Another Chrysler Delivery Horror Story

[tmcIlwain]

Here's my sad story:

Order placed via deposit with Lancaster Dodge, Lancaster, PA on 1/27/2014.
STATUS on March 17, 2014
COMPLETED EVENTS:
Adv Shp Notice - Pre-release 01/28/2014 06:39 AM CST Saltillo Assembly, CU
Vehicle Built (J) 02/15/2014 06:38 PM CST Saltillo Assembly, CU
Ship To Storage (JS 02/15/2014 06:38 PM CST Saltillo Assembly, CU
Plant Release (KZ) 03/01/2014 11:32 AM CST Saltillo Assembly, CU
Staged For Shipment 03/06/2014 01:40 AM CST Saltillo Assembly, CU
Staged For Shipment 03/14/2014 07:00 PM CDT Saltillo Assembly, CU
FUTURE EVENT I: Vehicle Delivered to Dealer 04/01/2014 02:10 AM CDT Lancaster, PA

STATUS on April 7, 2014
FUTURE EVENT: Railcar-Interchanged 04/07/2014 01:58 PM CDT Eagle Pass-border, TX
Vehicle Delivered to Dealer 04/21/2014 02:10 AM CDT Lancaster, PA

STATUS on April 21, 2014
CURRENT: Special Authority to Move 04/21/2014 10:58 AM EDT
FUTURE EVENT: Vehicle Delivered to Dealer 05/05/2014 03:10 AM EDT Lancaster, PA


So here we have a truck completed on 3/1, staged for shipment 3/6 and as of today, scheduled for delivery about 60 days later on 5/5, if even then!

How on earth can Chrysler stay in business by not having my nearly $50 grand for 60 days... OK, say 30 days if original delivery date made?

Now my spring/summer plans are delayed AND I have now sold my old Ram!!! Now just 'sharing' our old Honda with step-son, whom we promised to give that car to by the end of the month!
Boy, if I could spit all the way to Detroit!

On the brighter side...
Bless Lancaster Dodge and our salesman John Hatzis for offering a loaner car until the truck arrives ;-)))
You want a good low cost deal in Central PA and a willing salesman and dealership, Call John Hatzis, Lancaster Dodge, Lancaster, PA 717-682-8255
That takes a lot of the sting away!

Tom

 

[jgillott]

What does "Special Authority to Move 4/21/14 10:58 AM EDT" mean? Did you/the dealer have to get someone else involved to get the truck in transit? I wonder how many sales Ram loses in these situations? We've read about several of these just here on TDR in the last few weeks and we are just a sampling of those buying vehicles fro Fiat/Dodge/Ram.

 

[tmcIlwain]

What does "Special Authority to Move 4/21/14 10:58 AM EDT" mean? Did you/the dealer have to get someone else involved to get the truck in transit? I wonder how many sales Ram loses in these situations? We've read about several of these just here on TDR in the last few weeks and we are just a sampling of those buying vehicles fro Fiat/Dodge/Ram.

I don't know what the 'Special Authority' means, but my salesman says "I apologize we been calling the district manager and it is a carrier problem with the railroad."
Maybe they have had in impact with Chrysler...???

 

[Nigel]

From what I've been told there is a shortage of rail cars across North America right now. For over a month now we have been moving Hondas from the factory to off site storage until they get rail cars. Then last week we started to take some back to the factory for shipping. Some of these off site yards are more than an hours drive away. I think this will be a problem for a while yet.

Nigel

 

[Essy]

Why did you order it? Was there something special you wanted? You could have done an Internet search and probably found exactly what you wanted! I found mine on the Internet and had my dealer go get it.
I would be pulling my hair out!
I feel your pain!

 

[seafish]

Try to pm Sag2 here on TDR...he defintiely helped resolve a similar situation for another member just a week or two ago.

 

[tmcIlwain]

Try to pm Sag2 here on TDR...he defintiely helped resolve a similar situation for another member just a week or two ago.

Thanks
Tom

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Oil and coal shipments have tied up rail lines also, so there is less time and track to take other freight. I feel for you, when I ordered my 04 there was some similar issues for me. When (or if) you finally get your new truck you will love it.

 

[Jim W]

I do not think it is a Chrysler’s problem. Once the machine and or vehicle leaves the factory the unit is considered sold to the dealer. The vehicle is considered in transit and it needs to clear customs which can take some time depending on the speed of the US Custom agent, remember the truck is made in Mexico. Then it is up to the shipper to schedule the transit to the dealer for final sale.

I know that when Caterpillar moved a product out of the factor it was reported to the IRS as sold for profit reporting reasons. The unit could sit for months in the trucking terminal across the street from Cat before shipping to the end user and or at the rail yard out side of Aurora IL.
Jim W.

 

[MelvinPierce]

I think you do have a "Delivery Horror Story", not a "Chrysler Delivery Horror Story".

Place an order with Amazon. Amazon gets it to the delivery service for delivery, and the delivery agent takes 2 weeks to get it to you, instead of two days. Did Amazon cause a delivery problem, or did the delivery agent?

The railroads are moving a LOT more freight than a few years ago. I think therein lies the problem. The RR.

 

[jgillott]

A friend of mine is a regional manager for Norfolk Southern. I gave him a call and spoke with him this afternoon after reading this thread. He said that it is unlikely the case of not having the available rail or train space to deliver the freight, but more likely the company not willing to ship the truck until they have the number of units on that particular train to get the best rate on freight from yard to yard. He said it is standard practice in the industry and that every company, automaker or not, does this to an extent to maximize profit.

 

[tmcIlwain]

I think you do have a "Delivery Horror Story", not a "Chrysler Delivery Horror Story".

Place an order with Amazon. Amazon gets it to the delivery service for delivery, and the delivery agent takes 2 weeks to get it to you, instead of two days. Did Amazon cause a delivery problem, or did the delivery agent?

The railroads are moving a LOT more freight than a few years ago. I think therein lies the problem. The RR.

IMHO. I think you get what you pay for, and Chrysler made the contract for shipping with the RR's, at the price Chrysler was willing to pay. To me, the result is save Chrysler money and frustrate the customer. No the buck stops with Chrysler!

 

[RVTRKN]

A friend of mine is a regional manager for Norfolk Southern. I gave him a call and spoke with him this afternoon after reading this thread. He said that it is unlikely the case of not having the available rail or train space to deliver the freight, but more likely the company not willing to ship the truck until they have the number of units on that particular train to get the best rate on freight from yard to yard. He said it is standard practice in the industry and that every company, automaker or not, does this to an extent to maximize profit.

This was my initial thought, its not like its a Left Coast delivery. I thought that Dodge builds them in the East for the Eastern side of the US? My ordered C&C in 07, set in Mexico about three weeks before shipment.

 

[SnoKing]

Oil and coal shipments have tied up rail lines also, so there is less time and track to take other freight. I feel for you, when I ordered my 04 there was some similar issues for me. When (or if) you finally get your new truck you will love it.

They talked about this the other day on my XM Radio channel. Freight has been moving back to trucks vs rail because of what you posted. Big issue! Chris

 

[Blueball]

Hi all, new member here, just thought I'd share my horror story too

Ordered March 1st
Re-re-re-vised delivery date June 26th!!
16 weeks!!

I wrote to Chrysler and it took them 2 weeks to reply ...

Thank you for contacting Chrysler Canada Customer Care. We certainly
apologize for the delay with our email response.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the purchase of
your new 2014 Ram 1500. It is always a pleasure to hear from loyal
customers.

We understand your disappointment regarding the delivery time of your
vehicle; however, Chrysler Canada cannot guarantee delivery dates due to
the number of variable factors involved in the lead time of vehicle
production and transportation. Information regarding specific orders is
available to dealers. It is subsequently their responsibility to keep
their customers apprised of both Chrysler's and their dealership's
efforts regarding a vehicle contract.

Additionally, we have experienced delays of delivery of our finished
vehicles due to rail car shortages. We are using alternative modes of
transport and alternative routes where possible to move around the
biggest problem areas. We apologize for any inconvenience this may
cause. Your selling dealer can best explain information regarding your
specific order timeline.

We appreciate your patience in this matter and we thank you very much
for taking the time to write.

 

[Regcabguy]

Things have changed. Mine was built and delivered to Dave Smith Motors in 29 days. Hope this situation improves.
If I won the lottery and wanted a new truck I'd just buy one off the lot.
Dodge should send them via ship and land in Chula Vista here. We see car loaders all the time with Audi's heading out.

 

[Blueball]

Things have changed. Mine was built and delivered to Dave Smith Motors in 29 days. Hope this situation improves.

110 days and counting ....

The worst part is every single day someone says "hey .. where's your new truck .. didn't you buy one months ago?"

 

[MelvinPierce]

Feel for you. What a wait!

But, how is the delivery delay RAM;s fault? Blame the railroads/trucking companies. If you mailed a letter, and the Post Office delivered it 6 weeks later, is it YOUR fault?

 

[Blueball]

Feel for you. What a wait!

But, how is the delivery delay RAM;s fault? Blame the railroads/trucking companies. If you mailed a letter, and the Post Office delivered it 6 weeks later, is it YOUR fault?

It would be my fault if I knew the mail service would take an eternity to deliver it. I should use an alternative carrier. It may cost more, but it would all depend on how important the letter is to the recipient.

 

[MelvinPierce]

It would be my fault if I knew the mail service would take an eternity to deliver it. I should use an alternative carrier. It may cost more, but it would all depend on how important the letter is to the recipient.

Most are being delivered in much shorter time frame, so they do not know when they send it exact delivery dates. I know of no other way they could send it than rail and truck. I think airmail would be out. FedEx Express would be pretty expensive.

I feel for you. We ordered a '13, with brown interior. The factory confirmed the brown Longhorn interior. When it arrived, it was black! So, the dealer reordered. Got a '14, as past date to order a '13. Total time was longer than yours. And, that WAS their fault.