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COTUS's Reliability and "worth?"


cobra9498

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I first learned about COTUS after I had placed my order for a 2015 GT Prem, 401A, 50th Anniv. Package Mustang. It seemed to work pretty well,

as I learned from many other's on the sight. There were times the information did not truly reflect the actual status or situation of my Mustang, but,

overall I felt it was kinda cool to be able to monitor your order. There was even a Ford employee that monitored the posts, etc, and actually helped

out those that had real problems with getting information from their ordering dealers, and to assist those that were having issues getting quality

problems "ironed out and fixed."

 

Now, I don't know what is going on with the COTUS sight. It appears to be neglected, and not running well at all. Can anyone enlighten me on what

the problem might be attributed to? I believe it was a "service" that was provided as a nice thing to do for customers with special ordered vehicles, and

not something Ford "had" to do for us.

 

So, is COTUS basically just not really "useable" and reliable at all any longer? I know my current ordered vehicle does not show up. I've read that

some customers on there have orders that are 6 to 8 weeks old and nothing is showing up on COTUS! Now THAT is crazy and clearly shows me

that COTUS is just not viable any longer. Too bad. It was?...is?? an idea that many have used, but, now appears to be mostly....unusable!

 

IF you have a conscientious dealer and order person then, yes, we can get frequent updates on the build status. But, I KNOW many do NOT have

those type of dealer's that are caring enough to keep custom order folks updated with information that they rightly deserve and need to know.

 

Hey, Ford dealers....and Ford Motor Co, these are SALES....many multiple Ford product buyers that aren't asking for the moon here....just, decency

and proper follow up with those putting down hard earned moneys for their custom ordered "dream vehicles." Repeat customers are what any

retail company wants.

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My observations are the same. COTUS seems like a not quite finished project that is now abandoned and neglected but continues to sputter along. There's something broken in the back end that causes it to fail to find valid VINs about four out of five tries. There are also poor implementation details like not being unable to deal with duplicate order numbers.

 

If someone cares enough to custom order a vehicle then Ford should be doing everything possible to make that an great experience. That could create a customer for life.

 

Consumers today are accustomed to tracking $10 purchases from the warehouse to their doorstep in two days. The fact that an order for an item costing tens of thousands of dollars disappears into a black box for months with little to no useful tracking for the consumer is ridiculous.

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Sony stocks retailers and distributors with every model. So there's no need for anyone to custom order a TV from Sony.

Obviously they're different models. It seems like they would want to maximize their sales that are sold when they arrive instead of sitting on dealer lots waiting for the right buyer to come along. It's not rocket surgery. It's all information that they're tracking anyway, it's just a matter of putting a useful, reliable customer interface on it.

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The point is still the same - you don’t order the vehicle from Ford. You order it from the dealer and the dealer orders it from Ford. And the dealer has access to the same tracking info that employees here give you. Most are just lazy and don’t want to bother with giving you updates or they’re just plain ignorant.

 

I’m not saying it can’t be done or shouldn’t be done - I would love to have that feature personally. But you can’t compare it to tracking a fedex shipment from Amazon.

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Well, akirby, I understand that maybe it's due to funding, but, the fact that Ford started it in the first place says something about them. They saw a need, even though, yes we can bug

our dealer and get updates. But, as I wrote to start this thread, many dealers are not very good at providing timely info. Many complain about their dealers not truly willing to help them

out much when it comes to tracking after the VIN is known and the build process is heading down "the pike."

 

So, Ford had a great idea and they went with it. Does anyone know when COTUS started? I got my VIN today for my ordered Mustang GT Prem. I plugged in to COTUS and there it was,

with all my info. Now, I will check in on it when needed since my build week is not till 2/19. I'll compare how it does this time as compared to my experience for my 2015 Mustang order.

 

Luckily I have a great GM and people at my dealer. He is hands on and we've been friends now for about 4 yrs. Happy customer...return customer! And I have to drive just over 100 miles

to that dealership. Well, by choice. Made me happy when I bought my 2014 from him, and I keep going back.

 

I agree with the other post that if Ford kept COTUS up and running with decent accuracy...happy customers...repeat customers. Just basic commerce.

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It showed up a couple of years ago but there was no announcement from Ford and I don’t think it’s linked or mentioned on the main Ford website. The help document still calls it a pilot program. That along with the inconsistent results and the fact it’s not linked from the main Ford website tells me it never finished development and production deployment.

 

I agree it would be a nice feature especially since I’m about to order a F150. But it’s also information that your dealer should be providing already and if your dealer isn’t doing that then maybe it’s time to find a new dealer.

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Well, I do know this...back when I ordered my 2015 Mustang, I monitored the mustang6g.com web site. And there was a special COTUS thread there. So, all the folks that had orders

in the works would tell how the system was or was not working for them. I learned a lot. Of course you always have to filter out the BS stuff.

 

But, here's the interesting thing. Ford had a Rep monitoring that thread on that site. For a long time is was a woman, and she was great about helping folks with "problems or issues" with

their orders OR with their cars after receiving them. She would write something about an issue, etc, then ask the person to PM her with ALL their info. and she would do the research and

come back with an answer...IF she could get a viable answer for them. So, Ford at least then had a "connection" to what was going on with COTUS...through the special thread on that

web site. So, they were taking interest in COTUS.

 

Now, I don't know if there is a Ford Rep. monitoring that same COTUS thread. But, that was at least one example of Ford "having a hand" in the operation of COTUS.

 

Personally, put aside, that most can talk to their dealer...OK, that's fine....but, there's nothing more "cool" than any time of day, day of week, holiday....COTUS was always "open" and you

could check on your "baby" and see the latest. That's just more personal and gets customers directly involved with their vehicle build. It's just plan fun...as long as the info is up to date,

of course. Sometimes it's off. But, I'd rather have it...working well...than having to bug my dealer...no matter how much they like me and I like them.

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I said I agree it’s cool and a great feature. Other mfrs have done the same thing recently.

 

Not sure I understand the comments about Ford having a hand in COTUS. Ford owns COTUS. It’s their app and their website. The data comes from their internal systems - same ones the dealers have access to.

 

What I meant when I said it wasn’t linked from the Ford website is that I don’t think Ford ever launched it officially which is probably why there are errors and it doesn’t always seem to work. I think they started working on it but never finished probably because of funding. So it got left out there as an orphan with no support.

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OK, I just never was exactly sure what the "tie" to Ford was, at what level, funded by which division, etc, etc. Does anyone know IF Ford is trying to keep it up and viable??

 

I just got an update on COTUS concerning my order, and that was fast, since I just got my VIN. They now have my Est. Del. Date posted. Didn't expect that so quick. And, I know,

it's an estimated date. Many things can cause that date to change...either sooner....or later.

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But, here's the interesting thing. Ford had a Rep monitoring that thread on that site. For a long time is was a woman, and she was great about helping folks with "problems or issues" with

their orders OR with their cars after receiving them. She would write something about an issue, etc, then ask the person to PM her with ALL their info. and she would do the research and

come back with an answer...IF she could get a viable answer for them. So, Ford at least then had a "connection" to what was going on with COTUS...through the special thread on that

web site. So, they were taking interest in COTUS.

 

Now, I don't know if there is a Ford Rep. monitoring that same COTUS thread. But, that was at least one example of Ford "having a hand" in the operation of COTUS.

 

 

Ford used to have representatives on a lot of online forums. Most would help escalate warranty claims and help with special order tracking. Seems about a year or so ago funding for that program got cut and the accounts went dark.

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Thanks to everyone who had some thoughts, info, and input in to my COTUS questions and concerns. You all are much appreciated.

I'm now anxious, as many would be, to pick up my 2018 Mustang GT Prem, 401A, Auto, Ingot Silver/showstopper red, 3.55 ratio axle, Safe and Smart Pack,

Enhanced Sec. Pack, Shaker Pro,and Mini Spare.

 

My wife and I carefully took the time to pick the colors and options we truly wanted, and left off those that we really didn't

need. Still, this is the most expensive Mustang out of 11 that I have owned, for sure! But, I believe this one will be the most exciting and enjoyable one.

Although, my many Fox Body 'stangs were fairly simple tech wise, but, were still lots of fun to own and drive.

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