Ford: "Dude, Buy a Focus, Get a Dell Computer Free!"

[gmsickofan]

Ford: Buy a Focus, Get a Dell Computer Free
Tuesday February 15, 1:10 pm ET



DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. is offering a $500 cash rebate, in addition to other hefty discounts, to millions of full-time college students and recent graduates seeking to buy or lease a Ford or Lincoln-Mercury vehicle, the company said on Tuesday.

Ford, which saw U.S. sales drop 5.4 percent last month, said the rebate was available to students currently enrolled in college, trade or graduate school as well as any student who has graduated or will graduate between May 1, 2003 and Jan. 2, 2006.

The second-largest U.S. automaker said about 15.1 million students across the United States are eligible for the rebate, which will remain on offer through January 2006.

Ford, which recently eased its lending policies to offer more loans to younger buyers, is currently offering interest-free financing for up to five years on most sport utility vehicles and some pickup trucks.

The automaker is also giving away a Dell Inc. desktop computer with the purchase of its 2005 model-year Focus car, in addition to a $2,000 cash rebate.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/050215/autos...entives_1.html

[citric acid]

Market to a market segment with no money. Genius.

[TiburonJT]

Have you been on a campus lately? A lot of college students drive nice vehicles, maybe a lot are their parents former vehicles, but I think this marketing is fine.

[Perian]

Originally Posted by gmsickofan

Ford: Buy a Focus, Get a Dell Computer Free
Tuesday February 15, 1:10 pm ET

DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. is offering a $500 cash rebate, in addition to other hefty discounts, to millions of full-time college students and recent graduates seeking to buy or lease a Ford or Lincoln-Mercury vehicle, the company said on Tuesday.

The automaker is also giving away a Dell Inc. desktop computer with the purchase of its 2005 model-year Focus car, in addition to a $2,000 cash rebate.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/050215/autos...entives_1.html

Not a bad deal, but you left something out... Here in New York, if you use the college grad program, Ford Motor Credit will also match the first $ 500 of your down payment.

Toss that money ($3000) on the hood of a Focus ST and life will be good.

[citric acid]

Originally Posted by TiburonJT

Have you been on a campus lately? A lot of college students drive nice vehicles, maybe a lot are their parents former vehicles, but I think this marketing is fine.

Yes, I go to one every day, since I'm a student and all. And being a student, with mostly student friends, I know that as a group, students rarely have money. And if someone has a nice car on campus, chances are they haven't bought it themselves. The amount of people who can afford tuition AND somewhere to live AND a car is a very low percentage.

[ElmerMCR]

Originally Posted by citric acid

Yes, I go to one every day, since I'm a student and all. And being a student, with mostly student friends, I know that as a group, students rarely have money. And if someone has a nice car on campus, chances are they haven't bought it themselves. The amount of people who can afford tuition AND somewhere to live AND a car is a very low percentage.

But, I would say there is a good amount of students in college whose parents can afford to pay their tuition and dorm/apt costs, unless they live at home, which leaves those students with extra money from their employer to afford a new car. So, I would say the marketing is fine.

I do agree with you that this IS a very low or low percentage of students who can afford car, tuition, and housing costs.

[dav305z]

Well I hate Fords and I hate all Windows computers so I guess they failed with this college student.
Seriously though, I don't know what this will really do. They might be able to sell a couple more V-6 Mustangs, which don't need the help, but I don't see this helping any of their ailing models. $500 won't draw a kid away from a far superior Cobalt, which will also inevitably offer rebates.

[pupp1]

Give me a Mustang and a free Gateway,then we'll talk.

[TiburonJT]

Originally Posted by citric acid

Yes, I go to one every day, since I'm a student and all. And being a student, with mostly student friends, I know that as a group, students rarely have money. And if someone has a nice car on campus, chances are they haven't bought it themselves. The amount of people who can afford tuition AND somewhere to live AND a car is a very low percentage.

Calm down I go to college too, and I have friends who purchased cars, some who used their own money and some who used their parent's money. A lot of students can't, but I suspect Ford hired an agency that did research which showed this marketing would be effective.

[TiburonJT]

Give me a free F-150 if I buy a Dell and I will be happy.

[TiburonJT]

Originally Posted by dav305z

Well I hate Fords and I hate all Windows computers so I guess they failed with this college student.
Seriously though, I don't know what this will really do. They might be able to sell a couple more V-6 Mustangs, which don't need the help, but I don't see this helping any of their ailing models. $500 won't draw a kid away from a far superior Cobalt, which will also inevitably offer rebates.

Yeah, I don't know how this makes much difference. But I am not a marketing person, so what do I know!?

[ElmerMCR]

Originally Posted by TiburonJT

Yeah, I don't know how this makes much difference.

I'm not sure how much of a difference this will make either. The new Focus just isn't selling well. The car is TOO refined. If they would have left the more youth oriented Euro style, or maybe not youth oriented, but more out there than what is in the maket today, they would have had better sales and wouldn't have needed this incentive.

Wouldn't work on me...

[dav305z]

Originally Posted by ElmerMCR

I'm not sure how much of a difference this will make either. The new Focus just isn't selling well. The car is TOO refined. If they would have left the more youth oriented Euro style, or maybe not youth oriented, but more out there than what is in the maket today, they would have had better sales and wouldn't have needed this incentive.

Wouldn't work on me...

Also, lets remember the reality that this is a refreshed platform that is facing the new Cobalt as well as the already good and soon-to-be-refreshed Civic. The restyle didn't fool anyone, and on top of that, your right, the stodgy new styling might have actually hurt it.
In addition - and this might be nit-picking - but what genius decided that Ford should run a college and computer deal in FEBRUARY? Any Target cashier worker could tell you that the best time to launch student oriented sales is August and September. I could almost picture someone deciding they need a new computer and car to start off a new school year, but certainly not in March.
Hmm... At the end of the year we are going to have to run a vote for lamest rebate from GM and Ford.

[Tiger]

Good call Ford! I think it's worth a shot. Plus most parents contribute to their kids vehicle while they in college.

I drove a Nissan truck and my sister had a Honda Civic...that WE CHOSE and our parents helped foot the bill for.

[RWD60]

yeah, im at college and i often ride around in my friends' 2004 Corolla, X-terra, Civic...(my car is 13 years old and cost 2k ) this could be a decent idea. actually starting now's pretty good, gets awareness out right as acceptance letters are mailed and parents start selling their souls for tuition money