Bad Experience with FMSOCAL San Diego

Many of you know I have been looking for a Pozzi Blue GTS or Spider for over a year now.

Well, I decided to "bite the bullett" and purchase a '99 Tour De France Blue GTS with 8K. FMSOCAL had it on consigment for $107k. Offered $97K. They said NO. Told them to get back to with me and I would either take it at that price immediately or say no.

They came back with $103k. I call up and immediately accept. After accepting the price, the salesman tells me that there is another buyer right in front of him and that he would call me back in an hour.

I call him back in an hour and he tellls me he needs another hour. I call him back in another hour and he tells me he sold the car at $103k.

I am furious because amidst my negotiation he takes "my negotiated number" of $103k and offers it to another customer. He should have told the customer that there was someone in negotiations and that he would call if it fell through. He just gave away my negotiated price since I was in New York and the other customer was in his showroom.

This was not the way to treat a customer, especially by an authorized F Dealer like FMSOCAL.

So if any one sees any low mileage Tour De France (or Pozzi) Spiders or GTSs let me know.

Best,

Rob

 

Wow.....that really sucks. Hope you don't have to search too much longer though.....

 

I am sorry to hear your deal fell apart.

In my experience, the dealers will have to take a deal from someone in the showroom ready to sign. If my car were on consignment, its first one with cash in hand or I will be mad at the dealer. When you see a car you like, you need to pull the trigger. The weather is good on the West Coast and the cars are moving.

I like the color combo you are seeking out, good luck in the hunt, I am sure you will find a good one.

 

I think it was an ethical lapse -- bird in the hand and all that...

You should contact the owners (at Ferrari of Orange County -- they own both locations) and make them aware of what happened. Maybe nothing will come of it but you never know.

 

I feel for you in this situation and I hope you find another car.

My exprience with Michael at F-SD was nothing but perfect... he showed me respect and stuck to his word all the way through. my $.02 for future buyers.

 

Sorry to hear. I guess the only thing I can see justifying that event would be that he had the buyer there right in front of him so he knew it would be a done deal. Not that your word wasn't any good, but he probably didnt want to go the extra mile to assist you over the phone while he had a buyer right there in front of him.

I'm not saying it's right, especially since you guys had been in negotiations first, but that's my best guess as to his reasoning.

 

Sad to say but long distance deals, even at the point that you were, usually don't go through. I don't know how dealers do it truth be told.

Big frustration at both ends. Sucks. I would not buy a 355 without seeing it myself anyway.

 

Did you have deposit on the car of any sort? And if not, do you know if the "guy in front of the salesman" did??? If he did, he is the primary customer. Sorry to hear none the less that you are stil searching. Good Luck, and get in tight with a local dealer to find a car for you.

R

 

I'm sorry to hear that things didn't work out Rob, especially given how long and hard you have been looking.

Keep the faith. We've all got our eyes open for you.

 

It is not cool...to be used as a pissing pole, I agree and it looks like that's what happened here. I agree w/ the bird in hand play but it still isn't a right negotiating tactic to use under any circumstances....I wouldn't be suprise if he used yours 103K and got something better than that....Sorry to hear, man.

Keep looking and good luck. Vic is right "the most thrilling part of buying a Ferrari is the hunt and the chase"....Though, it looks like you had plenty of chase already....Hang in there.

 

First one standing there with a checkbook and the asking price wins!

He should not have played you against the other buyer though, IMO

 

He had no deposit on the car. He came in a day after my negotiations began.

Rob

 

Asking price was $107k. I negotiated it down to $103k and then gave that price to another customer.


Rob

 

Agreed it was cold, but good from a business standpoint. Your someone on the other end of the phone,
you might find something on the car you disapprove of when you see it
you need the car shipped across country
you might not have the funds (he didn't run a credit check on you i assume yet)
Local sale is better because the car returns back for service
There are many reasons I probably would have gone the same route. I would say it would it have been a different situation if you were willing to pay $107,000. Its not like he swung back over to you for a counter offer. Cash in hand...

 

Sagaponack,

A closer's job is to do EXACTLY that...close deals! That means take money down when it is (indeed) on the table, period! If it were my dealership... and I saw one of my guys NOT do the deal with the guy there, he'd be reprimanded by me and (most likely) laughed right out of the dealership by the other closers.

Sorry to hear you were on the wrong end of this one but don't take it personally.

DL

 

I did go back at $104k and he would not give it to the seller. He said "that is not the way he does business". But it is OK to bring in an interloper into my deal. So, the seller got shafted here too.

Best,

Rob

 

BTW, I did offer to immediately give a deposit on my AMEX.

 

Darth, I've been in professional sales for 25 years and sell $millions every year. Damn, I'm sure glad I'm not working for you as one of your "closers"... I'd last about two hours. Then again, I don't sell one-off items like automobiles. I can only imagine the chuckles and screwjob stories your "closers" discuss by the watercooler... like this one.

Sorry to hear about your experience, Sag. Things usually work out for a reason... I'll bet you find something soon. Good luck!

 

Rob, I suspect you have seen these, but just in case:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6212&item=2480873911&rd=1 Tdf? Blue, '98 Spider, NY State

http://www.dupontregistry.com/search/srDetails.asp?itemid=160627&sessionkey={5FFBEE19-F14F-4CCA-A3A2-66217083D185} Pozzi Blue '99 F1 Spider, Denver

http://www.dupontregistry.com/search/srDetails.asp?itemid=138747&sessionkey={5FFBEE19-F14F-4CCA-A3A2-66217083D185} NART Blue '99 F1 Spider, Springfield MO

http://www.dupontregistry.com/search/srDetails.asp?itemid=151541&sessionkey={5FFBEE19-F14F-4CCA-A3A2-66217083D185} TdF Blue '99 Spider, Pittsburgh

http://www.dupontregistry.com/search/srDetails.asp?itemid=132337&sessionkey={5FFBEE19-F14F-4CCA-A3A2-66217083D185} Pozzi Blue '99 Spider, Greenwich

http://www.dupontregistry.com/search/srDetails.asp?itemid=155744&sessionkey={5FFBEE19-F14F-4CCA-A3A2-66217083D185} Swatters Blue, '95 Spider, Houston

http://www.dupontregistry.com/search/srDetails.asp?itemid=158620&sessionkey={5FFBEE19-F14F-4CCA-A3A2-66217083D185} '97 Spider, not sure which blue, not sure of location.

Wasn't specifically looking for spiders, but didn't see any berlinettas.

 

I'd call back and validate(maybe through someone else) that the car really sold, that is if you still want it. He may have BS'd you because the seller wouldn't budge and there was no commish in it. Check back, you never know, things change.

 

While it really sucks (what happened to Rob)... from the sellers point of view, it wasn't a screwjob if the deal was done. If the guy who was at the dealership went sideways, then the rep blew it because Rob would have him by the balls if that is the car he wants (and he decides to follow up).

25 years in sales, OK, would you leave a contract with a 6 (or 7) figure, wet sig check on the table if you had it in front of you...just to keep a guy on the hook who's showing interest (albeit serious) over the phone??

DL

 

Actually Darth, I just went through a very similar scenario when I sold my 328 in February. I had a guy fly in to look at my car who was truly interested. In the interum 2-day period, I had another firm offer which I could have accepted on the spot. But I chose to go back to the original guy and offered him the final right of refusal. He took the car.

 

Thanks. Looking for Pozzi, Swatters, or TDF in GTS or Spider, Manual, with low miles. The Greenwich is the closest but at $113k they are off on price.

Thanks

Rob

 

Cool. You had the buyer in town and you took the deal. But I'm sure you knew there was the risk you'd lose them both if you hadn't closed the deal with him then and there... just to entertain an offer from the guy on the phone.

DL

 

Rob--- Pls fill out your profile, man so we can all get to know you better.

Back to the topic, I am supportive of you all the way on this one. Here is my take...."it's fine if he wants to close the deal w/ the one who has the cash but...All he needed to do was to be honest and upfront w/ Rob and should not have "accepted" Rob's offer.

Frankly, if I were owner of this dealership, I'd be greatly disappointed in my salesman and would look for way to remedy the situation...Perhaps, it isn't too late to salvage a potential long term relationship with a possible repeat customer. IMO, this salesman's behavior solidify the distinct difference in perception b/w a "used car salesman" and a "pre-own car sales professional".