Sad Experience at Ferrari Las Vegas

I've been a customer there for years, they have the best service dept around.

If you would like I can text you the sales manager's cell number to make a private appointment.[/QUOTE]


I have been a customer as well for many years (going back to Penske/Wynn days) and I can attest to the service there being top notch. If your brother goes back to make an offer to purchase, I would recommend him to go down to the Service Department and speak with the Service Manager - Rich (he is in my cell phone as well). He is really one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. If you have your car serviced there, expect them and the mechanic to go over everything with you during the repair and when you pick up your car. Very professional and very thourough.

 

How things have changed! In the late Sixties I took my 250GTE into the dealer, Algar Enterprises in Rosemont, PA, for service. While I was waiting, I looked at their inventory and I was interested in a 500 Superfast that they had for sale. I talked to their salesman, David Olympi, about the car, and looked it over carefully. David offered me the keys and told me to take it out for a drive, which I did. He was a genuine gentleman who knew how to treat customers. No snotty superior attitude, no condescension, or high pressure sales tactics. I would never bother with a dealership that treats customers badly.
In the early Nineties I drove my Ferrari into a local Chevrolet dealer to check out a new Corvette. All the floor salesmen were clustered in a corner talking about their boats. After waiting for a while, I left. A few months later I tried again at the same dealership. This time I was told that they had no information on the new Corvette but that I could order a brochure for $5. My Ferrari was parked directly outside in clear view so I thought it might make be a "qualified buyer" but it apparently did not.
Dealerships who disrespect customers and potential customers will suffer in the long run. Remember those gas stations who maltreated their customers back during the great gas shortage? After the shortage eased they went out of business; their customers went somewhere else.

 

What is amazing is you remember a sales guys name 50 years later.....wow!

 

See what a positive impression makes? I rest my case......

 

When I'm the buyer....

 

Yes that is what I was getting at.

My quick story.... back in 1989 I put money down on a 1987 Corvette at a Chevy dealer in Claremont CA (outside of LA) I was a full time musician back then, typical mid 20's long hair look of the times. I brought my friend over (bass player in the band and Vette owner) to the dealer to see the Vette I just bought before I went back that evening to sign papers. My sales lady was not in so I asked an older guy if I could get the keys to the car, explaining I am the buyer and I just want to show my friend the interior. Ernie....the older statesman of the Chevy dealership sales guys looks at me and my long haired friend and say "we do not give out keys to your kind".

Words were had back and forth. Later that evening when my wife and I arrived I made sure to use this as a bargaining chip for a little more money off. My sales lady and the GM were not happy with Ernie. So I bought the Vette....down at the used car office....pulled it up to the new car part where Ernie was watching....rolled down the window and asked him, "how do you like my kind now"? I burned a perfect smoking burn out right down the front isle of the dealership.

 

I can afford another Ferrari* BECAUSE my day-to-day tastes are modest and my DD IS a VW Golf.

I generally live well below my means. Have for many years.


Judging me by what I wear or drive guarantees we are BOTH Gunna Have a 'BAD EXPERIENCE.'


Just sayin.




* - I bought my 308 GTSi during the last 'Down-Turn.' I paid $2X,XXX for it. It is a good 'Driver.'

I'm retired and started looking for a TR512 or a 512BBi.



I walked into Ferrari Dealership in Switzerland driving my Golf, wearing worn-out Levi's and a T-Shirt and reeking of burnt gunpowder.

They treated me like I could have bought the whole damn place. Nah, but the Gold and Black (Boxer paint scheme) 512BBi sure caught my eye.

 

love that song.

 

Based on that video, I can totally understand how the people that work on the dealership have been a bit paranoid. That was pretty damn scary. I think the OP might want to be a little understanding in light of that video and not be so hard on them.

My experience with going to Ferrari dealerships has been mostly fantastic. Growing up in the 80's and 90's I would go to Florida with my family and every time I would make it over to the old Shelton Ferrari in Lauderdale. I was always welcome in their showroom.

Fast forward to 97/98 when I made the mistake of trying to purchase a used Testarossa from the Ferrari dealership in Scottsdale. This was before Penske bought them. I was going to Phoenix for a convention and had made an appointment with the manager Jim to come look at a customer car that was coming in on trade and going to be there a day before I arrived in town. So I take the long and expensive cab drive from the resort to the dealership, only to discover Jim left early for the weekend and the car wasn't there.

I followed up with the dealership when I got back to town to express my displeasure. You can probably guess that Jim or anyone from the dealership never called me back. I'm still pissed at that decades later...LOL

I didn't let that deter me (although I really was sour after that).

To me - Ferrari was THE car I dreamed of owning. So less than a year later I connected with Mike Mastrangelo at Wide World Ferrari and bought my first Ferrari - a 98 355GTS. Whole transaction went perfectly. Now after 5 different Ferrari's with Mike, I can say they've got a great team over there.

Lesson being - don't let one bad experience get you down. Just my two cents.

 

I'm starting to think this thread should be renamed "Sad thread at Ferrari chat" haha

Ray

 

not anymore.

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Wow what a read. I’ve been a Ferrari lover most of my life and an owner now but we have always been able to visit our Ferrari dealership in Melbourne (Melbourne Ferrari, used to be Zagame Ferrari) and have a look around without any issues at all. I’m no millionaire and certainly don’t look the part but even before I purchased my first (from them actually) I could walk in talk to the guys and if I asked nicely have a sit in the odd car. They have a coffee bar there and more often than not I would be offered a coffee. Could even ask for one if I felt like it. Can sit in the lounge area and flick through a few magazines or books they have there while I drink my coffee. Overall it’s always been a great experience to visit.

In fact your can visit the Lambo dealership Merc etc etc in much the same way.

I guess us guys downunder are just a more easy going bunch

 

While I agree that the dealer should refrain by judging a potential client by the dress alone, there is also something to be said for making an effort. Like I said, I never dress in suits for going to my dealers, but one thing I do is this. If I'm there for a formal meeting, I don't wear the shorts I would wear to the gym. Look, I bald, I have a few tattoos, I can look both very business-like, but also like a bit of a guy with street smarts, shall we say. I'm not though, I'm just relaxed and fairly easy going. I can go from rock n roll to Wall Street pretty easily. But here's the thing. Even with the reputation and relationship I have with my dealer, I treat a formal meeting as the business meeting it is. They take me seriously and do their best to take care of me. When you walk in like that, you send out two signals. One is "I don't give a ****" and the other is a sense of entitlement. Don't tell me that you don't know the market you are dealing with, because I know you do. Can you wear shorts? Yes, any type of shorts? Not really. I'm not defending the dealer for being condescending about a test drive etc. but you also sent him a message about not giving a damn when walking in. It's like a restaurant, they sell you an experience. Showing up looking like you just stepped off the treadmill, I mean, are you surprised? That there would have gotten you a pretty cold reception at my Euro dealer. Lamborghini sells cars to a different demographic that likes to show off and dress like that. Ferrari sells a complete package and they try to make an effort. When doing what you do, you are practically mocking that effort. It's like so many have already said. What is the point of going there looking like you cannot afford anything? They won't be surprised by anyone paying cash for an F8. That's peanuts. One car? Meh. If you want to be treated like a king, act like a king. Save the workout shorts and wifebeater till you just stop by in your new F8 just to chat. You don't need a suit, but even just a pair of chinos or just jeans, a pair of nice loafers or what ever casual footwear that are no trainers, and maybe a nice "non-gym" t-shirt could have made it all a lot better. Like in anything you do in life, first impressions matter.
Nothing wrong with being casual, I'm slummin' it with the best of 'em, but sometimes acting like you care is important. There are two sides to every story, and sorry to say, but you come across as part of what caused the problems.

They should be very professional, and I don't defend such condesending behaviour, but acting like you're above their effort is in fact very condesending too.

It might fly in Lambo-land, but not in a world where elegance and classic styling is part of the game.

Keep it casual as that's what you like, but make an effort - because you expect an effort from those guys as well. First impression is everything.

Sent from my SM-G930F using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

I beg to differ (with tongue in cheek). how about dress in shorts and flip flops but wear a RM watch? I actually have a strong feeling that things could go differently as well. The dress although signifies the professionalism that you are talking about likely carries less weight than a 300k watch alone with the hobo dress.

Notwithstanding the above, if a person acts like a ****** with a RM watch, I think things will still go down south eventually, because the sales just have to say his next appointment is arriving soon because the next customer is actually arriving in 15 mins in his helicopter, and he has to prepare.

This is endless.

 

You can contact me directly 973 896 8671, I have relationships throughout Ferrari and own a group of companies focused on customer experience. This has happened to various clients but there are some really amazing options in the brand. Unfortunately it would seem Las Vegas has a few arrogant people that need better training. Your worth should have little to do with desire to enjoy the brand.

 

I admire him, I think he is humble enough and even smarter to get stuck into that position. It doesn't hurt anybody else but himself and own pride if he decided to make a big stink about it. Best thing is to keep a leveled head and think that things sometimes don't happen for a reason and better things are yet to come. When you act on impulse, you put yourself in a very disadvantageous position and a number of unthought of and likely unwanted outcomes. It is often easier and healthier to wait than to act and then have to apologize. I believe if he really wanted one, he would have gotten one by now.

I have learned this and continue learning as time goes by.

 

No tracker... Just good "ole fashioned" detective work. A lot of persistence, tying some loose ends that can match and a lot of time. But, it would have come out cheaper to buy a tracker!!! Let loss fun... We'll see if I nail it. I may be able to start a spin off business off from Maranello without them even knowing it! LOL

 

I can't get enough of your stories!!! I definitely can see myself in the room as you narrate it and feel the same way you did that day. Well described and conveyed story.

 

This world is small, but still big enough There are other places and many more people to meet.

 

Maybe 430 and 458... Don't be mean guys... It is contagious!

 

Uh oh.... We got an insider on the outside... trying to help???

 

That's pretty "exclammatory"...

 

Key word :"typically", as in most f the times. As Ray Johns said, it all depends where you go. I would like to add to that: "and what mood the staff is in."

 

We all know that is not gonna happen. This thread will then go on forever if he did. It's gone on for quite a while with just one post. He should become a professional marketer, look at this thread alone.

 

Wow... That is pretty a$$#0l!-ish