A Confession: I was a fool

[phocion]

I'll get this response out of the way before others pollute the thread with similar sentiments:

"You should have read the fine print and realized that Ford was under no legal obligation to do all the things they said they were going to do. It was a pandemic, after all."

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[Lambert87]

I hate to say I totally disagree with this statement, look at Tesla cars, there was a two year waiting list for those, when I reserved my bronco it was just that, a reservation, not a promise, it said that on the reservation. I too have an 05 f150, I have 326,000 miles on it... I'm a state employee and not made of money, but I waited patiently, my local dealer called two days after getting my reservation and the day the 2022 banks opened I went and paid my deposit to order.
My local dealer has emailed me weekly, Ford has now given me a production date of 1/3/22, I was instructed by my dealer, if I wanted one in the next year, go base as possible. Which is what I did... My dealer has been great, there small and local, but specialize in ordering vehicles.
I'm sorry so many of you feel cheated or duped by Ford, but we were clearly told it was no promise of delivery to reserve one. It only costs $100 to reserve, if $100 makes or breaks us, then we probably shouldn't be buying a premium off road SUV that takes premium fuel and needs maintenance....

 

[Big House]

As a fifth grade teacher I spend plenty of time talking to 11 year olds about fairness, kindness, right, and wrong.

Like many of you, over a year ago I reserved a Bronco. I had never heard of allocations, ADM, or @mrlevine. I thought I’d place my $100 deposit, get in line, and wait my turn. After all, that’s what I teach my students. “Wait your turn, and you will get your fair share.”

I have purchased enough cars in my 53 years to know I don’t like the process, but this seemed different. We were told it was different. I was ignorant, and I believed them.

As a teacher in a very high poverty district, I don’t have money to waste, so I chose a discount price from a small town dealer in a neighboring state. I got burned by that. @Ford

I drive a 2005 F150 with 230,000 miles on it, so I can’t wait 6 years for my Bronco, so I believed @mrlevine when he said I could change my dealer. I started that process over 8 weeks ago, and I’m still waiting. I’m convinced I believed the wrong people - again.

Now I find myself thinking of ways to game the system or cut the line, because doing the things I ask my students to do has gotten me nothing but grief, frustration, and embarrassment.

I know some of you will laugh at me or blame me for being so gullible, and maybe you’re correct. This has certainly been a learning experience. I just wanted the truck I had dreamed about for 30 years. I did not expect lessons in patience, disappointment, and corporate misinformation.

Good luck to everyone in line in front of me and behind me. I suspect my students will be driving before I get a Bronco. Maybe I can get a ride from one of them to the dealer for the actual delivery.

 

[Bituman]

Not your fault.

This is a unique situation and Ford clearly wasn't prepared for it. During "normal" times, Ford works with the dealers and the dealers work with the customer. If a customer ends up with a crappy dealer, then we as the customer can literally just walk out and drive down the road to the next dealer. Super easy because the free market regulates itself and Ford doesn't even have to be involved at all.

The problem right now is Ford created a system in which customers needs to deal directly with Ford to avoid crappy dealers... and it is abundantly clear that Ford was not prepared for that reality. Ford's customer service centers are clearly overwhelmed, not only with the Bronco, but with the F-150 Lightning, Mach-E, and Maverick as well.

And to make matters worse, the component shortages and high levels of inflation are adding buckets of fuel to the fire.

Agree this is really a great summary of the situation we’ve found ourselves in. One of the things I really agree about is our ability to “walk out and drive down the road to the next dealer.” Quite a few here want to do away with the dealer system. I do not. While it is a PITA to deal with some dealers, at least I have options under normal circumstances. If I’m dealing directly with Ford to buy a car and there are no alternatives, then I can’t “drive down the road” unless I’m willing to buy another brand.

Good luck OP, hope your F150 holds up long enough for you to get the vehicle you desire, whether it’s a Bronco or something else.

 

[Big House]

I believe my delivery date will be 1 April, oh wait a minute now I get it lol.

are we all waiting for Wild tracks?

 

[Heffe66413]

As a fifth grade teacher I spend plenty of time talking to 11 year olds about fairness, kindness, right, and wrong.

Like many of you, over a year ago I reserved a Bronco. I had never heard of allocations, ADM, or @mrlevine. I thought I’d place my $100 deposit, get in line, and wait my turn. After all, that’s what I teach my students. “Wait your turn, and you will get your fair share.”

I have purchased enough cars in my 53 years to know I don’t like the process, but this seemed different. We were told it was different. I was ignorant, and I believed them.

As a teacher in a very high poverty district, I don’t have money to waste, so I chose a discount price from a small town dealer in a neighboring state. I got burned by that. @Ford

I drive a 2005 F150 with 230,000 miles on it, so I can’t wait 6 years for my Bronco, so I believed @mrlevine when he said I could change my dealer. I started that process over 8 weeks ago, and I’m still waiting. I’m convinced I believed the wrong people - again.

Now I find myself thinking of ways to game the system or cut the line, because doing the things I ask my students to do has gotten me nothing but grief, frustration, and embarrassment.

I know some of you will laugh at me or blame me for being so gullible, and maybe you’re correct. This has certainly been a learning experience. I just wanted the truck I had dreamed about for 30 years. I did not expect lessons in patience, disappointment, and corporate misinformation.

Good luck to everyone in line in front of me and behind me. I suspect my students will be driving before I get a Bronco. Maybe I can get a ride from one of them to the dealer for the actual delivery.

I may have to wait awhile. And yes I have to drive a couple of states to get my Bronco. But I got an honest dealer and a great price. Inflation is real and the price of new Broncos ( or any other car is going to shoot up. ) ask me if I would trust Ford again on the rollout of a new vehicle and I would say NO WAY. But there are some positives in having to wait. Early defects or bugs get corrected. One gets to read up on what owners like or dislike. One gets to go over one’s build over and over- so by the time it does get built, it is exactly what they wanted. But after all is said and done - do I fault you for venting your frustrations ( and real life dilemma). Not at all!

 

[adampdx]

I know some of you will laugh at me or blame me for being so gullible, and maybe you’re correct. This has certainly been a learning experience. I just wanted the truck I had dreamed about for 30 years. I did not expect lessons in patience, disappointment, and corporate misinformation.

yeah no, it's not your fault. @Ford has ROYALY f**ked this roll out up.

 

[GiveItaTri]

I hate to say I totally disagree with this statement, look at Tesla cars, there was a two year waiting list for those, when I reserved my bronco it was just that, a reservation, not a promise, it said that on the reservation. I too have an 05 f150, I have 326,000 miles on it... I'm a state employee and not made of money, but I waited patiently, my local dealer called two days after getting my reservation and the day the 2022 banks opened I went and paid my deposit to order.
My local dealer has emailed me weekly, Ford has now given me a production date of 1/3/22, I was instructed by my dealer, if I wanted one in the next year, go base as possible. Which is what I did... My dealer has been great, there small and local, but specialize in ordering vehicles.
I'm sorry so many of you feel cheated or duped by Ford, but we were clearly told it was no promise of delivery to reserve one. It only costs $100 to reserve, if $100 makes or breaks us, then we probably shouldn't be buying a premium off road SUV that takes premium fuel and needs maintenance....

I believe I already said I was a fool. In fact, it was in the title. I think you would agree that Ford said things and then said the opposite, but I appreciate your perspective.

 

[pfd799]

Not your fault.

This is a unique situation and Ford clearly wasn't prepared for it. During "normal" times, Ford works with the dealers and the dealers work with the customer. If a customer ends up with a crappy dealer, then we as the customer can literally just walk out and drive down the road to the next dealer. Super easy because the free market regulates itself and Ford doesn't even have to be involved at all.

The problem right now is Ford created a system in which customers needs to deal directly with Ford to avoid crappy dealers... and it is abundantly clear that Ford was not prepared for that reality. Ford's customer service centers are clearly overwhelmed, not only with the Bronco, but with the F-150 Lightning, Mach-E, and Maverick as well.

And to make matters worse, the component shortages and high levels of inflation are adding buckets of fuel to the fire.

Well said. Although there have been numerous missteps by Ford I don’t buy the narrative that they are nefarious and don’t care about their customers, unfortunately when you only have a finite amount of resources and a much greater demand some people are going to get upset no matter what you do. I am not condoning some of what they’ve done but I can’t help but feel if the Bronco was released in 2018 or so we wouldn’t be dealing with all of this.

 

[Monster1926]

As a fifth grade teacher I spend plenty of time talking to 11 year olds about fairness, kindness, right, and wrong.

Like many of you, over a year ago I reserved a Bronco. I had never heard of allocations, ADM, or @mrlevine. I thought I’d place my $100 deposit, get in line, and wait my turn. After all, that’s what I teach my students. “Wait your turn, and you will get your fair share.”

I have purchased enough cars in my 53 years to know I don’t like the process, but this seemed different. We were told it was different. I was ignorant, and I believed them.

As a teacher in a very high poverty district, I don’t have money to waste, so I chose a discount price from a small town dealer in a neighboring state. I got burned by that. @Ford

I drive a 2005 F150 with 230,000 miles on it, so I can’t wait 6 years for my Bronco, so I believed @mrlevine when he said I could change my dealer. I started that process over 8 weeks ago, and I’m still waiting. I’m convinced I believed the wrong people - again.

Now I find myself thinking of ways to game the system or cut the line, because doing the things I ask my students to do has gotten me nothing but grief, frustration, and embarrassment.

I know some of you will laugh at me or blame me for being so gullible, and maybe you’re correct. This has certainly been a learning experience. I just wanted the truck I had dreamed about for 30 years. I did not expect lessons in patience, disappointment, and corporate misinformation.

Good luck to everyone in line in front of me and behind me. I suspect my students will be driving before I get a Bronco. Maybe I can get a ride from one of them to the dealer for the actual delivery.

What exactly is the problem with your dealership?

 

[GiveItaTri]

Well said. Although there have been numerous missteps by Ford I don’t buy the narrative that they are nefarious and don’t care about their customers, unfortunately when you only have a finite amount of resources and a much greater demand some people are going to get upset no matter what you do. I am not condoning some of what they’ve done but I can’t help but feel if the Bronco was released in 2018 or so we wouldn’t be dealing with all of this.

I agree, I don’t think they are evil people, but I think we are not priorities to them. They have bigger goals, and helping individuals and solving one problem at a time is low on their list but high on ours.

 

[GiveItaTri]

What exactly is the problem with your dealership?

Because of how Ford changed allocations, I won’t get my Bronco for at least 6 years. My F150 won’t last that long.

 

[sgraing1]

Pandemic or no pandemic, Ford really screwed the pooch with this launch. At this point everything they tell us is just a piss poor excuse for their poor management, and dismal manufacturing capability.
People want results Ford Motor Company ,not a bunch of lame excuses with no clear path forward.

 

[Bob Blaylock]

A Confession: I was a fool

Take comfort in knowing that the great Laurence Tureaud has compassion for you.

 

[CHALK911]

I hate to say I totally disagree with this statement, look at Tesla cars, there was a two year waiting list for those, when I reserved my bronco it was just that, a reservation, not a promise, it said that on the reservation. I too have an 05 f150, I have 326,000 miles on it... I'm a state employee and not made of money, but I waited patiently, my local dealer called two days after getting my reservation and the day the 2022 banks opened I went and paid my deposit to order.
My local dealer has emailed me weekly, Ford has now given me a production date of 1/3/22, I was instructed by my dealer, if I wanted one in the next year, go base as possible. Which is what I did... My dealer has been great, there small and local, but specialize in ordering vehicles.
I'm sorry so many of you feel cheated or duped by Ford, but we were clearly told it was no promise of delivery to reserve one. It only costs $100 to reserve, if $100 makes or breaks us, then we probably shouldn't be buying a premium off road SUV that takes premium fuel and needs maintenance....

Well, I couldn't disagree with you much more. Comparing to Tesla isn't a good example. First off in comparison Tesla is a new and small manufacturer (began in '08ish) and has only produced about 1.9 million cars in total. Meanwhile Ford has been around for over a century and produced 4.1 million cars just last year. When one buys a Tesla they know the wait, they know the price, and they don't deal with the Dealers trying to rip them off. Ford on the other hand has repeatedly over promised and under delivered all while lying over and over about one thing after another. To name a few, the order that the orders would be built, when they would be delivered, and what they could actually deliver compared to what they claimed you could get when you ordered.

The fact that your experience has been "great" by your standards isn't really relevant either, but we are happy for you. The $100 deposit isn't a thing ANYONE has complained about.

The OP (as well as 99% of the rest of us) has bought many a car and never dealt with the shenanigans Ford has pulled on this vehicle.

I'm not a very sympathetic or even empathetic person by nature, or perhaps because of life experiences, but I have to stand by the OP on this one.

I hope you Bronco is everything you hope it will be.

Merry Christmas to All!!!

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