Deposits, Trade Ins, Financing, Title and Taxes

Factory Order Glossary

Here is a list of 'Factory Order' terms and what they actually mean, no jargon, just plain English so you know exactly what's going on at every step of the process.

Factory Order — Sometimes called a "Sold Order." This is a vehicle that's built specifically for you. You pick the specs, Ford builds it, and it comes straight to Nick Mayer Ford. It's not something sitting on a lot somewhere, it's yours from the start.

Order Confirmation Number — Once your factory order is placed, it gets assigned a confirmation number that you can find on your order documents. Think of it like a tracking number for a package, you'll use this to follow your vehicle through the ordering and build process. Your Sales Representative will make sure you have it.

VIN — Vehicle Identification Number, this is the unique ID that stays with your vehicle for its entire life. From the moment it's scheduled for production, through the build, through every sale and registration, this number follows the vehicle forever. You'll see it come up once Ford assigns your vehicle to a production slot.

Buyer's Order — This is the document that confirms the purchase price that you and Nick Mayer Ford agreed on. It shows the vehicle price, your deposit, and the Documentation Fee. State taxes, title, and license fees get added at the time of delivery. Basically, it's the receipt that says "this is the deal."

Documentation Fee (or DOC FEE) — This is a flat fee charged by Nick Mayer Ford to process all the legal documents on the dealership's end. In Ohio, this covers things like title processing and administrative costs. (Ask your Sales Representative for the current doc fee amount.)

Deposit — This is the amount that's non-refundable when you place your factory order, it locks in your commitment to the build. Here's the important part: the deposit is applied to the bottom line of your sale price on the buyer's order, acting as part of your down payment. So it's not an extra charge, it goes toward what you're already paying.

Price Protection — This is the transparent promise Nick Mayer Ford makes to you on what you pay for your order. Factory orders are price protected the moment they are submitted and accepted. Once your name and address are applied to the submitted order, your buyer's order price does not change, even if the MSRP goes up. You might see the window sticker show a higher value later on, but you'll always pay the same agreed-upon price. This price protection is tied to you specifically and cannot be transferred to someone else. Ask your Sales Representative for more details.

Window Sticker — During the build process, Ford generates a virtual window sticker for your vehicle. This shows all the standard and selected features, estimated fuel efficiency, and the vehicle's MSRP. NOTE: This does not show the price you are actually paying for the vehicle. It's just the manufacturer's suggested retail price, your deal with Nick Mayer Ford is separate from that number.

PDI — Pre-Delivery Inspection: Once your vehicle is built and shipped to Nick Mayer Ford, it arrives in what's called "Ship Mode." Our team then goes through it, cleaning it up, turning on all the functions and features, calibrating systems, filling fluids, and inspecting it for safety, functionality, and any cosmetic damage that may have happened during transport. By the time you see it, it's ready to go.

Affiliate — Some associations or employers have "affiliate" relationships with Ford and may qualify you for incentivized interest rates, cash incentives, or discounts. In a lot of cases, Nick Mayer Ford's sales price is already a great deal, and we may be able to stack an additional applicable discount on top of that. Talk to your Sales Representative to see if you qualify, it's worth asking.

Delivery — This is when you, the customer, actually take possession of the vehicle. You can either drive it straight off the lot here in Mayfield Heights, or take financial and liability possession of the vehicle while it stays on our lot for a few days waiting for shipping. Either way, it's officially yours.

Shipping — This is when we're sending the vehicle from Nick Mayer Ford to wherever you need it. Our logistics team works with trusted third-party carriers to get your new ride to your door.

NOTE: Ask your Sales Representative about shipping options and any associated costs based on your location.

Transport — This refers to the process of the finished vehicle making its way from Ford's assembly plant to Nick Mayer Ford here in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. This is the "in transit" phase, your vehicle is on a truck or rail car heading to us at 6200 Mayfield Road.

Ford Motor Company — The manufacturer that builds your vehicle. Ford is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan and operates assembly plants across the U.S. and internationally. When you factory order through Nick Mayer Ford, your order goes directly to Ford Motor Company, and they build it to your exact specifications.

MSRP — Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, this is the price Ford recommends the vehicle be sold at. It's the number you see on the window sticker. Your actual price with Nick Mayer Ford may be different (and with price protection, it's locked in the moment your order is submitted).

Still have questions about any of these terms? Call us at 440-697-3590 or stop by Nick Mayer Ford at 6200 Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124. We're happy to walk you through anything.