Mike Levine saying outright he does NOT care about Granger/Chapman/SAC

[dcg2]

Everyone claims they are with these dealers because of their "no BS", but I'd be willing to place a pretty large bet that most of the orders through them were placed because they were offered a lower price. That's it, end of story,

I bought my Bronco from Stephens Auto Center for what I consider a great deal. You're right in that was what attracted me in the first place.

But what kept me there and what impressed me so much was how responsive John and the team were. I wasn't a very needy customer I don't think, but it was comforting to see them consistently participating in the forum and when it got close to delivery time John was great at keeping me calm.

I ended up buying an ESP plan and a maintenance plan from Stephens. Could I have saved some money buying them from Flood Ford? Yeah I could have. I ended buying some parts and accessories from Stephens. Could I have bought them from Levittown Ford for a little less? Sure.

I'm not an idiot and I can use the internet. So why would I buy that stuff from Stephens? Because they EARNED my business. I want them very much to stay in business so when I buy my next car it's from them and after Ford pulled this shit, who knows what it might be.

Sponsored

 

[Stompr]

Ford Motor Company only exists because Henry Ford found a cheaper way of doing it and undercutt the competition.

 

[MLRey]

I was all set to get a Wrangler when I saw info on the new Bronco and I really liked it and thought it would be better for me than the Jeep. I made a reservation knowing it was going to take a while. I was willing to pay MSRP but when my local dealers were unresponsive other than to say I would l have to pay whatever the market value of the vehicle was when I got it. I spoke with and decided to go with Granger because it was a fair deal and no gimmicks. The travel cost will mean I pay about MSRP anyway but it will be a vacation trip. I still think the Bronco will be a great vehicle but the joy in looking forward to a Bronco has faded away. Worse for Ford, my view of them as company I would purchase from is in the toilet. For some short term gains by big dealers Ford is destroying good will with customers.

I may end up getting a Bronco but it won't be the same experience I was dreaming about last year. I certainly won't think of Ford in a positive way and be more inclined to purchase other model Fords. Mike Levine's JOB1 is apparently destroying Fords customer loyalty to enable a small number of large dealers to make huge profits from idiots willing to pay over MSRP.

 

[69BroncoX302]

Looking through my bronco emails:

December 2020-
“ Your reservation timestamp, and not the date that you place your order with your dealer, will be used to determine when your Bronco gets produced. Other factors for final delivery timing include vehicle model and configuration selected, part constraints, and the number of Bronco vehicles your dealer will receive.”

2-dr FE with hitch, winch, and other parts. Yeah, that is why they cancelled mine lol

Got in for a raptor. We shall see if they can even do that lol

 

[69BroncoX302]

Ford Motor Company only exists because Henry Ford found a cheaper way of doing it and undercutt the competition.

He also used the dodge brothers until they quit.

 

[usarms]

I started in the car business in the 70s and even then there was an allocation system. The dealers that wrote a bunch of orders knew there was an allocation system but spun the wheel trying to improve their position. That's not how it works. Never has. You can blame Ford all you want but the small dealers that offered unrealistic deals on a brand new model are the ones to blame. My son wants a 370Z but they are sold out and I know from working for Nissan that they are allocated. No matter how many a dealer accepted orders for they will only get what they earned based on sales history. The smart play was a large dealer that doesn't do ADM. No you won't get a bogus low ball for something you may never see but the odds are they got a larger pot to sell from. That's what I did and I will pay sticker but I'll hopefully get my truck with an 11/29 build date and I reserved day #1. I went with the biggest dealer I know who pledged no ADM. Having said that their allocation was nothing to write home about even being one of the largest and oldest dealers in the USA.

 

[Stompr]

I started in the car business in the 70s and even then there was an allocation system. The dealers that wrote a bunch of orders knew there was an allocation system but spun the wheel trying ti improve their position. That's not how it works. Never has. You can blame Ford all you want but the small dealers that offered unrealistic deals on a brand new model are the ones to blame.

The dealers didn’t change the rules midstream.

 

[BroncoBoy22]

For all of you defending this allocation system change, just think how this would have forced the big dealers to not screw people over with ADMs to attract customers if Ford had kept the rules the same smh

Breaks my heart when Joe Schmo who hasn’t been on the forums daily with the rest of us crazies shows up to the dealer excited for his bronco only to be met with a $25k ADM ultimatum

 

[Stompr]

I think the first thing coming off my bronco is the Ford emblem.

 

[69BroncoX302]

I think the first thing coming off my bronco is the Ford emblem.

Imma put this on my bronco lol

 

[Bronc-O]

I think the first thing coming off my bronco is the Ford emblem.

That'll showum!

 

[PSUTE]

At the end of the day, It's not about @Granger Ford, @StephensAutoCenter, or @DealerInsider. It's about the end user, which is us. They reached out, embraced this community and came in with a new business plan for the digital age. Honest and forthright. They earned our trust, and we all appreciate them. @Ford Motor Company apparently can't handle the new age. Henry Ford, a great innovator is turning over in his grave because of the short sightnedness of the folks currently in charge of what he built.

We were told that reservations/orders would be built before dealer stock at day 1. Build the build able reservations/orders before you build a single dealer stock order. Keep sucking off the big dealers @Ford Motor Company, it is leading you down the road to the past, not the future...

 

[usarms]

I remember when the new 300ZX came out. The owner of our dealership was honest so we never marked up over MSRP. There were dealers that were discounting them and they were allocated by a similar formula. I would tell customers that wanted a discount that I could sell them one for a dollar because they would never see it. I would sell them one at list and actually knew it would be delivered. The system was well known but there were dealers that would take orders with zero guarantee they could ever deliver. It was called " taking them out of the market". They would hope that they could find extra allocation at some point and have the cars sold in advance. Nothing has changed. Been there, done that.

 

[TJ Freestone]

In case anyone's been waiting for an answer:
@mrlevine Fill your Bronco reservation orders ahead of allocations. We’ve already waited 15 months. Stop punishing your customers. #reservationsoverallocations
His answer tells me they just don't care.

in case he deletes his tweet, here's what it says:

Mike Levine
Replying to @robtraut and @KogodBiz
That’s exactly the plan for more than 98% of customers that didn’t place orders with a small dealer that created a special deal to attract a large number of orders.

It seems that Ford is doing everything they can to keep from delivering their popular Bronco's.
1. They introduced the Bronco Sport first when everybody knew that it was not where the consumer interest was focused. Let's force them to buy what they don't want and burn supply chain resources to do so.
2. They announced they were going to take Bronco to European market while orders are back logged here and thousands are still unfilled.
3. Ford then came out with a new allocation process that is obviously focused on profits instead of simply delivering what has already been promised.
4. Mike Levine is making public statements that seem to be contrary to order holders who just simply want to support Ford in this new product launch.
5. Ford can blame Corvid, the chip shortage, the supply chain problems such as the hard tops, but they simply have not delivered when it was with-in their means to do so.
6. I am still hanging in there for a Bronco, but have already decided to purchase a Tundra over an F 150. I have been a past loyal customer who feels like Ford see me as a pawn piece.
At what point do we just say no thanks Ford!

 

[Southern Girl]

Everyone claims they are with these dealers because of their "no BS", but I'd be willing to place a pretty large bet that most of the orders through them were placed because they were offered a lower price. That's it, end of story, they are a business and they are trying to make money. Now they may have treated you all really well so far and that's great, but they are just trying to be a successful business at the end of the day.

I see you are from Michigan. Interesting.

Is this comment supposed to make us feel shame for wanting a fair price? It doesn't.

Is it supposed to hint at possible future issues we may face with Stephens? You said "they may have treated you well so far..." Nice appeal to emotion. You should probably wonder why it makes you emotional enough to write this paragraph. We who use logos instead of pathos realize that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

You go ahead and keep your smug condescension. It is not going to gain you friends in this forum, though.

We were told that reservations/orders would be built before dealer stock at day 1. Build the build able reservations/orders before you build a single dealer stock order. Keep sucking off the big dealers @Ford Motor Company, it is leading you down the road to the past, not the future...

This is the part that irks me the most.

The great Florida Bronco mark up is being documented all over this forum. As I have stated earlier, there was one in Crystal River for $90k (4D obx). Someone posted a 2d Wildtrak for almost $70k.

When dealers get stock Broncos here, they are going to go for way over msrp.

Sponsored