Dealer Loyalty

[got3fords]

I bought my two previous Fords at my local small rural dealership and though we've had a couple of hiccups over the years, I have enjoyed their service and getting to know the service advisors on a personal level. Then I bought my Raptor at a much bigger dealer a few more miles away. The local dealer is closer to home, the bigger dealer is closer to where I work. I have no experience with the larger dealer aside from the Raptor purchase, which I can't complain about.
So I am struggling to decide whether to begin a whole new relationship with the place I purchased the Raptor for routine service, or just go to my previous, well-known dealer even though I didn't buy my Ranger there. Thoughts? Does a dealer care where you bought a vehicle as for service and warranty work?

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[CaptAngry]

Take it to the dealer you know, unless for some reason they aren’t comfortable working on the RR

 

[Onceaneagle]

I bought my Ranger out of State. I explained why to my small town salesman and service manager. Did not have to do that but they understood and appreciated my telling them. No worries on service.

 

[Peter949]

Pretty sure your local dealer rather continue profit of your service intervals. A good relation might help when they can step up and fight for warranty work.

 

[NM Mike]

If you have a good relationship and trust the service at the one dealer, I’d stick with them. Unless you paid over msrp, the dealer you bought from only made a little money on the sale. The service dept will make way more money off you than the sales dept. That is of course assuming you take your truck to the dealer for oil changes and scheduled maintenance.

 

[Bruce]

Dealer loyalty was a benefit for me.
Purchased a 2022 Edge and then a 2025 Ranger. The invoice said, Dealer Loyalty -- $1000 discount for the Ranger.
That could be a reason to stay.

 

[superj]

I normally buy from a ford dealer here, since 93 or 94. Then we bought one car from an out of town dealer. My local dealer still did all the normal main stuff in it with no issues.

I think they make more money on the work than sales

 

[Bruce]

Yes....that is why oil and filter changes are now close to $100

 

[got3fords]

Yeah, I think I am going to stick with my local dealer. They still have the same white Raptor with graphics that I really didn't care for. I am sure they would understand getting what I want elsewhere.
Only downside is I get free state inspections where I bought it.

 

[Black Shadow]

Yes....that is why oil and filter changes are now close to $100

Since the war in Iran mine went from $89 to $137… I guess we are winning

 

[Tri5Ford]

I bought my two previous Fords at my local small rural dealership and though we've had a couple of hiccups over the years, I have enjoyed their service and getting to know the service advisors on a personal level. Then I bought my Raptor at a much bigger dealer a few more miles away. The local dealer is closer to home, the bigger dealer is closer to where I work. I have no experience with the larger dealer aside from the Raptor purchase, which I can't complain about.
So I am struggling to decide whether to begin a whole new relationship with the place I purchased the Raptor for routine service, or just go to my previous, well-known dealer even though I didn't buy my Ranger there. Thoughts? Does a dealer care where you bought a vehicle as for service and warranty work?

Yes.

 

[Keith2025]

Yeah, I think I am going to stick with my local dealer. They still have the same white Raptor with graphics that I really didn't care for. I am sure they would understand getting what I want elsewhere.
Only downside is I get free state inspections where I bought it.

I was in auto sales and management for 45 years at two dealerships. Both were family owned stores. The service departments worked on any vehicles purchased anywhere. Their focus was to stay busy, so where you bought wasn’t an issue. Of course if you needed help above and beyond with a particular unusual situation, it doesn’t hurt to go to the selling dealer.

 

[RANGER PRIDE]

The Ford network of service centers should never care where you bought your vehicle and I bet most if not all Mechanics feel the same. Work is work to them.
But there are exceptions, and I can guarantee that most dealers provide preferential treatment to those who bought vehicles from them. You may see it and you may not. It may simply be service advisors knowing your history, or it may be an internal memo from the dealer management giving instructions about specific purchasers and how to cater to them.
In my case, I can literally show up at their door and they will try and "fit me in" with something urgent. If I hadn't bought my last 12 Fords from them over the years, I doubt I would get same day service on some things.

 

[MasterCylinder]

I bought my two previous Fords at my local small rural dealership and though we've had a couple of hiccups over the years, I have enjoyed their service and getting to know the service advisors on a personal level. Then I bought my Raptor at a much bigger dealer a few more miles away. The local dealer is closer to home, the bigger dealer is closer to where I work. I have no experience with the larger dealer aside from the Raptor purchase, which I can't complain about.
So I am struggling to decide whether to begin a whole new relationship with the place I purchased the Raptor for routine service, or just go to my previous, well-known dealer even though I didn't buy my Ranger there. Thoughts? Does a dealer care where you bought a vehicle as for service and warranty work?

If a vehicle dealer is an authorized Ford one, or any manufacture, they all get paid for the same amount of hours per a said manufacturers Flat Rate for warranty repair's set by the manufacturer. Showing preferential treatment can actually bite them in the back side for any work, as the more customers the more money flow period. They should for the profit margin (especially at today s prices) make every customer feel like their getting special attention for profits and there's a reason, it's called customer service. It's a trained front that works!

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