991.2 GT3 Deposit

[Porsche911R]

cypriot said:

I think the deposit game by some OPCs is another way to remove customers from their list. Look at this very topic, where the OP is considering asking for his deposit back, which would effectively mean losing any potential chance the OP had. The will be happening all across the country after the initial frenzy to put deposits down, so when it comes down to it, the OPCs will have fewer people to choose from. it sort of makes sense as if you honestly, truly, deeply want a GT3, you will keep the deposit in for a number a months. just my 2 cents

not really the OPC's have already chosen the people to get the 2017 and 2018 cars, hence no need to leave any deposit.
What they don't have yet is firm 2018 allocations.

There is no frenzy to put deposits down on invite only cars !!! because you are invited to buy one !

[cypriot]

Porsche911R said:

not really the OPC's have already chosen the people to get the 2017 and 2018 cars, hence no need to leave any deposit.
What they don't have yet is firm 2018 allocations.

There is no frenzy to put deposits down on invite only cars !!! because you are invited to buy one !

Thats not 100% true though. I had a deposit in, and I am still waiting on a 2017 allocation for a manual version, and I should have an answer by the end of the month. And the frenzy I am referring to was immediately after the geneva motor show. I am sure there are plenty of people like myself, but not on forums, who have a deposit in, but are waiting to hear back about potential 2017 allocations. If they don't get a 2017 allocation, will they keep their deposit in for a potential 2018 allocation? I think they will. It means the OPC don't have to go down the invite route: they just look at the customers who were willing to put a deposit down and willing to wait it out.

[Porsche911R]

all 2017 orders are allocated I would say, so again no frenzy and no need for a deposit unless you have placed an order.
As for the geneva motor show, it has no relevance, the car was sold out before then.

My OPC was not taking deposits as there is no need being an invite only car !
it's not rocket science. Taking a deposit and not an order is not right imo.

[Cheib]

Porsche911R said:

all 2017 orders are allocated I would say, so again no frenzy and no need for a deposit unless you have placed an order.
As for the geneva motor show, it has no relevance, the car was sold out before then.

My OPC was not taking deposits as there is no need being an invite only car !
it's not rocket science. Taking a deposit and not an order is not right imo.

One thing you cannot do is generalisethough....every OPC/ dealer group has different policies and it very much depends on your individual contact person/people about how they're communicated with you. Dealers will tell different things to different people too.

I was told by my OPC that they didn't take any deposits before Geneva....which was Porsche GB policy apparently (at least that is what I was told!). After official launch they took the £10k deposits. There are certainly from what I have read here and elsewhere OPC's who took deposits a year or so ago....clearly those OPC's are telling people something different and your OPC is clearly telling you something different/has a different policy again.

Are OPC's playing the game a bit by holding deposits for 2018 cars ? Maybe but personally I have no problem with them having my £10k for a year....the opportunity cost is virtually zero at current interest rates....and I want the car!

[tuffer]

An OPC called me on the release date and took my deposit, several weeks later I got the call to say I did not get an allocation but there may be a chance of a 2018 car but to increase that chance I should order a Turbo S and a Cayenne in the interim. I asked for my money back.

[Fish]

tuffer said:

An OPC called me on the release date and took my deposit, several weeks later I got the call to say I did not get an allocation but there may be a chance of a 2018 car but to increase that chance I should order a Turbo S and a Cayenne in the interim. I asked for my money back.

Frankly if that is the case that is disgusting and I'd be ringing Porsche GB or the dealer principle. (dependant on who made the call!)

[cypriot]

Porsche911R said:

all 2017 orders are allocated I would say, so again no frenzy and no need for a deposit unless you have placed an order.
As for the geneva motor show, it has no relevance, the car was sold out before then.

My OPC was not taking deposits as there is no need being an invite only car !
it's not rocket science. Taking a deposit and not an order is not right imo.

Again, just because your OPC was not taking deposits, does not mean the whole OPC network was doing the same. I am here, telling you, as have others, that our OPC have taken deposits, and therefore not an "invite only" car. Please don't repeat the "no need for deposit" line as clearly for some OPC's deposits are important for an allocation of a car.

Also, the GT3 was not sold out before geneva. If I were to use the same generalisations as you use, then the OPC's were not allowed accept any kind of LOI or deposit before the announcement. thats what my OPC told me, so it must be true across the entire OPC network. And they failed to mention the "invite only" part as well.

[tuffer]

Fish said:

tuffer said:

An OPC called me on the release date and took my deposit, several weeks later I got the call to say I did not get an allocation but there may be a chance of a 2018 car but to increase that chance I should order a Turbo S and a Cayenne in the interim. I asked for my money back.

Frankly if that is the case that is disgusting and I'd be ringing Porsche GB or the dealer principle. (dependant on who made the call!)

I agree, it was disgusting and they will not be getting any more business from me. I am pretty certain that calling the dealer principle would have no effect as I believe he is fully aware of the tactic. As for calling PGB, not really going to get me anywhere so would rather not waste my time. It is my word against theirs so nothing I can do but just take my business elsewhere.

[Desert Dragon]

Cheib said:

MartinRS2K said:

My deposit is sat with my OPC and I'm not concerned as if I asked for it back I am pretty much cancelling my interest in getting the car.

As they hear about the 2018 allocations I expect to be given my build slot.

That's where I am.

I also don't think you can generalise unfortunately as every OPC has a different policy and I think even some sales people operate differently at some OPC's. I was invited to place a deposit after the car was announced and have been told I am getting a 2018 car.

I think at this point OPC's know how many cars they are getting for the full run of 2018 model year which is from June this year until end of May next year. When you hear people quoting their OPC as saying they are getting 10 or 12 cars it's in that window they will have build slots for those cars. If GT3 production extends beyond May 2018 then they may get more cars but that is by no means certain. What they don't have yet is firm build slots/dates for the cars that will be built in 2018 so they can't confirm those cars to customers...if they do they're creating a potential liability for themselves so it's understandable that they aren't confirming them.

+2

[Cheib]

tuffer said:

Fish said:

tuffer said:

An OPC called me on the release date and took my deposit, several weeks later I got the call to say I did not get an allocation but there may be a chance of a 2018 car but to increase that chance I should order a Turbo S and a Cayenne in the interim. I asked for my money back.

Frankly if that is the case that is disgusting and I'd be ringing Porsche GB or the dealer principle. (dependant on who made the call!)

I agree, it was disgusting and they will not be getting any more business from me. I am pretty certain that calling the dealer principle would have no effect as I believe he is fully aware of the tactic. As for calling PGB, not really going to get me anywhere so would rather not waste my time. It is my word against theirs so nothing I can do but just take my business elsewhere.

Really is quite shocking.

[Desert Dragon]

Cheib said:

tuffer said:

Fish said:

tuffer said:

An OPC called me on the release date and took my deposit, several weeks later I got the call to say I did not get an allocation but there may be a chance of a 2018 car but to increase that chance I should order a Turbo S and a Cayenne in the interim. I asked for my money back.

Frankly if that is the case that is disgusting and I'd be ringing Porsche GB or the dealer principle. (dependant on who made the call!)

I agree, it was disgusting and they will not be getting any more business from me. I am pretty certain that calling the dealer principle would have no effect as I believe he is fully aware of the tactic. As for calling PGB, not really going to get me anywhere so would rather not waste my time. It is my word against theirs so nothing I can do but just take my business elsewhere.

Really is quite shocking.

I have this in writing from them. Not being adversarial but why is it an issue that customers who do the most business with OPCs gets first dibs on new GT3? No other way to get them is there unless you're an old GT customer? What to do if you're not a GT customer? You're still not guaranteed one even if you do lots of business with them. They are being transparent about it.

What is Porsche GB going to do about it? They're complicit in it.

[n17ves]

Deposit section on Porsches website... "This legally confirms your order..."

http://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/ow...

[hunter 66]

When I bought previous GT 3's they had to sell them and it was a pleasant experience for all .......... sadly now everyone wants one , as always Porsche make a great car , but the fun has gone for those selling them as well I guess .......
After being put on the list 18 months ago , possibly will not get ...... it is a car , but now have to drive other Brands on the road , not life or death .
In fact the Tesla I just bought is brilliant , best road car I have ever had

[Twinfan]

n17ves said:

Deposit section on Porsches website... "This legally confirms your order..."

http://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/ow...

That makes it pretty clear, and seems to be the way OPCs should be working. There will always be the odd rogue one trying it on though I guess, and they should be reported to Porsche GB. Unfortunately that will mark your cards with that dealer forever.

[av185]

Porsche GB aren't particularly interested in how the franchised OPCs run their sales operations.....it is broadly up to them. Thats why there are widely differing policies even by OPCs within the same group re deposits and allocating customers.

Some OPCs have returned deposits claiming this is company policy but unfortunately this is rarely the case and these depositors are unlikely to get a car as opposed to those whos deposit have been retained. This happened with the GT4s and RS GT3s too.

[av185]

Porsche911R said:

not really the OPC's have already chosen the people to get the 2017 and 2018 cars, hence no need to leave any deposit.
What they don't have yet is firm 2018 allocations.

There is no frenzy to put deposits down on invite only cars !!! because you are invited to buy one !

Usual rubbish I'm afraid.

The difference between a depositor and a person invited to purchase is clearly that the depositor is far more likely to complete the deal than the non depositor hence providing more certainty for the OPC.

Many customers invited to purchase a GT car actually don't for one reason or another.

[Shiverman]

av185 said:

Many customers invited to purchase a GT car actually don't for one reason or another.

I would like to agree with this point but sadly maybe not quite so true at present. I think a lot of people who may have naturally dropped out in the past will probably buy the car and then flip it for overs imo. There will be a few cancellations but less than previous cars.

[AndrewD]

ted 191 said:

The second batch of cars have not yet been allocated or been given build slots so how can they ask for a deposit for a car that doesn't exist.

Didn't your dealer ask you for 10k before you knew you had a car though?

[Shiverman]

Cheib said:

One thing you cannot do is generalisethough....every OPC/ dealer group has different policies and it very much depends on your individual contact person/people about how they're communicated with you. Dealers will tell different things to different people too.

I was told by my OPC that they didn't take any deposits before Geneva....which was Porsche GB policy apparently (at least that is what I was told!). After official launch they took the £10k deposits. There are certainly from what I have read here and elsewhere OPC's who took deposits a year or so ago....clearly those OPC's are telling people something different and your OPC is clearly telling you something different/has a different policy again.

Are OPC's playing the game a bit by holding deposits for 2018 cars ? Maybe but personally I have no problem with them having my £10k for a year....the opportunity cost is virtually zero at current interest rates....and I want the car!

Agree with you totally Cheib. It appears that the policy also differs between OPC's in the same group. I think 911R's dealer is the same group as yours and yet they invited customers yet yours took deposits after Geneva. I spoke with another part of the same group last week and apparently they have only taken deposits for confirmed cars after their initial allocation. Different OPC, different rules.

Same for Tuffer & Taffy66. I think they are in the same group but very different experiences.

IMO It is still very hard to get to the bottom of what each OPC is doing unless they have confirmed a car to you. One thing is certain it certainly isn't an open book or a level playing field!

[av185]

Shiverman said:

av185 said:

Many customers invited to purchase a GT car actually don't for one reason or another.

I would like to agree with this point but sadly maybe not quite so true at present. I think a lot of people who may have naturally dropped out in the past will probably buy the car and then flip it for overs imo. There will be a few cancellations but less than previous cars.

Many frequent and affluent buyers of mainly vanilla but reasonably high value Porsches are not particularly interested in flipping cars for profit and appear to be rejecting the chance of an allocation on lack of comfort\too hardcore grounds alone.