Ford's 'Ready Shop Go' platform let customers buy cars online

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Mike Young is a longtime car salesman at Royal Oak Ford on Woodward. But in a matter of weeks his job may get a little easier.

Ford Motor Company will soon begin partnering with dealerships to offer customers a chance to buy their vehicles without having to leave the house. It's through a program called Ready, Shop, Go -- which lets you shop online for cars. 

"The whole idea is that people don't have time to fiddle around really," says Young. "They want to get a deal on a car and this is one of the best ways to do it, because they can look at everything."

Let's face it. People are just more impatient these days. With this tool, consumers can check inventory, pricing, incentives, estimate trade-ins, apply for financing and lock in a deal anywhere at any dealership in the country.

This could reduce the process from several hours to maybe 45 minutes. But not every car buyer is on board.

"Why would you want to do that?" asks customer Tom Hrynik. Hrynik, who worked closely with salesperson Mike Young to purchase his new Ford Escape Titanium, says he would miss the personal touch.

"I don't do hardly any shopping on the internet," he says. "I don't trust it, someone will take my credit card. I don't trust it."

The program will still allow you the option to shop the showroom floor and test drive a vehicle. Ford says it will just expedite the process and put the consumer in more control of their car buying experience.

"One of the strongest benefits and the pilot deals have done it, is that the closing ratios are actually 30 percent or higher," Young says. "Which is actually pretty good."

Some Ford vehicles will not be included in the online sales, like performance cars like Mustangs or Raptor pickup trucks.

The program will be available in several Midwestern states, including the Detroit area this month, and available throughout the country by the end of 2018.