I do like the message of Ford's recent advertising, it's essentially made by America and built in America campaign. While I believe in that, 75% of the market does not. They're going to buy what is the best value for them, and only trust a company they've experienced provides a great product consistently. So the question is for a 115 something year old company like Ford, why isn't somebody running it who understands the value of the products is King and not hyped futurism. Henry Ford sold a real future, people understood it.
Someone who has motor oil AND battery electrons in their veins? Someone who eats sleeps and breathes the power of American innovation and manufacturing. Is there no one that can be found to do this, especially in these times?
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I wish managment had guts to do what's right! Ford Family is Destroying their Legacy...Elon Musk is the real Henry Ford.
I think that would be PR not HR.
@3wcl Oh no, you said something negative about the company. Now their entire HR department will down-vote you into the negative like they did with all the others comments in this thread.
The problem is management lost touch with the common folk. The price of vehicles has been driven so high it's out of the reach of many. Some may say "Well they could go get a better job instead of working at Wal-Mart or Amazon." Sometimes people are doing the best they can with what they are given in life. (Its unfortunate that the corporate over lords exploit this work force paying them sh– wages). Main stream media says that people can be anything; that is an outright lie. Not everyone can be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc. Professions require aptitude, and if the individual does not have it, the career is not a fit and failure is inevitable. That's why universities were created to weed out the bell shaped curve to make sure the right people were placed in these professions (not so sure about that anymore, but that is entirely different topic...). Getting back to point, we need affordable vehicles or the company is toast. Abandon this return to 10, I would be happy with 2% margin with a higher revenue due to volume increase (like the 90s).
: @1qqr+156L4hvd Probably the same Ford employee who spent time videoing and taking pictures of non-Ford vehicles at ITEK and FMCC parking lot. And then emailing out the video and photo compilations to all of Ford with a message about how shameful it was for Ford employees to not drive Fords. Same employee keyed several non-Ford vehicles in the parking lots.
I always wondered how this employee had so much free time. Most of the people that were being shamed for driving a non-Ford vehicle were busy working their tails off instead of taking pictures in the parking lot.
Frankly the behavior ticked me off so much that when my explorer died I bought a Toyota Highlander.
If Ford were forced to go through bankruptcy the family would lose their shares, which would be a positive in my book. Time to end the incompetent family management of this company.
Only a ploy to gain public favor for the rerun of “cash for clunkers” and a bailout. Ford management will be disappointed to learn that the public will not support a Ford Motor bailout as their pain is self inflicted. Poor management, abandoned car market because they can’t compete, recall plagued trucks and suvs, and commitment to drive cost reductions by resourcing offshore costing American jobs and further alienating customers. A message from the taxpayers to Ford: too bad, not sad.
This post reminds me of a former co-worker of mine at Ford that would not allow anyone to park a car in her driveway unless it was a Ford, even on holidays. I found that very offensive. Did everyone you associate drive a Ford? Is that the criteria you judge people on? Frankly, I will never buy another of their overpriced, recall-laden products–period.
“Made in America” is a losing argument with American consumers. Mention it to any Honda or Toyota owner and they will tell you that their vehicle was made in Alabama by American workers and blah blah blah. The fact is they view Asian and German automakers as “American” as the domestics or don’t care. It’s a tired advertising strategy that all of the Big 3 have tried to some extent and failed. Remember “Imported from Detroit?” This campaign will fail along with the rest. And which marketing executive made decision was it to go with this campaign and ad agency? Oh yeah, it’s the guy set to take the CEO mantle. Great.
@uhy; Agree - SRD in 2019, personal vehicle lineup will consist of Honda’s and Mazda’s with the exception of my Superduty. Even with retirement, company only provided 4 years of A-Plan Pins instead of lifetime. Company lost me and my extended family in future sales - SMH
Honestly the only people I know that drive Ford products work for Ford. And - the majority of Ford vehicles that you see in SE Michigan seem to be management lease vehicles!!!
I recall our local Ford dealer (largest in MI) said that 95%+ of their business is A-plan.
Advertising is there for several reasons. To give you an earworm of that catchy jingle that you can't get out of your head, to make you feel nostalgic, to make you feel patriotic and loyal to America or that brand and last of all, convince you to buy the product the company is selling.
No matter the track record of the company, such as Ford and their never ending recalls, a company is trying to sell you their product. Period. Unfortunately, as mentioned, their track record of recalls, along with Ford getting rid of most of their car lines, they have absolutely nothing I want. So Ford can show whatever commercial they want, I, for one won't consider a Ford any longer.