Ford bans non-Ford Vehicles from parking lot

RealShakaZulu · #16 01-28-2006, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UCrewX5

Keep in mind that the policy was instituted by the Ford plant MANAGER, not the Union. The Union did agree to support the policy, but it was the plant manager's decision.

Honestly, I don't know that I have a beef with it. Ford is telling its employees that if they want to park in the main lot then they should drive a Ford product. Otherwise, there is parking available across the street and those employees can walk a little further to get to thier job. Ford is in the business of making and selling vehicles, and if their own employees don't take pride in the product enough to buy it themselves then something wrong.

Call me crazy, but if I were that Plant Manager I would probably do the same thing. In fact, when I see employees where I work using cell phones from providers other than Cingular, they get an earful from me. I see nothing wrong with supporting the hand that feeds you!!

When I was growing up, my next door neighbor worked for GM and nobody had to tell him to buy GM vehicles. He made the product, was proud of the prouduct and was incented (discount) to buy the product. There was never a non-GM vehicle in his driveway since I have been alive.

The Big 3 are my customers and that spirit is quickly dying in Detroit and around the US. I owned a Volvo (Ford) and went to the stealer for service. They had no more loaners on the lot and arranged a rental... from Enterprise. I asked the manager why would you put me in a Saab from Enterprise instead of using Hertz which exclusively rents Ford vehicles (Volvos included)... he said Enterprise is cheaper. Another example is Chrysler management, before the merger with Daimler all execs drove the biggest Chrylser they made. Yet I was told that 1 month after the merger the employee purchase plan was temporarily suspended due to the overwhelming number of execs requesting Mercedes - who couldn't wait to get out of their Imperials and Concordes.

My gut tells me that the decision had liitle to do with pride and more to do with money. Like the "K-Street Project" Ford realizes this move will sell more cars... that's sad. What Ford needs to deal with is the tougher question: Why would a 15+ year Ford employee, who believes that they are making a superior product, getting 0% financing and a paying almost cost - rather drive a Toyota or Honda at full retail??? If Ford and the UAW leadership honestly sought that answer and then set a plan in place to achieve it, they would not have to strong arm vendors and employees.