Let me tell a story that will shed some light on this topic, the lack of a RAM sales increase.
In the spring of 2021 the frame on my old Ford F150 Lariat rusted through, the truck was shot. I needed a truck. I have six criteria:
1) Crew Cab
2) 4x4
3) V8
4) Leather
5) Sliding rear window.
6) American
So I set out on my journey. This is May 2021. I wanted another Ford. The local Ford dealers had NO TRUCKS ON THE LOT! I travelled from NC to PA, The Ford dealers had NO TRUCKS ON THE LOT! Fine. The parts (chip) shortage was in full swing. After what GM did in 2009 I will never buy one of their products, so I took a look at Dodge. The local Dodge Dealer, Tate, had a nice Laramie on the lot that met my criteria. I politely asked the manager to drop the $800 dealer prep charge. He refused, I walked, they lost a $60,000 sale. This was my first indication that Tate is a real shady outfit.
I started looking online. I didn't know the first thing about RAM trucks but I fell in love with the Power Wagon and put a $1,000 down on one that was on order. That was a different dealer in PA. They stole my credit card number and I got a lot of fraudulent charges. The delivery date kept slipping. I asked for my deposit back, they lost the receipt. I threatened them with alerting VISA of credit card fraud and they promptly credited my card the $1,000.
I found my Power Wagon in Central NC and flew down to take a look. When I got there they had put a nice sized dent in driver's side rear door and quarter panel. Oh, it's just a scratch. That ain't no scratch and a PDR ain't gonna fix it. I offered them $8,000 under sticker and after wasting a couple hours of my time, they refused. They fraudulently billed the insurance company for repairs that weren't necessary and I'm sure that they sold the truck as brand new to an unsuspecting customer. Shady.
Back to the internet. I find a really nice RAM online in Lititz PA. I go look at it, it's a beautiful steel blue rig with one inch lift. I offer them $1,000 under sticker and after wasting three hours of our time they accept. They recouped $800 of that by charging me for a PA registration which was never used or needed. The three hours wore me down and I didn't catch the error, I just wanted to get out of there. That is why the dealers make you wait around for hours when buying a new car, it wears you down and makes you more vulnerable to being hustled.
Anyway, typical male, I buy the truck, take it home and then do a little research. What the heck is a Rebel, anyway? It's been a great truck so far and a much better fit for me than the Power Wagon. The dog particularly likes the rear seat AC.
But, keep in mind that Ford had NO TRUCKS on their lots for almost a year and although RAM had shortages, and the prices were high, they did have and were selling trucks in 2021 and 22.
Of course Ford sales increased in 23, they've finally got some trucks to sell. I don't know anything about GM and don't care to.
Pete
5thgenrams.com
