GT car / Salesman - Shiraaz Sookralli - Champion Porsche's VP of Marketing
#826
#827
Race Director
#828
Any independent dealer can sell a Rolex for anything they want. And Rolex can stop selling to them. The difference is, the average Porsche dealership is a way bigger investment and has way more power than a jeweler selling Rolexes. If Porsche said no ADMs or no GT cars, my guess is they’d have a revolt on their hands by their best dealers.
I find it kinda laughable that RL gets so up in arms about this issue, like we’re some persecuted group. Bunch of rich guys complaining about something that every make does and has for decades. Just don’t buy the cars.
I find it kinda laughable that RL gets so up in arms about this issue, like we’re some persecuted group. Bunch of rich guys complaining about something that every make does and has for decades. Just don’t buy the cars.
#830
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
#832
Race Director
Originally Posted by ipse dixit
Because there are no independent (read non boutique Rolex owned) jewelers that sell only Rolex watches.
Porsche dealers sell nothing but new Porsches.
Porsche dealers sell nothing but new Porsches.
Rolex dealers are not franchised. Auto dealers are. Franchise laws differ from retail dealers.
Franchisors cannot enforce pricing to franchisees.
Not sure how Ferrari gets around this?
#833
They may be great people and all that but they really dropped the ball by not firing this scumbag after the whole 991R drama and for that they will pay in both $$$ and bad publicity. They seem to be a big enough organization that they should have had controls and checks/balances against this type of rogue behavior.
#834
Intermediate
I come from the lowly world of Dodge SRT. A few years ago, Dodge tried to change the franchise agreements to require no ADM before the Hellcat's were on sale but that failed. FCA then said dealers could only allocate Demons after they received confirmed customer orders with no ADM. That failed too. As predicted, South County Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Gilroy, CA marked up Demons with 100% ADM over MSRP. I mentioned the outrageous dealer ADM's to FCA executives personally including Ralph Gilles, Dodge CEO at the time and all they said was it is unfortunate and that there was not much they could do.
#835
Three Wheelin'
I'm afraid ADM is connected to this crime. There are people profiteering at several steps in the chain. People have been told no allocations at Champion but they can get one from a broker then what do they think is happening?! Champion/SS is obviously in bed with the broker. Champion knew SS did this because of 911R case so I expect they were in on it too. They didn't know he was going to run off with the money though!
#836
Rennlist Member
"Forget it, Jake. It's Florida."
#837
Rennlist Member
Now that I reflect on my own ridiculously extreme GT3 buying experience (contacted probably 50 dealers in search of elusive MSRP)... I've had more than one South Florida broker contacting me with the same pitch to pay them $15-30k UPFRONT as ADM and 'pay MSRP upon delivery' for customizable allocations.
I'm wondering if this is the way it went down for most/all of those involved in this nasty scam?
After learning a lot about owner recently and how dealership was run, there's a chance nobody else in dealership was directly involved in this scam, only outside broker ring insulating customers from dealer. Just a theory.
I'm wondering if this is the way it went down for most/all of those involved in this nasty scam?
After learning a lot about owner recently and how dealership was run, there's a chance nobody else in dealership was directly involved in this scam, only outside broker ring insulating customers from dealer. Just a theory.
Last edited by bluehorseshoe; 09-15-2018 at 05:27 AM.
#838
Rennlist Member
But I should've clarified that in terms of the flight voluntary de-boarding process, there was no legal obligation for United to offer money to have people give up their seats. If you read flight contracts attached to each ticket, it says that the airline can offer up to a certain amount of money but they are legally not required to do so (under any local or federal statute.
My parallel was to STG (I think) who was saying that while PCNA has no legal obligation to make the customers whole....but it would be in their PR/moral obligation to do so. Just as United (and other air carriers) have no legal obligation to compensate passengers for voluntary de-boarding but it is in their best business/PR interest to do so.
My parallel was to STG (I think) who was saying that while PCNA has no legal obligation to make the customers whole....but it would be in their PR/moral obligation to do so. Just as United (and other air carriers) have no legal obligation to compensate passengers for voluntary de-boarding but it is in their best business/PR interest to do so.
edit: on reread, you’re talking about voluntary debosrding. My bad. I was confused since the United incident you’re referring to was involuntary.
Last edited by sqweak; 09-15-2018 at 08:05 AM.
#839
I’ve known him for ten years and he’s worked on my gt cars and other 911’s. He has always been responsive and great. I just saw him a few weeks ago. Very sorry to hear about this if true, but let Shiraaz explain himself. Too bad Dave, the former owner passed away and is not around to handle this. He was a true gentlemen.
#840
A friend of mine put down two deposits for a GT3 MT Touring. One was at his local dealership, which I won't name. He was told that he was number 11 on "the list." The other was at Champion. Champion would give him an immediate allocation with a 5k premium. He was upset and asked for his deposit back. I told him that he may pay $5k over but he would get a car. No way was he going to pay over MSRP. He wanted his deposit back. HE GOT HIS DEPOSIT BACK WITHIN DAYS. The other local dealership has delivered between 15 and 20 GT3s since he gave them a deposit 20 months ago. Now he's number 7 on the list. Isn't 11 included in 15? Now they are telling him there will be no more GT3's. He called me yesterday to say he was sorry that he didn't take my advice and stick with Champion. He has his $5k back, no car and is now looking in the road test pre-owned market at $15-$20 over. THE POINT IS HE GAVE CHAMPION A DEPOSIT, ASKED FOR IT BACK, AND HAD IT RETURNED IN DAYS.
I've owned almost 60 Porsche's and I know many dealers in the US and some in Europe. Champion is by far, the BEST dealer I know. I bet CJ does a great job but have had not had the opportunity. My knowledge and relationship with Shiraaz was nothing more than a passing acknowledgement. To the best of my long history of experience, the sales, management and service personnel at Champion are knowledgeable, honest and true enthusiasts. When most Porsche Dealerships have gone the route of Toyota and you can't leave the premises without speaking to the finance manager, Champion remains an "old school" dealership. It's also a "crime" that the good people at Champion are now suffering because of this A-hole.
Shiraaz used his employment to commit a crime. No different that if you hired an exterminator to get rid of ants and they fleeced your home. I was at Champion today. Champion didn't take the money or have the money. But I can tell you they are working hard to resolve this disgusting crime.
I've owned almost 60 Porsche's and I know many dealers in the US and some in Europe. Champion is by far, the BEST dealer I know. I bet CJ does a great job but have had not had the opportunity. My knowledge and relationship with Shiraaz was nothing more than a passing acknowledgement. To the best of my long history of experience, the sales, management and service personnel at Champion are knowledgeable, honest and true enthusiasts. When most Porsche Dealerships have gone the route of Toyota and you can't leave the premises without speaking to the finance manager, Champion remains an "old school" dealership. It's also a "crime" that the good people at Champion are now suffering because of this A-hole.
Shiraaz used his employment to commit a crime. No different that if you hired an exterminator to get rid of ants and they fleeced your home. I was at Champion today. Champion didn't take the money or have the money. But I can tell you they are working hard to resolve this disgusting crime.