New rules could strain Ford's ties to suppliers

The Detroit News ^ | 11/17/04

[Moleman]

DEARBORN

[Moleman]

I have worked with most OEM's and Ford is by far the most hideous company to do buisness with. A deal is NEVER a deal. Their racist hiring practices along with their zeal for meeting personal metrics are pure evil. Ford should be headquartered in Ithata instead of Dearborn.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I know exactly what you're talking about. I've supplied GM and Chrysler, but Ford's bureaucracy is unbelieveable. No wonder their stock went to $8/share last year.

[Moleman]

Yes they are all tough, but Ford is nearly unethical in their purchasing practices.

[Glenn]

As consumers, we're all used to this, right? Your telephone, credit card, insurance, cable, and other companies reserve the right to change their terms of service and there's not a thing you can do about it, except to drop out.

Just the big boys applying the same rules to the little guys.

[Chewbacca]

If you squeeze your supplier too badly, they can just quit making the part or raise its price.

Working for the USAF, single source part suppliers screw us over all the time by raising prices 100% or more each year.

[Glenn]

Working for the USAF, single source part suppliers screw us over all the time by raising prices 100% or more each year.

I have three uncles who retired from the USAF (Master Sgts, I believe. All aircraft wrench pullers.) There is nothing better than an evening of their stories about the incompetence of their overlords.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

A friend of mine worked for Lincoln/Mercury and was expected to put in 60-70 hours a week. He had four or five company cars every year, taking them to 47,000 a year. He had a heart attack at age 52 and Ford found a way to cut him shortly afterward.