Defective top solution.. ship the vehicles immediately

[Wanted33]

I'm shocked that ford is going send out new tops for the rigs in the wild... It's the right thing to do but I would put them at the end of the line instead of first or replace them on a "as needed " basis...

Even though this top fiasco has had so much publicity I am really surprised Ford didn't take that route. I'm guessing the bean counters were out to lunch when the decision was made.

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[604Bronco]

Now that is a great idea. Everyone call the Bronco marketing team at 800 334 4375.

I think that’s Mike Levine’s personal cell phone number.

 

[Bob 07064]

Can’t have have the publicity of these tops as they start to really fail in elements all over. Right now no ones has actually delaminated to a point where it looks more than “cosmetic”

I get that but not all the tops are bad. Replace as needed...

 

[Wanted33]

It’s easier and more cost effective to send the Bronco with it’s new top. They are saving the owner and themselves money. I know this sucks, but it was the right thing to do. I don’t even have a build or vin, and I would gladly switch spots with many of you.

Plus, trucking all of the new tops directly to MAP would be much cheaper than shipping them all over the country.

 

[Theherofails]

Right now Webasto is moving the tops down the road a few miles to MAP and then the tops get moved to dealerships on the vehicles, so the cost is low.

The cost of moving JUST the tops (I read an article about the special carrier trucks Ford designed to do this) is going to be astronomical when scaled up nationwide.

Our time is much better spent coming up with realistic plans where it doesn't involve Ford willingly losing millions. They aren't ever going to take the approach that makes customers happy but costs them multiple appendages.

Now, if you can find some way to make it financially feasible to ship new replacement tops to dealerships on existing Broncos already being delivered, we could see a feasible solution form. However, you're still dealing with man hours at MAP to prepare the tops for shipment, so cost is still involved.

Ford is NOT going to lose even more money willingly. Their current plan has them losing very little over this as payday is only delayed by 90 days or so until more Broncos start being delivered again.

 

[WhiteMamba]

I get that but not all the tops are bad. Replace as needed...

But none of the tops have sealed edges or thicker shell material…. The claim is there are only a few hundred of us that actually have MIC tops in hand.

 

[BlueBronco]

Ford is happy because they didn't have to do anything to solve the problem and the top company has only a small logistic problem

Lol, small logistical problem of tracking down 3000 plus buyers, scheduling a good time to swap out the top, shipping the top, having a mobile field crew to perform the swap, leasing a facility in every major city to perform said swap and then disposing of the old tops. Easy peazy, it is no wonder Ford isn't doing this.

One last point, I believe there is a good chance Ford will own or have controlling interest in Webasto after all the dust settles on this...

 

[Papa Smurf]

The smack on the forehead is a good idea! A real hard smack!

With a chair

 

[Utahbronco51]

Right now Webasto is moving the tops down the road a few miles to MAP and then the tops get moved to dealerships on the vehicles, so the cost is low.

The cost of moving JUST the tops (I read an article about the special carrier trucks Ford designed to do this) is going to be astronomical when scaled up nationwide.

Our time is much better spent coming up with realistic plans where it doesn't involve Ford willingly losing millions. They aren't ever going to take the approach that makes customers happy but costs them multiple appendages.

Now, if you can find some way to make it financially feasible to ship new replacement tops to dealerships on existing Broncos already being delivered, we could see a feasible solution form. However, you're still dealing with man hours at MAP to prepare the tops for shipment, so cost is still involved.

Ford is NOT going to lose even more money willingly. Their current plan has them losing very little over this as payday is only delayed by 90 days or so until more Broncos start being delivered again.

Very well written, however the final customer should be the primary concern and not the last concern. If the defective top is the fault of Webasto then they not Ford should be footing the bill. As stated previously, recalls are always expensive and are paid for by the responsible person.

 

[WhiteMamba]

Right now Webasto is moving the tops down the road a few miles to MAP and then the tops get moved to dealerships on the vehicles, so the cost is low.

The cost of moving JUST the tops (I read an article about the special carrier trucks Ford designed to do this) is going to be astronomical when scaled up nationwide.

Our time is much better spent coming up with realistic plans where it doesn't involve Ford willingly losing millions. They aren't ever going to take the approach that makes customers happy but costs them multiple appendages.

Now, if you can find some way to make it financially feasible to ship new replacement tops to dealerships on existing Broncos already being delivered, we could see a feasible solution form. However, you're still dealing with man hours at MAP to prepare the tops for shipment, so cost is still involved.

Ford is NOT going to lose even more money willingly. Their current plan has them losing very little over this as payday is only delayed by 90 days or so until more Broncos start being delivered again.

I’m also not sure you can ship vehicles with tops for other vehicles.

Lol, small logistical problem of tracking down 3000 plus buyers, scheduling a good time to swap out the top, shipping the top, having a mobile field crew to perform the swap, leasing a facility in every major city to perform said swap and then disposing of the old tops. Easy peazy, it is no wonder Ford isn't doing this.

One last point, I believe there is a good chance Ford will own or have controlling interest in Webasto after all the dust settles on this...

I doubt they will own controlling interest, owning your own supplier would then mean they would probably be bound by UAW contract to hire UAW workers, which I am totally for but Ford don’t want to pay I’m sure.

 

[Rednek]

just to update on the condition of my top after 1 month of ownership,I went to remove the drivers front top and put my fingers through the inner shell! this is no longer just a cosmetic issue as the structure itself is failing.I just hope it will hold together until Oct 21

 

[Utahbronco51]

Lol, small logistical problem of tracking down 3000 plus buyers, scheduling a good time to swap out the top, shipping the top, having a mobile field crew to perform the swap, leasing a facility in every major city to perform said swap and then disposing of the old tops. Easy peazy, it is no wonder Ford isn't doing this.

One last point, I believe there is a good chance Ford will own or have controlling interest in Webasto after all the dust settles on this...

Really lol, I think Ford already knows where to ship them and I think they have facilities and personal to perform the swap. They are referred to as Ford Dealers

 

[Bob 07064]

Lol, small logistical problem of tracking down 3000 plus buyers, scheduling a good time to swap out the top, shipping the top, having a mobile field crew to perform the swap, leasing a facility in every major city to perform said swap and then disposing of the old tops. Easy peazy, it is no wonder Ford isn't doing this.

One last point, I believe there is a good chance Ford will own or have controlling interest in Webasto after all the dust settles on this...

I think thats already a far gone conclusion... I also think the already have a mold (molds) for new tops but they are treating the shit out of them so they don't get more egg on their face...

 

[Bob 07064]

just to update on the condition of my top after 1 month of ownership,I went to remove the drivers front top and put my fingers through the inner shell! this is no longer just a cosmetic issue as the structure itself is failing.I just hope it will hold together until Oct 21

Oct 21? Is that the date they are replacing your top or did ya pull that date out of thin air?

 

[BlueBronco]

I doubt they will own controlling interest, owning your own supplier would then mean they would probably be bound by UAW contract to hire UAW workers, which I am totally for but Ford don’t want to pay I’m sure.

My point was that after the lawsuits are finished and Webasto gets wrung through the wringer, Ford may have no other choice. Not gonng pretend to understand the ins-and-outs of union labor and contracts. Just that this fiasco has the potential to financially ruin Webasto.

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