GM Eager To Keep Pontiac & Saturn Customers; 1.6m To Get Free Oil Change Coupon

[Klay]

From what I can gather from this thread, it seems anyone who qualifies for this promotion find it to be insulting. It is great that several of you guys who own other GM brands think its thoughtful of GM to offer tha oil change but this isn't something that is directed at you.

So GM really has failed with this offer if this thread is any indication of Saturn/Pontiac owners as a whole.

Also, I sure hope GM doesn't think the same way that several of you guys do with you putting down the Saturn/Pontiac owners because they don't think this is enough to lure them to GM vehicles.

GM may not owe these guys anything but GM would much rather keep EXISTING customers as opposed to getting new ones, any company would. I'm sure it costs more to obtain new customers than giving a $1000-$2000 incentive for a new car purchase to current owners.

[Dana_15]

Originally Posted by Klay

From what I can gather from this thread, it seems anyone who qualifies for this promotion find it to be insulting. It is great that several of you guys who own other GM brands think its thoughtful of GM to offer tha oil change but this isn't something that is directed at you.

So GM really has failed with this offer if this thread is any indication of Saturn/Pontiac owners as a whole.

Also, I sure hope GM doesn't think the same way that several of you guys do with you putting down the Saturn/Pontiac owners because they don't think this is enough to lure them to GM vehicles.

GM may not owe these guys anything but GM would much rather keep EXISTING customers as opposed to getting new ones, any company would. I'm sure it costs more to obtain new customers than giving a $1000-$2000 incentive for a new car purchase to current owners.

I agree, a voucher would be nice. A free oil change is a slap in the face, it's like leaving a penny for a waitress as a tip, that's worse than doing nothing.

[Citation84]

Originally Posted by Dana_15

I agree, a voucher would be nice. A free oil change is a slap in the face, it's like leaving a penny for a waitress as a tip, that's worse than doing nothing.

Amen. Who made all of us Pontiac and Saturn owners "free agents" in the first place ? If the objective was to get us to try the other brand's service departments and become interested in GM's other product, this is an epic fail. Bad marketing once again. A simple thank you for being a loyal customer wouldn't have been as insulting.

How about being absolutely clear that you can take your Saturn or Pontiac to any GM Goodwrench outlet for service and that all special service offers apply to these brands as well ? That would go a lot further as a gesture than a damn one time coupon. Don't leave it up in the air about whether or not a Chevy or Buick dealer will service your Pontiac or Saturn. Those customers should have a clear up front answer and a welcome mat placed in front of them. Actions speak louder than coupons.

[WWI Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by Citation84

GM went to Washington DC and got 50 billion dollars and all I got was this lousy tee shirt [oil change coupon]?

[4x4x4doors]

Been there, done that?
But do you have the t-shirt?

[Gm786]

I can't understand why a lot of you members of this forum are bashing GM so much for the "LOAN" they got from the government well over 100 days ago and you expect GM to give you more than what their supposed to give you back. Would you guys be satisfied if GM bought each one of you a pure solid gold Cartier or Rolex watch? I mean come on! It's a loan! And according to Mr. Fritz Henderson and Ed Whitacre GM should start paying some of the loan back by the years end. GM has top notch vehicles on sale or either on the way, their offering a solid 60 day money back guarantee on all of their vehicles which is called "May The Best Car Win" marketing campaign. No other automaker offers such things and to top that off their vehicles come with a 5 year 100,000 mile warranty that's transferable.

I don't know what more you can possible want but GM committed them selves to paying back the $50 billion loan they got and are working extremely hard and fast to properly restructure so that this type of situation doesn't occur ever again in the future.

Can't wrap my head around all of the negativity.

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

I'm telling you GM, give 'em a free car!

[CorsaTurboC]

Originally Posted by Gm786

I can't understand why a lot of you members of this forum are bashing GM so much for the "LOAN" they got from the government well over 100 days ago and you expect GM to give you more than what their supposed to give you back. Would you guys be satisfied if GM bought each one of you a pure solid gold Cartier or Rolex watch? I mean come on! It's a loan! And according to Mr. Fritz Henderson and Ed Whitacre GM should start paying some of the loan back by the years end. GM has top notch vehicles on sale or either on the way, their offering a solid 60 day money back guarantee on all of their vehicles which is called "May The Best Car Win" marketing campaign. No other automaker offers such things and to top that off their vehicles come with a 5 year 100,000 mile warranty that's transferable.

I don't know what more you can possible want but GM committed them selves to paying back the $50 billion loan they got and are working extremely hard and fast to properly restructure so that this type of situation doesn't occur ever again in the future.

Can't wrap my head around all of the negativity.

Yup!! I agree. No logic and potlpads of negativity. GM in trouble, gets a gvt loan so those remaining workers will have employment, start to get their act together. Produces some great cars. Trims their offerings. All they ask for is a fair shake. They WANT to pay us back. So what does some of the American buying public do? Refuse to even CONSIDER a way to get their $$ back (consider a GM?) or whine they aren't getting their selfish wants over others (Where's my $20,000 off a G8?) It's an OIL CHANGE, people....

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by Gm786

I can't understand why a lot of you members of this forum are bashing GM so much for the "LOAN" they got from the government well over 100 days ago and you expect GM to give you more than what their supposed to give you back. Would you guys be satisfied if GM bought each one of you a pure solid gold Cartier or Rolex watch? I mean come on! It's a loan! And according to Mr. Fritz Henderson and Ed Whitacre GM should start paying some of the loan back by the years end. GM has top notch vehicles on sale or either on the way, their offering a solid 60 day money back guarantee on all of their vehicles which is called "May The Best Car Win" marketing campaign. No other automaker offers such things and to top that off their vehicles come with a 5 year 100,000 mile warranty that's transferable.

I don't know what more you can possible want but GM committed them selves to paying back the $50 billion loan they got and are working extremely hard and fast to properly restructure so that this type of situation doesn't occur ever again in the future.

Can't wrap my head around all of the negativity.

Go over to a Toyota forum and they SCOFF at the idea that it's a loan and it'll ever get paid back. A lot of the public see it as a bailout that will never be paid back.

[vcs2600]

Factually, most of the money was not a "loan".

[kilcher]

Originally Posted by Gm786

their offering a solid 60 day money back guarantee on all of their vehicles which is called "May The Best Car Win" marketing campaign. No other automaker offers such things

That campaign is a sham. It's not a no strings attached return policy. You're basically paying $500 for the option to return the vehicle if it turns out to be a lemon.

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by kilcher

That campaign is a sham. It's not a no strings attached return policy. You're basically paying $500 for the option to return the vehicle if it turns out to be a lemon.

It's not a return it if it's a lemon policy. There's laws against lemons and you can't determine in 60 days if it's a lemon or not. The policy is to show people that GM thinks they have the best car and if you buy that car but within 60 days get buyers remorse and realize you should have bought a competitor's product, you can bring the GM car back and go get that competitor's product. $500 for getting out of a car deal with 2 months to choose is a bargain, I assure you! That's like 2 lease payments, maybe less. And you only pay for the option if you use it.

[DetroitIron]

Pontiac's demise started with the GTO. Lame styling. An embarrassment to the legend. Saturn just became an Oldsmobile replacement, sharing too much with the rest of the GM line.

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by DetroitIron

Pontiac's demise started with the GTO. Lame styling. An embarrassment to the legend. Saturn just became an Oldsmobile replacement, sharing too much with the rest of the GM line.

I don't think it started there but I do think it was pivitol. If the GTO was a hit, Pontiac had a chance to flourish, but it flopped. I think it started long before that.

[kilcher]

Originally Posted by Uzzy

It's not a return it if it's a lemon policy. There's laws against lemons and you can't determine in 60 days if it's a lemon or not. The policy is to show people that GM thinks they have the best car and if you buy that car but within 60 days get buyers remorse and realize you should have bought a competitor's product, you can bring the GM car back and go get that competitor's product. $500 for getting out of a car deal with 2 months to choose is a bargain, I assure you! That's like 2 lease payments, maybe less. And you only pay for the option if you use it.

Most people don't use it and that's what GM is counting on. They can advertise it without having to stand behind it. If they want to stand behind their vehicles offer a free 60 day return policy and not hide it in the fine print.