Dealers Attitudes: Location Matters

Bought my 02 Maserati from Mr. John Sliman Ferrari/Maser Central Florida at 16 and my F355 at 18. They didn't discriminate because of my age or the fact that I was a minority, I was treated with an amazing amount of respect.

 

Don't worry about it too much. Those very same dealers will treat everyone like a long lost friend soon enough!

 

I was treated very well, as a surprise vistor to Plano Ferrari, and then since I was just killing time on a business trip I drove over to the Mercedes dealer (to see if they had a new c63 AMG) and was agan treated with kindness and respect.


Jay

 

No worries, as I always say, if they want your money they'll do what they have to, to take it. Obviously they are doing quite well and do not need another sale, as was the case this weekend when I walked into the local Aston dealer. I was watched like a criminal instead of being greeted as a customer (not even a hello) so I figure they didn't need my money. Funny enough when I drive my Rolls to the Rolls dealership directly across the street they toss me the keys to a 90k Jag and tell me to take it for test drive.

Let them work for money, if they are that good of a judge of character when you walk in, let them pay for their mistakes. Now it appears like I’ll have a new Jag instead of an Aston and save a few dollars in the process.

Glad to hear you found a place that was friendly and wanted to do business with you.

-Chris

 

Interestingly enough they all belong to Penske Auto Group and that group of dealerships all next to each other (Lexus/Aston/Maserati/Ferrari/Bentley/Rolls/Land Rover) are all managed by the same GM. Perhaps you should call him and relate your story. I'm certain he will be interested to know what he should be paying attention to - Michael Familetti 480-990-9000
The Aston showroom incidentally is run by one of the nicest guys in the business, Stan Briggs. I'm really surprised to hear that he didn't take any interest in you.

 

Having lived in Fairfield County all my life I can agree with alot of whats said here...

However, I was just at Miller last week and honestly have to say theyve always treated me pretty well and Ive been visiting them since I was probabley 18 and am 25 now. I was there last Monday with my Viper and had several salesman ask me if I needed help and one couldnt hold back from telling me about the blue 599 in the showroom. While I was pulling out a red/black Veyron blew by me and went into Rolls/Bentley and I couldnt help but follow him in there. Turns out it was a salesman from Miller and he was more than happy to let me check the car out and take some pics.

Ive only been to Lambo of Greenwich twice, but I can honestly say those dudes seem to be beyond annoyed whenever I come in. I brought one buddy down from Mass. that was looking for an exotic, loved the G, but nobody seemed to want to give him the time of time of day so he lost interest and ended up getting on the list for one of the first GTRs.

+1 on Porsche of Fairfield. Was there yesterday, BSed with the manager about cars for a few. Very cool guy.

 

I've been in high end shops of all types around the world and there are differences in how the clientle are approached. IMO its has more to do with the clients than the staff. In some places people don't appreciate being approached to quickly seeing it as glad-handing. Other places they resent it if they're not schmoozed enough. In all cases I've found that if you look for assistance, and are polite about it, you'll be treated well.

 

Always treated wonderful at Cauley Ferrari in Detroit.

 

I'm too worried about it, it seems to be hit or miss every time I stop in, the service is either top notch or nonexistent. The Black Bentley GTC really caught my eye, I was also looking at XKR’s, but the little woman was eyeing up the Astons. I'm just one customer, I'm sure they have more important people to worry about, all I really wanted was a hello and some info about the vehicle in regards to the other two I was looking at. Perhaps I should have initiated more of a conversation but an introduction and handshake would have been nice from the salesman, instead of a stare down and silence.

 

I agree, (we don't +1 here in the Fairfield County!, haha) The prices at Miller seem to be on the high side anyways.

 

Excuse me jumping in on my first post but I felt you might want to know that this is not confined to the USA. Bad attitude is alive and kicking in the UK as well. I am about to embark on my second F-car purchase, which is why I registered here, to do some research on 456's.

I had a 355 some 5 or 6 years ago and loved every minute of it. But getting some decent service in the dealers was not easy. They saw an unshaved bloke of about 35 in jeans (hell it was the weekend) and would not take me seriously. It took many phone calls to find the car I wanted and also have it at a dealer who didn't look down their noses at me.

But, consider this (all the dealers out there). I have a hobby of installing top end ICE for customers. The most recent was about $14000 of Nakamichi and McIntosh kit in a BMW M5. Now, going back about 20 years, I did an install for an average looking chap in jeans and wellies which was a Sony head unit, some Nakamichi speakers and a Bosch electric aerial. It all went into a Morris Marina. This won't mean much to you American chaps but it was a cheap four door saloon - compare it to a toyota avensis and then remove any sign of reliability and build quality. You'll be close.

Anyway, just over a year later the gentleman comes back saying the aerial had stopped working. It was out of Bosch warranty by now but I took a look and found the motor was burnt out. So I explained this but also accepted that it should have lasted more than a year. My offer was to replace the unit at cost price to me with no labor charges and the customer agreed this was very reasonable. He actually said that he did not want me out of pocket on the deal which I thought was very fair. So we now have 2 happy people. Yes I had to fit the thing for nothing but I felt good that we were both OK with the situation.

So, did I really lose out by being nice and showing goodwill to a paying customer?? Well not when you consider that his other 3 cars, a Porsche 911, Mercedes 190 and his wife's Merc SL320 all came in for a full audio fit out I previously knew nothing of these cars and thought he was a farm laborer who liked his music. Turns out he is a farmer with over 300 acres (a lot in the UK) and was seriously wealthy.

The point, for all dealers reading this, is:
Treat everyone like a millionaire and one day it will come true.