So I custom ordered a new vehicle on April 13th of this year. The expected time for delivery was 8 weeks, and, as the dealer told me, the production schedule would be known in about 3 weeks. Just about exactly 3 weeks later, I am notified that production had begun, and the expected delivery date would be between June 2nd - 8th. On June 7th, the dealer told me to expect it on the 9th. So, as you must have guessed, I still don't have the truck. Why? No one seems to know, but the dealer inventory system showed my truck still sitting in a Norfolk & Southern rail yard in Kansas City as of last week. Today, it finally showed it had made its way to S. Indiana.

Now, tell me, why can Amazon tell you within a 4 hour window when the $3 dollar item you bought will be dropped at your door, and apparently Ford can't tell you when a $50,0000 vehicle will be delivered within a month? Absolutely the stupidest thing I have ever seen. Even small outfits have GPS monitored vehicles so they can tell you when the plumber will be at your house. Somebody at Ford seriously needs to pull their head out of their ass and figure out modern logistics. I don't actually care about the delay, per se, as I am not desperate for the vehicle, but the inability to plan is infuriating.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DrDan,

Until people start saying “you can't tell me when delivery will be? I'm going next door and getting a....!” There is no reason for them to invest resources into changing the system.

That stinks!

More importantly, what did you order?

I'm happy to hear you factory ordered, despite the delay. That is a joy every owner should know.

Mine was about six weeks. An even bigger surprise, I walked in with the build sheet but just got information, no commitment, no deposit. And the dealer owner ordered it anyway. Parked it in the basement so I would be the very first customer to sit in it. Hard to say "No" when you can smell the factory floor from ten feet away.

Amazing …. Lack of info on that one.

When we ordered a new BMW, they sent an email every time the vehicle shifted departments. I knew when it went from frame/engine construction to paint to interior, ect.

I was told when it was delivered to the port in Germany. And that the trans-Atlantic ship would be 10-12days in travel. I knew when it landed in South Carolina.

And I knew before the dealership that it had arrived. But that is another long story.

Hard to believe that Ford can't track a vehicle.

Andrew

I would think that Ford doesn't own the rail lines, they are contracting with them, any location information would be from the rail company.

Having said that, they should be able to update clients on transportation of goods since that's what railways do, and knowing where you stuff is important to companies and customers.

Thought I read where CSX had some digital device that could update their systems on locations.

All the rail systems can track an individual train car down in real time.

Got a friend who does logistics for wine/alcohol. He can watch it go anywhere.

Andrew

quote:

Originally posted by Riley:
That stinks!

More importantly, what did you order?

F-150 XLT, Super Crew. I had to special order it because I wanted the 6 1/2' bed, which is rarer than hen's teeth around here. I ordered the following packages:

- 301a - nicer than base XLT, but not top
- Max trailer tow package - rated for 13,200lbs added 3.5L ecoboost
- Max load package - gives the heavier 9.75" differential and 18" LT tires
- FX-4 package for skid plates, locking diff, etc.
- spray in bedliner
- trailer tow mirrors

Comfort wise, it will be a step up from my 2006 F-250 XL, and only a marginal drop in load carrying capability, and a step up in trailer tow capacity.

Because your $50,000 truck is coming via a combination of truck and rail transport. I've shipped a few cars via truck and it can be an ordeal in and of itself. Dealing with the logistical systems of the factory, rail system, trucking company, and dealership is likely very complex.

And don't get me wrong, I'm sympathetic. I've ordered two new Tahoes via out of state dealers where I've had to put to with the delays you describe plus getting them shipped from the dealer to me. The part that was always the most aggravating to me was the scheduling from the factory.

Sorry you are delayed, my friend.

quote:

Originally posted by DrDan:

quote:

Originally posted by Riley:
That stinks!

More importantly, what did you order?

F-150 XLT, Super Crew. I had to special order it because I wanted the 6 1/2' bed, which is rarer than hen's teeth around here. I ordered the following packages:

- 301a - nicer than base XLT, but not top
- Max trailer tow package - rated for 13,200lbs added 3.5L ecoboost
- Max load package - gives the heavier 9.75" differential and 18" LT tires
- FX-4 package for skid plates, locking diff, etc.
- spray in bedliner
- trailer tow mirrors

Comfort wise, it will be a step up from my 2006 F-250 XL, and only a marginal drop in load carrying capability, and a step up in trailer tow capacity.

Ooooh... <applause>. I think I like that spec sheet.

Sounds like it will be a sweet ride when you get it.

Other things to consider would be JIT (just outta time ) supply chain management that is so prevalent in todays marketplace.

Amazon's $3 doodad doesn't have to go through a testing facility before Doodads-R-Us ships it.

quote:

Originally posted by DrDan:

quote:

Originally posted by Riley:
That stinks!

More importantly, what did you order?

F-150 XLT, Super Crew. I had to special order it because I wanted the 6 1/2' bed, which is rarer than hen's teeth around here. I ordered the following packages:

- 301a - nicer than base XLT, but not top
- Max trailer tow package - rated for 13,200lbs added 3.5L ecoboost
- Max load package - gives the heavier 9.75" differential and 18" LT tires
- FX-4 package for skid plates, locking diff, etc.
- spray in bedliner
- trailer tow mirrors

Comfort wise, it will be a step up from my 2006 F-250 XL, and only a marginal drop in load carrying capability, and a step up in trailer tow capacity.

Sounds pretty close to what I’d order, if I could make up my mind.

quote:

Originally posted by DrDan:

quote:

Originally posted by Riley:
That stinks!

More importantly, what did you order?

F-150 XLT, Super Crew. I had to special order it because I wanted the 6 1/2' bed, which is rarer than hen's teeth around here. I ordered the following packages:

- 301a - nicer than base XLT, but not top
- Max trailer tow package - rated for 13,200lbs added 3.5L ecoboost
- Max load package - gives the heavier 9.75" differential and 18" LT tires
- FX-4 package for skid plates, locking diff, etc.
- spray in bedliner
- trailer tow mirrors

Comfort wise, it will be a step up from my 2006 F-250 XL, and only a marginal drop in load carrying capability, and a step up in trailer tow capacity.

I have the Lariet super crew with the twin turbo ecoboost and that thing has surprising hp compared to my 5.4 triton in my 2007 lariat. that truck is so smooth it's amazing and all the new features are super cool. it pulls my 16ft wells cargo full of cabinets like it's not even there. Back up cameras hooking up the trailer are sooo nice. I also have a 6.5 ft bed they make so many of them with the shorter one, I put a bedrug in mine just cant stand the spray in liners also ordered a leer 100xq cap for it.

quote:

Originally posted by DaBigBR:

...I've ordered two new Tahoes via out of state dealers where I've had to put to with the delays you describe plus getting them shipped from the dealer to me...

That's something I would never do, unless I could pick up the car myself at the other dealership! I spent some time at a Mercedes dealership in Northern Illinois, and watched them do a dealer trade: One guy with a pickup loaded a C-Class onto ramps he'd installed in the pickup's bed, then hooked another M-B to the rear, using a two-wheel trailer. The worst part was that he put the rear wheels on the two-wheeler so the car would not record the mileage, and let the front end bounce down the road. No regard for what it would do to the front suspension, which I'd bet was most-likely permanently damaged from several hundred miles of Illinois' finest roads.