Great news, Ford confirmed today that they are going to use the retail order verification process for the 2011 Mustangs. What this means is that every retail order a dealer takes on a Mustang is in addition to his normal allocation. This should give you the ability to make a better deal with your dealer (if they have any brains) because your order becomes supplemental business with no loss of stock inventory allocation. This will apply to orders placed by 05/31/2010 at midnight. The dealer thens needs to register the order and supply documentation to Ford online.

Here is the communication from Ford:

In response to positive dealer and consumer feedback Ford will offer the Mustang Retail Verification and Scheduling program for valid retail orders through May 15, 2010. Retail orders must be verified through the website, XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, no later than May 31, 2010.
Why is Ford doing this?
To continue to enable dealers to meet customer requests for 2011 Mustang, we will offer the Retail Order Scheduling program through May 15, 2010.
2011 MY Mustang Retail Order Allocation Scheduling
All retail orders verified through the Retail Verification program will be built above allocation. These orders must be entered and approved on the website, no later than Midnight, May 31, 2010 to qualify.
Retail orders verified through the Retail Order Verification Process will be scheduled above dealer allocation. Retail orders not verified through the Retail Order Verification Process may still be scheduled within dealer allocation based on the prioritization of each dealer's order bank.
Retail Order Verification Process
The Retail Order Verification website can be accessed through FMCDealer, under C&I Forms or via XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, under the Retail Order Verification Program. This website will allow dealers to register retail orders, upload required documentation and receive confirmation when the order has been validated. Once orders are validated they will be approved for scheduling above allocation and eligible for claiming in VINCENT.
Note: It is the Dealer's responsibility to register all retail orders on this website to have the order approved for scheduling above allocation and incentive paid in VINCENT.
Required Documents for all Dealers (Except State of California Dealers)
The following documents will be required for each retail order (no exceptions):
-Signed and Dated Buyers order clearly showing date in compliance with
program deadlines (Retail Allocation– May 15, 2010)
-Customer's Driver's License (Note: Sensitive Customer Information should be blocked out on submitted documents).
Required Documents for State of California Dealers ONLY
Required documentation has been modified for the State of California Dealers only and includes:
-Customer signed and dated Dealer Order Receipt Acknowledgement
(DORA) showing date in compliance with program deadlines (Retail Allocation May 15, 2010)
-Proof of Customer Deposit
- Copy of Customer's Driver's License
It is the dealer's responsibility to ensure that all Sensitive Customer Information such as: Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Driver's License Number or any other personal information is blocked on all uploaded files.
If the order is eligible and approved, the dealer will receive an approval confirmation email within 72 business hours from Program Headquarters. There will be no exceptions to the document requirements.
Dealer Resources
Dealers will be able to view their online enrollments and check the status of their submissions on the website. If a submission has not been approved, they can click on the status bar in order to upload any additional documentation necessary to submit the claim.
For any program questions regarding website enrollments or general program guidelines, please contact Program Headquarters at 1-800-404-4977.
For questions regarding your vehicle's order status, how to order a vehicle or scheduling and delivery questions, please contact Vehicle Order Processing Center via the Dealers Ask Ford (DAF) tool on FMCDealer.com. Dealers Ask Ford (DAF) is a robust search engine connected to a customized knowledgebase.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When will the verified retail orders be produced?
Eligible and verified orders will be considered for production. Timing estimates will depend upon the number of verified orders received but every effort will be made to schedule all units for production the month after they are verified (e.g. retail order verified in March will be scheduled for production in May). Please review the production timing with your Regional Sales Office.
What will happen if my order is not buildable (e.g. has a configuration error)?
Dealers are responsible for providing a clean and buildable order by the program deadlines, no exceptions will be honored.
Will my order get approved if I don't submit a copy of the customer's driver's license?
No, your order will be placed on hold with Program Headquarters and it will not be eligible for these programs.
Where can I verify my status on the enrollments that I have entered on the verification website?
There is a function on the website to view all of your current enrollments on the website and their status (Approved, Hold, Denied). If you have any questions, about the status of your enrollment, you can contact Program headquarters at 800-404-4977 for more details.
How do I access the website?
You can link to the website, by going directly to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX or by clicking on FMCDealer.com, Contest and Incentives, C&I Forms, and then Online Enrollment Forms.
Will this retail order scheduling commitment extend beyond May 15, 2010?
Our goal is to continue to offer scheduling of all verified retail orders above allocation. Due to limited production, we will monitor the number of verified retail orders received and determine if we can extend this program at that time.

 

Really good news.

 

Great news!

If I already ordered would my dealer have to do anything with my order? Should I call them and let them know about this or should they already know?

 

Well, if they're smart, they'll know about this. Keeps your order from impacting their allotment. My circumstance is different, as I'm ordering from Jeff and he was expecting they'd come out with this news so he prepared the paperwork as if it was going to be a VRO from the start.

 

ABOUT FREAKING TIME!!!! For Ford to keep us dealers in the dark about for this long is UNACCEPTABLE!!! They had this program ready for when the new 2010 Taurus could be ordered from DAY 1, but it wasn't ready for the Mustang when orders could be taken? COME ON!!! At least they fixed it (after my asking many many times for it on our dealer chat forums) and its good to go! Thanks for the news Paul!!! Its great to see!!

 

Jeff, Maybe all the cars you order for us members will all show up on one truck and we can have this huge pickup party! ha!

 

Will this be the case for the GT 500 as well.

Never Mind, my dealer said the GT 500 is not included. So back to waiting for a allocation I guess.

 

Sorry, but GT500s are allocated right now 1 per dealer. If your dealer hasn't gotten a VIN number yet, you should ask them for updates. My GT500 is serialized and ready for production the week of April 12th. As for my 2nd car? I hope they give it to me early than late as it too is sold!!

 

That would be AWESOME!!!

As for the ROVP, this is another reason why there were NO retail orders scheduled for April build. It all makes sense now.

Cars that are submitted for ROVP in March, are supposed to be for May production. That would be SWEET!!!

 

Jeff, Thanks for the information.

 

Jeff, based upon your experience with the program for the other models, do you have a sense if the May 31st deadline could/would be extended?

 

I just got a call from my Sales guy. I have to go over there and give them a copy of my Drivers License! Does that mean that I went to the back of the order line since I didn't provide that before?

 

My dealer does not have a Vin for their first car yet, this time last year they did.

My car is sadly the second car they ordered, so I'm waiting for an allocation. Like you said I sure hope the send out the second round of allocations early.

 

I was checking on autotrader.com last night and some dealer in some boondoggle town had about 4 or 5 2010 GT500's on their lot. Awful late in the model year to still be sitting on that many GT500's...

 

For some dumb reason the local Ford dealer here in dumpytown PA has 2 GT500's, despite that over the last 6 months they have only had a single GT and no V6's. The GT is behind glass and has been sitting there with the window glass bent out looking stupid for weeks because they didn't drop the side window before disconnecting the battery. In addition to just looking bad, it can't be good for it to sit there like that for weeks on end. I was going to tell them about it, but of the 4 times I've been there in the last few weeks, never once has anyone wanted to talk to me. Last time I was there some old lady finally came up to me (I was dressed in my work clothes) and asked me if we had any Ford Focuses on the lot. I told her I didn't work there, but I hadn't seen any. She got in her car and drove off.

I'll glady drive many hours away to buy from Jeff. :-) Still, I hate to have such a cruddy dealership representing Ford. Maybe they will go out of business soon.

 

Yup, sounds like the local dealers around here. One guy said I could take a '10 for a test drive... if he could lock me in as a customer. Wow, thanks man! Really awesome of you to do that for me!

 

I think that since the bread and butter at a dealership is parts and service that some dealers just don't do a good job selling new cars.

 

They may extend it. It all depends on constant demand. They said they may extend it if necessary.

 

No, it shouldn't. Not having the license doesn't mean anything as this program is only for Ford to confirm REAL retail orders and to get them built even if a dealer doesn't have allocation. No worries on your issue bud.

 

Thanks Scott. I REALLY appreciate your kind words and letting me order you the car you want.