I can agree with you on the phone number.

Disagree with you on "my" plan.

If Ford builds at X and then sells to me at Y, then I'm saving money. Since there is no dealer, there's no Z. So I'm saving money. The catch would be delivery, but I'm willing to bet you could get delivery for (Z-Y)/2. So by paying for Y + (Z-Y)/2, I'm still not paying Z. And we all know for the dealers there's Z, Z + holdback and finally Z + (MSRP-Z). So the amount of money being saved is ALOT if you pay Y + (Z-Y)/2 instead of Z + (MSRP-Z). The only person that loses is the dealer. If Ford would outsource all warranty work to say, Pepboys, why would we need dealers anymore?

So, ok...Ford's not saving any money, but they might could gain some more money by charging a little more than Y upfront, and we'd probably still be saving more than paying Z + (MSRP-Z).

 

That was clear as mud!!

 

I can agree with you on the phone number.

Disagree with you on "my" plan.

If Ford builds at X and then sells to me at Y, then I'm saving money. Since there is no dealer, there's no Z. So I'm saving money. The catch would be delivery, but I'm willing to bet you could get delivery for (Z-Y)/2. So by paying for Y + (Z-Y)/2, I'm still not paying Z. And we all know for the dealers there's Z, Z + holdback and finally Z + (MSRP-Z). So the amount of money being saved is ALOT if you pay Y + (Z-Y)/2 instead of Z + (MSRP-Z). The only person that loses is the dealer. If Ford would outsource all warranty work to say, Pepboys, why would we need dealers anymore?

So, ok...Ford's not saving any money, but they might could gain some more money by charging a little more than Y upfront, and we'd probably still be saving more than paying Z + (MSRP-Z).
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Problem is, they aren't going to sell to you at the same price they sell to dealers. Dealers get the cars at the price they get them because of the volume they deal with. MSRP is Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. In other words, what the manufacturer would charge if it sold the vehicle itself. Thats what you would be paying, not the dealer price.

 

Problem is, they aren't going to sell to you at the same price they sell to dealers. Dealers get the cars at the price they get them because of the volume they deal with. MSRP is Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. In other words, what the manufacturer would charge if it sold the vehicle itself. Thats what you would be paying, not the dealer price.
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It's no different than buying Tide (just an example) at the local Wal-Mart or Target, it's just different. You don't negotiate with them, you just pay the price they are asking or buy something else, but eventually you have to buy detergent. Ford is the manufacturer and they make Mustangs and Ford Dealerships buy them and sell them, just like Proctor & Gamble manufacturers Tide and Wal-Mart and Target buys it from them and resells them at a marked up price just like the dealers. It's the same thing just on a much larger scale (I don't think a Tide only store would be too profitable). Ironically, nobody complains about the markup on Tide, which is about 40%, because it only costs 11 bucks a bottle (I used to manage a Target that's why I know).

Now, I my take a hit on this, but I think they should all operate like Saturn. 1 price for everybody, except planners, Target and Wal-Mart give employee discounts too, and the occassional ad on certain models. It would help get rid of the distrust and BS we all have experienced at one time or another down at the local dealership. Look at these forums and at what we all are paying, the spread is amazing!

BTW Saturn hasn't turned profit yet because it's cars are crap, but the concept isn't. Their customer service scores say it all.......