Ordered a 2013 GT about 2 1/2 months ago. Supposed to be in Sept 4 then changed to Sept 10th. Checked the dealers Internet Sales site for what they had on the lot. Found my GT with my VIN number listed. Spoke with the salesman who stated we have not received it yet. I believe him but what gives with it listed on the web site?
Botchy

 

If its on the site it's on the lot. The dealer is up to something. I would go track it down and approach the dealer. Do they have a deposit from you?

 

Yes - I asked the sales guy three times if they had the car. He was emphatic they had not received the car yet.

 

Well, maybe they put cars for sale that they have ordered but not received yet.

 

I would check their lot personally and find out what the heck is going on!

 

 

Rant and Rant - I did. They tried to turn it around and blame Ford for posting it.

 

Wow what the heck

 

Noticed that when we were shopping for our 2011, on line inventory shows some which are on order but not on the lot. Some say "dealer ordered" under the VIN if they are not on the lot yet, if I remember correctly.

 

This is a common practice to lure in potential buyers. My stang was on the website and it was still in Georgia. My salesman said they do it all the time. A little shady, but as long as there isn't any intent in selling the car to someone else I didn't mind. You should call posing as a prospective buyer and see how they handle it...

 

^ I friggen LOVE this smiley! Sometimes it describes my mood perfectly!

 

Id make your girl or friend call asking for the car from their number and make them ask to test drive it. If they post my car and try to sell it and let someone drive it, i will deck my salesman in the face. No doubt.

 

That's true.
If the dealer's website being referenced is the one linked from Ford (fordvehicles.com), then I'm pretty sure the inventory information is maintained and updated by Ford, not the dealer. If you compare inventories among a few different dealerships, you'll see they are formatted pretty much identically. It's doubtful "Joe" at Dealer A will match his data so closely to "Sally" at Dealer B, "Bryan" at Dealer C, etc.The dealer can add photos of the actual car after received, but if far enough along to getting delivered, adding it to the the dealer's website inventory will be made automatically. Thus. it possibly being listed as "dealer ordered".
Now, if the dealer does have their own independent website, then all of that is out the window and their internet sales rep my just be adding all new cars being received soon using a report from Ford. They may not first check to see if any particular vehicles are already tagged as sold. Why should they? It is possible that for various reasons a specially ordered vehicle maybe declined. (Not saying this would be your case.) That's time they would loose advertising it.
Try getting more facts before upsetting anyone.

 

Respectfully I spent a lot of time trying to get the facts. There were four cars listed and nothing saying dealer ordered. The VIN and window sticker were all matched. Was the car for sale?
Well you could have fooled me. Probably a mistake. Try to get the real facts when the party's are pointing the blame at each other. Who am I, just the customer.
That's the facts.

 

A good dealer does everything he can to make your buying experience as pleasant as possible-- he wants to cement your loyalty to the brand and to his dealership; he wants you to become a cheerleader for his product and his local operation. He wants EVERY customer to be a satisfied (and repeat) customer. If you feel your dealer is jacking with you, I trust that you will be buying your next Ford from another dealership, and I trust that you will not be shy in letting Mr. Dealer and anyone else who cares to listen know exactly why Mr. D will not be seeing any more of your Benjamins. Copy that?

 

My dealer had it on an independent site. I asked him about it and he was honest about their advertising. No big deal. All fact, no reason to get worked up...

 

it IS common practice for dealers to do this ... it inflates the number of "available cars" they can advertise as being "available" for sale to the public.

Local Toyota/Honda dealers put it in their advertising all the time ... "over 500 cars available to choose from" ... then you go there and the lot barely holds 200-300 ... the rest are incoming .... VINs assigned to the dealer but maybe not even built yet.

 

Very true - the car is my focus.

 

Trying to get Ford/Dealer to not list special ordered cars on the Internet Sales sites. After I take delivery I'll fill out a survey and give them my opinion of what they should change.

 

My car was special order. My dealers website did show cars that were on order. However it never showed mine. Perhaps they ordered your car for stock even though it was custom ordered for you. My dealer was even able to get my name on the window sticker.