Notices
991 GT3, GT3RS, GT2RS and 911R 2012-2019
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Bert Smith Porsche

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-07-2015, 03:08 PM
  #1  
Terrence
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
Terrence's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 944
Received 32 Likes on 27 Posts
Default Bert Smith Porsche

I must have bought over 20 Porsches from them in the last 15 years, plus sent them customers that have bought at least four cars totaling over 1/2 million dollars (not counting my own purchases). The most recent purchase was a 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 I took delivery last July. In fact, I still have my Panamera GTS that I bought from them almost 3 years ago. Needless to say, I have been a loyal customer and referred them lots of business. My salesman for most of my purchases was Mike O'Donnell, and throughout the years, I have sent him and the General Manager Ron Servidio gift baskets during holidays throughout the year, and took Mike to lunch when he visited California.

I had my name down for the 2016 Porsche 911 GT3RS since about 4 years ago. My name was always the first one on the list, as verified by both of them and I have proof from email correspondences. Well, as soon as Ron left the company for a different dealership, Mike and the new management took a 180 degree turn and demanded a $10,000 non-refundable deposit and a 10% premium over MSRP.

I have since relayed all the messages and email to Porsche Cars of North America. They have responded by telling me that they frown on such practices and will investigate and let me know the next step.

Business loyalty is a practice that I value, and I am sorry to have ever referred anyone to buy a car there. If I cannot trust a company to perform as promised, then I will take all my businesses as well as my company's and friends' business elsewhere.

Needless to say, I am never buying a car from them again, and will tell everyone to stay clear of this place.
Old 04-07-2015, 03:13 PM
  #2  
Jamie140
Nordschleife Master
 
Jamie140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Barrie/Marco Island, fl.
Posts: 6,360
Received 831 Likes on 381 Posts
Default

Sucks. Sorry to hear.
Old 04-07-2015, 03:15 PM
  #3  
9972RS
Burning Brakes
 
9972RS's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: VA/NJ
Posts: 856
Likes: 0
Received 34 Likes on 26 Posts
Default

How is it that a deposit can be nonrefundable? Any lawyers in here that can confirm this?
Old 04-07-2015, 03:25 PM
  #4  
MarcusG
Rennlist Member
 
MarcusG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Newport Beach
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 0
Received 261 Likes on 129 Posts
Default

Sounds like they blew it. What a shame. In this day and age every single Mom and Pop should be aware that social media is this new invention with almost enough power to move mountains. Not to sound blasphemous but you know what I mean.
Old 04-07-2015, 03:31 PM
  #5  
tcsracing1
Rennlist Member
 
tcsracing1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Somewhere in a galaxy far, far away....
Posts: 17,108
Likes: 0
Received 259 Likes on 173 Posts
Default

horrible practice...

Good to see PCNA get involved.
Old 04-07-2015, 03:56 PM
  #6  
NateOZ
Race Car
 
NateOZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: New York
Posts: 3,530
Received 29 Likes on 22 Posts
Default

Sorry to hear that they went this way - sadly I think it's the new reality on limited run cars on the RS. Need to keep buying high profit cars to keep allocations alive and deposits don't mean a whole lot anymore. The PCNA dealer franchise agreement really doesn't provide them with an ability to influence dealer behavior. Worst they can do is threaten reduced future allocations, but they're in the business of selling cars. Look at how many of the late run PTS GT3 builds ended up with dealers already charging over MSRP for many GT3s and these were "reward" allocations.

Originally Posted by MarcusG
Sounds like they blew it. What a shame. In this day and age every single Mom and Pop should be aware that social media is this new invention with almost enough power to move mountains. Not to sound blasphemous but you know what I mean.
I think it matters less than what people think, sure it might drive a little bit of business away but location and convenience is still key for the average consumer. Have a look at Champion Porsche's average review on yelp and dealerrater, yet they're massive in terms of volume.
Old 04-07-2015, 04:03 PM
  #7  
Road Racin
Racer
 
Road Racin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Posts: 282
Received 11 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

PCNA won't do anything, because they can't... Didn't help with my GT3 debacle with Rusnak.... They 'tried'. They asked the dealer to not markup. The dealer then called me pissed that I complained about them and still did nothing...
Old 04-07-2015, 05:11 PM
  #8  
Guest89
Drifting
 
Guest89's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: CHI / ATL
Posts: 2,795
Received 202 Likes on 117 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Terrence
I must have bought over 20 Porsches from them in the last 15 years, plus sent them customers that have bought at least four cars totaling over 1/2 million dollars (not counting my own purchases). The most recent purchase was a 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 I took delivery last July. In fact, I still have my Panamera GTS that I bought from them almost 3 years ago. Needless to say, I have been a loyal customer and referred them lots of business. My salesman for most of my purchases was Mike O'Donnell, and throughout the years, I have sent him and the General Manager Ron Servidio gift baskets during holidays throughout the year, and took Mike to lunch when he visited California.

I had my name down for the 2016 Porsche 911 GT3RS since about 4 years ago. My name was always the first one on the list, as verified by both of them and I have proof from email correspondences. Well, as soon as Ron left the company for a different dealership, Mike and the new management took a 180 degree turn and demanded a $10,000 non-refundable deposit and a 10% premium over MSRP.

I have since relayed all the messages and email to Porsche Cars of North America. They have responded by telling me that they frown on such practices and will investigate and let me know the next step.

Business loyalty is a practice that I value, and I am sorry to have ever referred anyone to buy a car there. If I cannot trust a company to perform as promised, then I will take all my businesses as well as my company's and friends' business elsewhere.

Needless to say, I am never buying a car from them again, and will tell everyone to stay clear of this place.
Originally Posted by tcsracing1
horrible practice...

Good to see PCNA get involved.
PCNA is limp and impotent.

All they will do is a slap on the wrist or, at most, ding them on allocations in the future.
Old 04-07-2015, 05:13 PM
  #9  
TRAKCAR
Rennlist Member
 
TRAKCAR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: S. Florida
Posts: 29,424
Received 1,675 Likes on 777 Posts
Default

In case my dealer is reading this; I'd throw in all their windows.
No cars would be harmed.

Disgusting.
Old 04-07-2015, 05:55 PM
  #10  
sdg1871
Burning Brakes
 
sdg1871's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City
Posts: 836
Received 30 Likes on 23 Posts
Default

Gross. Bastards
Old 04-07-2015, 06:05 PM
  #11  
ElectricChair
Rennlist Member
 
ElectricChair's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 1,748
Received 207 Likes on 95 Posts
Default

Shame on you, Bert Smith!
Old 04-07-2015, 07:22 PM
  #12  
KenU
Rennlist Member
 
KenU's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 334
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by Terrence
I must have bought over 20 Porsches from them in the last 15 years, plus sent them customers that have bought at least four cars totaling over 1/2 million dollars (not counting my own purchases). The most recent purchase was a 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 I took delivery last July. In fact, I still have my Panamera GTS that I bought from them almost 3 years ago. Needless to say, I have been a loyal customer and referred them lots of business. My salesman for most of my purchases was Mike O'Donnell, and throughout the years, I have sent him and the General Manager Ron Servidio gift baskets during holidays throughout the year, and took Mike to lunch when he visited California.

I had my name down for the 2016 Porsche 911 GT3RS since about 4 years ago. My name was always the first one on the list, as verified by both of them and I have proof from email correspondences. Well, as soon as Ron left the company for a different dealership, Mike and the new management took a 180 degree turn and demanded a $10,000 non-refundable deposit and a 10% premium over MSRP.

I have since relayed all the messages and email to Porsche Cars of North America. They have responded by telling me that they frown on such practices and will investigate and let me know the next step.

Business loyalty is a practice that I value, and I am sorry to have ever referred anyone to buy a car there. If I cannot trust a company to perform as promised, then I will take all my businesses as well as my company's and friends' business elsewhere.

Needless to say, I am never buying a car from them again, and will tell everyone to stay clear of this place.
Did you "cc" the dealership (Ron's replacement) in your letter to PCNA? How about sending letters to the local Better Business Bureau, local/state Division of Consumer Protection, all with "cc's" to the dealership? After all, isn't that what these agencies are there for? Chances are zero to none PCNA will do anything about this so you might as well get them "noticed" here and elsewhere.

Who cares if the dealership gets pissed off about your complaining - you're not going to do business with them anyway.
Old 04-07-2015, 07:52 PM
  #13  
Mr. Adair
Drifting
 
Mr. Adair's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: driving
Posts: 2,633
Received 663 Likes on 311 Posts
Default

I've said it before, In the last 6 weeks I have spoken to a dozen dealers trying to find and buy the right 991 GT3 I can honestly say I have had one good experience. The others where arrogant, semi rude and and acted like they could care less. I'm a cash paying buyer and ready to purchase. Most didn't even get far enough into the conversation to find out I was simply waiting for someone to be effing civil much less throw me the slightest bone. I have been bait and switched, told I had to give money over the phone etc. and I'm not even mentioning the way they talked to me. I am a sales rep and have over 100 accounts and sell $400 GORE-TEX jackets and I could never get away with acting like that and these guys are asking for 150K from us. Porsche is on a roll right now and these dealers hold all the cards and are all on both coasts in the Porsche hotbeds. I'm probably more sensitive than most as it's my first foray into a high end car but it has been a less than enjoyable experience. I think the Porsche shopping experience is worse than buying my work vehicles from Honda.

Sorry to go off topic...

Last edited by Mr. Adair; 04-07-2015 at 08:16 PM.
Old 04-07-2015, 08:05 PM
  #14  
ATXGT3
Banned
 
ATXGT3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Sticks
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Not surprised.
Old 04-07-2015, 08:13 PM
  #15  
FORENN
Banned
 
FORENN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 4,651
Received 667 Likes on 328 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 9972RS
How is it that a deposit can be nonrefundable? Any lawyers in here that can confirm this?
Governed by state law, so varies by state. E.g., Idaho can do it, California can't.


Quick Reply: Bert Smith Porsche



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 07:16 PM.