GT car / Salesman - Shiraaz Sookralli - Champion Porsche's VP of Marketing
09-12-2018, 12:02 PM
#136
Rennlist Member
Wow, unbelievable!
i would have fallen for it as well. Thankfully it didn’t happen.
Seems to me Champion needs to cut 2.5M in checks today and have their insurance go after Shiraaz (Trinidad?).
If not it’s game over for Champion brand at least.
09-12-2018, 12:06 PM
#137
Hello RL,
I would like to take the opportunity to break my silence, had it not been OP's post, I would still in be in the dark. Yes, I am unfortunately a victim is this scheme/fraud, and planning to talk to their attorney later
today to see how to remedy the situation. Feeling Mad/upset is just an understatement, I feel disgusted/cheated as a posche/gt3 enthusiast. My situation is a bit different, as some stated that the commission
number does not match the actual name. Confirmed with Porsche NA and even the dealership that my commission and my name do match, however when the dealership shared the " build sheet " with me, it is a
completely different build. The car has a bunch of CXX options and already in V250 status. Is there some light at the end of the tunnel? Thanks for all the support.
Jack
I would like to take the opportunity to break my silence, had it not been OP's post, I would still in be in the dark. Yes, I am unfortunately a victim is this scheme/fraud, and planning to talk to their attorney later
today to see how to remedy the situation. Feeling Mad/upset is just an understatement, I feel disgusted/cheated as a posche/gt3 enthusiast. My situation is a bit different, as some stated that the commission
number does not match the actual name. Confirmed with Porsche NA and even the dealership that my commission and my name do match, however when the dealership shared the " build sheet " with me, it is a
completely different build. The car has a bunch of CXX options and already in V250 status. Is there some light at the end of the tunnel? Thanks for all the support.
Jack
09-12-2018, 12:16 PM
#138
I was going to stay on the sidelines here but my anxiety is getting the best of me.
I too have a deposit with Champion for a car allegedly being built this fall. Sad that I now have to use the word “allegedly”.
However it’s with a different SA and everything seems above board but now I’m wondering how you can really be completely sure. My CC deposit was to Champion Porsche, not the shell that’s being mentioned.
Im flying most of today but the dealership will be getting a call as soon as I land.
I too have a deposit with Champion for a car allegedly being built this fall. Sad that I now have to use the word “allegedly”.
However it’s with a different SA and everything seems above board but now I’m wondering how you can really be completely sure. My CC deposit was to Champion Porsche, not the shell that’s being mentioned.
Im flying most of today but the dealership will be getting a call as soon as I land.
09-12-2018, 12:17 PM
#139
7th Gear
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
^^^ Yeah (referring to Giuseppe's post), like I mentioned previously, it's going to come down to "knew or should have known" about the fraud. If these types of communications were happening and Champion did not act, then they have a real problem (i.e. bigger than the lost deposits -- which are definitely the responsibility of the dealership notwithstanding any "acting beyond the scope of employment" type of defense they are likely to assert). Again, it's really all dependent on getting all of the information from the defrauded clients and then discovering what Champion knew.
09-12-2018, 12:18 PM
#140
09-12-2018, 12:19 PM
#141
Race Director
Originally Posted by GiuseppeM
Sorry to hear that Jack, this just confirms that both Champion and Porsche NA knew there was something going
+1
Very standup of you to share your story. It will take a lot of work, but I'm sure in the end those defrauded will be paid back. I think Champion will try to shield themselves from this as much as they can. PCNA won't touch this.
09-12-2018, 12:26 PM
#142
Rennlist Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Mid-Atlantic (on land, not in the middle of the ocean)
Posts: 12,393
Received 3,744 Likes
on
2,172 Posts
In the end, I think the dealership will need to pay, so they'll be the real victim. The people who paid a lot of money on cars yet to be delivered helped facilitate this situation with those unwise decisions, but the blame obviously goes to the criminal(s) who perpetrated this.
09-12-2018, 12:27 PM
#143
Sorry to hear this for all the victims - hopefully the bigwigs at dealership / Porsche make this right
09-12-2018, 12:31 PM
#144
Nope Champion will own this.... regardless if they really were in the dark. Trust me on this.
09-12-2018, 12:40 PM
#146
I have no direct knowledge of anything that actually happened - just as I suspect many of you do not either. It seems as though at least one person does have direct involvement as a customer and is rightfully choosing to distance themselves from this thread. Or at least making accusations, etc..
Champion has a responsibility to make this right due to this being their employee. Clearly their process of ordering GT cars is also flawed. Leadership is likely scrambling as they learn of all this as well and dig in to understand total damage inflicted. They might even go quiet for a bit as they consult with legal and PCNA or PAG.
Right now this doesn't sound like a con or scam ran by the dealer but rather the actions of a single person. It sounds like he took the steps to do this and ensure consumers and Champion were unaware.
No one that trusted this person and gave a deposit is to blame. And my hope is Champion processes through this quickly and makes it right and that PCNA adjusts the process for ADMs and car orders.
Champion has a responsibility to make this right due to this being their employee. Clearly their process of ordering GT cars is also flawed. Leadership is likely scrambling as they learn of all this as well and dig in to understand total damage inflicted. They might even go quiet for a bit as they consult with legal and PCNA or PAG.
Right now this doesn't sound like a con or scam ran by the dealer but rather the actions of a single person. It sounds like he took the steps to do this and ensure consumers and Champion were unaware.
No one that trusted this person and gave a deposit is to blame. And my hope is Champion processes through this quickly and makes it right and that PCNA adjusts the process for ADMs and car orders.
09-12-2018, 12:43 PM
#148
In the end, I think the dealership will need to pay, so they'll be the real victim. The people who paid a lot of money on cars yet to be delivered helped facilitate this situation with those unwise decisions, but the blame obviously goes to the criminal(s) who perpetrated this.
09-12-2018, 12:47 PM
#149
09-12-2018, 12:51 PM
#150
Burning Brakes
i understand your initial thought on this. He worked for Champion, he mislead allot of folks by using Champions email accounts, sale agreement, web page...you name it. They are liable for this. Spin it how you want. They employeed him, not to mention a long time employee. He was their contact for GT cars. I have a friend that paid a deposit, to Champion Autosports and actually received a car. Companies have allot of subsidiaries. Folks that can afford a Porsche aren’t fooled easily IMO. Porsche better step up. Champion should do the right thing and step up. The silence on their end is not working. I believe it’s making it worse. What needs to be considered is we’ve only heard from Champions attorney, not the staff, not their management, no Porsche.
