The dealer experience

[flashy65]

Hi all, ordered my gt earlier this year.. went through the whole ford cotus/etis thing and then tracking from Baltimore to Melbourne.. then Melbourne to Adelaide(which was the slowest 2 weeks) now i enjoyed the experience of tracing my car from production to transport to delivery.. its made it feel kind of personal.. the worse part though was when it landed in Australia.. particularly Adelaide! trying to get info or details out of my salesperson, just getting him to reply to a msg or a phone call is like drawing teeth. I know things take time, but please i just what to be included in the process and without having to feel like im being a pest by asking! My car arrived in Oz on the 30th of June and as far as I know it is still sitting in a cold dark shed by the port!
So how has your experience with a dealer been?

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[apsilon]

Does CEVA tracking not apply to SA?

How was my experience? Well, given I had to reject the first car.......

 

[flashy65]

Yes ceva tracking does apply to SA . I checkef it 5 times a day for 2 weeks.. i can drive there in 8 hours.. i mean my car was still in victoria when the ship that offloaded it was already in singapore.. is that the dealers fault? Prob not.. its the lack of comumication that im getting at..

 

[Copie]

They probably don't know. If it's a decent sized dealer chances are their storage lot is in a different location to the main lot.

Could of also been damaged at the ceva holding yard

 

[ICON]

Could of also been damaged at the ceva holding yard

That's probably my guess as well.

Having worked in various franchise dealerships for the past 17 years (not at a Ford one though), I've seen cars often turn up with transit damage or with factory faults.

Naturally the dealership doesn't disclose this info and chooses to fix/rectify the issue before final delivery to client.

If it's anything to go by, my Ford dealer had the car for 11 days before I could even come inspect it - methinks it probably turned up with issues that they wanted to have a chance to rectify first.

I suggest ringing the dealer and asking to speak to the Dealer Principal and advise him/her of the situation and that you are very displeased with the service (or lack thereof) from your salesperson.

DPs kinda take this sort of feedback quite seriously and don't want an irate client contacting Ford HQ and filing a complaint, so I'm sure they'll come back to you with some sort of answer.

 

[flashy65]

They probably don't know. If it's a decent sized dealer chances are their storage lot is in a different location to the main lot.

Could of also been damaged at the ceva holding yard

you would think having a 60+k car plus the other cars they had on the same ship(i know of at least 1 other) that they would keep tabs on them.

 

[Copie]

you would think having a 60+k car plus the other cars they had on the same ship(i know of at least 1 other) that they would keep tabs on them.

When some dealer principles move 1500+ vehicles per month or more it doesn't matter the cost of the vehicle. They would get the truck in and unloaded, quick check for damage then parked until it's accepted and in the stock system, then a delivery date will be scdeuled.

 

[Aj05]

Hey flash, I feel your pain, AB ford took two weeks to get mine ready from the time I had tracked it on Ceva to the dealership. At the time they said they had 9 arrive at once and it would take time due to the volume. Mine needed the rear spoiler which also probably delayed things.

But saying that, when I took delivery there were a heaps of registered Mustangs in the showroom waiting for pick up.

Like ICON, I also spent many years in the car trade, mostly at a Euro dealer and our cars arrived Aust complied and just needing a detail and some basic setup on the computer. We could get them delivered in a couple of days from arrival. With the speed that mine went from landing to the dealership, perhaps the dealer has to do the compliance and a bit more... not sure.

My sales person was good, he emailed me every month with basic updates, which was fine. But sales people don't have the time to sit and track the cars like we do, they have to focus on their next sale or they won't have a job. But they should reply to direct questions from you.

 

[radar]

My dealer experience so far has been totally satisfactory. I was after Lightning Blue GT convertible with Nickel Lustre alloys. Hard to find and the most expensive option in the catalogue.
When Ford discontinued DIB I was initially disappointed - until the moment I saw Lightning Blue.

Not a fan of black wheels - I got dealer quotes emailed to me last September. Generally around the $75 k mark with maybe delivery December this year.

I tracked Carsales closely. Last Xmas there were 19 GT verts available in Australia. Now there are 140. About March, my car "appeared", coincidentally at a nearby Ford dealer. They had 3 verts available. Magnetic, Ruby and Lightning Blue. My top 3 choices but I knew Lightning Blue was the one.

The person here on Mustang6g doing the database on Mustang Migration was a huge help as I could see in March and April there was a huge intake forthcoming.

I rang the dealer and told him to put the black wheels on someone else's car. I was having the alloys.
A lifetime ago I sold cars.
I then kicked the dealer in the guts hard.
Real hard.
I told him the deal we would be doing.
I know how to put a deal together.
No trade.
No Finance.
Bank cheque.

None of that paint protection, tint or after market either.

I did this by phone as I boarded the jet at Tullamarine on my way to work. I am FIFO Vietnam. I paid the deposit via credit card as the flight attendant asked me to turn off the phone. Not before I emailed a page from this forum on bonnet pinch, instructing the salesman this was a deal breaker.

Eight hours later I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. Photos of my nicely presented Lightning Blue Vert in the Ford dealer's compound - with perfect bonnet alignment.

I also used the predelivery template someone else put on the forum. I emailed this to the dealer telling him these items would all be checked.

On delivery day they had everything right. I knew I was in for a good day cos when I picked up the Bank cheque, NAB were running a video at their bank using a classic red GT Stang in some promotion.

They allowed me plenty of time to go over the car using the spreadsheet - checking every panel. They had complied with all the number plate/bracket requests and had retained all the build stickers and shipping manifest documents in an A4 folder.
The delivery girl spent an hour with me going over every part of the car, syncing my phone and explaining the screen, the roof, the Mustang etc.
Gave me full tank of petrol and a Mustang jacket.

Can't speak highly enough of my dealer experience. So glad I never ordered and tracked. Saved over $6 k from RRP and got my car 9 months earlier.

Mate in Perth ordered GT Hardtop in January for $68 k. Now they're advertised at $58 k driveaway.
Still waiting for his car. Guess he should cancel his order and walk in deal.

 

[flashy65]

Thanks Aaron, its not so much the waiting time.. its non returned calls or unanswered messaged..then when i do get a reply its ambiguous! i understand the need to serve new customers.. but what about the ones contributing to their pay packet. I finally got him on the phone today after 2 unanswered msgs and 2nd call.. finally got some answers, feeling better now :-)

 

[jeekishy]

Thanks Aaron, its not so much the waiting time.. its non returned calls or unanswered messaged..then when i do get a reply its ambiguous! i understand the need to serve new customers.. but what about the ones contributing to their pay packet. I finally got him on the phone today after 2 unanswered msgs and 2nd call.. finally got some answers, feeling better now :-)

Hi Flashy sounds like we have the same dealer... I am taking delivery of mine at the end of the month after a very long wait and no dealer updates.

The salesperson never bothered to provide me with my stock code or NSC even though my car was already made and on it's way to Panama :shrug:, and was told it was still on order everytime I rang the salesperson, then the next day I got my Stock code by calling the dealership but this time asking to talk with their stock controller person and she dig out the stock number and from then on I got my NSC details from FordAus Facebook and the rest of the info to track your car is on this forum.

Mine already at the dealership gathering dust atm as I am inter-state its been their since start of June. :frusty:

 

[Fingers]

Yes ceva tracking does apply to SA . I checkef it 5 times a day for 2 weeks.. i can drive there in 8 hours.. i mean my car was still in victoria when the ship that offloaded it was already in singapore.. is that the dealers fault? Prob not.. its the lack of comumication that im getting at..

The dealer has no control of when Ceva deliver, or any prior knowledge.
From personal experience it is frustrating to have 5 rangers come in on the same ship with 2 of them sold and 3 for stock, and have Ceva deliver the stock units 2 weeks before the sold ones...:doh:

 

[Melbnut]

My dealer experience so far has been totally satisfactory. I was after Lightning Blue GT convertible with Nickel Lustre alloys. Hard to find and the most expensive option in the catalogue.
When Ford discontinued DIB I was initially disappointed - until the moment I saw Lightning Blue.

Not a fan of black wheels - I got dealer quotes emailed to me last September. Generally around the $75 k mark with maybe delivery December this year.

I tracked Carsales closely. Last Xmas there were 19 GT verts available in Australia. Now there are 140. About March, my car "appeared", coincidentally at a nearby Ford dealer. They had 3 verts available. Magnetic, Ruby and Lightning Blue. My top 3 choices but I knew Lightning Blue was the one.

The person here on Mustang6g doing the database on Mustang Migration was a huge help as I could see in March and April there was a huge intake forthcoming.

I rang the dealer and told him to put the black wheels on someone else's car. I was having the alloys.
A lifetime ago I sold cars.
I then kicked the dealer in the guts hard.
Real hard.
I told him the deal we would be doing.
I know how to put a deal together.
No trade.
No Finance.
Bank cheque.

None of that paint protection, tint or after market either.

I did this by phone as I boarded the jet at Tullamarine on my way to work. I am FIFO Vietnam. I paid the deposit via credit card as the flight attendant asked me to turn off the phone. Not before I emailed a page from this forum on bonnet pinch, instructing the salesman this was a deal breaker.

Eight hours later I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. Photos of my nicely presented Lightning Blue Vert in the Ford dealer's compound - with perfect bonnet alignment.

I also used the predelivery template someone else put on the forum. I emailed this to the dealer telling him these items would all be checked.

On delivery day they had everything right. I knew I was in for a good day cos when I picked up the Bank cheque, NAB were running a video at their bank using a classic red GT Stang in some promotion.

They allowed me plenty of time to go over the car using the spreadsheet - checking every panel. They had complied with all the number plate/bracket requests and had retained all the build stickers and shipping manifest documents in an A4 folder.
The delivery girl spent an hour with me going over every part of the car, syncing my phone and explaining the screen, the roof, the Mustang etc.
Gave me full tank of petrol and a Mustang jacket.

Can't speak highly enough of my dealer experience. So glad I never ordered and tracked. Saved over $6 k from RRP and got my car 9 months earlier.

Mate in Perth ordered GT Hardtop in January for $68 k. Now they're advertised at $58 k driveaway.
Still waiting for his car. Guess he should cancel his order and walk in deal.

How much was this amazing deal you got from kicking the dealer in the guts??

#iamthebigdog

 

[ortovosh]

I guess everyones experience is different ... here is mine.

I placed an order with Delatite Ford in Benalla on Jan2 after they told me they had a cancelled order on the exact car I wanted (Black GT Fastback auto)... and I picked car up on June 22. So not as long a wait as many.:clap2:

Anyway. Paul at Delatite has bent over backwards to assist and help make this a smooth and pleasant experience. He knew I was fussy and passionate about cars (as most of us here would be). When car arrived at their dealer, they found a few small paint faults. He let me know about these straight away... and told me they will be repaired ASAP. The car goes in next week to get them rectified - Ford has stated they are Fords fault and will pay for repaint of hood and trunk. Delatite have been very supportive throughout and apologetic over paint not being perfect - even though not their fault. Most car owners who just drive from point A to point B wouldn't even notice the paint faults in my car (as they are VERY minor), but Delatite have had no issue getting it done to my satisfaction. :ford:

I also got them to tint glass, put on Lakin brackets, put on Redline hood struts, put US style GT rear decklid on and also put US style lower grille on prior to delivery. They did all of this perfectly.

If anyone lives in Northern Victoria and wants good service... see Paul at Delatite Ford in Benalla. Great customer service. :cheers:

 

[flashy65]

Hi all, ordered my gt earlier this year.. went through the whole ford cotus/etis thing and then tracking from Baltimore to Melbourne.. then Melbourne to Adelaide(which was the slowest 2 weeks) now i enjoyed the experience of tracing my car from production to transport to delivery.. its made it feel kind of personal.. the worse part though was when it landed in Australia.. particularly Adelaide! trying to get info or details out of my salesperson, just getting him to reply to a msg or a phone call is like drawing teeth. I know things take time, but please i just what to be included in the process and without having to feel like im being a pest by asking! My car arrived in Oz on the 30th of June and as far as I know it is still sitting in a cold dark shed by the port!
So how has your experience with a dealer been?

ok so since this original post my dealer experience has greatly improved, he has been keeping me up to date every day or 2.. not always with what i want to hear but thats fine as long as i know whats going on. Should be getting my car sometime this week and getting very excited

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