If you haven't tried to win your free car yet (they're also giving away cash prizes), here's how it works, (at least when I did it):
* First, you write down or indicate your name, some contact information, and what vehicle you're interested in, (or just pick one if you're not really interested in any of them)
* You are then taken to the "Hot Button" vehicle, (a Cadillac Escalade ESV in my case). Once in it, the sales rep connects to OnStar.
* The OnStar rep greets you and asks what kind of vehicle you're in (of course, they already know that), your name, zip code, and last four numbers of your driver's license.
* The OnStar rep thanks you and connects you to something else. When that connection answers, corny game show music is played, and a recorded message tells you that you've lost.
* The recorded message then goes on to tell you how you can write in for another chance, etc. etc. etc.
A couple of days ago, I went down to my favorite Cadillac dealership to pick up some Auto Show discount tickets they were giving away, and I took three interested friends from work with me. On the way in, one of my buddies reminded me that GM had this giveaway going, and that we should enter the contest while there.
When I approached my favorite Cadillac salesman, he greeted us warmly, but then his face sank when I told him we wanted to "try to win the car". I guess the sales people don't like this game.
After all three of us took turns and lost, my favorite Cadillac salesman--who is comfortable being blunt around me and guests I bring with me--explained in a cynical and humorous way that the game is a waste of time. "Oh sure!", he said, "People come in here, we sit them in an Escalade, and they say 'Hey! I lost this game but I want to buy this Escalade! I never heard of Escalades before!'".
As some of you fellow GMI-sters are sales people at GM dealerships, I wonder if you have a similar reaction to this promotion? Or are sales people generally cynical about any major GM promotion?
