Ford's hard sell >>> "we will only speak to you in the showroom"

Sterlingtimes

Having been through a three hour hard sell from Ford a couple of years ago, I felt exhausted and worn down even as a chartered purchaser. Never again!

I keep receiving postal promotion from Allen Ford, but upon 'phoning I get told "we only deal with customers in the showroom; not by 'phone". Goodbye Ford. I'm sure that there are better way of negotiating a deal.

Is internet only buying reliable?

SeduLOUs

My dad bought his focus from a Ford showroom a couple of years ago online. The reason I remember was because he had 'shopped around' the Ford places online, and the best deal was a 2.5 hour round trip and I was the lovely daughter who drove him there to get it.

He only spent about 10 minutes at the showroom getting keys and warranty paperwork, but don't know how much time he spent preparing beforehand. I got the impression it was pretty straight forward.

He's had a couple of issues with the car under warranty (city stop didn't seem to be functioning properly) and they were all resolved at the local Ford places.

daveyjp

If it took three hours it is because you let them. Whilst test drives etc can take time, actually negotiating the price should take no more than half an hour.

If you want to buy at a price and they won't deal simply walk away!

motorguy

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

Having been through a three hour hard sell from Ford a couple of years ago, I felt exhausted and worn down even as a chartered purchaser. Never again!

I keep receiving postal promotion from Allen Ford, but upon 'phoning I get told "we only deal with customers in the showroom; not by 'phone". Goodbye Ford. I'm sure that there are better way of negotiating a deal.

Is internet only buying reliable?

From their pespective, they know they're very unlikely to be able to close the sale over the phone and they dont want to get into a dutch auction with other dealers, hence why they want you to come in.

As has been said already, buying a car shouldnt take more than an hour - ring and arrange an appointment, turn up, test drive, negotiate the figures, deal or no deal and out.

martinthebandit

Just out of curiosity what's a 'chartered purchaser'?

agrinnall

martinthebandit wrote: »

Just out of curiosity what's a 'chartered purchaser'?

First hit given to me by google was http://www.cips.org/

Lungboy

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

Is internet only buying reliable?

It is if you go through companies like Drive the Deal.

martinthebandit

agrinnall wrote: »

First hit given to me by google was http://www.cips.org/

Well yes I saw that but I did wonder what that had to do with buying a private car?

InsideInsurance

martinthebandit wrote: »

Well yes I saw that but I did wonder what that had to do with buying a private car?

Guess they are saying even though their job is buying things that they found that this negotiation effected them

Strider590

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

Having been through a three hour hard sell from Ford a couple of years ago, I felt exhausted and worn down even as a chartered purchaser. Never again!

I keep receiving postal promotion from Allen Ford, but upon 'phoning I get told "we only deal with customers in the showroom; not by 'phone". Goodbye Ford. I'm sure that there are better way of negotiating a deal.

Is internet only buying reliable?

Sorry, but it's not Ford your dealing with, it's a franchised dealer..... Two entirely different entities.

Paully232000

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

Having been through a three hour hard sell from Ford a couple of years ago, I felt exhausted and worn down even as a chartered purchaser. Never again!

I keep receiving postal promotion from Allen Ford, but upon 'phoning I get told "we only deal with customers in the showroom; not by 'phone". Goodbye Ford. I'm sure that there are better way of negotiating a deal.

Is internet only buying reliable?

A few years ago when my other half was (obviously) about 7 months pregnant with our first child we went into Fords and got the hard sell.
We were torn between an astra or focus as had five doors and the car we had at the time only had three.

The saleswoman showed us their selection and kept going on about this particular car that had sporty this and sporty that, goes this fast in this speed etc etc.
Then went to Vauxhall and he told us about the Astra and its NCAP rating, size of boot for a pram, how it is easy to fit a carseat in with the clips in the back etc etc.

Guess which one we went with.