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Ford Unveils New Retail Experience to Deliver Enhanced Customer Journey


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I guess having remodeled the train station and opening a new world HQ, they thought the dealers also should remodel their showrooms, now that the Signature 1.0 remodel (2017) is paid off. My preferred Ford dealer has one of those coffee machines that grind beans for each cup-maybe the'll upgrade to a live barista.

 

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48 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

This is fine and dandy.....if dealers actually upgrade.

 

Didn't Ford just have them upgrade a few years ago?

2017 for Ford Signature 1.0. The article says that they hope to have 110 stores upgraded to FS 2.0 by the end of 2026. I Googled it, and there are almost 10,000 stores in 125 countries worldwide, including 3,100 in the US. This may take awhile.

 

As far as the Guest Experience Training goes, that might prove to be a challenge, especially with the pre-millennial generation who will be entering the sales force in a few years. It has been my experience that in many franchise restaurants service and communication are devolving. Younger waitstaff don't check back, forget to bring items that are asked for-spoon to stir coffee, refills etc. Maybe it is that generation's penchant for texting that they are losing the ability to speak directly to customers. You have probably been to a restaurant and noticed a group of Teen-somethings, all texting other people and ignoring each other- tragically funny.

Edited by Motorpsychology
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A true buying experience I want to see is to be able to order my vehicle directly from Ford, pay dealer invoice, and have it show up at my door, ready to go.  I don't need no stinking dealer!

 

I know, it won't happen, but I can dream, right?

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1 hour ago, Motorpsychology said:

2017 for Ford Signature 1.0. The article says that they hope to have 110 stores upgraded to FS 2.0 by the end of 2026. I Googled it, and there are almost 10,000 stores in 125 countries worldwide, including 3,100 in the US. This may take awhile.

 

As far as the Guest Experience Training goes, that might prove to be a challenge, especially with the pre-millennial generation who will be entering the sales force in a few years. It has been my experience that in many franchise restaurants service and communication are devolving. Younger waitstaff don't check back, forget to bring items that are asked for-spoon to stir coffee, refills etc. Maybe it is that generation's penchant for texting that they are losing the ability to speak directly to customers. You have probably been to a restaurant and noticed a group of Teen-somethings, all texting other people and ignoring each other- tragically funny.

 

My Dealership already looks like what they are showing in the photos.

 

To follow up on your training experence-I have a former coworker that is an Officer in the Navy and is currently overseas in the mideast-he was posting on Facebook that he had to force his younger enlisted to actually use a phone for communication vs using other electronic means like email etc-

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3 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

My Dealership already looks like what they are showing in the photos.

 

To follow up on your training experence-I have a former coworker that is an Officer in the Navy and is currently overseas in the mideast-he was posting on Facebook that he had to force his younger enlisted to actually use a phone for communication vs using other electronic means like email etc-

The same with my go-to (Hudson Ford) and many dealers in the TC area, but from the photos it appears to me that there is a shift from greys and blues to more tans & beige with increased wood in 2.0. The "Bronco Specialist" and "Mach-E specialist" seem to have quietly disappeared 

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4 minutes ago, Motorpsychology said:

The same with my go-to (Hudson Ford) and many dealers in the TC area, but from the photos it appears to me that there is a shift from greys and blues to more tans & beige with increased wood in 2.0. The "Bronco Specialist" and "Mach-E specialist" seem to have quietly disappeared 

 

What's old is new again lol.

 

Why wouldn't all salespeople be "specialists" in the products?

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2 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

What's old is new again lol.

 

Why wouldn't all salespeople be "specialists" in the products?

The "specialist" often is the person in the bottom half of production that the store can afford to do without during the 1 to 3-day intro seminar. Why, yes I did attend the '88 Lincoln Continental into. 😛

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1 hour ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

My Dealership already looks like what they are showing in the photos.

 

To follow up on your training experence-I have a former coworker that is an Officer in the Navy and is currently overseas in the mideast-he was posting on Facebook that he had to force his younger enlisted to actually use a phone for communication vs using other electronic means like email etc-


I have to admit I would rather email or text vs a phone conversation 95% of the time.  It doesn’t matter if either of you are busy you still get the message and you can carry on multiple simultaneous conversations and have group conversations.  And I’m borderline boomer/gen x

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3 minutes ago, akirby said:


I have to admit I would rather email or text vs a phone conversation 95% of the time.  It doesn’t matter if either of you are busy you still get the message and you can carry on multiple simultaneous conversations and have group conversations.  And I’m borderline boomer/gen x

 

 

Well a phone/Radio call would be faster if your taking fire, for example, in the case that I'm talking about. But there is def an erosion of people skills with younger generations. 

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1 hour ago, fordmantpw said:

A true buying experience I want to see is to be able to order my vehicle directly from Ford, pay dealer invoice, and have it show up at my door, ready to go.  I don't need no stinking dealer!

 

I know, it won't happen, but I can dream, right?


That was close to my experience when I used X plan with my local dealer.   I just called and said this is what I want and it showed up 6 weeks later just below dealer invoice.  Then they increased x plan pricing for which I’m no longer eligible and it became harder to special order.  Bought the F150 and Nautilus off the lot.   I was able to order the Boxster exactly the way I wanted it and the dealer was gracious enough to allow me to pay MSRP and wait 6 months.  But since all ICE boxsters and caymans are discontinued it should be a good investment.  

 

 

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2 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

 

Well a phone/Radio call would be faster if your taking fire, for example, in the case that I'm talking about. But there is def an erosion of people skills with younger generations. 


Well yeah I wouldn’t want to call in close air support with a text…..

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14 minutes ago, akirby said:


I have to admit I would rather email or text vs a phone conversation 95% of the time.  It doesn’t matter if either of you are busy you still get the message and you can carry on multiple simultaneous conversations and have group conversations.  And I’m borderline boomer/gen x

 

Same here.  I used to hate the thought of texting...until I had texting.  Wow, what a difference.  Now I hate talking on the phone.

 

10 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

 

Well a phone/Radio call would be faster if your taking fire, for example, in the case that I'm talking about. But there is def an erosion of people skills with younger generations. 

 

We're getting fired upon!  Hold on, let me text Joe to see if he can help us out.  He has notifications silenced.  Maybe he'll see it later.  LOL

 

7 minutes ago, akirby said:


That was close to my experience when I used X plan with my local dealer.   I just called and said this is what I want and it showed up 6 weeks later just below dealer invoice.  Then they increased x plan pricing for which I’m no longer eligible and it became harder to special order.  Bought the F150 and Nautilus off the lot.   I was able to order the Boxster exactly the way I wanted it and the dealer was gracious enough to allow me to pay MSRP and wait 6 months.  But since all ICE boxsters and caymans are discontinued it should be a good investment.  

 

 

 

That was nice to let you pay MSRP and wait.  Of course, it did have a pretty long trip from the factory.

 

Wait, ICE boxsters and caymans are discontinued?  I didn't realize that.  

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42 minutes ago, fordmantpw said:

 

Same here.  I used to hate the thought of texting...until I had texting.  Wow, what a difference.  Now I hate talking on the phone.

 

 

We're getting fired upon!  Hold on, let me text Joe to see if he can help us out.  He has notifications silenced.  Maybe he'll see it later.  LOL

 

 

That was nice to let you pay MSRP and wait.  Of course, it did have a pretty long trip from the factory.

 

Wait, ICE boxsters and caymans are discontinued?  I didn't realize that.  

 

Yup, being replaced with a BEV version.

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4 hours ago, fordmantpw said:

We're getting fired upon!  Hold on, let me text Joe to see if he can help us out.  He has notifications silenced.  Maybe he'll see it later.  LOL


Sorry I had it on silent.   
 

Hello?

 

Guys?

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4 hours ago, fordmantpw said:

 

That was nice to let you pay MSRP and wait.  Of course, it did have a pretty long trip from the factory.

 

Wait, ICE boxsters and caymans are discontinued?  I didn't realize that.  


Believe it or not the trip was only a couple weeks from German port to Atlanta.

 

Europe passed some electronics law last year and the 718 platform was not compliant and apparently could not be upgraded so they stopped selling them in Europe last year but kept them in production for ROW until last month.  They decided to replace them with EVs which are due out next year.  But after the dip in EV sales they’re now saying they might do some naturally aspirated special versions which means GTS and GT4s and $150k price tags (at least).

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