Desparate Times for Ferrari ???

This my be standard sop for Ferrari (or not) but I was really suprised by a responce I recieved via email from thier Classiche dept.
I emailed them asking for some simple info reguarding the number 308 GT4's painted a particular color and also if the deleted rear seat option in the same was from the factory. When I got my responce I was shocked when they asked for a 100 euro for the info! Are they so desparate for $$$ that they have to gouge thier loyal enthusiasts for some simple info? Or was some jerk trying to scam a few bucks on the side? Either way I don't think I've ever been so disapointed by anything Ferrari in my life. It was not like I was asking for some special blue prints or some potentialy valueable info or something. Very dissapointing indeed.

Cheers!

DT

 

Please refer to today's post entitled the "Top Ten Reasons Not to Own a Ferrari."

Then see reason #3. Is your arm tired yet? Sounds like it is getting that way. This is one of the first signs of Tifosi Elbow. It's like Tennis Elbow but the treatment is too expensive to pursue unless you belong to the Ferrari SPA HMO. This is a special option that dealers don't tell you about. Unfortuneately, it can only be purchased when the car was ordered and if the original order did not include this option, I am afraid you are out of luck.
Plus, Americans like me are just too lazy to learn Italian and read the fine print. ALL the stuff you need to know is written only in Italian. Si?

Note: the fact that you made your post today and I made my Top Ten post at almost the SAME TIME not just a coincidence. It is God's will. Know that you are loved and God cares about you. Just pay the 100 E and be glad that Ferrari will allow us to own one of their cars, especially since we not of royal Italian blood.

Ciao
Dr. Phil
The first 100 years are the hardest, then after that it is all down hill.
Now, go take on the day! ha

 

Good research cost a little money.

Classiche has to support its labor overhead. Add the Ferrari brand name and the price becomes high.

Nothing in life is free and nothing with Ferrari is cheap.

-F

 

Ferrari does not recognize loyalty. They do recognize the color of money.

 

The official signed letter from Ferrari with that information will sell for more than 100 Euros on eBay. Pay the money, get your information, frame it, and sell it. Ferrari just made you money.

Life is good.



...I asked them for all of the 3rd party parts/numbers on the Ferrari 348, btw. I feel your pain.

 

Lots of Lotus guys have written the factory and gotten info on their cars. Europas were made 1968-1975 and they are happy to tell you lots for free even after all these years. Of course, they do speak English which likely helps.

Ken

 

Your not kidding there!

Sorry to here that, but I feel better knowing they were not just picking on me.

i don't see why they would'nt want to help people with little factoids like this, keep the interest up and motivates one to want to purchace more of there cars. A little espri de corps is allways good! This kind of crappy PR could lead to there eventual demize.

Cheers!

DT

 

This division has been turned into a profit center so it makes sense that they try to charge for everything now. If you had of hit them up before they probably did this stuff at no charge. If you are looking to associate yourself with F in any capacity you have to pay for it these days.

Another example is they try to really nick you for the factory tour now. They've turned it into a package deal and it's big bucks.

 

Hi,

I received really great help from Ferrari and was not asked for a fee. This was well before the Classiche program though. As said in an above post, this program may have initiated the new fees.

Thank You,

Anthony

 

And where else do you think the $400 million (or whatever the real amount is) to run their F1 team for one year comes from? Just think, next time you watch a race maybe you bought 1 gallon of that gas

 

Same thing happened to me when I emailed about info on my 308. I was sent to the Classiche department and was told I could pay the 2500+ EUROs for my BUILD SHEET information. Sorry, but I got the same info on my Triumphs for $35 bucks from the British Motoring Heritage Society. I don't care if the little horsie is on the hood or not, that is highway robbery.

 

...just for the build sheet info?

Why doesn't Ferrari just lease all of their "babies" so that no one can ever make a nickel on one of their cars?

 

I agree. Ferrari didn't sign on to become a call center or research go-fer.

How are they supposed to know if the rear seat was deleted from your car without digging through the archives?

You were asking for old information, probably not readily available, and you wanted it free. This doesn't seem incredible to me.

 

Slightly different in the case of Caterham; I was interested in a Super 7 that was for sale last year. I wanted to confirm chassis and engine numbers and had contacted them. I was forwarded to their historical department and for £25, I could get all of the info about the car. I didn't bother to follow through as I wasn't that too serious about the car and thought that was a bit much just to probably get an email that would only say: "Yes, that was the engine we put into that car"...

 

It was free before their new Classic program. Alas, they told me they did not have build sheets years ago, i wonder if now, for $2500, they magically can find them!

Can now see why, with other things going on with FNA and now Ferrari Spa, that Lambo owners are gaining in quantity. Also of note, some of my friends who owned Ferraris are now (or have) sold them for other exotics. Was on the phone with a friend and he told me an avid mutual Ferrari friend dumped his 360 he got new a few years back for a Lambo. Yet another guy going away from the prancing for Money Horse and onto another other exotic car manufacturer.

Another side note, a longtime friend took the Ferrari and Lambo driver ed course, he said the Lambo was far more informative and educational than the Ferrari equivalent. Apologies and all for the many Lambo references, though they seem to be doing things that are attracting customers. Even hard core car guys like Jay Leno stays away from Ferrari. Hmm...

Of course Ferrari is a business and has long changed since Enzo was in his prime. Now we have skanks like Paris Hilton in Enzos and other celebs whining about no cup holders, so perhaps this is an interesting side bar.

Frankly, i'd dump my 308 is a heartbeat if it wasn't such a money pit and all the work i have done for track development. Will say that if someone asks me about Ferrari, i'll suggest a nice Z06, lambo, or other exotic and for them to shy away from Ferrari and let them know why. The more we all get the word out to members of the press (print, television, etc), the pubic, celebs, etc the better off we will be. FNA and Ferrari Spa need a reality check IMO.

 

I am falling into the non-apology for the Ferrari "classique greed program". I think 100e is outrageous for such a simple customer service.

However, something does occur to me after thinking about this one over the night. My question is -

What makes us think that Ferrari really knows the answer to these kind of questions? I really doubt that their record-keeping measures up to the typical German (Porsche, Mercedes) efficiency!

Maybe we are down to the point where you just pay the "classique" program for your unquestionable provenance, thereby gaining the title "prince" by Simony, so to speak. Like ZsaZsa Gabor's noble husband (who may or may not be the father of Anna Nicole's newborn), and who bought his peerage on the internet.

 

You know, as a newbie, I am rather shocked at the lack of customer service and organization possessed by Ferrari. Having done British and German cars since the age of about 15 (a while ago) I am used to companies that kept (or keep) detailed records on service, build stats, numbers of cars, etc. Even though the British car industry is pretty much dead you can still get all sorts of information about cars that are 50 years old! And without selling off a body part to do it! And on the German side, the CS you get when you have a problem with your car (at least while it is still under warranty) is fantastic. I've never had a problem getting even minor cosmetic parts replaced much less major components that may have failed. Plus the costs are rather stupid when it comes to all of this. I understand economies of scale, but, when a vendor charges DOUBLE or more for a non factory part just because it is for a FERRARI is legal robbery. (IE: A vendor selling a K&N filter for a $100USD when you can go to Autozone and get it for $50. Or some selling brake lines for $200USD when you can get them for $100). Plus, Ferrari selling parts for a huge mark-up when, again, you get the same part from a foreign parts dealer for a 1/3 the price. Talk about no respect for your customers. Boy, if I were rich enough to buy a new Ferrari and got treated like crap after the sale, that would be the last one I'd buy. For the kind of money they charge I can't believe anyone would stand for anything less than major butt kissing. Of courses, that assumes any of these cars are actually driven by these owners...

Sorry, rant off...

 

I am not sure why we would expect anything for free, especially an action that takes somebody's time while on the job, from any business.

 

Not for free. More like, for a "reasonable" price.

 

Let me offer a couple of examples: I can call the vet right now this morning and ask them to look at their records and tell me when the dog needs his shots. They will be happy to look it up and tell me right then. I will be happy to pay them when I drag Mr. Chance in (kicking and screaming) for his vaccinations.

I can call Hans at RUF Auto Centre right now this morning and ask when I last had the oil changed in the Porsche, and he will be happy to look it up and advise me on when to bring it back in. I will be happy to pay him for my full 11 quarts of Mobil One when it is time, and will also ask him to check the car over for brake pads, leaks, etc.etc. and pay him for my service.

That is because both of these businesses understand that I am a long-time paying customer and that this kind of courtesy will bring them my continued business and loyalty in the future.

 

Calling and asking about options on a 308 GT4 is a bit different than asking about an oil change. I can call Benz and they will do the same thing, but I guarantee that they cannot tell me the options for a 280SL in the same amount of time. I do agree that the fee is high, but if it was free or nominal can you imagine all the idiots calling, you have to charge more for this type of work of they would be swamped with who knows what. Sad to say, but true

 

As in referance to the question on if Ferrari actually has this info still. This whole thing started when I recieved my Heritage certificate, I noted that the color was differ'nt than my car was now and was a color I had not seen before. This got me curious about it so I emailed them with the question, I figured since I was asking I may as well ask 1 more since the topic has come up more that once. I got an email back refering me to the classique dept. They had the info redialy available to do the certificate and there was no charge. I really did not think it was too much to ask? Even a small fee would have not bothered me but a 100E, give me a break. Many business do little things to help thier customers as a service to them, if you really think about it most all do. I would really think Ferrari of all people would want to show the world how much a cut above the rest in all aspects of thier bussiness they are, including customer service.

Cheers!

DT

 

I agree.