On my way home yesterday, I stopped at Rick Case's new high-end & exotic car dealership, Rick Case Luxe Collection. I really felt like I was imposing on them by walking in. Not ONE person came up to me to ask if they could help. Two salespeople (I think that's what they were) walked right past me and didn't say a word. Even the receptionist didn't even look up to greet me. I'm not saying I want to be attacked by a bunch of vultures like at a Bill Seidle dealership, but ghheezzzz........... Not even a "hello", "welcome" or "can we help you"?????.............. I guess that's what I get for driving up in my Tundra...........I'd try it again in my CS, but I won't waste my time.......... Too bad. I was really excited about having an exotic car place out west that I could stop in at from time to time.
I noticed they had a nice 360 advertised. Maybe they are still in training. Try going back in the middle of summer when things are really slow. At least you were in a Tundra. I have a no option Tacoma (1999) and a minivan to really throw them off. BT
It shouldn't matter what car you're in when you pull up there. Nor does it matter how you dress imo. A customer can come in all shapes and sizes. What happened to you speaks a lot about them imo. I was 17 when I went to the McLaren F1 showroom on Park Lane in London. I got a smile from the receptionist and asked if I could take pictures of the car (#065). Very friendly and they offered me some brochures on their F1 team.
Fred, when you get your car back, we should do one of our "gatherings", and all cruise to this place. I would have no prolbem telling them that I would never buy a car from anyplace that sticks the owners name all ver the cars they sell. Or, I will drive my '96 Olds wagon and see about a trade in on that 360. When do you get your car back?
My car is on blocks (jacks actually) in my garage. Wheels are being redone & new tires. (wheel color is a surprise). Once the wheels are done, it needs to go in to Shelton for the wheel rub & some other minor stuff. I hope I have it road ready the week after Memorial day..........
I just spoke with Eric, the Gen. sales manager for the Luxe dealer. I figured he would want to know how his people operate. He apologized & indicated they were having some "growing pains" since they recently opened. I told him I would come in to meet him once I get my car back on the road.
That is not growing pains but not having your sales staff under control The first, very first meeting before doors open and cars are rolled into the showroom should be talking about THIS very subject. There is NO absolutely NO excuse that warrants this behavior. In no dealership anywhere in the world.
You got handed a BS job Fred. If you mentioned in the conversation you owned the CS, you got the preprogrammed answer. When you showed up in the Tundra, a smart salesperson (is that an oxymoron?) would have at least handed you his card. I agree with Martin, and I see this not as growing pains, but as poor management. This store has been is business for some time, opening a new division, especially one dealing in exotics, should have been better planned. I would suggest that Eric is the one with growing pains. I would not doubt that they replace the Ferrari logo on the cars they sell, with the name Rick Case, like they do on all the Hondas and Acuras they sell. Even on Hondas, that is disgusting.
I have done a small amount of charity work with Rick and Rita. I have always found them to be courteous, responsive and very involved in their businesses. Maybe the logo thing is a bit much but his formula for success has yielded an impressive result. From my experience, I know they would want to know about this. Perhaps a note to Rick/Rita would get a result.
hey Ron, tell me if u go down there.... i want to see this. i saw this happen once like 6 years ago this guy in cut up shorts and messed up hair (cause his top was down in his hummer) came in and no one talked to him, so he walk up to the sales man and said, "I want 2, one in this color and the 2nd in another" sales man thought it was a joke. it wasnt, the man drove up in a "work truck" with rims and parked down the street. the car was a 1996 Vector http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/vector/vwx3-2.jpg
i don't understand how they can run dealer like that. so what if it is ferrari, they are there to sell cars. they are forgetting, with out buyers, there won't be anymore ferrari.
I am sure they would. Infact if I were Rick or Rita I would see that this very manager is fired within minutes. If the most basic rule in this business is broken you have no business in this business. "Your fired!"
I pulled up to the Lamborghini dealership in my 2004 Titan. They were preparing for a small gathering and had a few cars parked in a tent and some customers had parked close to the front door with their various Diablos etc.. The only thing I got was a rude sales man that walked up to me and said are you here for the Hummer dealership?????? All I thought in the back of my mind was "WHY BECAUSE I COULDNT POSSIBLY AFFORD A LAMBORGHINI?" I walked in the dealership there were 4 sales people and a receptionist. Not one of them said anything more to me than the rude greeting from the guy in the parking lot. I thought I was interested in a Gallardo. I have since changed my mind and am looking for a different car. But I would like to take the time to THANK LAMBORGHINI OF TROY (MICHIGAN). YOUR ATTITUDE HAS ASSURED ME THAT I DO NOT WANT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY OF MY HARD EARNED CASH! After all, all I drive is a Nissan Titan and cant afford anything more than an $448,000 supercar. I cant fathom how I could come up with enough money for a Lamborghini. ONE LOST SALE! Oh and any possible future business I may have provided. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hate to tell you this but they REALLY could not care less about your business. That's the way the car business is and always has been. Sorry.
Nice Vector! How does it drive??? I always admired them when I used to read about them in Road & Track. BT
It drives like a dream. Its as fast as you want it to be, but still able to drive in city traffic without fuss. Definitely one of the best cars I have owned. It corners like nothing else I have driven. I have an SCCA car that I race, and the suspension in it is very good, but the Vector will out corner it all day long. I could set the suspension up in the Vector to pull even higher G's but the way its set up right now affords a ton of comfort with cornering prowess. I wouldnt trade it or sell it for any other exotic. Stable mates for it, sure, but ever let it go, not a chance. With only 17 production W8's in the world I would never be able to replace it with something as rare. Car shows are so much fun, you are pretty much guaranteed that you will not see another one show up, its nice knowing all of the other owners. Having a small tight nit group of owners makes it a lot more personable.
Hate to tell you that but any Lambo dealer DOES have to care about this and any other business. Fact is Lambos do not sell like Ferrari and any sale is more money in their pocket. Further if Vector W8 here takes the time with others that have been mistreated by this dealership, and writes to Lamborghini USA about his experience and his consequence of not buying any Lambo period, they will care when Lambo USA comes by and takes their sign off. That is not how the car business is!
We have one of the original Vector Engineers on Fchat as well. I am sure you two chatted. He is one of the lucky 17 as well.
What car dealers do not care for is people that come in and blabber for hours and never buy anything or make rediculous offers for the inventory you have. People that think their trade ins are worth the world while their cars are worthless. Poeple that negotiate over the phone without making the effort to come and see the car first. People that take your time for one hour to then make an offer that is far below dealer wholesale. People that drive around town and inquire in every used car dealership about a car but never buy. People that go to every Ferrari mechanic in the area to see if they can save an extra $5 by letting them find your car. simply speaking...people that have no clue and very likely no money to buy in the first place. YET, they still get treated nice in the first conversation. The second maybe a little different.
Car 017 is with Audi in Germany. I am the indivudual that worked for Vector Aeromotive in Wilmington CA. Not to say that I dont talk to myself from time to time
I think he meant he owns one of the 17 cars made, not #17 Very cool car. I remember reading about them ages ago and thought they were quite cool.
i read in magazine few years ago about current owner used to work for vector. didn't someone bought tons of vector parts for few hundred grand? i kind of remember the magazine. anyway best american exotic ever made.
