Joined
·
14,692 Posts
GM's Dumbest Move Yet
Rich Smith
June 9, 2004
The Motley Fool
I'm sorry. Is the headline a little harsh?
Well, I think deservedly so. And here's why (and just so you know I am not making this up, here's the link to General Motors' (NYSE: GM) website to prove it): Starting today and running through July 6, 2004, GM will pay $250 cash to any customer who:
Takes any GM-family vehicle home for a "24-hour test drive" and then
Buys another company's car instead of the GM car.
Call it a "customer disloyalty" program.
Think about it. Say you really have your heart set on a fancy new Dodge Durango from DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DCX). Or maybe one of the whiz-bang new Ford (NYSE: F) Escape hybrid SUVs. But for all that Dodge or Ford is offering a hefty sales incentive, you think the price is still a bit steep.
Never fear, oh intrepid consumer, hero of the American economy. GM is here to bail you out. Just pick yourself up a Chevy, a Buick, whatever (it doesn't matter which one, because you aren't going to buy it anyway), take it home and park it in the driveway, then fill out some papers and pick yourself up a nice fat check from GM after you purchase the competitor's car or truck, no questions asked.
Now if you are asking yourself, why didn't the Japanese think of this idea, here's the answer: The Japanese aren't idiots.
Full article here
Rich Smith
June 9, 2004
The Motley Fool
I'm sorry. Is the headline a little harsh?
Well, I think deservedly so. And here's why (and just so you know I am not making this up, here's the link to General Motors' (NYSE: GM) website to prove it): Starting today and running through July 6, 2004, GM will pay $250 cash to any customer who:
Takes any GM-family vehicle home for a "24-hour test drive" and then
Buys another company's car instead of the GM car.
Call it a "customer disloyalty" program.
Think about it. Say you really have your heart set on a fancy new Dodge Durango from DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DCX). Or maybe one of the whiz-bang new Ford (NYSE: F) Escape hybrid SUVs. But for all that Dodge or Ford is offering a hefty sales incentive, you think the price is still a bit steep.
Never fear, oh intrepid consumer, hero of the American economy. GM is here to bail you out. Just pick yourself up a Chevy, a Buick, whatever (it doesn't matter which one, because you aren't going to buy it anyway), take it home and park it in the driveway, then fill out some papers and pick yourself up a nice fat check from GM after you purchase the competitor's car or truck, no questions asked.
Now if you are asking yourself, why didn't the Japanese think of this idea, here's the answer: The Japanese aren't idiots.
Full article here
