| Author | Message | ||
| Nebula Class (Nebulaclass)
New member Username: Nebulaclass Post Number: 27 Registered: 11-2002 |
FNA forced Fogner to sell or they would pull the franchise. Seeing as though the franchise was valued at near 10 million, Fogner opted to sell rather than lose. | ||
| KCCK (Kenneth)
Junior Member Username: Kenneth Post Number: 86 Registered: 10-2002 |
What is FNA's attitude to all this? From some posts, it almost seems as if FNA could be unbelievably indifferent. Surely that cannot be right? | ||
| Nebula Class (Nebulaclass)
New member Username: Nebulaclass Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2002 |
Well, I'm not gonna say it was Ogner *coughOGNERMOTORCARScough* but let's say it was Fogner MotorCars. They suck. One thing, though, for all you TR fans. When I left a year ago, they had two CLEAN TRs, an 88 with 2k on it and an 89 with 8k (I think) that sat for years without interest. The new onwers may have sold them, but if they are still there, they would probably dump them if an interested buyer came in. | ||
| Wade R Nunez (308nut)
New member Username: 308nut Post Number: 35 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Nebulaclass, that dealer you are talking about sounds a lot like Ogner, if so they were a pain in the ass to deal with | ||
| John K (Foc355b)
New member Username: Foc355b Post Number: 13 Registered: 11-2002 |
Nebulaclass-What dealership did you work at? | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
New member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 5 Registered: 12-2002 |
I get snobbed all the time when I go to Ferrari Dealers. I live in a rich part of town and being a teenager, dealerships just look the other way when they see me. We'll see who gets the last laugh when I take my business elsewhere  There is only one place I like to go down here in southern california. Its a tiny little shop next to John Wayne Airport called TruSpeed Motorsports. They do most of their business online so I am one of the only walk in customers...The guys there are great and super friendly and helpfull. They have had some stuff on ebay a while back... | ||
| Ryanab (Ryanab)
Junior Member Username: Ryanab Post Number: 166 Registered: 3-2002 |
Frank, I assume you're talking about Ferrari of Ontario... I as well have nothing but horror stories with them. Amazing how they can do business like that, it's straight up appaling behaviour.. Maybe Martin could enlighten them on the subject of ethical conduct in the Ferrari world Now, Brian Jessel in Vancouver is another story. Great people, very friendly, helpful and will always give you a hand even if you are purchasing a t-shirt or stickers. Yes, we should get a letter or something going, I would sign that in a second. Ryan | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 992 Registered: 7-2001 |
I had some great experiences with Ferrari of Denver when I was in college, I remember one guy asking me if I wanted to sit in a brand new Mondial. You'd understand why that was such a big deal if you saw how I looked in college. I used to go by there religiously if I was anywhere near there. Does anybody remember the store on Colfax? They also treated me great on day one of Ferrari ownership when my car blew the water pump coming into Denver on the drive home. | ||
| Mark (Markg)
Member Username: Markg Post Number: 315 Registered: 2-2001 |
Ferrari of Denver has some great salesmen ... nice folks! | ||
| Lou B (Toby91)
Junior Member Username: Toby91 Post Number: 99 Registered: 4-2001 |
I guess I've been lucky. Bought 3 F-cars from dealers, Los Gatos(over the phone), Wide World and New England and have always been treated well with no regrets or "stories". | ||
| Nebula Class (Nebulaclass)
New member Username: Nebulaclass Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2002 |
Well, if you went to the store I worked at and were greated warmly, it was probably ME that you talked to. The other guys would groan when someone walked on the lot. It was a chore for them to go talk to the people. I remember once this lady walked in with her kid. The boy was nine or so, and obviously had begged his mom to take him there. She was an RN, I think, and it was clear that she felt uncomfortable in the dealership. The boy was very respectful, and wouldn't even touch the cars. He just had a big smile on his face and was happy just to be looking at a Ferrari. I asked the boy if he wanted to sit in the showroom car, which happened to be a 360 Spider. He almost crapped his pants, and his mom told him he couldn't. I told her it was ok, if he wanted to sit in it he could. The kid went nuts and said yes. I opened the door and he VERY gently stepped in and sat down. He was in heaven. The mother thanked me profusely and left with her now very happy son. Guess what? I got yelled at for letting the kid sit in the car. Can you beleive that? What a bunch of a-holes those people were. What else is the car good for if it can't be enjoyed, you know? | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 617 Registered: 4-2002 |
Many of the west coast dealers are just great! Drove up in a Geo Metro rental to the dealer in Costa Mesa. Was greeted warmly, and offered pizza! Ron Tonkin in Portland has a great crew, gearheads mostly, who love to sit and BS about racing. Other west coast dealers have treated me well, also. | ||
| jake diamond (Rampante)
New member Username: Rampante Post Number: 24 Registered: 4-2002 |
I suppose the era of many dealers "copping a 'tude" may be close to a shake-up. FNA's main goal right now is to sell as many Maserati automobiles in the U.S. market as they can. You don't really think they are going to make a lot of sales by snubbing potential customers, do you?? IMO | ||
| Vince (Manatee)
Junior Member Username: Manatee Post Number: 81 Registered: 6-2002 |
Gee, times must have changed. I used to visit my local Ferrari dealer (faf of Atlanta) many many times before I was able to buy my first one. they always treated me well. Ferrari of Atlanta was extremely busy this past Friday. They still greeted everyone who visited the dealership. | ||
| Frank (Fjt)
Junior Member Username: Fjt Post Number: 55 Registered: 10-2002 |
Thanks Nebula Class for that insight. Except that if I walk into a Ford dealership in jeans I still get serviced. From what I read here, some F dealers don't even get off their chair. Since so few Fs are sold we should unite against this behaviour. | ||
| Nebula Class (Nebulaclass)
New member Username: Nebulaclass Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2002 |
Dealers are a weird bunch. I used to sell Ferraris, and it's a strange world. Honestly, the salesforce and management is no different than what you would find at a Ford store. That's why I left. The best thing to do is to write FNA. Writing to the dealers won't really make a difference, unless you are a regualr buyer. The owners are fairly rude and stuck up, and they couldn't care less about the average buyer. This is not true of all dealers, of course, but the one's I've met feel this way. The dealer I worked for (Not gonna name names) had a franchise for nearly 30 years, and they NEVER complied with FNAs orders or directives. They never had a dealer sponsored race car, which they were required to have. Once, FNA got pissed and pretty much laid down the law and said "Get a team or lose the franchise." So the owners bought 30 year old meat van, painted it red, but "***MotorCars Ferrari" on it, and parked it on the street. It looked like a race team's car transport, and FNA left them alone. They also marked up new cars BIG TIME, which is a factory no-no. We were selling 360 Spiders for nearly 200K over sticker, and a 550 Barchetta was sold for almost 500k. FNA was hidden from most of this, but knew a lot regardless. The owners were forced to sell, and now it is under new hands. But trust me, if you have complaints, write FNA. Unless you know your dealer well and know that he/she will listen, it will do you no good. Jusy my 0.02. | ||
| Frank (Fjt)
Junior Member Username: Fjt Post Number: 54 Registered: 10-2002 |
To those dealers who think they own Ferrari. They are dispensible if we let them know who controls the purse strings. Write a standard letter to FNA? Send emails? Any other suggestions? They should know we can not be taken for granted anymore. Although my experience has not been bad, I have heard on this board way to many compliants of dealers snobbing us. One Ferrarista snobbed is one too many. Lets get behind anyone who needs us. |