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Rich People’s Problems ~ Ferrari’s Anti-Competitive Practices

December 20, 2007

599Many of the thirty-somethings I know are just now reaching the million dollar mark in their bank accounts and in most cases the money is burning a hole in their pocket. The favorite vehicle for newly minted millionaires? The Ferrari 599 GTB.

There is only one problem. The newly minted millionaire can’t buy one ~ at ANY price. Does this sound un-American? It turns out that you can’t just walk into a Ferrari dealer and drive out with a new car. Instead you have to convince the dealer you are serious.

Step One: You need to buy a used Ferrari from the dealer. If you are lucky you might be able to find a 2006 430 Spider with 2,500 miles for around $290,000.00. Oh, but you must agree not to sell it yourself, but instead to trade it back in when you are allowed to purchase a new 599 in two or three years.

Step Two: Put your name on the wait list and make a sizeable deposit in the five figure range.

Step Three: Show up at the dealer’s office as soon as he calls to let you know that your 599 GTB has arrived. Bring a gift, perhaps a bottle of wine (think expensive and French). Accept whatever he offers you for the 430 Spider you bought two years ago. Pay whatever price he quotes. Drive away as soon as possible.

DO NOT resell your 430 to anyone but the dealer. If the dealer learns (or even worse, Ferrari of North America learns) that you have breached their security and let their prancing pony out of the club your name will be removed from all waitlists FOREVER. That is it, game over, you never can buy a new Ferrari for remainder of your life. Once you get your 599 GTB you must agree to sell it back to the dealer. No exceptions. Otherwise you will receive the Ferrari Death Penalty.

Doesn’t this sound like anti-competitive trade? Price fixing? Something, right? Of course when you pay half a million for a Ferrari you are paying for more than just sheetmetal, you are paying for history. After a long dicussion with my wife, she we decided that it might make sense to get our kids into college before buying so much history.

Written by Alexander Muse · Filed Under Blog 

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  1. Ralph Muse Says:
    December 21st, 2007 at 10:10 am

    The new “energy bill” will put a stop to all of this. Non one will be able to buy a perfornace car at all.

  2. Steve Baack Says:
    December 29th, 2007 at 1:35 pm

    Hey Alex - You need to put me in touch with some of those folks with the millions! ;-)

    I can help!

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