This is why Alfa Romeo will NEVER succeed.
This is why Alfa Romeo will NEVER succeed.
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Nikolai Petroff

Original Poster:

589 posts

164 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
I was at the Geneva autoshow today. Now normally I go during the press days because I used to freelance as a motoring journo but this year I was busy in early March. In general the show was really good. Only one fly in the ointment. Now, I've went to ALL closed stands. Sat in the P1, Koenigseggggggggggg, the new Pagani... You name it. So I arrive at the Alfa stand and ask to see the 4C up close. I was rudely told that it was only for existing Alfa customers! I showed them my Ferrari invitation, told them I am member of the Maserati club (I used to own both a new Maserati and an Alfa). I do a lot of track days so am potentially interested in the 4C (or the more hardcore variant coming in 2014). Nothing. The said the limited launch edition is only for existing customers. I said fine, let me sit in the basic one... They basically rudely told me to get lost. So it was easier to get a private tour of the new Koenigsegg by the father of Christian and then get an invite for a Pagani factory tour, then to sit in a carbon fiber, 4 cylinder Fiat.

This is why Alfa Romeo will cease to exist in 10 years. They are simply clueless morons, top to bottom. The entire company.

wemorgan

3,583 posts

209 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
it must have been an appalling experience for you

Nikolai Petroff

Original Poster:

589 posts

164 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
When was doing freelancing for a Russian language magazine based in Switzerland, I phoned the Alfa PR for Switzerland to ask them for a press Giulietta to drive to the Italian part of the country, shoot some nice pics, write about driving over the mountain passes. The told me I have to ask Alfa Romeo Russia for the car. Which is moronic since there is no Alfa Romeo Russia. I told them the magazine is based in Switzerland and Austria only, but they kept telling me they couldn't help me since it's not a french language magazine and I had to contact Alfa Romeo in the country where the language is spoken.

Bunch of morons.

Nikolai Petroff

Original Poster:

589 posts

164 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
wemorgan said:
it must have been an appalling experience for you
It disheartening to see Alfa Romeo has learnt nothing.

TheHeretic

73,668 posts

286 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
wemorgan said:
it must have been an appalling experience for you
hehe

crazy about cars

4,454 posts

200 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
Which part of "it's for existing Alfa customers only" do you not understand dear sir?

robsa

2,472 posts

215 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
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It still amazes me that there is this level of incompetence in big industry. I think this is why german manufacturers do such a good job when getting involved in italian car companies....

Grovsie26

1,302 posts

198 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
Does seem a rather dumb thing to do, but then so is selling a 52grand alfa with a 1.7 lol.

Nikolai Petroff

Original Poster:

589 posts

164 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
crazy about cars said:
Which part of "it's for existing Alfa customers only" do you not understand dear sir?
How many "existing" Alfa customers do they have? Isn't the whole aim of Alfa Romeo is to attract NEW customers? They open the order books for ANY customer in a few months, normally the salon is the place to entice them. No?

I've sat in a Pagani Cinque... and that was sold out before being announced.

Grovsie26

1,302 posts

198 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
You'd like to think they'd want to attract new customers with the 4c, as existing customers, are idiots who bought a car for looks and looks only, because alfa haven't made a decent car in ages lol.

mike9009

11,009 posts

274 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
Grovsie26 said:
Does seem a rather dumb thing to do, but then so is selling a 52grand alfa with a 1.7 lol.
Ha ha.

frown

Mike

sunbeam alpine

7,250 posts

219 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
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OP. I hope you have a good proofreader for your articles.

Love your website. Really professional smile

Liquid Tuna

1,403 posts

187 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
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Are you sure it wasn't just one Alfa employee having a bad day?

carinaman

25,293 posts

203 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
sunbeam alpine said:
OP. I hope you have a good proofreader for your articles.

Love your website. Really professional smile
They told him to Go Daddy? wink

I was at least expecting some Carnoisseur type images with a bevy of buxom beauties.

Dr Doofenshmirtz

16,952 posts

231 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
sunbeam alpine said:
Love your website. Really professional smile
Give him a break - he's too busy sitting in various cars to build a web site.

Mastodon2

14,341 posts

196 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
crazy about cars said:
Which part of "it's for existing Alfa customers only" do you not understand dear sir?
I'd have thought that a manufacturer in the market, who are becoming more and more marginalised, have only had a 2 car line up for a while with neither received as being all that much to shout about, and undeniably a company well past their best, any opportunity to generate excitement should be something they grab. Snooty, disinterested stands at motorshows are just another missed opportunity. They should not be turning people away from the car, they should be proactively trying to get people up close with it - unless of course, they have something to hide.

wemorgan

3,583 posts

209 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
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You're making the mistake of taking the OP seriously.

Killer2005

20,639 posts

259 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
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Are Alfa bashing threads the new in thing?

lance1a

1,337 posts

229 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
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This is why nikoliapetrov will NEVER succeed.

sunbeam alpine

7,250 posts

219 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
wemorgan said:
You're making the mistake of taking the OP seriously.
At least the guys on the Alfa stand didn't make that mistake smile