Deposits

[rhg]

My understanding is that some (and quite possibly all) Alfa Dealers are taking a "fully refundable" deposit for a build slot for an Alfa 4C. The figure that I've seen most often is £1,000, but I have heard of higher sums being asked.

My understanding is that this "buys" you (because in reality you haven't actually spent anything, the money is just no longer in your bank account) a place in that dealers allocation of build slots. So if you're 4th on their list, and they only get 3 build slots allocated to them.... you're out of luck.

I'm fairly sure this is a dealer only initiative and it's not officially sanctioned by Alfa UK, but I might be wrong.

Does anyone have any more detail than this?

Does anyone know of a more definitive list that gives you a guaranteed chance of getting a car quickly?

RG

[Whitejam]

I spoke to alfa uk a couple of weeks ago and they wernt sanctioning dealers to take money, seemed surprised when i told them dealers were taking money

[David P]

As I already said elsewhere it seem some UK Dealers are showing some initiative



I wonder what interest rates they are getting on those deposit accounts

[MacGeek]

Correct: Alfa Romeo HQ definitely isn't taking orders nor deposits. Those are dealer initiatives.

[rhg]

As I thought.

So the next question is:

If you've put down a deposit with a dealer, what happens when the "official" pre-ordering is launched? Do you just sit back and relax, knowing that the dealer will consult you, and move you on to the official queue BEFORE other people who hadn't put down a deposit? Or do you regularly scan the internet and continue to manage your own interests?

Of course all this assumes that there will be high demand for the car, and that depends on the final spec, styling and price.

RG

[alfaowner]

A bit why I asked someone recently in another thread who had their deposit...

[milowokie]

Sounds like the XJ220 saga to me.

People put down a deposit on their 4WD V12 Supercar which looks great in the pictures, to find it eventually turns out to be a V6 RWD white elephant...

[dank_army]

Sounds risky to me.

I would like to know whether you get some kind of documentation which is legally binding.

[David P]

Originally Posted by dank_army

I would like to know whether you get some kind of documentation which is legally binding.

I seriously doubt it considering the Dealers may not be able to guarantee delivery for a few reasons

[johnnystealth]

Ive done this with Meridien Alfa. 1k gets you a 'build slot' which can mean pretty much anything; basically a gentlemans agreement that if they get 10 cars and you are 9th on their list, you get the 9th one they get. The deposit is 'fully refundable' until specs, prices etc are announced and then its time to order or bale out. Its after that point that the risk begins if you are only doing this speculatively and dont actually want the car, because then you are committed to buy.

Despite what people say, at this moment this is totally risk free; I have emails from them declaring that the deposit is refundable, and it was also announced the AROC magazine; they would no way be able to welch on this and get away with it legally given the evidence.

But the way to be double-sure is to pay on credit card, you then get Section 75 cover which means any merchant not providing a product or service that they have agreed to, or if they go bust on you, means you are fully covered by the card issuer.

At the moment it really is risk free as long as you do pay on a credit (not debit) card.

[rhg]

Originally Posted by johnnystealth

At the moment it really is risk free as long as you do pay on a credit (not debit) card.

I agree with you on the risk free status, apart from one small detail...........

I still think there's a risk that your deposit won't actually get you what you want, i.e. a car, and an early one at that. I've no doubt that if this happens you'll get your cash back, but that's hardly the point is it.

It was definitely a dealer initiative at the beginning. More recently it appears to be getting more official, but I'm not sure that there's anything more to that than if you'd filled in an "expression of interest" form at the Geneva Motor Show.

I would hope that Alfa UK don't undermine their dealer network by launching a completely separate advance ordering system, but I've learnt never to underestimate the power of corporates to completely misunderstand the world in general.

[MacGeek]

The way Alfa HQ works is a bit different. What they've done with "special cars" (i.e. the 8C) is getting "expressions of interest", as you say. Which didn't have any deposit attached whatsoever. You just told them you were interested in getting one. If you passed customer selection, they told you so and offered the opportunity to go forward with your order, by sending you the sales brochure, price and option list, and arranging a meeting to define the details of your future car. No money ever exchanged hands before signing the sales contract.

I'd expect them to follow the same modus operandi.

Last time I talked with the people in charge of the project, I specifically asked if I could preorder one, and was told I couldn't, and I also asked to be contacted as soon as they had something to show or tell me (under NDA, of course). I haven't been contacted yet (I would probably be contacted even if I didn't express my interest, being an 8C customer – they called to offer me an Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari build slot, which I didn't even care about), so things are definitely not moving at the HQ level.

[mariopav]

I have put a deposit down for a 4C back in march now and haven't heard anything yet, when placing deposit i was told i wouldnt here anyting until later this year... i have no hopes in getting one though after the palava regarding the 8c.

In the UK I think it is different.I placed my deposit for the 8c before anyone else had done in the UK, Hoping and thinking i would be first on the list, knowing i was a good alfa romeo customer owning a 146,147GTA and V6 GT! however i never even recieved one and had to go to a non alfa dealer to buy my 8C.The dealer i bought it off i had 4! and was just about just about to recieve the soft tops!

I Believe there is priveledges to certain alfa clients(dealers and collectors) before the everyday alfa romeo customer.

[chrismh75]

ANyone had any updates yet?

I expect I am too late as if the car genereates as much excitement as expected, the speculators will already have the early slots wrapped up

[Perreby]

We in SA are only getting the 4C in the 3rd quarter of 2013, so they will only take deposits for it in SA in quarter 1, 2013... So I have a full year too ensure the deposit is as big as possible.

[MikeX159]

Originally Posted by chrismh75

ANyone had any updates yet?

I expect I am too late as if the car genereates as much excitement as expected, the speculators will already have the early slots wrapped up

Autocar this week revives the story - 230 bhp, mid 2013 launch and target price of £38,000.

More interesting is a story to say the Abarth Spider will be launched as an Alfa Romeo - much more kind of thing to be honest.

[piquet]

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3668/alfa4c.jpg

[sean0711]

what dealers have been taking deposits? i went in to my local dealer and they would even take my name for a pre order list, let alone a deposit! i was quite disapointed. hope you guys are having better luck at your dealers! cant wait to see the 4c on the road.

[Perreby]

The car will only hit the production line middle of net year... And with them aiming to build 18 000 of the 4C I doubt we will be needing to book production slots since its not a limited production run.

[cue2]

Some dealers will happily take a thousand pounds and earn some interest from it but I'm sure there wil be no benefit to prospective customers .I read about the equivalent experience of 8c buyers and I am sure there wil be enough 4C to meet supply.Its really a "halo " product and dealers will surely encouraged to have one in the showroom.

[davidjwbailey]

£500 down with large north of england dealer
deposit forms, money in separate bank, refundable in case of bankruptcy, etc etc
can withdraw on demand
"expression of interest only"
my details passed by dealer to ARUK, who then got in touch to give me more info on the 4C, so it seems like something is happening
total loss of interest over 2 years would be ~£10 at current bank rates ..