I got desperate and tried to call AAI today.

Things I learned:

-They can't tell me where my car is.

-They know of no quality hold

-I may be able to pick uit up directly with VIN, title, dealers permission. (That is if its stil there)

-No one in a higher position was able to speak with me.

They told me to ask my dealer for info. I told them I have and no one knew where in God's good name my car was.

 

Let me know about picking it up I would do it too.

 

But how can you have a title without having the car? Sounds like they threw you a bone that you can't in reality do.

 

First I don't think you can pick up your car at the factory. If you could you would need some sore of document that authories you to do so. This means the dealer would have to be fully paid and if you were trading a vehicle that trade be turned in prior to pick up. Second you still pay the shipping fees of 625. ,union contract. I don't believe you can do this. I don't think the factory would want to accept liability if the car say didn't have enough oil, thing that are checked on delivery.

 

Ya, they told me "probably not"

What gets me though is they don't even know there's a hold on the cars ....

 

You can't pick it up at AAI... and YES.. you have to pay the shipping fee... even if you bought one from Superior Ford.. which is right across the street from AAI

 

Man DJ07, I'd hate to be your dealer, I'd charge you MSRP

 

why?

 

why? [/b][/quote]
Because of all the extra hassle of him calling all the time ...

 

Why? What extra hassle?

Its ridiculous. No one knows anything, thats ludicrous. My dealer can't tell me whee my car is, the plant ca't, Ford can't. No one wil ltell me WHY my car wasnt delivered.

A company this unorganized stinks.

 

listen

this aint fedex
your not getting a tracking number

and this is why when you do a factory order a dealer will tell you 4-8 weeks

you cant be told 4-8 weeks, put down a deposit and say ok then 4 weeks later call 50 times

 

I agree with jcopin but on the other hand why don't they scan the cars and track them like a ten dollar package? Maybe because they don't loose cars like they loose ten dallor packages. I really don't know but I think with very little effort they could scan them and track the vehicle. Perhaps they do but don't share it. I don't know.

 

Part of the reason they can't track them like a ten dollar package is the fact that 3 or more companies handle the vehicle. The plant builds it, the train company ships it to a hub, the car carrier delivers it. If fed ex ships it, hands it to ups and then has the post office bring it to your door, it would be impossible to track as weel

The other reason Ford doesn't put that much effort into it is that usually nobody really cares. This is the rare exception that alot have been pre-ordered. Usually it is the dealer waiting on stock inventory and for us it's more of a "when it gets here, it gets here" thing. We really aren't that concerned if the stock Focus LX stick gets here today or next week.

 

The extra hassle of having to call you all the time. Like they said, you're not getting a tracking number. There is no way to speed up the car. It gets there when it gets there. There is nothing they can do. Send an email or call once a week, and thats plenty. The status only changes once a week, theres no reason to bother them more than that.

 

Because of all the extra hassle of him calling all the time ... [/b][/quote]
who says theres any extra hassle of him calling all the time. All his post said was that he called AAI. If anything it was just a waste of his time, not his salesman's.

Besides are we not entitle to enquire to our salesman about the status of our car?

 

My interest was from a marketing stand point. All manufactures wished they had a car this hot! I'm thinking from a PR perspective a web site you could log into with your vin number. It would not only track the car but be there time to have a screen message to tease you about the car and excite you. Just an inexpensive way to continue the experience and perhaps make it a positive experience. I guess my marketing experience can't be silenced. They had a series of gifts for Tbird owners that waited. I know the car might not be a good example but the cars marketing was non existant once the release.

 

May as well call a Microsoft plant in china next time your mouse gives you trouble

 

who says theres any extra hassle of him calling all the time. All his post said was that he called AAI. If anything it was just a waste of his time, not his salesman's.

Besides are we not entitle to enquire to our salesman about the status of our car? [/b][/quote]
He has said in previous posts that he has. You're right, you can call for status. However, you only need to do so once every week or two weeks. You won't get any new information more than once a week, as orders are only updated once a week.

just need to be patient. its not like they aren't going to deliver your car, its just taking longer than you would like. there is nothing you can do about it.

 

If he had patience he would of been a Doctor. They have lots of patient's.

 

I think Ford (and GM and every other car maker) should get it's act together and allow pick-ups at the factory or at least distance-based fees for delivery. Heck - I can fly up to Michigan and drive it back for free and use the $625 on airbags or something important!

As for the bugging the salesman issue - this is where I have to go with the once a week policy. Heck, you're paying them anywhere between $1000 and $5000 in profit (and dealer holdback etc.) for them to be an order taker; the least they could do for you would be to give you an update once a week and request more info from Ford corporate.

It's Ford's responsibility to get the tracking process in and that would help both the dealers and customers. Heck, when a dealer can point to a screen and say "look - IUP hold" vs. "ummm.. it's on some kind of hold" it's a win-win situation.

Grrr..