[Chest Rockwell]

A very interesting blog. Having extensive previous experience with Ferrari and now with McLaren, I see a valid argument in his perspective. I'm interested to hear what everybody else's experience has been with McLaren compared to Ferrari.


http://doubleclutch.ca/1305/losing-a-generation/

 

[McDc]

Good article.

To me, F cars and even more F dealerhips feel a bit yesterday. McL is very techy and so are a lot of people becoming wealthy enough these days to buy a car in this league.

 

[Napolis]

Very interesting.

 

[roundincircles]

Interesting. I have experienced the same attitude but I'm in my 60's, don't wear a suite but do wear a $30 watch.

I tried very hard to buy a 458 but failed. I liked what the 458 represented and judged the residuals would be good but also judged the back up would be mediocre. Still tried to buy one, gave up. Then Ferrari realised I was close to buying a Mclaren and jumped all over me.

Back in 1991 we were having a deep economic recession. I decided to buy a 911, a 964 , on the new registration date which was August 1st in those days. Visited 7 dealers before one asked for my order.

The Ferrari dealer reminded me of Porsche back in the 90's........life was easy, no competition, customers paid the price or did not become customers.

We all like being sold. Premium price is a function of being at the top of the game in all facets....service, technology, performance and style ( not with standing limiting production below demand )

The game is being re-booted.

 

[Jerry]

I had a very pleasant experience with the Ferrari dealer here, even when I walked in off the street without an appointment. They had a decent number of cars on display, were knowledgable about what they were selling and would have been happy to take my money. Was quoted a 5 month waiting list for a 458 at the time. My only complaint would have been the 3 weeks it took to get into their demonstrator (but compare that to the 9 months I waited to drive a 12C after placing my deposit and it seemed positively quick). They then chased me to follow up on a potential sale which I found quite rare.

Of course, parking the 12C directly outside of the showroom may have resulted in preferential treatment and they saw it as a challenge to get me out of the McLaren and into a Ferrari? There was a lot of banter about aluminium vs carbon, forced induction vs normally aspirated etc etc. and they had the Ferrari arguments for all well rehearsed.

I may be a rare case, but I cannot complain about Ferrari. I could have a major rant about most of the German brands though.

 

[uid0]

Of course, parking the 12C directly outside of the showroom may have resulted in preferential treatment and they saw it as a challenge to get me out of the McLaren and into a Ferrari? There was a lot of banter about aluminium vs carbon, forced induction vs normally aspirated etc etc. and they had the Ferrari arguments for all well rehearsed.

This makes me want to make a visit to my local Ferrari dealer

 

[Mikeyb]

when the 458 spider was in the future rather than a reality, i went in to the showroom to do the deal with the exchange for my 458 coupe... the guy told me there was a three year wait list and he wasnt interested in the coupe... (because the spider was coming and they weren't sure what that would do to residuals.. )

haven't been to a ferrari showroom since....

 

[HyperMac954]

Good article, and I didn't write it, but it hits home (I just celebrated my 30th birthday last month).

And it hits the nail on the head. When I walk into any store, be it watches, cars, simple shoe store, I expect a modicum of service - and when Ferrari hasn't offered that to me (and they are not alone - TAG Heuer treated me the same when I inquired about the 12C watch), I simply walk out. I've had sales people literally chase me after they realized I could afford what I was checking out.

While the individuals you speak with might not have anything to do with actually building/testing/designing/working on the car you want to buy, the attitude and behavior of sales people and company reps speak volumes about the company and its product. Compare and contrast the behaviors of Winkelman (CEO Lamborghini) and Christian von Koenigsegg last weekend at the Quail. Winkelman, for lack of a better word, was a total douchebag. Literally turned his back on my girlfriend and I mid conversation. Not to talk to anyone else or take a call, just turned and stared at the wall. He did it to Russ (OldTractor) as well. Douchebag. My girlfriend just looked at me and said, "No more Lambos for you, eh?" and she's right. I LOVE Lambos, but I'll think twice in the future. Christian, on the other hand, standing next to his $1.4M hypercar, was incredibly nice. Answered every question I had, and every question everyone who walked up to him (my favorite question being, "Have you ever met Mr. Koenigsegg?" - that was funny). His wife was wonderfully kind as well. She dug through her purse to find me a little Koenigsegg pin before we left. I found it touching. And my girlfriend, who never liked the Koenigsegg before, told me afterward she'd be happy to see an Agera in the driveway now.

Yes, I'm rambling.

 

[ergoproxy]

There is something Canadian about the article. Many folks there see wealth as ill-gotten gain, as necessary, but suspect. Painting with a broad brush I know, but examples abound. I wonder if this affects dealer behavior.

Ferrari has treated me very well. Better than L, P, and Mc. I walked in cold and test drove a 430 scud. No wait list for my 458, my first Ferrari, my spec. Maybe they were just desperate to move it. After the 2008 recession, F salesmen developed an actual personality.
They admit they don't take seriously anyone under age 30. (I'm 41, look and act 31. Or 21...) It's entertaining to mess with dealers when they read me wrong. Clothing doesn't help them. Wristwatches probably do.

The 12C sells itself. One doesn't need a hearty handshake, a latte, or a pretty girl at the front desk. McLaren employees seem to be pure car enthusiasts rather than brand drones, so that helps.

 

[Owl]

I bought my first Ferrari in 1991. When I sold my last one exactly 20 years later, both the F. headquarters and the local dealership were still showing the same level of passion as they had at the beginning of our relationship,... except that its focus had shifted from cars, performance and clients to money, profit and show-off.
This is why, when the 12c was announced, I had already decided that my next car would not be coming from Maranello. The experience with McL has been much better, thanks to both the factory (which has been very responsive) and the sales guy at the dealership (who does his best despite a very unsupportive management). Let' s hope it remains that way even if they end up selling as many cars as they are plannning.

 

[Napolis]

http://jalopnik.com/5938170/how-ferrari-is-losing-a-generation-of-buyers

 

[MPB]

When I was in high school, I did a co-op program which placed me at that Ferrari dealership. Seems nothing has changed. Oh, the stories I could tell you guys...

 

[MPB]

There is something Canadian about the article. Many folks there see wealth as ill-gotten gain, as necessary, but suspect. Painting with a broad brush I know, but examples abound. I wonder if this affects dealer behavior.

Ferrari has treated me very well. Better than L, P, and Mc. I walked in cold and test drove a 430 scud. No wait list for my 458, my first Ferrari, my spec. Maybe they were just desperate to move it. After the 2008 recession, F salesmen developed an actual personality.
They admit they don't take seriously anyone under age 30. (I'm 41, look and act 31. Or 21...) It's entertaining to mess with dealers when they read me wrong. Clothing doesn't help them. Wristwatches probably do.

The 12C sells itself. One doesn't need a hearty handshake, a latte, or a pretty girl at the front desk. McLaren employees seem to be pure car enthusiasts rather than brand drones, so that helps.

Actually, a lot of the reason for that type of behaviour has to do with the area the dealership is located in.

 

[LimeyBloke]

These Ferrari dealership comments have been made for years and years. But .... 'still the beat goes on'.

 

[qvpower]

well if Ferrari continues, its moving towards its own demise. As with any company, without new thinking and constant reinvention, market leading quickly can become obselete. Presently, Ferrari might have a quasi good product, but its dealerships turning away the new generation are planting the seeds of market corrosion for the future.

 

[HyperMac954]

Anybody else see that the author has removed his blog post, and is asking Jalopnik to take it down? What did Ferrari say to him??

http://jalopnik.com/5942243/who-is-...out-ferrari-theyd-try-to-make-us-pull-it-down

 

[uid0]

It's still up on Jalopnik at this time (http://jalopnik.com/5938170/how-ferrari-is-losing-a-generation-of-buyers), guess it's time to "archive" a copy of it. Doesn't Ferrari understand the internet isn't a place where you can wave your hand and make something disappear?

EDIT: I've added this URL to the wayback machine. It'll be there in perpetuity in a couple of months. Unless Ferrari decides to go after the Internet Archive as well...

 

[Albert v8]

Someone, somewhere but enough pressure on that young guy to withdraw his honest experience of a Ferrari dealership.

In some respects i'm more disappointed in the guy for not showing more backbone. Can't stand bullying......

 

[Napolis]

Someone, somewhere but enough pressure on that young guy to withdraw his honest experience of a Ferrari dealership.

In some respects i'm more disappointed in the guy for not showing more backbone. Can't stand bullying......

This is far from over.

Stay tuned...

 

[Ramy]

This is far from over.

Stay tuned...

It seems as if this incident, and the other negative press on Ferrari's PR, 'factory', and dealership attitudes, might be reaching high up the Maranello heirarchy.

Might we expect more of the same or see a change in tone?
Interesting times.