Car shopper claims Norwalk Porsche dealership snubbed him because he didn’t look rich

This Porsche shopper was looking for a replacement for his Lexus but left with a bad taste because not one salesman allegedly acknowledged his presence.

McKenna Porsche of Norwalk just missed out on a potential $100,000 sale. According to car shopper Mike Kojima earlier today (Feb 8, 2020) several Porsche salesmen allegedly ignored Mike on purpose, instead catering to the needs of shoppers who came in after him, all because he didn’t exactly look rich.

Mike was potentially ready to finance a Porsche Taycan, an electric sports car with a $103,000 MSRP.

Embed from Getty Images

Check out Mike’s story on his personal Instagram below. If the post is blank, here’s the words verbatim.

“I went to look at and get information on the Taycan as a replacement for our family IS-F that is 10 years old and getting up there in miles. I pulled up in an old Carmry and was dressed like my usual dirt bag self. I spent a few minutes looking at the Taycan parked in front and saw several sales staff glancing at me and walked inside. The person at the front desk glanced at me and ignored me.

Then I spent over 20 minutes standing in front of the sales staff desks waiting for someone to greet or help me. A well dressed wealthy looking Chinese couple were greeted and helped immediately. I was annoyed. Then another well dressed Chinese couple was greeted and helped right away. I was pissed by this time and left.

You guys lost a potential sale and all future business from me and, my family and friends who ask me for automotive advice. I have never been ignored by sales people at any dealership before not to mention one that is a premium brand. Yes I dress like a dirt bag and I was driving a beater but that doesn’t mean I can’t afford one of your cars.

It also means you have lost the business and recommendations of an auto industry opinion leader. I hope you learn you can’t judge a book by its cover. I have never put a company on blast before but I feel like I was deliberately slighted. . . .“

View this post on Instagram

Boo @mckennaporsche I went to look at and get information on the Taycan as a replacement for our family IS-F that is 10 years old and getting up there in miles. I pulled up in an old Carmry and was dressed like my usual dirt bag self. I spent a few minutes looking at the Taycan parked in front and saw several sales staff glancing at me and walked inside. The person at the front desk glanced at me and ignored me. Then I spent over 20 minutes standing in front of the sales staff desks waiting for someone to greet or help me. A well dressed wealthy looking Chinese couple were greeted and helped immediately. I was annoyed. Then another well dressed Chinese couple was greeted and helped right away. I was pissed by this time and left. You guys lost a potential sale and all future business from me and, my family and friends who ask me for automotive advice. I have never been ignored by sales people at any dealership before not to mention one that is a premium brand. Yes I dress like a dirt bag and I was driving a beater but that doesn’t mean I can’t afford one of your cars. It also means you have lost the business and recommendations of an auto industry opinion leader. I hope you learn you can’t judge a book by its cover. I have never put a company on blast before but I feel like I was deliberately slighted. . . . #mckennaporsche #porsche #taycan #porschetaycan #porscheusa

A post shared by Mike Kojima (@mike_kattrainer_kojima) on Feb 8, 2020 at 2:02pm PST

Putting aside wether Mike Kojima walked up to a salesman for help, the facts of the alleged situation according to Mike remain the same. Mike entered a Porsche dealership intending to more than window shop and was actively ignored by salesmen who catered to the needs of two other parties when Mike entered before them.

While this is a Porsche dealership, it is in Norwalk. Technically, Norwalk is a suburban city, one of the most populous in all of Los Angeles County with a median income of around $46,000. We’re not exactly in Beverly Hills here. It would be reasonable to expect some potential clientele to go for a more relaxed look.

Porsche is also a luxury good and not a Toyota dealership. With presumably a lot less foot traffic compared to a regular car dealership, it would be reasonable to expect a level of service not found in a Ford or GM dealership with a fraction of the traffic.

It’s even listed on Porsche Mckenna’s website that you should expect a first class level of service if you come in.

Our Porsche dealership in Norwalk, CA, works hard to provide you with the first-class experience you deserve, no matter the reason for your visit. 

McKenna Porsche strives to build lifetime customer relationships by providing each customer with an experience that exceeds their expectations in a friendly, professional and efficient manner. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re a KIA or Porsche dealership, car dealerships should give every customer a certain level of respect, no matter how much money they supposedly have.

While it’s reasonable to feel apprehensive about approaching some dude with camo on a potential six figure purchase, the least anyone expects from car dealerships nowadays is the benefit of the doubt. Even a simple, “Hi, how may I help you” would suffice.

It’s worth noting that Mike Kojima is a respected automotive technical engineer serving several motorsport and aftermarket industries in Southern California for decades, so, for the record, Mike wasn’t exactly just “some dude.”

Someone should’ve approached Mike once he set foot on their property, it’s not only the fair thing to do, that level of service doesn’t go unnoticed.