mrbill973

My initial order was placed on 1/24/22 Modified to add the 50T package on 1/26/22 XLT, 4X4, HD towing package, and the 50T package Priority code of 19 Arrived at the dealer (Ford tracker that day still showed it in shipped status) last Monday I picked up last Wednesday, have only put 70 miles on it since (circumstances out of my control) Only item missing, hands free tailgate, (even has rear AC/heater controls) and quite frankly, I would have turned it off anyway. Again, the order was always priority code 19, as far as I can tell, the priority numbers mean nothing. What does is having the parts and paint toners needed in house to finish off a specific vehicle and build, and this is how mine got scheduled when it did, not based on a priority code in the system. People get too wrapped up in what the read on these forums that they wind themselves up over nothing. Bill

Considering a dealer will make a minimum of 8%, (with Ford kickback for taking the order) and the order does not affect their allotment, it behooves a dealer to take the plan as a gesture of goodwill, and the added customer appreciation and thus someone who will tell all their friends and family members where to go (theoretically). AKA: Free advertising...........I personally had to go to two dealers in order to find one that would take my Plan order for my 2022 Expedition. The first one made it sound like a major hassle they did not want to deal with, the second, in and out in under 30 minutes, with all proper paperwork duly filled out, signed off on, and submitted in the system, go figure. Bill

Just an FYI, pre-covid, a typical dealer would/will make 8-9% on the MSRP, this does not include holdback, or any other incentives. Post Covid, this has not changed, just the biometric in how it is reported. By not carrying a large inventory, the weekly/monthly costs to floorplan that inventory is also reduced. This lower overhead has a trickle down affect. Short term negatives, this will cost salespeople their jobs, as it will not take 6-12 salespeople to take care of the lower volume coming in to the dealership to write a contract. Most of this will be handled online, with the purchaser coming in to review and sign the contract with a sales manager, or, if Ford can get it's act together, just have an "E Sign" option, in which case, you will see a customer coming in to see "A" vehicle they are interested in, similar to Tesla retail locations, then go home and place their order, then have that ordered delivered to their nearest, convenient, dealership of their choice. I suspect those type of orders will have a profit point that is split between dealerships that overlap coverage in a specific territory. Or, you will see older, smaller, mom and pop style dealerships just cease to exist, as Ford has attempted in the past. Bill

Ford reported over 60,000 vehicles are built awaiting "chips and incidentals", with actual sales for the 1st quarter of the year reported as 966,000 units vs 1.1 million units expected. Still reported a paper loss of 3.9B, most of that due to Rivian investments. Bill

You mean MY22 order banks closing. As far as the new MY23, it is my feeling that you will see deletions and further restrictions in options and packages for the 2023 model year as Ford (and every other manufacturer) continues to feel the pain from the supply chain shortages and slow downs. The next major Expedition line revamp will occur in 2024 Bill

Not funny really, it depends on what chips are needed to finish those units out vs yours. Same goes for interior/exterior color combinations, as the darker colors are being shipped twice as fast as the lighter colors, all painted in batches for more efficiency. Bill

Thanks, much appreciated.

Out of curiosity, how many units are being produced per shift these days? Bill