Ford moving to "Build to Order" sales model

[Mike Alcocer]

Thought this article was interesting. Don't think it has been shared yet. Should boost confidence that ford is focusing on orders rather than lot vehicles during the shortages.

Ford Would Rather Build-to-Order Than Pack Dealer Lots

Using sales incentives to liquidate dealers' overstock is bad business, and Ford wants to move away from the practice.

www.thedrive.com

 

[PapaRaptor]

Makes sense with all the options, colors and trim levels.

 

[Mike Alcocer]

I was looking through lot vehicles before I purchased and came to the conclusion that the person picking those options for lot vehicles was drunk on the job.

 

[DrEvil]

How do you know if your order was placed as a customer order, versus a loorder?

The dealer entered my email, and I got a confirmation of the build. However the dealer didn’t request my drivers license?

I read elsewhere on the forum that they had to give Ford a copy of my drivers license.

 

[Briski]

It might be the future model for dealerships to deliver built vehicles. The money is in servicing them.

 

[Blackhawk878]

That’s the way it is typically done in Germany, you order what you want, not what someone else believes is the hotness to sell. And everything is à la carte to avoid the package bundling of stuff you don’t want to get that one thing you do. I think that would tell Ford (or any manufacturer) what customers actually desire vs forcing options, but the brands that operate that way over there adopt the packaging schema for the US market so….
*This is for new car purchases, used car market was similar to the US.

 

[Tuxedomouse]

How do you know if your order was placed as a customer order, versus a loorder?

The dealer entered my email, and I got a confirmation of the build. However the dealer didn’t request my drivers license?

I read elsewhere on the forum that they had to give Ford a copy of my drivers license.

Customer orders have a green bordered window sticker.

 

[Big_Ed]

Yeah, at the factory, they are hearing that all orders will have to be entered by the dealers. Supposedly, the dealers would receive a certain amount of allotment, of various vehicles without actually having to manually go into the order banks and build the trucks. But soon, all dealers will have to manually order the trucks they want, just like they do for customer special orders. I guess this way, Ford can somehow better manage and prioritize real customer orders through COVD over dealer orders. Also, I guess it also allows dealers more control over what inventory they want to sell based on their specific area and needs, instead of Ford sending models that might end up sitting on the lot for a year because that model/style isn't desired there.

I'm just guessing on the reasons, but the scuttlebutt is that all future builds will be verified customer orders and dealership orders.

 

[NL-Tremor]

Taking a page out of Toyota's book - good play really. Having to guess how much you're going to sell and then sell what you weren't able to at heavy discounts it not a good way to be profitable.

 

[Longrangehunter]

I wish they'd go one better and do away with the dealer model entirely.

I realize Tesla has done the same with mixed results, but they also tried it as essentially an investor-funded startup, with a fraction of the capital Ford could bring to the table.

Create Ford service centers to handle the oil changes/warranty work, but do away with the whole dealership model and shady salesmen entirely. Put the rebates, coupon codes, Ford Credit, etc. all right on the order page.

There are some states, such as Utah, that require dealers, but that's due in large part to the lobbying of the big 3's dealers.

 

[DL64]

Good job Ford, now ship my order out faster

 

[Mike Alcocer]

Wait why are we talking about trucks again!

I personally think you should be able to order direct. There is a need for lots, salesman's and service centers but not in the quantity we see these days.

 

[Big_Ed]

Wait why are we talking about trucks again!

I personally think you should be able to order direct. There is a need for lots, salesman's and service centers but not in the quantity we see these days.

Service centers where you get work done and pick up new deliveries…..I like it…. I think the used auto market is the only place you need sales people. Only concern would be test drives. Do these centers have various models that are only for test drives?

 

[Mike Alcocer]

Service centers where you get work done and pick up new deliveries…..I like it…. I think the used auto market is the only place you need sales people. Only concern would be test drives. Do these centers have various models that are only for test drives?

I would imagine you get to test drive the orders that haven't been picked up yet!

Or have some fleet examples. They will probably have a small amount of vehicles immediately available for sale.

 

[Big_Ed]

I would imagine you get to test drive the orders that haven't been picked up yet!

Or have some fleet examples. They will probably have a small amount of vehicles immediately available for sale.

I thought we were talking hypotheticals…..lol. I think the way Ford is changing it now, is the dealer has to physically enter all their orders. Ford won’t build units that haven’t been ordered. You’ll have customer builds and dealer builds

 

[Blackhawk878]

I would imagine you get to test drive the orders that haven't been picked up yet!

Or have some fleet examples. They will probably have a small amount of vehicles immediately available for sale.

They could have a loaded version of each of the models to showcase all the options or some method to determine whether or not you want massaging seats. Would be much nicer if this were remotely possible at dealerships without dealing with the typical salesman (anus).

Having a couple loaded vs a couple hundred seems much more manageable.

 

[Mike Alcocer]

It will all be virtual reality with haptic feedback suits

 

[Brokedown]

Might get around this sort of thing... Not a Tremor, but still.....

 

[BroncOh]

Might get around this sort of thing... Not a Tremor, but still.....
View attachment 30171

Technically a smart customer could show/tell them, so where's the "dealer installed options"? Since that is what that label states exactly.

 

[LT75]

Technically a smart customer could show/tell them, so where's the "dealer installed options"? Since that is what that label states exactly.

Actually it says adjusted market value. If they want to get technical. that’s not really a dealer installed option.