| Author | Message | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
New member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 13 Registered: 4-2003 |
Could be even worse than Bagad...... Anyone ever seen "Ferris Bueler's (sp) Day Off??? | ||
| Dave Shears (Daveshears)
Junior Member Username: Daveshears Post Number: 54 Registered: 3-2001 |
Vince gave you very good advice. The dealer has to make you happy if they want to stay in business very long. Wait until the car is "done" then calmly discuss any problems. Hope you have a good outcome. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 1098 Registered: 1-2002 |
Well, Michael's profile says he lives in Westminster, CO (as do my brother in law & his family--on Kipling Street), so I might venture a guess that it ==could== be Ferrari of Denver...  | ||
| Branko Medenica (Branko)
New member Username: Branko Post Number: 19 Registered: 3-2003 |
I sure would like to know the name of the dealership, no matter what the outcome. | ||
| Vince (Manatee)
Junior Member Username: Manatee Post Number: 189 Registered: 6-2002 |
Wait until the car is presented to you by the dealer. At that time you can inspect the car and bring up any issues that need to be resolved. The dealer probably "sub-contracted" the job to the body shop so I believe it's the dealership that has the responsibility of making sure things are acceptable when they deliver the car to you. It's at that point whether or not you decide the car is acceptable and then see how the dealership responds. A reputable dealership will be honest and upfront without trying to hide anything from a customer and will make things right. It's amazing how many folks want to get a lawyer or write letters BEFORE the dealership has even said the car is finished. | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 3324 Registered: 8-2002 |
DAVE, SIT DOWN, QUICK, I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU: WE AGREE ON SOMETHING...!  i'm with Dave, have someone teach this assclown a lesson... | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 1096 Registered: 1-2002 |
I say have him whacked, on general principle...  | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 510 Registered: 2-2003 |
I'd say Andy Falsetta gave you pretty good advice, and as a fallback, so did Art Chambers. From your description, the shop owner sounds like a damn thug! Document things, and get your letters out quickly. Remember to close the time frame, e.g., tell them you would appreciate the courtesy of their response by DATE, and call the dealership on that date if you haven't heard. | ||
| Erik R. K. Jonsson (Gamester)
Member Username: Gamester Post Number: 304 Registered: 11-2000 |
Another note, if the hood was bondo'd, due to the nature of Ferrari, you have the right to have it replaced with a new or unscathed used factory original. ("future resale value is now lessened...") I believe you have insurance for this reason, to go to bat for you when you have been wronged. | ||
| Tony Fuisz (Fuiszt)
New member Username: Fuiszt Post Number: 45 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'd give them 2 weeks to make it right, then if not handled properly, let us all know the dealer/shops where the car was. My guess is they won't fix it the way you want. If they were as careful as you, they wouldn't have dealings with a shop that broke off a key and tried to avoid fixing it-or fixing it with liquid rubber. | ||
| J Michael Jordan (Fonce_r_cheval)
New member Username: Fonce_r_cheval Post Number: 40 Registered: 11-2002 |
I'd get photo documentation of the damage you mention, too. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 1262 Registered: 6-2001 |
Michael: I'd talk to the dealer: 1. the car should be fixed, and quickly. If they won't do it voluntariily, small claims court is an excellent solution, and in addition to the fix, I'd ask for the loss of use value, i.e., the rental cost of a similar vehicle. You can get that online from the various exotic car rental agencies. give him a week to make his mind up, then file against him. Once its filed, it becomes a public record, and you advise others of the location of the case, and because of the litigation privilege, it can be published without much exposure to a libel suit. If you wanted to short cut this process, tell the manager exactly what you intend to us, and point out to him, that there is absolutely no benefit in trying to stiff you: 1. Because of the suit, they'll have to any the actual cost of the repair, plus and loss of use, and 2. When the claim becomes known, they'll lose business over their poor business practices. A total loser for the dealer all the way around. I'd give that a try. Art | ||
| Peter Sedlak (Peters)
Junior Member Username: Peters Post Number: 143 Registered: 1-2003 |
Michael; The last thing a dealer or their repair shop needs is an upset customer standing in front of their business with a picket sign. Be polite and tell them you will have a peaceful protest if you do not receive reasonable satisfaction. I will tell you that a reasonable, but firm attitude will help your case. If they care about their business, they will bite the bullet and kiss your butt. | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
Junior Member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 57 Registered: 3-2003 |
Michael, There is only one way to handle this without going the legal route or getting the run around. Draft a letter to the President of Ferrari in Italy, copy the President of Ferrari NA and the President of the dealership. The spellings of the Ferrari companies are available in publications such as Rosso or Forza. You should already know who the President of the dealership is. The letter should state in plain English what has happened without getting too detailed and should ask them for their help. Make sure to mention that you interact regularly with other Ferrari owners and potential owners and look forward to a swift and satisfactory conclusion to this. Don't get ugly and not pay for things or rant and rave. Legal solutions in cases like this are only good for lawyers. Let us know what they do. Andy | ||
| michael marchese (Bigdog)
Junior Member Username: Bigdog Post Number: 75 Registered: 8-2001 |
Well it gets worse. The car is at the body shop, I find the broken ignition key and the door key on a key ring sitting on the targa. I leave and return in a day, after I am told the key was fixed. I go to the body shop and the owner directs me to my car which is parked outside. I examine ignition and find a thick tar like substance holding the plastic piece around the ignition, it comes off in my hand. I ask an employee for a washbucket and towel and proceed to wipe down the car. You see I recently had the interior headliner and deck redone (cream cloth) and while the targa was off I had it repainted. So I wipe off the targa and notice some scratches on the targa in the same area the keys were laying when I learned one was broken. I bring both the "tar" and scratches on the targa to the attention of the owner. Immediately he begins telling me to get off his property, that he works on $100,000 cars and that I am basically obsessing too much, and that "it is just a car". He continues telling me that I am impossible and that I should not accuse him of "vandalizing" my car because he has never done that to any other car. He then proceeded to ask me how long the cat was at the delaership, then suggested that the scratches happened there. After telling me that I should not be working on my car (yet another private individual was working right next to me cutting the plastic on his bumper and using the shops extension cord and electricity), and telling me to get off his property he walked past me and kicked my foot. I told him not to kick me and he replied he didn't My foot was in his path. He then kept my car key (it had tar on it which I had showed him) and walked inside again demanding I leave and that I should not be near my car until it was "detailed" | ||
| jrv (Jrvisking)
New member Username: Jrvisking Post Number: 3 Registered: 3-2003 |
I agree with father sarduchi. well I should, cause i are father sarduchi. heheheheheheheheheheheheheheehe ! | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 3276 Registered: 8-2002 |
Mike... That just sucks, i'm sorry to hear you're having trouble... i would ••••• and moan until my lips fell off and wouldn't even move my hand close to the pocket in which my wallet sits... They screwed up, it's time to own up... & that comment about Baghdad - i would've grabbed the aluminium peace maker in the trunk (boot?) and explained to him that i'm not anywhere but here and he should watch his f___ing mouth... ...but you know, that's just my opinion. | ||
| Father Sarduchi (Father_sarduchi)
New member Username: Father_sarduchi Post Number: 14 Registered: 1-2003 |
Dear Sir, Trully sorry to hear of this unfortunate incident. When one finds oneself in the middle of such circumstances it is wise to stay level headed although firm about expecting resolution until you are more in a position of control. The Dealers certianly seem hard on the cars, as the other tow incident recently and now this seems to show. I wonder why some don't take more pride and care? Although the other gentleman claimed he was happy they bashed his Ferrari. And wasn't there some other Broohahah about a dealer and some simple photographs of Ferraris? Sad commentary. Bless and Good Luck with the resolution, Father Sarduchi | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1114 Registered: 3-2001 |
Steve, Enjoy(ed) the response. | ||
| Steven R. Rochlin (Enjoythemusic)
Member Username: Enjoythemusic Post Number: 328 Registered: 4-2002 |
Bob, Not necessarily. Dependiong on the model discussed, esp older cars like Michael's, it can be hot wired and a simple switch can work in place of the key. Not too hard to do actually in this case, but nothing i would disclose either. Enjoy the Drive, Steven R. Rochlin | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 2794 Registered: 6-2001 |
www.bbb.org report it | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 491 Registered: 2-2003 |
Remember too that these guys have to be a bit responsive to FNA, and while I don't think you should threaten them with it, a well-pleaded phone call to FNA might help with your dilemna. I'm not really well-versed in the dealer dynamic with Ferrari; my experience with LI and Miller has been that they've been very solicitous of customer satisfaction. | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 627 Registered: 5-2002 |
They broke it, they fix it. Bottom line.. You know it's not going to be cheap so why should you flip the bill.. If they didn't dent your bonnet in the first place the car would have never been at the body shop where the key was broken.. Good luck, and don't pay a penny out of your pocket.. | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1113 Registered: 3-2001 |
Steve, kind of hard for Michael to "Enjoy the Drive" when the key is broken off in the ignition. | ||
| Steven R. Rochlin (Enjoythemusic)
Member Username: Enjoythemusic Post Number: 326 Registered: 4-2002 |
Take photos of EVERYTHING. Log ALL conversations and what was discussed and outcome thereof. Be nice, hope they fix it all properly and in a timely manner. If all else fails, use the US legal system... I always keep a good arsenal of lawyers near me for just these types of circumstances. Enjoy the Drive, Steven R. Rochlin | ||
| Johns (Modenaf1fan)
Member Username: Modenaf1fan Post Number: 267 Registered: 11-2002 |
Well u cant act like an as*hole to them because then theyll take it out on you, which is worst, so if I were you Ill act nice unless u find a diff stealership then u can give the hell | ||
| michael marchese (Bigdog)
Junior Member Username: Bigdog Post Number: 74 Registered: 8-2001 |
My car was brought to a Ferrari Dealership for some repairs, in the process they dented the front bonnet. They brought it to a body shop and the body shop broke my one and only ignition key off in the ignition! I displayed total disgust with the body shop owner who merely replied "it could be worse you could be in Baghdad" (well I'm not). He also rubbed my paint (which was dry and dirty) and I had to ask him not to do that. I didn't push it any further and left, reported my finding to the Dealership and requested they follow up. I now fear I'll find wires hanging, and or something disconnected after the locksmith "fixes" my ignition and makes a new key. Additionally I just spent $2500.00 at the dealership and expect more because my low side air conditioning control valve had to be replaced. ANY ideas on what you would do? |