Ford Motor company, and any business for that matter should not be happy with franchises doing stuff like that on pure speculation. Plus dealers have more turnovers than Pepperidge Farms, I'm sure the whole staff will turnover in the next 60 months along with "the list"!
My Two Cents!
P.S. When you go in the dealership, tell him that I said he needs to quit doing mind deals!
September 16, 1999
To: All Ford Dealers (SMD#296)
From: Jim O'Connor, President, Ford Division
Subject: Future Thunderbird
The Thunderbird concept car is generating excitement
Since we revealed the Thunderbird concept car at the 1999 North American
International Auto Show, the response from the public, dealers and media
has been absolutely phenomenal. Many of you have seen first hand the
excitement the concept car has created when consumers walk into your
dealership wanting to buy the new Thunderbird now.
Brand image is important
Thunderbird can be an outstanding image car for Ford and Ford dealers. The
impressions consumers have of Thunderbird will be created by the product,
our marketing efforts and their purchase and ownership experience. You
play a particularly key role in the purchase and ownership experience.
Thunderbird is our opportunity to enhance the image of Ford and Ford
dealers, and to become truly consumer driven. With your help in properly
handling these early Thunderbird prospects, Thunderbird will be everything
we both want it to be.
Here are some facts you should know
The Thunderbird is not yet scheduled for production and will not be
available until sometime after the Spring of 2001 – giving the program team
time to make sure the car is everything you and our customers are
expecting. Production will be limited and no dealer should assume he or
she will receive a significant allocation of vehicles. Allocations will
not be affected by the number of orders dealers have taken.
Deposits should not be accepted
I’m aware some dealers have already begun to accept deposits. Ford Motor
Company is not accepting orders at this time and dealers should not accept
deposits from consumers.
Consumer satisfaction is key
Dealers are advised to take the names of consumers who wish to purchase
this car but not take deposits. Consumers can then be recontacted once you
know you have allocation to provide them vehicles, the time frame that you
can provide them in, and the price at which you can sell them. We must
give consumers a realistic assessment of when they are likely to take
delivery of their new cars but we can’t do that now.
It’s been some time since we’ve had a car generate so much enthusiasm with
the public. Together, our job is to maintain that enthusiasm while
managing consumer expectations so every Thunderbird prospect and customer
has a good experience.
/s/ Jim O'Connor
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