Found an F12 on boat but salesman wants "finders fee"? Kosher?

Assuming you mean the salesman from the dealer with the F12, wouldn't that dealer have already kept the deposit from the buyer who backed out? Your buying their orphaned F12 also saves them the financing interest charges they would otherwise have to pay to carry the car in their inventory.

They shouldn't need to make a "finder's fee" excuse unless in-stock F12s are all selling at a premium?

 

Have you talked to the GM of the dealership about this "finder's fee" that one of his salesmen is trying to obtain?

 

From this distance,it looks very much like an attempt to secure a corrupt payment and I concur that you should talk to the Dealer Principal or GM or whatever the boss man is called.

While the temptation to secure a prompt delivery must be strong, to pay you would presumably be party to a fraudulant transaction. His relationship with your business partner is not relevant

 

Have you contacted your friend for his feedback + advice?

Super sketchy. I'd personally walk away. Not the way that I like to do business.

 

I think there are several issues here:

A) the dealer should know your total cost of buying their car, paying 2 separate parties for the same car without the dealer acknowledging this constitutes a risk for you.

B) what is the dealer's policy on such fees?

It's hard to say but I would be worried about future dealings with such dishonest people. He does not own the inventory and he is supposed to be only paid by his employer. I would be seriously worried if this happened with my dealer.

 

well.....this is miami.....so kind of a different world.
i would tell the salesman that you will pay his fee but through the dealer. the dealer wont object since it gets the car off his inventory, and his salesman has been industrious and it didnt cost him anything. but make sure all parties know the score.

meanwhile keep your order for the f12 at your original dealer...that way when it comes in, you can sell this one for the same price - ie you will have used the car for that time for free.

 

I am sure you want the car but I do not think that this shakedown is ethical or good business practice. Indeed I would not do business with a dealer that allows this kind of conduct.

As an aside, some years ago when the 997 GT3 was a hot item and dealers were getting big markups on them, I found a dealer in Boston who said that a customer had backed out of his order and that he would sell it to me for MSRP. No strings, no funny business. That is the way it should be.

 

Agree...the extra 10k for delivery of a no-wait F12 isn't a stupid #...but it's got to go on the dealer invoice and paid to them. I wouldn't imagine there are any ramifications to the buyer paying an incentive directly to the individual in this case, but plenty of issues on the individual receiving it! I wouldn't want any part in a transaction like that.

 

Yes, it's the dealer that needs to bill you officially for any cost of your F12 ownership.

As for risks, some that come to mind are:

- such unofficial payments are likely considered earnings not reported to the IRS, sales taxes!
- the dealer and/or the factory may have ethical problems with such dealings
- the same salesguy (GM) may be offering the car to other people and trying to get the highest buck (legally a bribe). What if other buyers complained to the dealer/Ferrari who may well be unaware?
- the salesguy (GM) may now continue his dishonest habits with you, knowing that you are willing to play along
- if the salesguy (GM) is this dishonest, no telling if he will victimize you with his other tricks. Can't trust the Devil.

 

If you do go the route of the extra 10 grand, make the payment in the form of a certified cashier's check made payable to the greedy salesman, AND the dealership. That way less chance of the salesman running with the money. AND, make sure you have a legal, binding contract from the dealership, that they will indeed, sell you the car at MSRP, with no additional fees or add on's.

 

THIS^

The dealer should sell the car at MSRP and collect the deposit from the guy who backed out.

Otherwise, dealers could do this all the time and get around the FNA MSRP restriction.

"Hey Joe --- put a deposit down on this car. When it's made, back out and I'll give you your money back. Then, I'll sell it for more than MSRP"

What I would do is (if you really want the car) is tell them that you'll TAKE IF OFF THEIR HANDS NOW and pay MSRP for it, even though YOU DIDN'T ORDER IT THE EXACT WAY YOU WANTED.

BTW to the OP: If you think dealers don't read Fchat, you're very mistaken. So, be careful what you say in an open forum.

 

You would think the dealer would offer the car to another one of his VIP customers or someone else who is currently on the F12 list...Or if the dealer wanted to extract max value he could sell the car to a broker for much, much more than $10k over list for a new 2014 F12. I would guess the stick would be around $380k ish with options and the secondary market for the car would be at least $100k over no? The whole situation seems highly unlikely.

 

Fair enough point.

 

Something seems a little hokey about the 10k and going to the salesman. I would think the dealer or GM would be the one to position a buyer into the car. I do not beleive the salesman has the authority to decide. IMHO

 

see post #11 here where he says it's the GM of the dealership he is talking to.

In the past customers would come in and put cash in the salesman's pocket (literally) to get an early car.

 

Pay it, enjoy the car, and get it all back when you sell it. It's a lousy 10g. Where else are you gonna get a current car so soon and for so little over sticker? If you don't do it, someone else will. Your choice, but you are overthinking it.

 

That's not the issue. It's against dealer rules in the US to sell a new car over MSRP.

 

This smells like it is a subterfuge to get around that. Greed will always find a way.

 

Yes, but that is for Ferrari to enforce. If you feel like being a Ferrari cop, go ahead and call FNA. Marc Mattiacci is the person to speak to.

If you want the F12 for a trivial consideration, here's one you can have.

 

So, it's wrong to discuss it here?

Not sure why we are arguing but that's what we told him to do. But start with the GM first and then go from there.

IMO, once they get the deposit from one guy who backed out, that should cover any additional marketing costs of a car that frankly has a long waiting list already.

If they offered me this car I would tell them there's no justification for something called "a finder's fee" and offer to buy it for MSRP.

If they say no, so be it. The OP is just asking for advice. He can take it or leave it also.

 

I'm confused. What's "very unethical", the GM asking for a finder's fee or you cheating your state out of the proper sales tax?