legal action possible against the crooked dealership.

 

[stnky1]

I'm not sure where you are located in Canada but if you are in Ontario it is illegal to sell the vehicle for any higher than you agreed. Tell them you will report them to OMVIC (or whatever the regulatory agency is in your province), or the Consumer Protection Agency. This is from the OMVIC website:

"When you're buying a car, things can be hidden in plain sight, like hidden fees or added costs. In Ontario, All-in Price Advertising is the law. You should never be charged more than the dealer’s advertised price meaning that the price of any new or used vehicle advertised by a dealer must include all fees and charges they will collect, excluding HST and licensing."

So if you received a printed sales agreement with your down payment then legally they have to honour that. Like I say it may be different in your particular province if it's not Ontario.

 

[Lightning Man]

I'm in Alberta. I feel like they're holding me hostage as they never mentioned the $10K extra otherwise I wouldn't have ordered in the first place. Very opportunistic of them.

I don't qualify for the tax break as there are none where I live.

My biggest concern is if they sell the car/truck before I take possession. LOL.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I will hold firm and will say no to this increase.

 

[stnky1]

Looks like Alberta has a similar association and laws...from the AMVIC website:

• Licensed businesses are expected to follow a high standard of professional conduct.
• Licensed businesses must follow the consumer protection laws set out in Alberta’s Consumer Protection Act. For example, it is a breach of the Act to engage in an unfair practice.
• Licensed businesses must abide by the General Codes of Conduct
• The rules only apply to transactions between businesses and consumers.
• Licensed dealers must provide full disclosure.
• Licensed dealers must use all-in pricing on ads.
• Consumers can ask AMVIC to investigate if a licensed business does not operate lawfully.

You could also threaten to report them to FoMoCo directly. I thought Ford was implementing $25,000 fines to dealers who try this kind of tactic.

Good luck let us know how it works out.

 

[Lightning Man]

Looks like Alberta has a similar association and laws...from the AMVIC website:

• Licensed businesses are expected to follow a high standard of professional conduct.
• Licensed businesses must follow the consumer protection laws set out in Alberta’s Consumer Protection Act. For example, it is a breach of the Act to engage in an unfair practice.
• Licensed businesses must abide by the General Codes of Conduct
• The rules only apply to transactions between businesses and consumers.
• Licensed dealers must provide full disclosure.
• Licensed dealers must use all-in pricing on ads.
• Consumers can ask AMVIC to investigate if a licensed business does not operate lawfully.

You could also threaten to report them to FoMoCo directly. I thought Ford was implementing $25,000 fines to dealers who try this kind of tactic.

Good luck let us know how it works out.

This is very helpful; thank you so much!

Unfortunately, I have a trade-in so they can simply low-ball my trade-in and avoid all of these issues.

Either way, I have a few tools now thanks to you. I'll keep you posted!

 

[Lightning Man]

Looks like Alberta has a similar association and laws...from the AMVIC website:

• Licensed businesses are expected to follow a high standard of professional conduct.
• Licensed businesses must follow the consumer protection laws set out in Alberta’s Consumer Protection Act. For example, it is a breach of the Act to engage in an unfair practice.
• Licensed businesses must abide by the General Codes of Conduct
• The rules only apply to transactions between businesses and consumers.
• Licensed dealers must provide full disclosure.
• Licensed dealers must use all-in pricing on ads.
• Consumers can ask AMVIC to investigate if a licensed business does not operate lawfully.

You could also threaten to report them to FoMoCo directly. I thought Ford was implementing $25,000 fines to dealers who try this kind of tactic.

Good luck let us know how it works out.

So an update as requested:

I balked on the $10K additional accessories. Immediately, they lowered my trade-in by $10K to account for their loss of profit.

They also proceeded to refund my deposit because I was not comfortable with the delta b/w my trade-in value and their MSRP.

Obviously I am beyond bummed and have never felt this disheartened in my entire life. Only for $10K? I will never, ever buy another car from them nor will I buy another Ford from a dealership. They clearly misled me by never even mentioning that there will be mandatory $10K accessories. Very bad professional conduct.

Good luck to everyone else with their Lightning and their orders. I will not be taking any further actions.

 

[Joseywales]

Why didn’t you trade your car elsewhere?

 

[Lightning Man]

Why didn’t you trade your car elsewhere?

I get tax credit if I trade it in. I could've sold it personally but it's a hassle.

 

[ChrisC]

I went to see the demo at my dealer where I had purchased TWO FFEs from them that I love and still own. The said there would be a 10K dealer markup so I called around to other nearby dealers and was told they would do the same. I found a dealer online that will honor MSRP and ship anywhere in the country, so I switched my dealer to them after confirming that they can deliver to my state. They confirmed that they would ship it to the dealer near me after I get my order filled by them. I hope it goes well since 10K is too much to pay, especially since Ford increased the price on the 2023 models and the tax credits are not available.

 

[208]

For those looking to do the same, Crater Lake Ford in Medford Oregon will do the same... take an order from anybody in the country and then ship it to them. They pride themselves as being a "fleet" dealer, and care most about number of units sold per year. They sell for MSRP and hinted that if Ford compels all dealers to do the same, they will likely shave some off of that to stay below "most dealers". Oregon does not have sales tax, so there is that as well for anybody looking.