What would You Do?

yooperdave · Dec 21, 2008

I was watching Sunday NFL on TV today with Ford being a major advertiser for the event.

The ad explained that the 2008 F150 currently has a $6,000 rebate. My local dealer explained that the rebate was $5,000 (last week) and negotiated the purchase price of my new 2008 F150 accordingly.

I do not know if the rebates were kicked up within the last week.

Assuming a constant rebate amout, the (lack of) truth in advertising did not sit well with me. Every truck had its MSRP, and then the employee price disclosed, so this part was not contested. The dealer then took the employee price and subtracted $5,000 to develop the sales price. I still negotiated to my final price, but I was intentially mislead which is not a good policy to develop a good relationship. The dealer squeeled more than a stuck pig when negotiating to a lower price.

I already sent off an email to my dealer asking when the Ford Corporate survey was going to be mailed to me so I could disclose my situation. The dealer wants a perfect survey, and this might be challenging that expectation.

What would you do to put this issue to rest? Nothing, or go for the extra $1,000, or something in the middle? I do not want to over-react, but the dealer should show better integrity when making a sale.

TIA

Yooper Dave

Diamondpilot · Dec 21, 2008

Have you checked Fords site to see when the 5K started. It may have been the offer at the time last week with this 6K deal being advertised to start the new sales week coming Monday. Kind of like buying a computer then a week later they have one that is better for less money.

Chris

dgl24087 · Dec 21, 2008

Many of these ads also have the "rebates up to $xxxx on select vehicles, not all buyers will qualify, depends on dealer contribution" disclaimers, etc.

Bird · Dec 21, 2008

Yeah, I got an e-mail from m Ford dealer a couple of days ago that said there were rebates "up to $6,000"; didn't say there was a $6,000 rebate on all of them.

What would you do to put this issue to rest?

If we had agreed on a deal, that's it. I'd probably ask the dealer about the TV ad, but that's all.

yooperdave · Dec 21, 2008

Thanks for setting me straight.

In true advertising form, what is (generally) said and what specifically applies are unrelated.

Per the Ford Web site: The 2008 CREW CAB has a $6,000 rebate. The 2008 SUPER CAB has a $5,000 rebate.

I feel better not thinking the dealer was giving me faulty information.

I tend to take perceived factual information at face value. My final deal was still more than $12,000 off of MSRP which was agreeable to me.

Yooper Dave