[Lugnut]

You may not care for the brand but Mercedes isn't the company who just cancelled thousands of van orders with zero communication to their customers or dealer network. I run a van-related fb group with thousands of members and many of them had no idea their Transit order had even been "balanced out" until I posted after reading this forum. The lack of basic, adult communication, responsibility for the situation and an action plan in place from a company as large as Ford is unconscionable.

Point about Ford Corporate is well taken. I have called the marketing and customer relationship numbers many times. They are well trained on how to not provide information. In my specific case my dealer was watching the balance out date and re-entered a new order the same day. He then notified me.

 

[coguzzi]

You may not care for the brand but Mercedes isn't the company who just cancelled thousands of van orders with zero communication to their customers or dealer network. I run a van-related fb group with thousands of members and many of them had no idea their Transit order had even been "balanced out" until I posted after reading this forum. The lack of basic, adult communication, responsibility for the situation and an action plan in place from a company as large as Ford is unconscionable.

my local MB dealer had 31 orders in, 29 were cancelled and only 2 delivered. 1 of those 2 is in my shop to be converted. there are several items missing that were ordered, several replaced with what they had on hand. zero communication as in none. MB, in typical german fashion, said this is what we did and we know better than you, we are MB--so either you take it or not

 

[artisan]

My dealer is requiring me to sign a non-refundable deposit form in order to convert my 2022 order to a 2023 order. The language includes:
"understand that this a partial payment of $1,000 is to secure my interest in the vehicle listed below and that this deposit is refundable upon purchase only or applied to the transaction at time of delivery. In the event that I don't sign all ancillary documents, pay the full balance via certified funds or cashable contract, and accept delivery of the vehicle this deposit will not be refunded."
AND
"After the vehicle is submitted with a customer signed build sheet, there will be no allowable changes to the order. The only changes that can be made are if manufacture has commodity constraints that will not allow the unit to be scheduled for production."
AND
"MSRP pricing is subject to change due to competitive pricing actions by Ford Motor Company.
Customer has 7 business days to take delivery of the new purchase upon notification. On the 8th business day the vehicle will be placed into inventory for resale."

The Dealer claims that this a Ford Motor Company requirement but it is a Dealership form. Has anyone else experienced this deposit agreement form and terms?!

 

[IsleofMan]

My dealer is requiring me to sign a non-refundable deposit form in order to convert my 2022 order to a 2023 order. The language includes:

Is there any language making your deposit refundable if Ford fails (AGAIN) to build it?

 

[artisan]

Is there any language making your deposit refundable if Ford fails (AGAIN) to build it?

No. I am just about to give up on the Transit.

 

[Janus9]

The msrp pricing should be locked at time of order. Plus, there is no verbage about getting your deposit back if the vehicle isn’t delivered.

Doesn’t look good.

I would talk with some other dealers.

 

[Covid van de Mic]

Doesn’t look good.

I would talk with some other dealers.

I agree. I think it is perfectly fine that the dealer makes deposits non-refundable if the customer backs out (keep the speculators and tire kickers away), but if either the dealer or Ford can't deliver exactly what the customer ordered, then the customer shouldn't even have to ask for the deposit to be returned.

Stipulating the build can't be changed unless commodity constrained is novel, so make sure you order what you want.

Unless Ford got rid of the Price Protection during the model year, that "MSRP pricing is subject to change" is the biggest reason I'd find another dealer. I know people have suggested getting the pricing documented at the time of the order so that you don't need to educate the dealer on Price Protection at time of delivery, so giving up that ability when you order would be foolish.

 

[njvagabond]

My dealer is requiring me to sign a non-refundable deposit form in order to convert my 2022 order to a 2023 order. The language includes:
"understand that this a partial payment of $1,000 is to secure my interest in the vehicle listed below and that this deposit is refundable upon purchase only or applied to the transaction at time of delivery. In the event that I don't sign all ancillary documents, pay the full balance via certified funds or cashable contract, and accept delivery of the vehicle this deposit will not be refunded."
AND
"After the vehicle is submitted with a customer signed build sheet, there will be no allowable changes to the order. The only changes that can be made are if manufacture has commodity constraints that will not allow the unit to be scheduled for production."
AND
"MSRP pricing is subject to change due to competitive pricing actions by Ford Motor Company.
Customer has 7 business days to take delivery of the new purchase upon notification. On the 8th business day the vehicle will be placed into inventory for resale."

The Dealer claims that this a Ford Motor Company requirement but it is a Dealership form. Has anyone else experienced this deposit agreement form and terms?!

What is the reciprocal penalty if they can't/don't honor their end of the deal? No commitment from the dealer on actual price or price basis to you? Just as statement that MSRP can change. BTW when order is entered that does (should?/used to?) lock in your pricing. What if there is a material defect on the van?

The dealer is committing to nothing on there end for making the deposit non-refundable. Do you think they would agree to puting the sams $1K in escrow to cover a performance clause on their end? Plenty of dealers that will accept a refundable deposit as "normal" (for essentially no commitment on their end) I am almost positive a dealer that will create/ask this contract will not agree to change any terms you might ask them for and only bodes for games at a later date. I doubt that Ford can or would want to stipulate that a franchise have such terms.

Run, don't walk. What is the name of the dealer? If this is in fact now coming down from FOMCO, take your business to another brand.

 

[CrewVanManInfo]

My dealer is requiring me to sign a non-refundable deposit form in order to convert my 2022 order to a 2023 order. The language includes:
"understand that this a partial payment of $1,000 is to secure my interest in the vehicle listed below and that this deposit is refundable upon purchase only or applied to the transaction at time of delivery. In the event that I don't sign all ancillary documents, pay the full balance via certified funds or cashable contract, and accept delivery of the vehicle this deposit will not be refunded."
AND
"After the vehicle is submitted with a customer signed build sheet, there will be no allowable changes to the order. The only changes that can be made are if manufacture has commodity constraints that will not allow the unit to be scheduled for production."
AND
"MSRP pricing is subject to change due to competitive pricing actions by Ford Motor Company.
Customer has 7 business days to take delivery of the new purchase upon notification. On the 8th business day the vehicle will be placed into inventory for resale."

The Dealer claims that this a Ford Motor Company requirement but it is a Dealership form. Has anyone else experienced this deposit agreement form and terms?!

This is a lie from this dealer about the Ford requirement. Let us know which dealer it is and steer away from them!

 

[Vanaroo]

My dealer is requiring me to sign a non-refundable deposit form in order to convert my 2022 order to a 2023 order. The language includes:....
....The Dealer claims that this a Ford Motor Company requirement but it is a Dealership form.

What dealership are you working with? I'm sure that since they are on the up-and-up, they won't mind you mentioning their name (heck, free advertising for them).

PS: I wouldn't agree to these terms as they seem to include some fibs about Ford's policies and also it looks like you wouldn't get your deposit back if Ford doesn't build you a van. Also, they seem like a pain to work with (any dealer that I would work with would be happy to change my order if it were in the "possible to change time window" as they would want me to be happy with my purchase). Heck, I have ordered a car and then been a little embarrassed to change the color and the salesperson actually said, to make me feel better: "Hey, no problem; I have other customers who have changed and then changed back again, more than once!" (Within the proper time window.)

 

[kdenning]

The Dealer claims that this a Ford Motor Company requirement but it is a Dealership form. Has anyone else experienced this deposit agreement form and terms?!

Please do the right thing here and let us know which dealership is feeding you this information.

I've seen so many members here trash the dealer/dealership that they've been working with and then refuse to share their name. Help other members from making a non-refundable $1,000 mistake.

My dealer at Capitol Ford in Carson City Nevada offered to refund my $1,000 deposit and still convert my order from a 2022 to a 2023 since they felt guilty for holding onto $1,000 of mine for months just to tell me that it was for nothing. Sounds like you found yourself my dealership's evil twin.

 

[Randall Dee]

"MSRP pricing is subject to change due to competitive pricing actions by Ford Motor Company.

This one is almost comical. I certainly wouldn't do business with these people.

 

[artisan]

This deposit agreement was sent from Bryan Kincaid at World Ford Pensacola. I taught him how to configure a 2022 Ford Transit for an Overlander Build. I kept him up to date on the Ford developments from the helpful posts on this forum, and this is how I get repaid?! Yes, it is. I fully believe that this dealer wants to keep my deposit while selling my Transit to someone else with a healthy markup. Can/Should I cancel my order directly with FMC to prevent this from happening? I have been a patient team player until now.

 

[SpudBoyR3U]

This deposit agreement was sent from Bryan Kincaid at World Ford Pensacola. I taught him how to configure a 2022 Ford Transit for an Overlander Build. I kept him up to date on the Ford developments from the helpful posts on this forum, and this is how I get repaid?! Yes, it is. I fully believe that this dealer wants to keep my deposit while selling my Transit to someone else with a healthy markup. Can/Should I cancel my order directly with FMC to prevent this from happening? I have been a patient team player until now.
View attachment 176088

holy crap

 

[Vanaroo]

@artisan
Thanks for posting additional info, and showing us the level of customer service put forth by World Ford Pensacola (Florida). Very interesting.

Since you haven't yet signed this (I presume this is for a 2023 and the yellow highlighted areas is where you are supposed to sign), and I can't imagine you will..... what did you sign for the 2022 you ordered that will not be built by Ford? What about that 2022 deposit? If you have any trouble getting it refunded to you, I would contact Ford and open a case (or maybe there is something better that someone else can suggest). I know dealers are basically contractors, but it's hard to imagine Ford wanting this level of .... "customer service." Once you get your 2022 deposit back.... I'd RUN.

I would certainly look for another dealer if you are going to order a 2023. Even if Ford puts forth some sort of "priority" for a 2022-2023 sequence, I can't imagine they wouldn't let you change dealers given the givens. Dang. Luckily Ford dealers are a dime a dozen, so you should have plenty to choose from. There are certainly some who will treat you decently.

 

[RBull3321]

My dealer is requiring me to sign a non-refundable deposit form in order to convert my 2022 order to a 2023 order. The language includes:
"understand that this a partial payment of $1,000 is to secure my interest in the vehicle listed below and that this deposit is refundable upon purchase only or applied to the transaction at time of delivery. In the event that I don't sign all ancillary documents, pay the full balance via certified funds or cashable contract, and accept delivery of the vehicle this deposit will not be refunded."
AND
"After the vehicle is submitted with a customer signed build sheet, there will be no allowable changes to the order. The only changes that can be made are if manufacture has commodity constraints that will not allow the unit to be scheduled for production."
AND
"MSRP pricing is subject to change due to competitive pricing actions by Ford Motor Company.
Customer has 7 business days to take delivery of the new purchase upon notification. On the 8th business day the vehicle will be placed into inventory for resale."

The Dealer claims that this a Ford Motor Company requirement but it is a Dealership form. Has anyone else experienced this deposit agreement form and terms?!

Don't walk away, RUN away from this dealer. World Ford Pensacola = AVOID.

 

[CrewVanManInfo]

This deposit agreement was sent from Bryan Kincaid at World Ford Pensacola. I taught him how to configure a 2022 Ford Transit for an Overlander Build. I kept him up to date on the Ford developments from the helpful posts on this forum, and this is how I get repaid?! Yes, it is. I fully believe that this dealer wants to keep my deposit while selling my Transit to someone else with a healthy markup. Can/Should I cancel my order directly with FMC to prevent this from happening? I have been a patient team player until now.
View attachment 176088

I would get my deposit and check back later to be sure this dealer did not continue using your 2022 Transit order to get a replacement 2023 model. You can out him in a difficult position with Ford for using your information to acquire a vehicle not intended for your purchase.

Such a great dealer with a $50K markup on the 2022 Shelby GT500. Wonder what the Transit markup will be?

 

[njvagabond]

I would get my deposit and check back later to be sure this dealer did not continue using your 2022 Transit order to get a replacement 2023 model. You can out him in a difficult position with Ford for using your information to acquire a vehicle not intended for your purchase.

Such a great dealer with a $50K markup on the 2022 Shelby GT500. Wonder what the Transit markup will be?

Holy sheet $150K, that's 911 money.
Of course the do have another GT500 without the carbon fiber do-das with only $25K ADM. It's a bargain!

 

[SierraGal]

My dealer is requiring me to sign a non-refundable deposit form…

That dealer and document SUCKS just like Ford sucks 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕

 

[Princess_Fluffypants]

If it makes anyone feel better, a lot of these dealerships are going to be in a very tight spot in 3-6 months. The used car bubble is popping, repossession rates are skyrocketing and there's no more of these "stimmy ballers" propping up their car payments with stimulus checks. I'm not sure what that means for the van market, as obviously the Transit is still supply constrained and it doesn't seem like that is changing anytime soon.

But I suspect that in a few months time you're going to see a LOT of supply on the market just as demand is cratering due to tightened lending restrictions. Gone are the days when being able to put down $1k and fog a mirror would get you a note with 140% LTV.