FNA has decreed that dealers cannot advertise models in production | FerrariChat

FNA has decreed that dealers cannot advertise models in production

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by nerd, Feb 25, 2008.

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  1. nerd

    nerd F1 Rookie

    Oct 12, 2003
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    Ferrari North America has decreed that franchised Ferrari dealers are not allowed to advertise any Ferrari, no matter how old, if the model is still in production.

    I'm not sure of the deadline, but some web listings and Ebay auctions for 599, 430 and 612 vehicles were pulled by franchises over the weekend.

    So, competing theories include:

    1. FNA no longer wanted to subsidize dealers ad budgets.
    2. Loan and lease defaults are significantly increasing the number of used cars on the market and FNA does not want buyers to see how many used cars are now available.

    Any other thoughts?
     
  2. modena1_2003

    modena1_2003 F1 Rookie

    Aug 17, 2005
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    Yeah, is it not just "good press" when your dealer tells a new buyer that a 430 is not as fast as a 599? I don't get it?

    Is FNA telling the dealerships they can't tell youwhat car can do what etc?

    Sorry for the ignorance :)



    -J
     
  3. MGD416

    MGD416 Formula 3

    Jun 4, 2006
    2,385
    very interesting. To not be able to display the dealers inventory through ebay. What about on the dealers own website? That seems ridiculous. The inventories of these cars are piling up though.
     
  4. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 19, 2006
    4,271
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    what?!?

    You mean a dealer can't list their inventory on their website?

    FNA is odd

    -dsd
     
  5. modena1_2003

    modena1_2003 F1 Rookie

    Aug 17, 2005
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    This is the case?

    Are these guys at FNA pulling a LeerJet or something - "If they know about us, they'll know where to find us." ???

    Give me a break, I know if I were in the market im not driving to each dealership asking whats in stock. Shouldnt it be the dealerships perogative to say what they have and what they don't? It is after all a USED car?!

    I don't get it. But, I would like Ferrari to explain how this is a plus as opposed to an annoyance to every enthusiest who goes from showroom to showroom trying to SEE at lease, the Ferrari experience.



    -J
     
  6. Bavarian Motorist

    Bavarian Motorist Formula Junior

    Apr 10, 2007
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    I am not understanding either.
     
  7. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 26, 2005
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    That would be my guess. I'm seeing a lot of ultra-low mileage F430s on the market, and the 599 price bubble is becoming apparent even to 599 owners.
     
  8. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    Anything FNA does is usually about control. They probably just want the cars listed on their own FNA site that shows inventory. The reason being that they think it looks cheesey seeing current in production models on ebay or any other internet car sales site. When people see the dealer cars listed elsewhere it might give them the illusion that the bottom is falling out somehow and FNA would rather control supply and pricing. This probably is better for maintaining prices/limiting depreciation.

    Scotsdale will be pissed as they had/have all kinds of ebay listings.
     
  9. SDChris

    SDChris Formula 3

    Mar 8, 2006
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    I agree with this 100%...The number of cars on the market right now is very deciving...I think Ferrari wants to remove that thought from buyers mind, and get off the focus on price and back to the pedigree fo the car....

    It might have the added benfit to me though! So FNA rock on!! ;)
     
  10. opus10583

    opus10583 Formula 3

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    "Illusion"?
     
  11. opus10583

    opus10583 Formula 3

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    Do you have a link (or the text) to this announcement?
     
  12. opus10583

    opus10583 Formula 3

    Dec 3, 2003
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    Lol
     
  13. Bavarian Motorist

    Bavarian Motorist Formula Junior

    Apr 10, 2007
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    So basically, potential buyers will begin to think there is a surplus on the market, thereby demanding lower prices and harming not only Ferrari's image of being "difficult to obtain" but also the markups that dealers can charge.


    Is this right?
     
  14. enzo thecat

    enzo thecat F1 Veteran
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    Maybe they are taking a lesson from Rolex. Rolex dealers are not allowed to list stock on websites either. Website listings do cheapen the brand. I always thought it was kind of tacky for factory authorized dealers to list cars on ebay.

    But I don’t think this move was a tactic to deceive or hide any depression in the market and here is why;

    1. Ferrari sells the cars for MSRP. Any mark-up over list goes in the dealers coffers. Ferrari is ANGERED with the dealers for selling the cars significantly over MSRP.

    2. Moreover, since they have not raised the MSRP on the cars, I don’t think it would matter to them if the prices come down a bit.

    3. Why would Ferrari care if a dealer sells a used car sells for $190K vs $240K?

    4. Ferrari is most profitable when the most cars are on the road being driven. The make money on every part that is sold and every service performed at a Factory Auth Mechanic.

    5. So taking all this into consideration, if prices of current production cars come down, Ferrari should be even more profitable.

    6. The only way Ferrari is hurt by the market is if new cars have to be sold UNDER MSRP. We are far, far away from that. There is no way that BUFFERING the used car market today is going to affect whether new cars are sold at or below sticker in the foreseeable future.

    This is how I see things. I may be completely ignorant so don’t flame me too badly if I am way off. I am sure that most Ferrari Chatters are considerably more educated about economics than I am.

    enzo thecat
     
  15. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 3, 2006
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    Ferrari of Denver no longer has any current production cars listed in their web site inventory.
     
  16. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Ferrari of San Francisco certainly has current model used cars listed on their website! Are they not factory owned?

    EDIT: Maybe they're just cracking down on Gerald? Or, maybe they aren't allowing them to include a price, or a serial number, which would preclude them from being listed in FML, but not necessarily from being on the dealer's website.
     
  17. nerd

    nerd F1 Rookie

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    No, but the announcement is reflected in the latest Ferrari Market Letter where all dealer ads have been pulled.
     
  18. nerd

    nerd F1 Rookie

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    Not sure what the deadline is, but some dealers have complied.
     
  19. switchcars

    switchcars Formula 3

    Jul 28, 2005
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    Ferrari actually sells the cars for invoice. Ferrari is NOT angered with dealers for selling cars over MSRP, in fact, they released a letter to every US dealer before the 599 came out giving their blessing on selling over MSRP. Reason being, it kept the brokers from having a piece of the pie.
    Actually, they have. A few times. Ferrari raised the MSRP on the 599 by $25k shortly after its release, and then changed PCCB to a "mandatory option", and raised the MSRP again for the 2008 models. Ferrari is about profit, and they want as big a piece of the pie as they can get.

    Not quite.....there is something to say about "brand value". Look at what happened to the Carrera GT - prices came down, and as prices came down, people began to have a negative perception of the car. This caused prices to fall even more - and the factory had to buy some of the vehicles back from dealers. Ferrari is reaping the record profits because of a (true) perception that they make phenomenal, world-class, impossible to acquire vehicles.

    Now, all that said, I know why they're doing this. Ferrari's strategy has long been to localize sales. They not only want to control vehicles from going out of the country, but they want people to buy cars ONLY from their local dealer, and service them there. If Ferrari dealers can advertise online, they are now pulling other buyers from competing dealer's territories.

    It's all about control. Socialistic? Absolutely. But it's why Ferrari is more profitable than Lamborghini.
     
  20. vvvmd

    vvvmd F1 Rookie
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    Somethings different with advertisng for Ferrari. Tody I got an email from FNA, some sort of newsletter. Iv'e owned a 355 for 5 yrs and never got anything from them.
     
  21. enzo thecat

    enzo thecat F1 Veteran
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    Maybe you are correct about that. My information came from a face to face discussion at a Factory dealership on Friday. That means the salesman was blowing smoke. I am no position to argue, but he did say that Ferrari was angry with them and all the dealers for selling over MSRP. That was what I based my assessment on. Anyway, I like your explanation. It is another likely scenerio. Ferrari holds geographic control sacred.
     
  22. SDChris

    SDChris Formula 3

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    Enzo the cat..what he saying the dealership buy there inventory, the factory does not just give them the car nor does a factory owned store...

    BTW, there is no such thing as "invoice"...not even on a normal car there is ACV...but not invoice the way every one thinks...
     
  23. BwanaJoe

    BwanaJoe Formula 3

    Oct 23, 2006
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    Um, OK, what is there then? ACV?

    Signed,

    Very Confused.
     
  24. TOOLFAN

    TOOLFAN F1 Rookie
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    Mar 23, 2005
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    Actually Ferrari of SF is partially owned by by Luca di Montezemolo so there be a different reason those cars haven't been pulled off that site. Perhaps some favoritism..... No couldn't be, not with Ferrari :D.
     
  25. SDChris

    SDChris Formula 3

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    Actual cash value...and this number is not printed on any website...
     

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