Haven’t you heard? Bronco-mania is sweeping the nation. While the larger, Jeep Wrangler-battling Ford Bronco has yet to hit the production lines, the smaller Bronco Sport crossover is roaring off showroom floors. Understandably, dealers and customers alike have had their fair share of mixups, markups, and mistakes in this sales frenzy, though one Tampa, Florida-based Bronco Sport owner had a rougher go at Bronco ownership than most.
According to a report from ABC Action News, Adam Sidoti purchased a new Bronco Sport from an unnamed Ford dealer on December 22, 2020. Sidoti’s partial trade-in, $2,500 down payment, and residual financing were even all set-up and locked-in to the sale. The next day, Sidoti told ABC the dealer claimed it had unintentionally sold him the floor demonstration model and that he had to return the little SUV.
“It was a mannequin or demo model that Ford had sent them,” Sidoti told ABC Action News. “They wanted me to bring it in by 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve!”
After speaking directly to the sales manager and writing a letter to customer service, Sidoti shared that the dealer was still adamant about reclaiming the SUV. After an ABC Action News correspondent reached out for comment, the dealer admitted it accidentally sold a demo that was supposed to remain on display on the showroom floor for at least four months before being sold.
After the inquiry by the news station and some intervention from Ford itself, the dealer backed down and Sidoti was able to keep his new Bronco Sport. “After speaking with our team, as soon as we were made aware of this situation on Dec. 29, 2020, we made sure the customer [was] able to keep the vehicle,” a representative for Ford told the news outlet in an email.
