Dealers Attitudes: Location Matters

I've lived and worked in Fairfield County, CT my whole life. My company has a large location in the Dallas, TX area so I head down every other month or so.

I'm 38 and am very well versed in the Ferrari market. I research the hell out of everything and am making preparations for my first purchase within the next 6 months or so. Being a 20 year Ferrari fan, I've been to Miller Motorcars in Greenwich probably a dozen times over the years - first as a teenager and now with my son.

In all my trips to Miller, I've never once been approached (or even looked at for that matter)...now granted I wouldn't expect someone to talk to an 18 year old gawker, but at 38 I would have imagined at least a "hello". I am not a hedge fund king and don't wear thousand dollar suits, but I have funds in place to make a purchase.

In any event, last week I finally found time away from work to make it to Boardwalk Ferrari in Plano, TX. What a difference. I arrived unannounced with 3 of my team members - one who was from Italy - and we were welcomed immediately.

I won't mention names, but let me say Boardwalk has a very friendly staff - the sales rep even gave my girl from Italy a free Scuderia hat - imagine that in Greenwch?!?!

Gave my information to the rep in TX and perhaps things will work out and I can pick up a car from them and have it delivered to CT...let's hope so, because I won't be making the trip to Miller with a checkbook in my hand anytime soon.

 

greenwich will be on their knees begging in a couple of months. won't that be sweet for you.

 

Having bought a couple of 6 figure Porsches sight unseen from "Porsche of Fairfield"........all I can say is that their customer service attitude is exceptional. They delivered some of the best sales service I have ever received at a franchised high end dealer anywhere in Canada or the US. I doubt what you experienced at Miller was geographic in nature. Bad nonetheless "perhaps".......but not because it is in Connecticut money country.

 

Is there a way to contact you via this forum (im new here), if so please let me know...I have a quick question for you regarding your post.

thanks

 

Slice,

My wife and I moved from Westport (fairfield co.) to Great falls VA (fairfax co.) and i understand your pain and that is one of the reasons we left pompous county CT. However, the local F dealer here has similar problems so fairfield co is not an exception. I agree with you, buy your f car from a reputable venue and one that treats you like a human being and not like a bottomless checkbook. Good luck on the search.

 

goto wwofcars and ask for joan. have never heard a negative comment about her and when i walked in with shorts and tshirt she treated me like i was in a kiton suit. She's grade A, at least in my book.

 

I grew up in CT and I've been all over the country. People are different by region. As much as we rip Texans here in Colorado, they are an amiable, friendly, hospitable lot. CT still subscribes to the English "stiff upper lip" concept, definitely not outwardly friendly, especially in the WASP confines of Fairfield county.

Dave

 

As a former Westport resident, I could not agree more.

 

Same reaction here...I am under 30 and went into a ferrari dealer and was ignored. Now, thats fine - to each their own but i drove up in an exotic and was looking at the 430s so its not like i was being a gawker. I'm (still) a cash buyer for a 430, I plan to go back and tell them that i was here a few months back and see if they want to give me a deal. If not, I'll tell them to keep the inventory and take the market hit...or to call me with a big discount and see if i return their call.

 

Until you move to TX, they'll still have you for service.

Buy your car and enjoy the hell out of it! Screw them, for they won't care either way!

 

Joan and Wide World are great. They treated me great when I would ride my bike to their shop when I was a kid. I have long sinced moved away, but I always send them business.

 

Hey, easy on there Dave....we're not all WASPS!! LOL! and there are rumors that there are friendly people hiding among the wasps..I have even met 1 or 2 myself. I agree with the OP about Miller...they do not give off friendly vibes but actually Werner in particular is a very decent guy once you start up a conversation with him. Greenwich is a weird place. A town with so many of the nations wealthy elite has its own strange dynamic going on. I would never live there.

 

Being born in Fairfield County, I never knew any other way of life. In fact, the first time I heard people referring to my hometown as a snobby place was when I attended college in Rhode Island. In the years that followed college I've found some (but not all) of what I heard to be true...still, there are good people here and I am not upset about living in the area...I guess I am more old school than the new found hedge money that flooded the area in the past 20 years.

 

This might be your Greenwich peeps coming crawling to you now

I think your going to see the snotty F-dealership attitudes changing real quick. Let's remember how we were treated before if and when it comes time to lay down some cash.

 

i
I dont know what happened to CT attitudes in the last 30 years, but I was a frequent visitor and parts customer at Chinetti/NART (600 W Putnam Ave, Greenwich) before they sold to Miller and I was always treated well by the sales and parts staff.

 

No problem. My own heritage includes one of the original white folks who settled CT with Thomas Hooker. Also, among the first to settle Fairfield County area. My family name is still on a lot of landmarks and streets in the area. Hard to be anymore WASP than that! I think the contrast in attitudes only becomes apparent when you move away.

Dave

 

To send a Private Message click on the user name in the post....

We talk of this frequently but not all dealerships are "glad handing" personalities, some are more reserved....they all sell cars..

 

My wife's from CT, thought not Money Country, and her family is nice enough. BUT...her brother's wife is one of the worst wasB's i've ever met...and she came from middle class roots. I've never seen anything like it.

 

cool heritage...mine's much more boring

 

"changes in lattitudes.....changes in attitudes" -Jimmy B

 

so, dumb question: what is a WASP? I think I've got the P figured out.
PM me if it isn't postable.

 

White Anglo-Saxon Protestant

 

There are some good dealers out there, and I'm glad you found Boardwalk Ferrari. They have experienced sales people who know their cars, but are not snooty about them. They hold a couple of rally's a year, as well as a big car show in June, and
the turnouts have increased every year. Their owner also owns the Porsche dealership across the Tollroad, as well as
Lamborghini Dallas, so they are really covering the sports car spectrum.

 

I stop by Ron Tonkin GT here in Portland Oregon every once and a while. They are always nice and friendly.

 

I am from Florida and while passing through NJ decided to have some attention paid to a sticky convertible top on my 355 at FONJ. Some of the best service I have ever had ever had. Total time to fix the top 2 hours, $300 Total time explaining Ferrari OBDII systems, warning light causes and a lesson in Computer Engine analysis
3 hours at N/C. Friendly, Honest, A great experience.