Would you "be offended" if I took pictures of your car?
Discussion
In Maranello Sales today I was told off for taking photos of a Ferrari 430 Scuderia 16M (with no number plates, and I asked another salesman before hand) because owners would be "offended" and "aggravated" if people take photos of their cars. I know the showroom has not got the best reputation on here as well, it could just be the attitude of the showroom?
I was just curious if any people on here get "aggravated" if people take photos of their cars? Often in public owners never seem to mind, as the car already attracts attention due to its looks and badge.
-Harry
I was just curious if any people on here get "aggravated" if people take photos of their cars? Often in public owners never seem to mind, as the car already attracts attention due to its looks and badge.
-Harry
HarryRiddles said:
In Maranello Sales today I was told off for taking photos of a Ferrari 430 Scuderia 16M (with no number plates, and I asked another salesman before hand) because owners would be "offended" and "aggravated" if people take photos of their cars. I know the showroom has not got the best reputation on here as well, it could just be the attitude of the showroom?
I was just curious if any people on here get "aggravated" if people take photos of their cars? Often in public owners never seem to mind, as the car already attracts attention due to its looks and badge.
-Harry
was the car for sale ?I was just curious if any people on here get "aggravated" if people take photos of their cars? Often in public owners never seem to mind, as the car already attracts attention due to its looks and badge.
-Harry
No, but videos i think would be a different story...
Say you were working at a dealership, got videos of the car whilst driving it like a tw4t and put them online you'd have every right to be annoyed.
It might be that they only want serious customers in the showroom, don't want people coming in every day for photos? If they get it on a daily basis it would get a bit annoying.
Some won't care about the car, just sales...
Say you were working at a dealership, got videos of the car whilst driving it like a tw4t and put them online you'd have every right to be annoyed.
It might be that they only want serious customers in the showroom, don't want people coming in every day for photos? If they get it on a daily basis it would get a bit annoying.
Some won't care about the car, just sales...
This is interesting, what are dealerships normally like about taking pictures around their forecourt/show rooms?
I'm picking up a DSLR next week, and would love to get a few nice cars to photograph. There's a dealership in Belfast (More like a superdealership..) who has, Nissan, Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin etc all on the one big lot. The place is all private as far as I know, i'd love to get down and take a few pictures but i don't know whether or not it would be permitted.
Who would be the best person to ask for permission? Sales Manager of each individual manufacturer?
I'm picking up a DSLR next week, and would love to get a few nice cars to photograph. There's a dealership in Belfast (More like a superdealership..) who has, Nissan, Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin etc all on the one big lot. The place is all private as far as I know, i'd love to get down and take a few pictures but i don't know whether or not it would be permitted.
Who would be the best person to ask for permission? Sales Manager of each individual manufacturer?
munch997 said:
No, but videos i think would be a different story...
Say you were working at a dealership, got videos of the car whilst driving it like a tw4t and put them online you'd have every right to be annoyed.
It might be that they only want serious customers in the showroom, don't want people coming in every day for photos? If they get it on a daily basis it would get a bit annoying.
Some won't care about the car, just sales...
I have been told off so many times I can't remember them all. One guy from a dealer went mental and got abusive saying he would phone the police as we had taken a video of him completely ragging a customer car(good for video but not the customer!). Say you were working at a dealership, got videos of the car whilst driving it like a tw4t and put them online you'd have every right to be annoyed.
It might be that they only want serious customers in the showroom, don't want people coming in every day for photos? If they get it on a daily basis it would get a bit annoying.
Some won't care about the car, just sales...
Occasionally people don't like anyone taking pictures of the car but if you talk to them they tend not to mind if they know you are an enthusiast. The people that tend to want to stop you the most are those who do not own the car!
I know someone who got arrested/detained for taking a picture of a car
The owner claimed he was 'casing' it to steal at another time!I've let loads of people take pics of the car, I don't mind at all, I was at Graypaul in Edinburgh today and while I was waiting for my car a family came in, had a look round the cars, took a bunch of photo's said thanks and left. It was not a problem, one of those kids could be a future customer for all they know.
Over the last few years I've had a few visits to Graypaul just to have a look, they were always very nice, made it easy to go back and purchase from them when I was able to
.
John.
Over the last few years I've had a few visits to Graypaul just to have a look, they were always very nice, made it easy to go back and purchase from them when I was able to
.John.
I don't mind at all and will generally step aside to allow people to finish taking pics of my cars so I don't ruin their shot.
I was over at a mates house in Motherwell tonight with the countach. Is a nice housing estate. I had about 50 kids around the car from time to time. Some asked to take pics when I was outside but in general the kids were just excited to see the car and happy to take pic to show.
If you have a car that interests you then why should it be a surprise that othes find it intersting too?
I agree with John. How do dealers know if one day that kid/parent will come back and buy a car or actually have the money to buy one then?
All of us with these cars, were that kid ( possibly some of us still are)!
Paul
xx
I was over at a mates house in Motherwell tonight with the countach. Is a nice housing estate. I had about 50 kids around the car from time to time. Some asked to take pics when I was outside but in general the kids were just excited to see the car and happy to take pic to show.
If you have a car that interests you then why should it be a surprise that othes find it intersting too?
I agree with John. How do dealers know if one day that kid/parent will come back and buy a car or actually have the money to buy one then?
All of us with these cars, were that kid ( possibly some of us still are)!
Paul
xx
From a very enthusiastic but non-supercar owning point of view (although I have had cars that people have photographed, and I've been happy for them to do so) I can't see what the problem is.
When I was a teenager I used to love going into car showrooms that my dad would drive me to, and the only one that told me off was Maranellos in Egham.
The cars didn't even have number plates on, and a salesman told me the car I photographed the engine of could be identified by the engine number!!!
My camera in 1990 couldn't have got close to doing that!
Portman Lamborghini were always very nice to me, and Waldron Porsche in Maidstone who even bought some enlarged photos from me.
I ended up working saturdays at a Ferrari specialist as a result of going in regularly and eventually asking for a job!
Being polite and respectful certainly helps when you want to snoop around a collection of supercars!
When I was a teenager I used to love going into car showrooms that my dad would drive me to, and the only one that told me off was Maranellos in Egham.
The cars didn't even have number plates on, and a salesman told me the car I photographed the engine of could be identified by the engine number!!!
My camera in 1990 couldn't have got close to doing that!
Portman Lamborghini were always very nice to me, and Waldron Porsche in Maidstone who even bought some enlarged photos from me.
I ended up working saturdays at a Ferrari specialist as a result of going in regularly and eventually asking for a job!
Being polite and respectful certainly helps when you want to snoop around a collection of supercars!
This subject of showroom photography has been raised before and not too long ago with some interesting answers from both sales folk and aspiring photographers.
Dealerships are after all private property and it is their management's right to decline a photography request. Everyone knows that stuff can be downloaded to personal networking sites in seconds so it's hardly surprising that businesses are sensitive about what they will or will not allow. I always ask permission from the most senior person I can find. My Nikon DSLR is often perceived as 'professional' kit so I politely explain that the photography is for personal use only and there is no press or commercial intent.
Having strangers in close proximity to very expensive and vulnerable stock with cameras dangling from shoulders can make some dealers nervous. 'Photographers' with their mobile phones poised asking for doors, bonnets and boots to be opened won't help. Some people just can't help touching cars and aluminium is easily damaged. Dealers also don't want their clients being caught on camera either accidentally or intentionally.
I have noticed that Porsche showrooms are becoming more consistent at saying no to photography. Conversely I have taken pics at Egham without problems but policy and personnel can change over time with differing results.
One TVR dealer in our area said OK but to delete or obscure any number plates - easily done with Photo manipulation software. Within six weeks that all became academic when they and TVR went 'kaput'.
An Alfa dealer allowed me to photograph an 8C Competizione Coupe (so long as I didn't show the personalised number plate) in the showroom before it went to a famously connected client. That was on a Wednesday. The following Sunday lo and behold by chance it rolled up at a motorsport event with the new owner at the wheel for all to see (and for me photograph again but this time including the plate).
By Sunday the car was in the public domain and not within the confines of the dealer who had a business/client relationship and professional reputation to maintain.
Offering prints from what you have taken can be helpful. Do use common sense, be polite and do not be 'offended' if refused.
Dealerships are after all private property and it is their management's right to decline a photography request. Everyone knows that stuff can be downloaded to personal networking sites in seconds so it's hardly surprising that businesses are sensitive about what they will or will not allow. I always ask permission from the most senior person I can find. My Nikon DSLR is often perceived as 'professional' kit so I politely explain that the photography is for personal use only and there is no press or commercial intent.
Having strangers in close proximity to very expensive and vulnerable stock with cameras dangling from shoulders can make some dealers nervous. 'Photographers' with their mobile phones poised asking for doors, bonnets and boots to be opened won't help. Some people just can't help touching cars and aluminium is easily damaged. Dealers also don't want their clients being caught on camera either accidentally or intentionally.
I have noticed that Porsche showrooms are becoming more consistent at saying no to photography. Conversely I have taken pics at Egham without problems but policy and personnel can change over time with differing results.
One TVR dealer in our area said OK but to delete or obscure any number plates - easily done with Photo manipulation software. Within six weeks that all became academic when they and TVR went 'kaput'.
An Alfa dealer allowed me to photograph an 8C Competizione Coupe (so long as I didn't show the personalised number plate) in the showroom before it went to a famously connected client. That was on a Wednesday. The following Sunday lo and behold by chance it rolled up at a motorsport event with the new owner at the wheel for all to see (and for me photograph again but this time including the plate).
By Sunday the car was in the public domain and not within the confines of the dealer who had a business/client relationship and professional reputation to maintain.
Offering prints from what you have taken can be helpful. Do use common sense, be polite and do not be 'offended' if refused.
HarryRiddles said:
In Maranello Sales today I was told off for taking photos of a Ferrari 430 Scuderia 16M (with no number plates, and I asked another salesman before hand) because owners would be "offended" and "aggravated" if people take photos of their cars. I know the showroom has not got the best reputation on here as well, it could just be the attitude of the showroom?
I was just curious if any people on here get "aggravated" if people take photos of their cars? Often in public owners never seem to mind, as the car already attracts attention due to its looks and badge.
-Harry
This is pathetic, i saw this very car at Graypaul Nottingham about 5 weeks ago, they were not bothered at all about me taking pics, there were also a few other people in there taking photo's, i dont think people who work in dealerships realse that not all of us get to see the greatest cars ever made everyday of our life.I was just curious if any people on here get "aggravated" if people take photos of their cars? Often in public owners never seem to mind, as the car already attracts attention due to its looks and badge.
-Harry
I can't imagine who would want pictures of any of my cars, but you're more than welcome. No need to even ask first, just help yourself.
I can appreciate dealers being a bit coy if it's a new car, private plate, on the way to a publicly known client. It's one thing for the client to go out and show it off, but to be 'leaked' before they get that chance may cause friction between client and dealer. You know what some public personalities can be like, dealers have to protect their reputation as it's quite a small world.
However, cars for sale, in a dealership, with permission, should be fair game.
As for not being able to afford something you're looking at, this shouldn't matter one little bit.
Friend of a friend, bit of a surfer dude so always scruffily dressed, sold his software company for £25m. Very clever chap, but scruffy. Decided to swap his F40 for an F50, went to a dealer with an F50 advertised. Got ignored, then told to clear off. Went back to the dealer the next day in a suit, via the bank, and showed them a briefcase with £250k in 50s, and made a complaint to Ferrari UK about how he'd been treated. Ferrari UK, seeing a young man with a lifetime of Ferrari ownership ahead of him, were obviously concerned, salesman lost his job, dealer got a b
king.
I used to have an interest in the marine industry, and there's one thing you have to do, treat everybody with equal care, whether they can afford or not. Even when you KNOW you're wasting your time on a customer for a sale, they will remember the experience, and when great aunt Mildred dies and leaves them a fortune, they'll come straight back to you, because they've been treated well. You should never go for the quick sale only with these things. Always give them a test drive if asked, etc. You never know, and it's a guaranteed sale if they CAN ever afford it!
The best people for this, in my experience, are Bang & Olufsen.
I started buying their kit a few years ago, when I was about 21, and have been in dealerships all over the world. Never once have I been badly treated, or ignored, or not been offered excellent service.
In the US, it happened that I had a product that hadn't been launched over there yet, the chap was really interested in how it worked, what it looked like, etc. I was dressed like a tourist, shorts, t-shirt, etc. but they still looked after us, without question.
If you're going past a dealership, pop in and take a look, I'd be surprised if you weren't totally well looked after.
They're a damned sight better than a lot of car dealerships anyway.
I can appreciate dealers being a bit coy if it's a new car, private plate, on the way to a publicly known client. It's one thing for the client to go out and show it off, but to be 'leaked' before they get that chance may cause friction between client and dealer. You know what some public personalities can be like, dealers have to protect their reputation as it's quite a small world.
However, cars for sale, in a dealership, with permission, should be fair game.
As for not being able to afford something you're looking at, this shouldn't matter one little bit.
Friend of a friend, bit of a surfer dude so always scruffily dressed, sold his software company for £25m. Very clever chap, but scruffy. Decided to swap his F40 for an F50, went to a dealer with an F50 advertised. Got ignored, then told to clear off. Went back to the dealer the next day in a suit, via the bank, and showed them a briefcase with £250k in 50s, and made a complaint to Ferrari UK about how he'd been treated. Ferrari UK, seeing a young man with a lifetime of Ferrari ownership ahead of him, were obviously concerned, salesman lost his job, dealer got a b
king.I used to have an interest in the marine industry, and there's one thing you have to do, treat everybody with equal care, whether they can afford or not. Even when you KNOW you're wasting your time on a customer for a sale, they will remember the experience, and when great aunt Mildred dies and leaves them a fortune, they'll come straight back to you, because they've been treated well. You should never go for the quick sale only with these things. Always give them a test drive if asked, etc. You never know, and it's a guaranteed sale if they CAN ever afford it!
The best people for this, in my experience, are Bang & Olufsen.
I started buying their kit a few years ago, when I was about 21, and have been in dealerships all over the world. Never once have I been badly treated, or ignored, or not been offered excellent service.
In the US, it happened that I had a product that hadn't been launched over there yet, the chap was really interested in how it worked, what it looked like, etc. I was dressed like a tourist, shorts, t-shirt, etc. but they still looked after us, without question.
If you're going past a dealership, pop in and take a look, I'd be surprised if you weren't totally well looked after.
They're a damned sight better than a lot of car dealerships anyway.
I take lots of pictures at Ferrari dealers (including Maranello's) and almost never have any problems. But, always ask first (at least until they know you). As has been rightly pointed out, you are on private property and it gives them an opportunity to make sure you aren't then going to put pictures they don't want all over the Internet. A bit of good manners never does anyone any harm.
Jonathan
Jonathan
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