| Author | Message | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 275 Registered: 11-2001 |
Exactly... | ||
| Doug Meredith (Doug308)
Junior Member Username: Doug308 Post Number: 187 Registered: 2-2001 |
The car you are going to look at is probably for sale on some site, autotrader, yahoo etc....and probably by the owner for less dollars. The consignment shops many times contact the owner after seeing a classified from thier local area and try to advertise it as their car on a national basis. When I purchased a 308, it was listed 3 times on autotrader at 3 different dealers for 3 different prices. Obviously, the lowest price was the one who had the car.b | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 272 Registered: 11-2001 |
It's all consignment sales, kinda like online shopping but being ripped off to full extent. Martin, I appreciate your help but can this be done without me being there? what is the cost for doing this? It has to be worth the time to battle this and I'm not sure if it is worth it, I had talked to a few attorneys in Florida and they told me if it's less than a $45k case then it wasn't worth their time. Man, some attorneys bug the •••• out of me. They're mostly money hungry and won't answer simple quick questions without payment up front, that right there puts my trust away from most of them. | ||
| Mike Fisher (Mikef)
Junior Member Username: Mikef Post Number: 107 Registered: 11-2001 |
A couple of years ago I paid these guys a visit when I was in the area for the Cavallino Classic. No showroom or dealership. Just an upstairs office with a few desks and a lot of phones(probably phoney phones). I have never in my life been hustled as hard as these guys hustled me. None of the cars they had in their ad were available and they tried to interest me in several others. Classic bait & switch. | ||
| Fred (Iluv4res)
New member Username: Iluv4res Post Number: 47 Registered: 8-2002 |
Thanks to everyone for their input! I already knew that a deposit first was out of line, which is why I refused to do so with them. I was curious about their reputation, which according to the posts, is what I thought it would be considering their position on the deposit. They did, however, after my adamant refusal to provide an up front deposit, offer to bring the car to their dealership for me to look at, prior to any deposit being paid...fair enough. I am going to look at it tonight. I will keep you all posted! And, yes, I will get a PPI if it looks good. P.S. Any thoughts on what a 1995 348 Spider, yellow/black, with 8,500 miles is worth??? I think about $65-70k..... | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 396 Registered: 11-2001 |
*** SHELTON Shelton is a fine shop IMHO. Just for the record, I would absolutely deal with Shelton again. Their prices are absolutely high, but I always assumed they were just "asking" prices. They never had a car I wanted to negotiate on. However, they did a PPI for me and were stellar. They were over-zealous at the start (like all these guys are, rightly so) but once I told them to chill out and that they wouldn't be getting any repair work if I bought this car they calmed down and did a laudable job. *** FLORIDA DEALERS Here's the problem, Martin & Howard. The laws in the state of FL apparently are substantially sub-par in protecting the consumer. This means that any dealer in FL can screw a consumer. Whether they're a "good" dealer or a "bad" dealer they can screw you and you have minimal recourse. This is a black mark on every FL dealer, which is very unfortunate for the good and reputable and honest ones. Here in MA (and in most other states), deposits are carefully controlled funds (so much so that it's borderline annoying for the dealers) and screwing a consumer can get your licenses pulled by the Secretary of State. Some states are probably too protective of the consumer, but near-zero criminal protection (and let's not mince words - this is almost certainly STEALING) is a pure business liability for the dealers (though 90% of them probably don't see it that way - only the ones who deal nationally - like Ferrari dealers). You guys should be lobbying the state to fix these laws. That's the only way the consumer will have total comfort dealing with FL dealers. doody. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 2634 Registered: 5-2001 |
First, I second Howie's comments. It hurts to hear stay away from Florida car dealers. This would mean Shelton Ferrari, the largest Ferrari dealer in the US is dishonest, which is incorrect, overpriced maybe but not dishonest! Second, I can not believe that somebody wants to charge a deposit refundable or not, to see a car. If they actually have the car they can show it to you. If they feel you can not purchase the car, tell them to go and shove it up their a*s. I am sure you are not looking for a 60s GTO which is rare and you have to deal with whomever has the car at present. If it is a regular Ferrari buy it someplace else. Heck, maybe I have it! www.4Ferrari.com Modman, I talked to my attorney about your case and he thinks he can easily file a small claims for you. Will cost you a few $$$ at first but he would have to see the papers. If you are interested e-mail me and I will send you his contact info. He is presently employed by me filing a case against a city here in Miami. Fred, if you have a car down here to be looked at I will gladly do that for you. Just e-mail me and I will look at the car. I can not give you a mechanical opinion but have a mechanic that can do that for you if you chose to buy a particular car (no matter from where). | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 270 Registered: 11-2001 |
Fred, it seems you have not seen my comments and experience with them. DO NOT Deal with these scammers for they did not give my deposit back, long story. They keep your money regardless till you buy one of their sight unseen trashy cars that they call excellent condition. You will loose the battle due to that it will cost you more money in attorney fees, your personhal time and so on, if you are out of state then kiss your money good bye. I hate these f***ers and hope they all go to prison or die. They always claim that they have a car for you, yeah right, they don't even see the car so how would they know. They tried to sell one of my cars to someone who happened to see my ad of the car for sale and he told me how they knew the car so well and how it looked when they never seen the car, now this should tell you pretty much about this place. Buy a car from a reputable dealer or see the car in person. My impression of Exotic Cars Wholesale. Hello, I found the car of your dreams, gimme 20G's, too much? Gimme 5G's no less, bend over, you know the feelin. Car didn't look as you expected? What the F**k, what are you talkin about? it's perfect! I can't give your deposit back since it costed 5G's of my time, click! ring ring, click! ring ring, who are you? Click! | ||
| Bill Steele (Glassman)
Junior Member Username: Glassman Post Number: 69 Registered: 4-2002 |
Ferrari dealers have been able to become very snooty in recent years, with 4 year waiting lists and all. I have never bought a NEW Ferrari, however, I will never buy a car from anyone if I cannot see it and get into it, AND DRIVE IT. I do not care if there is a long waiting list. You do not sell product without samples!!! Well at least not in my area of expertise. | ||
| Kevin Moore (Kevinm)
New member Username: Kevinm Post Number: 26 Registered: 3-2001 |
I think BobD said it best, "Run don't walk". I have personal experience with these folks and can attest to the fact that they will not deal fairly. I have written documentation from ECW claiming that they will refund the rest of my deposit. That letter is 1.5 years old and they still have not paid up. Bottom Line: Stay away from Exotic Cars Wholesale. If any potential buyers are interested I'll show or post all documentation regarding my efforts to recoup my deposit. KevinM '87 328 GTS Saratoga NY | ||
| D B (Threesixty)
New member Username: Threesixty Post Number: 26 Registered: 8-2002 |
What kind of car is it that you want? | ||
| Jeffrey Robbins (Teachdna)
Junior Member Username: Teachdna Post Number: 63 Registered: 9-2001 |
STAY AWAY from this dealer!! | ||
| S. P. (512tr1994)
New member Username: 512tr1994 Post Number: 22 Registered: 6-2002 |
Refundable Deposit??? NEVER Don't do it | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 393 Registered: 11-2001 |
it'd be one thing to ask for a deposit before you test drove it or took it for a PPI or the like. but a deposit before they'll even let you see it? that's insane. i bet they don't own the car - they're selling it on consignment and the owner doesn't want to have to bring it in every 10 minutes, so they use this as a filter. although i'm sure howard is a good guy, if the laws in FL really are such that car dealers can screw people out of their deposits that's a good reason not to do business there. that said, i put a $10K deposit down on a 355 with a FL dealer/broker before it went to PPI. it didn't make it past PPI and they did refund my deposit (after a major hard sell cycle). knowing what i know now i would NEVER do that again unless i knew the people. doody. | ||
| George Daina (Oof_n_goof)
Junior Member Username: Oof_n_goof Post Number: 99 Registered: 7-2002 |
Refundable deposit? What is a refundable deposit? Hmmmmm....sounds like a scam....show us your money, and you will inherit the 20 million this antropologist left you..... Refundable deposit, oh yea....sorry Charlie, you see this paint chip? That has to come out of the deposit, and see the wear and tear on the tires? That too has to come out of the deposit. Charlie, consider yourself lucky you only loose the deposit, we could charge you for the total restoration of the car. Byeeeee | ||
| Howie F. (Brokerofexotics)
Junior Member Username: Brokerofexotics Post Number: 160 Registered: 11-2001 |
Mitchell, In every state there are dealers to stay away from, just like in any other business. Saying to stay away from Florida dealers is very unfair to the honest and reputable ones. Howard ExoticAutoBrokers.com Miami Beach, Florida  | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 573 Registered: 3-2001 |
Run don't walk. | ||
| Allen Cook (Alcook62)
New member Username: Alcook62 Post Number: 32 Registered: 3-2002 |
Ditto - B.S. If they want to charge me a "refundable deposit" just to look at the car, I would immediately laugh and walk. Come on, customers or potential customers looking at a car is part of the car business! I could see them "sizing you up" prior to a test drive but not to the point of demanding a "refundable deposit". Don't bite Fred. | ||
| Mitchell L. Davidson (Jussumfastgi)
Junior Member Username: Jussumfastgi Post Number: 196 Registered: 4-2002 |
Ok, take a deep breath, and say it with me. "Stay away from Florida Car Dealers!" | ||
| Chris Brody (Cbrody)
New member Username: Cbrody Post Number: 44 Registered: 3-2002 |
Sounds like BS to me.... | ||
| bruce wellington (Bws88tr)
Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 742 Registered: 4-2002 |
fred ask martin 348, he is knowledable about car dealers, especially since he is from florida bruce | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Junior Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 62 Registered: 7-2002 |
Maybe the refundable dep is to keep tire kickers at bay, but it turns me off bigtime. | ||
| Fred (Iluv4res)
New member Username: Iluv4res Post Number: 44 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hello, What is your opinion of Exotic Cars Wholesale, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida? Reputable or not? They claim that they have a car I want, however, they want a 'refundable' deposit up front before I even see the car. Comments please..... |