Buyer beware: ESP pricing (Ford direct vs dealer)

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nhs156

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I like my dealer, and I trust my dealer. I don't think there's any malintent on their part. BUT, I made the mistake of buying a "dealership employee discounted ESP" from them for my new '13 GT500. Just for laughs, I quoted the identical plan through Ford direct - via their website. Buying direct would have saved me a hair below $1,000. I kid you not.

The dealer is baffled but not entirely suprised - suggesting that sometimes Ford's direct price is lower than what dealer's offer, and sometimes it's higher. Apparently Ford is not aware - or doesn't care - that it's creating channel conflict for the same exact product (i.e. their extended service plan).

So, unless my dealer can somehow fix the issue (which they likely can't), I'll have to cancel the plan I signed with them, and resign for a new one with Ford direct. It's a hassle - but won't cost me more than effort.

Moral of the story: don't buy ESP from dealers without first researching Ford direct pricing. I stupidly assumed Ford would keep prices in synch across channels, and that I was getting a reasonable deal given my $400 dealership employee discount!
 

phil123

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you may find it is cheaper yet buying if from the dealers that sell online. Do a forum search for some of the names.
 

nhs156

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You can cancel your plan at anytime and get a refund.

As soon as you posted that link I put a call into my dealer to cancel. Thank you, my friend. You've just saved me many hundreds - nearly $600 - more.

I assumed that Ford's ESP was sold much like BMW sell theirs: all dealers start by offering MSRP and can't go much below that - think something like 20% max. Extended warranty for my M5 to something less than 100K miles would have cost me over $7,000 while the vehicle still had factory warranty and just 25K miles on the clock. So when a Ford dealer quoted me a fraction of that for more coverage, I thought I was getting a pretty good deal. But I wasn't, of course. I guess Ford ownership IS a lot cheaper!
 

biminiLX

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Great resources here and helpful members, I'm on the fence with the ESP, probably going to pass as I have big mod plans.
-J
 

jream

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apparently the online option isn't available for florida boys...
tried to search plans online and it kicks back this msg:

FIND YOUR PLAN
We are sorry but due to Florida law, Florida Residents are not eligible for online service contracts. Please contact your local dealer.
 

93 347 Cobra

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Where is the wheel and tire section on that link? My dealer said they didn't offer one.
 

mullens

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apparently the online option isn't available for florida boys...
tried to search plans online and it kicks back this msg:

FIND YOUR PLAN
We are sorry but due to Florida law, Florida Residents are not eligible for online service contracts. Please contact your local dealer.

Try calling Flood Ford directly.
 

nhs156

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Update: I canceled my original ESP today and bought from Flood. I saved $600 and received 1 year and 50,000 miles MORE coverage than through my original dealer, and got premium rental with it and a lower deductible of $50. Had I simply "exchanged" coverage - i.e. bought the same exact thing my original dealer sold me - I would have saved nearly $1,600 in going with Flood. Had my original dealer not offered the $400 "dealership employee discount", that difference would have been $2,000. Astonishing.
 

biminiLX

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That savings is impressive.
So what did you end up with and how much?
-J
 

Norton

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I REALLY hope you havent bought a plan yet:

Ziegler has been the cheapest everytime I do a check on ESPs. As far as not buying a plan, that is certainly an option but I would disagree. ESps have more than once paid for themselves many times over

Ford ESP: Ford Extended Service Plans at highly discounted prices. Lowest Price Guarantee!

I think this is a YMMV thing... I comparison shopped every Ford ESP I could find online, including Zeigler, before buying. Flood was $185 cheaper for me.
 

mustangc

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As far as not buying a plan, that is certainly an option but I would disagree. ESps have more than once paid for themselves many times over...

I have seen slot machines pay out big occasionally as well, but I still wouldn't invest my retirement money in them. The only winners long term are the casinos. It's not an opinion, it's math.
 

nhs156

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I REALLY hope you havent bought a plan yet:

Ziegler has been the cheapest everytime I do a check on ESPs. As far as not buying a plan, that is certainly an option but I would disagree. ESps have more than once paid for themselves many times over

Ford ESP: Ford Extended Service Plans at highly discounted prices. Lowest Price Guarantee!

I ended up getting premium, 125K miles and 7 years w/$50 deductible. It ended up being just shy of $2K - which to me is well worth it. Ziegler was several hundred more than Flood and that's without enhanced rental.
 

RDJ

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I have seen slot machines pay out big occasionally as well, but I still wouldn't invest my retirement money in them. The only winners long term are the casinos. It's not an opinion, it's math.
it is a subjective opinion. and nice comparison of apples and oranges . No one would "invest" their retirement in an ESP either. To some the piece of mind provided by an ESP is worth a few bucks. to you maybe not. but that is for an individual to decide and there are plenty of factors that go into it that you cannot quantify with math.

by your logic why have automobile insurance? the only winners long term are the insurance agencies, or homeowners insurance, or life insurance, or health insurance, ALL of those are losing propositions, until you need them then they are worth your weight in gold.
 
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