Avoid Lake Forest Sports Cars (LFSC)! | FerrariChat

Avoid Lake Forest Sports Cars (LFSC)!

Discussion in 'Chicago' started by rob lay, Jun 19, 2024.

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  1. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

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    They haven't been a Sponsor for many years, but I just caught them spamming our users and when I called them out on it then Nick Mancuso and Ben Bartholomay got defensive instead of just politely appologizing. Nick is so clueless what is going on, that he said pull all sponsorship when they haven't been a sponsor forever.

    We've had a great longterm relationship with Continental Motorsports. They aren't cheap freeloaders like LFSC.

    https://chicago-continental.ferraridealers.com/en-US?ref=ferrarichat
     
    rob lay, Jun 19, 2024
    #1
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  2. F1tommy

    F1tommy F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    I understand your feeling and don't disagree, but I think you should delete this thread because you have to much class to leave it. This is dirty laundry, and as much as they might deserve it there is no place for this here.
     
    F1tommy, Jun 21, 2024
    #2
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  3. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

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    understand the full perspective. was it classy that LFSC was spamming the community? I honestly don't care if they sponsor or not, but how about those that do follow the rules and sponsor the community like Continental? I would be livid if I was a sponsor and one of my competitors was getting commercial benefit for nothing.

    this is not a Main Street business, this is an online business and we have 25 years experience for what is best practice.
    • we have defined rules and Terms of Use that all users accept. no commercial posts or messages unless a Sponsor.
    • our current sponsors invest alot of money for the commercial privilege, when someone like LFSC feels so entitled or cheap they don't have to follow the same rules, then it cheapens the community.
    • I will post the entire email exchange if I have to. I was very polite and patient explaining to the employee why a "Silver" doesn't allow him to conduct commercial business for LFSC.
    • since LFSC has #1 had employees post and message commercially without sponsorship #2 unaccepting of our 25 year longstanding rules... then it is best practices for us to notify the community as #1 heads up to users to be on the lookout #2 give credit to those who do follow the rules like Continental #3 be a deterrent to LFSC and other dealers that our forums aren't the wild west, we do enforce the rules.
    I didn't start this. I patiently explained it to the employee and they could have just accepted it and moved on. If Nick respected our rules or had class he could have apologized for his employee and said they would stay off FerrariChat. Instead they didn't accept our rules, Nick personally called me a name, he has sent emails to duPont REGISTRY executives, and he's threatening with his lawyer.

    If Nick was classy he would have manned up and talked to me directly. If he wasn't ready for an apology due to ignorance he could have at least had a man to man conversation with me to hear out why our rules exist. From that point he could apologize understanding it better or agree to disagree. Instead he's name calling, letter writing, and threatening legal. All of this because they were commercially spamming without a sponsorship!
     
    rob lay, Jun 21, 2024
    #3
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  4. jjmalez

    jjmalez F1 Veteran Silver Subscribed

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    Interesting, but sad. I used to love visiting Lake Forest Sportscars back when they were @ 780 N Western Ave. Lake Forest, Il.

    The dealership was a quaint boutique of Ferrari nostalgia that also sold and serviced Ferrari & Aston-Martin. The new Ferrari of Lake Forest, LFSC is a dealership that went from selling Ferrari, Maserati, Aston-Martin, McLaren & Lotus to just selling one brand.

    Way too much square footage for a stand alone dealer. I've seen smaller Best-Buy stores.

    IMHO
     
    jjmalez, Jun 21, 2024
    #4
  5. Tenney

    Tenney F1 Rookie Consultant

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    Yep! Before that, could check out the new Fords thru the garage door glass prior to
    showroom reveal - and also where you'd sign-up for punt, pass & kick ...
     
    Tenney, Jun 23, 2024
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  6. Townshend

    Townshend F1 Veteran Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    Agreed, to say to avoid a dealership because of a minor matter that isn't consequential to buyers is a bit of a leap imho.
     
    Townshend, Jun 24, 2024
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  7. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

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    minor matter? maybe you don't understand. we don't think it is minor to break our rules and spam the board. they must not think it is minor to threaten legally. I didn't swing first, but I hit back harder.
     
    rob lay, Jun 24, 2024
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  8. Townshend

    Townshend F1 Veteran Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    Minor matter insofar as their primary business. When shopping for a car I don’t have “did they violate an fchat rule?” as one of the items to look out for.

    This certainly reads more like a P&R thread but it’s your forum and certainly respect your decision to post. I just personally agree with the poster above it’s more a private matter that sounds like you had already handled anyway.

    I’ve never had a bad experience with Lake Forest (or Continental for that matter!) and certainly been around the block.
     
    Townshend, Jun 24, 2024
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  9. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

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    I am not forcing anyone to make a personal decision, I'm surprised your tone seems to indicate that. As I mentioned above more of the reason for this thread is to educate users to be on the look out and also set an example of our rules enforcement. Again, 25 years of best practices, we would get walked all over if not. Look at the demise of other communities.

    We all have different standards, ethics, and morals. That's a personal choice and you have made yours.
     
    rob lay, Jun 24, 2024
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  10. wildcat326

    wildcat326 Formula 3

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    FWIW, that was part of a dictate/master plan by Marchionne to force any multi-marque Ferrari dealerships to physically separate or divest of the other marques soon as not to, in corporate opinion, dilute the brand. That’s why Continental Autosports and Lake Forest Sports Cars became Continental Ferrari and Ferrari Lake Forest.
     
    wildcat326, Jul 2, 2024
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  11. F1tommy

    F1tommy F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    I think it was about making sure you buy a Ferrari when you come to a Ferrari dealer, not a cheaper Maserati or Mclaren sitting next to the Ferrari on the showroom floor. If they were so worried about diluting the Ferrari sportscar brand name, Ferrari would not have built an SUV for sale. That move was for pure profit. ENZO, a man who built road cars to support racing would turn over in his grave if he knew!!
     
    F1tommy, Jul 3, 2024
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  12. pilotoCS

    pilotoCS F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    When it comes to the "exotic SUV's" trend one only has to observe the success of the Porsche Cayenne. They had the guts to start the trend. And yes it's (obviously) about the profit.
     
    pilotoCS, Jul 4, 2024
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  13. F1tommy

    F1tommy F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    Porsche has always been more of a peoples sportscar than Ferrari ever was, I.E., for the masses:p. And Lamborghini was first with a big 4 wheel drive. As soon as Ferrari went public it was only a matter of time. What's next, Ferrari washing machines :D
     
    F1tommy, Jul 4, 2024
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  14. jjmalez

    jjmalez F1 Veteran Silver Subscribed

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    Interesting. Not doubting you, but was this ever made public?

    Joe
     
    jjmalez, Jul 6, 2024
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  15. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

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    A year latter Nick still hasn't manned up, all talk no walk. In Texas we have a name for that.
     
    rob lay, Apr 12, 2025
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  16. TheNextOne

    TheNextOne Rookie BANNED

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    *later
     
    TheNextOne, Apr 14, 2025
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  17. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

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    A casual social media platform with 18 million posts and you are correcting grammar. :D

    Hey Nick, why haven't you walked your talk yet? All your threats because you were mad you got caught commercially spamming. Is that the way you normally conduct business? You sell cars but then don't expect the customer to pay?
     
    rob lay, Apr 15, 2025
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  18. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    FWIW

     
    GuyIncognito, May 16, 2025
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  19. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

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    Sounds good, wonder the management structure after it settles out.
     
    rob lay, May 16, 2025
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  20. F1tommy

    F1tommy F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    Well, Zeigler Alfa Romeo/Maserati is not that great. This is not a step up for the Ferrari dealer.
     
    F1tommy, May 17, 2025
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  21. davemqv

    davemqv F1 Rookie

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    Although I admittedly don't live in the region, I feel like LFSC is going the direction that Ferrari themselves are going...down. My car originally came from there back in 1983, and I thought that was cool in terms of heritage. Much like Hollywood Sport Cars or Ferrari of Los Gatos, they used to be an iconic dealership in the States. They don't come off that way any more.
     
    davemqv, May 17, 2025
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  22. jjmalez

    jjmalez F1 Veteran Silver Subscribed

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    jjmalez, May 25, 2025
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  23. F1tommy

    F1tommy F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    I think the no visitor policy is a Ferrari policy now, so don't expect entry into the showroom without an appointment.
     
    F1tommy, May 25, 2025
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  24. jjmalez

    jjmalez F1 Veteran Silver Subscribed

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    100% agree. The first time I visited LFSC was when they were at 780 N. Western Ave in Lake Forest, Illinois. That dealership had more charm and nostalgia than any automobile dealership I have ever been to. Ferrari enthusiasts without the arrogance.

    Still have Susie Gatto's business card.

    Joe
     
    jjmalez, May 25, 2025
    #24
  25. ferrariwithsnowtires

    ferrariwithsnowtires Formula Junior

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    This thread was started, pointing to issues the site folks had with this particular dealership.
    It sounds like having a new owner might not be bad.
    I moved to Chicago in 2007 to work at Abbott Labs.
    Little did I know there was this giant sports car dealership a couple of miles from the campus.
    On a lucky day a Ferrari would be getting fueled at the same Shall station I frequented.
    I visited the store (pre-Covid) at least once a year to get my dose of eye candy and folks there were always nice, and nicer after I started bringing the NSX.
    I did prefer when they had Aston, Maserati, Lotus, McLaren but things change.
    I wonder if the Koenigsegg and Pininfarina franchises transferred to Zeigler (guessing yes since the inventory shows examples of each).
    This sale kind of feels like the sale of the Wide World Ferrari store in Spring Valley NY, a family enterprise that got picked off by an auto group.
    I saw a recent video from Varryx, a spotter who sits outside places like the Ferrari factory and he showed the huge expansion going on at the factory.
    Pretty clear that the approach in Maranello is to pump up the volume (cars and anything with Ferrari branding) so to speak, and a well financed auto group like Zeigler can afford to put a lot of cars (and polos) in inventory.
     
    ferrariwithsnowtires, May 26, 2025
    #25

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