Absolute worst dealership experience I’ve ever had. - Chris
Absolute worst dealership experience I’ve ever had. Wife wanted an Explorer Tremor carbonized gray metallic, Hardy’s website listed one in stock. Salesman was Eric Farmer. Couldn’t find the gray quickly so test drove a different color. Returned, he looked for the gray again, no dice. We thanked him for his time and were leaving to a different Ford. He looked me in the eye and said he would give us a deal for buying a color on the lot. We agreed and started working the numbers, told him I was military, A / Z plan eligible, wanted the A / Z plan invoice, and the smart Vincent report (shows all eligible rebates that can be stacked, dealers can chose to provide it or not) He brought the numbers, credit is awesome, qualified for everything, they refused to provide the smart Vincent. Barely any rebates on the A plan financing options, he was pushing hard for their preferred bank of choice (dealers get a kick back when a customer uses them). When asked about the lack of rebates on the A plan, he said I got all that were allowed. This went back and forth, I asked for the Vincent report again. I knew there were more regional rebates… this went nowhere. The A plan price was 58K, 56k after rebates, their bank price (advertised) was 53k after rebates. I decided on the regular Ford credit option with a slightly lower rate, turned down the special 3.9% in favor of rebates. Now that the numbers are settled, I ask what he planned on taking off for picking a color on the lot as promised. This is where things fall apart…. He looked me dead in the face and denied offering anything. I told him the only reason we stayed and settled for the Marsh color was his offer to make it worth our while. Manager time…. Farmer returned and said nothing can be done, the A plan price is locked. I said ok, I’ll do the 53k non A plan deal, your bank, what can you do now? He did the 5 - 10 minute manager visit, returned, said no reduction. Things went back and forth, i.e. you offered and are now reneging…. you lied to get us to sit down, ect. Ultimately, we walked out. 30 minutes pass, he calls and leaves a voicemail, doubled down on his xx. I copied the transcript below:
“Hi this is Eric Farmer Hardy family Ford I just spoke with y'all and I think I figured out where the misunderstanding came from where we were discounting the vehicle like little over $10,000 over our website and if I were to do a dealer locate I wouldn't be able to discount a vehicle 10,000 some odd dollars that's where the misunderstanding came from could please give me a call when you get a chance.”
I called him back 30 minutes later. The synopsis of the call was: At no point did a dealer locate / ship the color we wanted to the store came up. I’ve been around for a few minutes, I know the dealer charges extra, there are 6+ Ford dealers within 30 miles~, we would visit another Ford. My wife and I both know what was said to motivate her to accept a different color. The conversation devolved from there, he was a gaslight champion, tried to make me think I was crazy. I asked him what logical reason did I have to stay? Why would I ask you to order something I can drive 30 minutes to for the same price~ and exactly what my wife wants. He continued to gaslight me, I told him the conversation is going nowhere, choice words about his morale compass, he is a liar, scammed me to sit down and lost a sale. I ended the call
The next day, visited Courtesy Ford Rome, found that Hardy was hiding some stackable A plan rebates. Courtesy Ford gave me every document I asked for without hesitation. The A plan price 58k and regional rebates are the same for both locations, I walked out of there at 52k B4 tax, title, ect..Hardy hid 4k in rebates! Hardy holding back rebates to pad profit% - commission, SHAME! Is that kind of deceptive sales tactic taught and encouraged there? How many customers fall for this psych trap “I made it this far, I’ll just finish the deal”? It is a real psych trick they use. DO NOT use
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