komodor19

Dear Porsche,

As a lifelong Porsche enthusiast I have been increasingly disappointed with your dealerships commitment to customers. The only thing that a most of your dealership care about is profits. Don’t get me wrong I’m not a communist and I believe in capitalism but a practical version that includes building long term relationships with customers as well as fostering passion and excitement regarding the brand. Over the last 5 years, I have repeatedly reached out to over 10 different Porsche dealerships (regionally and across the country) to get a GT3 allotment without success. I have received I one of three responses:
1. "We sell our GT3 at MSRP but we do not have enough allotments, good luck"
2. "Give us a $10,000 now and we will put your name on a waitlist of this production cycle you will be number 18-22, no guarantee that you will get a car." When ask how many GT allotments you get per year? "Typically, we get 2-3 GT allotments per year."
3. "Yes we can give you an allotment for $30-100K above MSRP"

Response #1 is definitely the most honorable given that it is out of the dealerships control how many allotments they receive from Porsche, 1/4 of the dealerships I contacted were in this category.
Response #2 this is basically a 0% interest loan from the customer to the dealership given that there is no realistic chance of getting an actual allotment.
Response #3 this by far is the most egregious given that the dealership is just price gouging their GT customers who are likely diehard Porsche enthusiast and represent the customers that will be life long "brand ambassadors". Dealerships that practice price gouging instead of fostering brand loyalty and passion instead promote a adversarial client-dealership experience. Although this phenomenon might not appear superficially apparent the client becomes the "mark" and will intuitively change their perspective of the brand given their draconian relationship with the dealership. Dealership statements like, "unless you pay a significant market adjustment you are not getting a car", do not promote brand commitment.

Luckily there are practical solutions that Porsche as a company can take to stop this type of oppressive dealership behavior.
1. Listen to your customers (I mean your real customers the clients and not the dealerships): if more people want GT3s increase production of GT cars to meet the demand. I understand one of Porsches mottos is that they try to make 1 less car that there is demand for but that is not the scenario here, there are probably over 500 people that want GT3s that can’t get an allotment (a heck of a lot more than 1). Yes, I am aware that there is a process that a if a client wants a car and the dealer does not have an allotment they can submit to Porsche for an extra allotment for the client; I have spoken to several dealership about this every single one said the same thing that that process almost never works for GT3s they have tried many times in the past without success. The great part about listening to your customers and increasing production of the cars they want to buy is you make more money...everyone wins Porsche wins, dealerships win, and customers wins!

2. Dealerships that price gouge should be penalized by Porsche. If a dealership is reported to be price gouging their GT allotments should be taken away and given to dealerships that do not price gouge, simple. This will ultimately build more brand passion, enthusiasm, and loyalty.

I'm sure there will be 100 replies saying that demand and supply are the only thing that matter... Great I'm glad you made it through chapter 1 of microeconomics in high school but that is not the point I'm trying to make.
I also understand supply chain issues related to the pandemic but like I mentioned this has been happening well before the pandemic. I also wonder if some of the posters that defend price gouging on these forum are not dealership personnel.

Anyway, I just thought I would share my thoughts, it is highly unlikely that Porsche will ever see this post but worth a try.
Thanks for listening.

CAlexio

This reminds me of when I wrote dear Santa letters as a child, only difference was those had a 100% chance of being read and acted upon.

komodor19

lol, just had to vent. Thank you for humoring me. I know that Porsche probably doesn’t care about the individual customers, just the market.

I noticed one person has already voted NO for the poll. I just can’t image many actual customers that wants dealership to charge $100k markup. Either they are not actual buyers and are here stirring the pot or more likely affiliated with a dealership.

Captain P

Lol dealers voting no.

InfamousS/T

The “NO” votes come from the people that got a MSRP car and would never pay a ADM but will vote “NO” do not stop it .

chance6

This poll is running much closer than I thought. The MSRP getters probably vote 'no' so they can be more exclusive. FFS

komodor19

Dealers and their cronies appear to be winning folks, lol!

This is a textbook example of Stockholm syndrome.

3-Pedals

No one gets these cars for MSRP. Those who pay MSRP lose elsewhere either by buying 10 cars a year and paying MSRP on those (which usually sell at a discount) or taking a bath in trade.

The only true winners, which dont exist, are those with no prior purchase, no trade, is able to pay MSRP and walk out with a GT3. Everyone else…. the equation is way too complex to evaluate with too many variables.

3-Pedals

Also, there are way too many people who pose as members here who either work for a dealer OR is a broker. I know of 3 people like this. You can never trust what anyone says as far as getting a car for MSRP or X amount of ADM or whatever. I took the bait on way too many “leads” before only to backtrack and figure out who was what. You should figure out what “dealer brokers” are. Surprise, they are the ones who buy their GT3 for “MSRP” only to “consign” the same car for $50k markup and split the profit with the dealer. Again, caught dealers in the act, but wont expose them because sadly I have my personal interests (non GT3) to worry about. It is way more complicated than you think my friend.

iammacey

Now you've started a poll? Not only do we get a myriad of these posts, but one additional wasn't enough?

911therapy

Dont like it....go buy another brand. Good luck finding equivalent quality/performance at porsche price-points.

911dude41

LOL @ the poll results. Voter fraud. #stopthesteal

michaeldorian

LOL Damn. Surprised it’s this close. Almost 50/50. The people have spoken. I guess by paying extra it makes the product more exclusive and makes those who have one feel more special. Human nature. Makes sense.

RL is wild.

Karl911

I am live in S. FL. and I have never bought a car here. Dealers are total pigs!

-eztrader-

OP

What is your solution to this? Dealers are forced to sell at msrp?


What happens then? The secondary market will still exist. Will you sell your used gt3 at msrp to the next guy, even if the secondary market is 50k over?