F8Driver

Once you get an allocation you're in to the Porsche "My Porsche" system, lock in dates, a progress graph, and their messaging system. My GTS configuration is with the RS Spyder wheels, only offered in satin black. I'm considering replacing them with an aftermarket forged set (anyone want RS Spyders in satin black, unused?) or having them powder-coated because I hate black wheels. But then my configuration started showing my car with Satin Aurum RS Spyder wheels (is that an option somewhere?) I liked it. So I sent a message to PCofNA and asked if it was just a glitch with the configurator (it has had several over the past year) or is this a preview of a new option?

The "Customer Support Specialist" avoided answering the question ... TWICE ... and referred me to my SA. Well, he's a knowledgeable and good guy, but why should a lowly salesman at the dealership be better informed than a "Customer Support Specialist" at the headquarters for all things Porsche on the continent? It's their configurator on their web site. Shouldn't they be able to answer a relatively simple question?

Had to share this laughable experience with Customer Support. I wonder if they're really located in India and the Philippines along with AT&T, Comcast, and most other customer support folks.

NastyHabits

"a lowly salesman". Geez, c'mon on man. Every job deserves a degree of respect. What do you have to say about the dude collecting your garbage, or the gal at the diner swerving you a plate of food, or the housekeeper at the last hotel you stayed at. Curious to know what you do for a living that makes you all that and a bag of chips.

F8Driver

Oh come on, you needn't clutch your pearls. I was merely pointing out that the sales guy/girl is well down the pecking order from a corporate "Customer Service Specialist" and that "specialist" should know their stuff rather than give me a brush off. I implied no "disrespect" in that observation, and any rational individual would have inferred none.

I'm a retire fighter pilot, nobody special. I treat everyone I encounter ... including people in the various service and customer support occupations ... with respect, kindness, and generosity, even when I'm not happy with the result ... that includes my SA. If my comments offended, sorry I ruffled your feathers.

PorscheObsessed

You ruffled a lot of feathers, not just NastyHabits’. But you deserve a pass on account of your service. The SA, in my experience, will/should be the handler of this issue of yours. Good luck.

rhr992c4s

I find it interesting you think a customer service rep at the corporate headquarters is above a sales person. A sales agent is a commissioned job, the good ones are very successful, like realtors. The sales agent also has the most incentive to make you happy.

ipse dixit

It is quite puzzling how some people are able to get a GTS allocation ...

rk-d

Neither a customer support rep nor a salesman will be able to answer an IT question. The president of PCNA probably couldn’t either.

What does it say on your build sheet? Because that’s what you’re going to get. The configurator shows all kinds of crazy stuff - wrong interior panels, weird patterns and the paint color is never close to accurate. It’s a toy to play with, but the pictures are not anything to really take seriously.

manifold danger

I have to point out this is a bit ironic. He deserves a pass for what I can only assume out of respect for his service- but what he did to require a pass in the first place was show a lack of respect for someone's career path?

In any case, there are many of us who served who don't share thoughts or views that require a pass to be granted. I understand having/showing respect for service, but that shouldn't extend to granting anyone a pass for inappropriate comments or behavior.

And before anyone gets up in arms I'm referring more generally to the idea that just because someone served they can be an *******. I actually don't think F8driver's comments in this thread were that incendiary, but I do agree they could have been articulated better.

Iamlost

I don’t think OP is wrong here…

In my corp experience the sales guys/girls are typically the last person to know much of anything. Often times, that’s their own fault… they use whatever info that is given as a way to make a sale. So the corp opinion is if you want to keep something “internal”; don’t tell sales. Let marketing tell sales once they’ve advertised it.

Customer support, on the other hand, typically has a direct link to engineering. They need to know what’s wrong and need to be trained on what’s new & coming… otherwise they can’t solve problems (which is much harder than making sales).

As far as a totem pole is concerned; IDK. I see his point though. If a customer service person has a bad quarter he/she will typically be trained and the company will put effort in to growing them. Whereas a sales guy will just be let go for not making his/her numbers. Seems like customer support is more valuable to me…

CodyBigdog

I’m not sure what your service record has to do with your prior comments about a “lowly” Porsche salesperson?

My brother is a retired Navy fighter pilot, with an additional 30 years as a senior pilot for Northwest/Delta flying 747’s to the Orient. He once commented that his time flying with Northwest/Delta taught him how to deal with people, how to treat people with respect, and how to diffuse situations….than the military ever did. So, again, I’m not sure what your point was in bringing up that you are a retired fighter pilot, other than, as pointed out by another poster, to maybe garner a “pass” on your comments? As an aside, and coming from a military family…the only time I ever witnessed anybody in my family bring up their service, was when asked a directed question by a neighbor, a clerk in the store, etc, or talking to someone who was also in the military (retired, or active).

jhenson29

Somebody asked. OP was answering a direct question.

Pointbye

What a douche.

CodyBigdog

Don’t want to turn this discussion into a thing, but slight clarification. The poster you are referring to asked “what do you do for a living”. If someone asks me what I do for a living, I say I am retired, but use to own my own company doing XYX. I don’t list all the other jobs, etc I may have had many years ago….point being -

As far as I am aware, most fighter pilots only serve 8-10 years (like my brother), with the median age of those entering flight school of about 23. I think my brother was very typical of navy fighter pilots…he remained in the military to complete his obligation, retired from the Navy at about 30yo, and then transitioned to become a commercial pilot until he reached age 60, which was the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots at that time. If I asked him what he did for a living, I know what his response would be: “I am a retired commercial pilot, who flew for Northwest Airlines, and then Delta”. Only if asked how he first got started flying, would he mention his time in the Navy.

Note to the OP - As a kid, I use to have a model of the F8 (like the one in your picture). As a kid, use to go with my dad over to Miramar Naval Air Station to watch all the (“Top Gun”) fighters take off and land. One of my dreams as a boy, was to fly one. My dad and mom are buried at Miramar, so when I get a chance to visit their grave sight, I spend hours watching all the fighters coming and going. Great stuff.

3rdpedal

Yes. And no. In a lot of companies there are various levels of customer support and often the tier one reps don't know jack. Not sure if there are tiers or how well informed the tiers at PCNA are. But in my experience an SA is as well informed as their experience and their relationship / hierarchy to the GM. There are some blowhole sleazy SAs within the Porsche Dealer network, and there are some who are great and very knowledgeable and I would take those above Customer Support in quite a few instances, so I don't think it is that black and white.

At the end of the day this is likely a glitch and nothing more.

DodoBird

I sure do learn a lot more about the people posting to this forum than any "technical" knowledge!