Passenger cars not a priority in Australia: David fleet.

[Perko]

Completely agree on above. However, as a supplier how do you get noticed in all the static? That's my concern for Ford.

[4Vman]

Completely agree on above. However, as a supplier how do you get noticed in all the static? That's my concern for Ford.

The 5 P's of Marketing:

Product; self explanatory
Price; same
Promotion; Advertising
Place; Dealership environment
People; Everyone the consumer comes in contact with

[dash gt]

Yep.

Brands are just a conduit for customer traffic and ultimately income.

Multi branding on a common site is a means of hedging bets as well as being able to share significant costly common facilities such as back of house admin and service departments.

In many ways multi branding actually attracts more traffic than separate stand alone showrooms because cross shopping is far easier.

Peter Stevens Motorcycles perfected this philosophy 25 years ago and have dominated the market place because of it.

Its a smart way to do business and gives dealerships freedom if one brand isn't going so well to either downsize it or get rid of it altogether. One Ford dealer up my way who relies on Ford has 600 demos at the moment they are trying to move on. I would not like to be financing their operation at the moment with 2015 plated cars still on the floor costing thousands in floor plan. This used to be common for Ford dealers, the smart ones now keep stock low and move demos on as quickly as possible not to have old plated cars laying around.

[dash gt]

now that most dealerships are part of multi franchise networks, there is little meed
or encouragement to increase Ford monthly sales.

There is still need to meet targets as they do get incentives from the manufacturer based on their sales.

They are also limited by what Ford gives them, e.g. Wildtrak Rangers where the demand is still high but supply can be lagging from shipment to shipment.

[4Vman]

There is still need to meed targets as they do get incentives from the manufacturer based on their sales.

They are also limited by what Ford gives them, e.g. Wildtrak Rangers where the demand is still high but supply can be lagging from shipment to shipment.

The reaction to made to order time now is a critical issue.

In the past an order on Broadmeadows took 3-6 weeks, that's now 3-6 month's depending on what's in stock ,what's on the water or what's been forward ordered to forecast.

Worst case scenario is its not in stock, not on the water and hasn't been forward ordered to forecast.

That's anywhere from a 6-12 month proposition.

[dash gt]

The reaction to made to order time now is a critical issue.

In the past an order on Broadmeadows took 3-6 weeks, that's now 3-6 month's depending on what's in stock ,what's on the water or what's been forward ordered to forecast.

Worst case scenario is its not in stock, not on the water and hasn't been forward ordered to forecast.

That's anywhere from a 6-12 month proposition.

Yeh they just cant get it right.

Like trying to get a new Escape with Tech pack either in the Trend or Titanium. You basically have to order one which will be up to 4 months. There should be more stock orders with these packs on them.

Can't wait to see the balls up with the next run of Mustangs.

[Perko]

Yeh they just cant get it right.

Like trying to get a new Escape with Tech pack either in the Trend or Titanium. You basically have to order one which will be up to 4 months. There should be more stock orders with these packs on them.

Can't wait to see the balls up with the next run of Mustangs.

Ordering process are pretty easy when you get the basics right. Forecast correctly, understand your market and get feedback for products and then set forecasts from bottom up. That way dealerships can be held more accountable for not forecasting correctly. I know that I am just implementing such protocols with my company it it has been an eye opening exercise for this involved, because they have never done it this way before.

Surely these type of protocols would be put in by Ford?

[FTe217]

Having worked for many years with organisations with multiple car and truck franchises, from both the dealer and manufacturer standpoint. The clearest way to explain it is water runs downhill. Whilst an individual salesman/woman will push their brand, the management don't care as long is it goes to one of their dealerships.

An example is imagine you're a Multi award winning Ford dealer and you can put Hyundai in where FPV was, you do it. If Ford crack it, and get all heavy with you and make you choose. You tell them bad luck and terminate the Dealership. Then you just move Holden in where Ford was and get on with life. - True story by the way

Dealers long ago stopped being a entrepreneurial local guy with a love of cars. They are now more real estate developers with cars as the way to pay the rent.

very true Tony.
This was just as long time Ford devotee ala Alto Ford up here.
As time goes by the DP's started multi franchising, this is fine and good business moving forward as quoted by Dash, heck I would have done the same, move with the times and just as a customer I was with in Brisbane late last week quoted, if suppliers are not up to the pace of today's needs and can't deliver them what their needs are that supplier is replaced by someone who can deliver.
I can only imagine what its been like having a working relationship with FOA.

[jpd80]

I'm left with the feeling that Ford's marketing research lags badly on where buyers are
with desired product mix - particularly trim level mix and popular options as mentioned above.

Does anyone know if Ford listens to dealer feedback on what product or options are working or
is it still only interested in flogging some predetermined sales mix?

Also, mention of incentives,
Mulally had a stair stepped systems, as dealerships exceeded quotas, they qualified for more incentives
on all sales. Under Fields all of that was stopped, so makes me wonder if the cut backs US dealers have
experienced were also felt here..

[VZTRT]

Having worked for many years with organisations with multiple car and truck franchises, from both the dealer and manufacturer standpoint. The clearest way to explain it is water runs downhill. Whilst an individual salesman/woman will push their brand, the management don't care as long is it goes to one of their dealerships.

An example is imagine you're a Multi award winning Ford dealer and you can put Hyundai in where FPV was, you do it. If Ford crack it, and get all heavy with you and make you choose. You tell them bad luck and terminate the Dealership. Then you just move Holden in where Ford was and get on with life. - True story by the way

Dealers long ago stopped being a entrepreneurial local guy with a love of cars. They are now more real estate developers with cars as the way to pay the rent.

Like i said they would look at each brand individually. While multi brand dealers exist if a brand tanked in sales they wouldn't prop it up if there was no improvement.