[jry]

If they rework the MKS, make it a little larger and "Black Label" it, they may be okay. To do this with the C? i don't think that they'll be a lot of takers.

 

[megeebee]

Thanks. Cadillac needs a bespoke marketing/ordering scheme and they need to use it to reward dealerships that provide the kind of service cars like the ATS and CTS deserve and need to thrive in the marketplace. Honestly, given the relatively more brash reputation Cadillac has always carried over the years compared to Lincoln, a bespoke marketing approach should be a slam dunk implementation for them.

Just saw this on Jokes.com:

"An older man walks into a bar wearing a stovepipe hat, a waistcoat and a phony beard. He sits down at a bar and orders a drink. As the bartender sets it down, he asks, "Going to a party?"

"Yeah, a costume party," the man answers, "I'm supposed to come dressed as my love life."

"But you look like Abe Lincoln," protests the bartender.

"That's right. My last four scores were seven years ago."

 

[syr74]

Just saw this on Jokes.com:

"An older man walks into a bar wearing a stovepipe hat, a waistcoat and a phony beard. He sits down at a bar and orders a drink. As the bartender sets it down, he asks, "Going to a party?"

"Yeah, a costume party," the man answers, "I'm supposed to come dressed as my love life."

"But you look like Abe Lincoln," protests the bartender.

"That's right. My last four scores were seven years ago."

Prior to the MKC Lincoln's last scores were even further back than that....but you gotta start somewhere. I think the MKC, the upcoming MKX, and the Black Label approach along with other changes made to the customer service experience serve as solid footing. But, they have to keep moving the ball forward or it will all be pointless.

 

[Cadman]

Sounds like a decent concept. Does Lincoln even advertise anymore? I can't remember the last time I saw a Lincoln commercial.

 

[paul8488]

I say bravo, new product is coming, but takes time, and alot of that timing isn't compressible. This is a very smart, relatively easy to put in place idea. Any improvements to the dealerships can only help, and I don't see how the rest would cost all that much, so even if the take-rate is low at first, I think Lincoln is more than patient. Luxury doesn't always make sense, and I think that this could appeal to many people. The fact that they don't have to spend 100 grand to be treated like royalty is actually a big plus; a RR buyer expects this kind of service, a Lincoln buyer, until now, couldn't even dream of it. And most other brand's customers still can't dream of it...

 

[ByTheLake]

It will be interesting to see how well this works for Lincoln. Sounds like they are really trying to pamper the Lincoln customers, but will this help the brand image and sell cars?

To me, Black Label is a beer.

 

[Envoy4Life]

In terms of alcohol, you're alone in thinking of a cheap beer when you hear "Black Label".

Most think of an okay scotch:

 

[free_energy0]

Wherever you may think these two brands are relative to product cadence, in terms of finding ways to provide a truly premium customer service experience Lincoln is leaps and bounds beyond where Cadillac is right now. In fact, Cadillac only really began taking this part of the equation seriously a little less than two years ago.

 

[Tone]

It will be interesting to see how well this works for Lincoln. Sounds like they are really trying to pamper the Lincoln customers, but will this help the brand image and sell cars?

To me, Black Label is a beer.

Hey Mabel ...

 

[Sox]

Sounds like a decent concept. Does Lincoln even advertise anymore? I can't remember the last time I saw a Lincoln commercial.

Matthew McConaughey commercials are on TV all the time. Where have you been?

 

[Sox]

I don't get the recent love for Lincoln on here.

That thing is just as ugly as any other whale faced Lincoln.

No thanks.

Lincoln. Dedicated to krill-free highways....everywhere.

 

[TORRED1]

Are Lincoln buyers "High End Luxury Buyers"? Most Lincolns sold are about $45K and under. I'm not trying to be nasty here, but this will be the case for a while.

Black Label is a reflection of Fords "attitude" toward Lincoln. That is to do as much as possible with as little as possible. That's not a bad thing, mind you. And Black Label, for what it is, has been done well. I do share others skepticism though on its effectiveness in boosting sales.

And your point, Mercedes CLA starts at 29,900. There are a lot of wannabes that buy cheap MB and BMW's. I don't consider the chevette version of any premium brand to be anything but the chevette of that brand. Premium is what ever ones personal tastes are. For some it's more than others. I hope they sell a crap load of them.

 

[Sox]

Makes me wonder if Caddy shouldn't be following suit in offering some kind of bespoke customization package to their clients. You paying attention GM?

I think GM has been focussing on building genuinely superior luxury motor vehicles and calling them Cadillacs. Consensus is that real estate is location, location, location. GM seems to believe that success in this industry is generally product, product, product.

 

[syr74]

Graph and stuff

So, based upon that graph, I can only assume that BMW and Lexus customers will come stampeding into Cadillac showrooms any moment now to bask in the unparalleled customer service offered by that brand? And this for Lincoln too apparently? Of course, the problem here is that those surveys are asking people who actually bought cars from those brands what they think, and as we all know it is the people who aren't buying cars from Lincoln and Cadillac who are the problem.

As for the Black Label commentary, when I think of Black Label I think of Bentley and Ralph Lauren. But then, that may be the point. Or, to put it more bluntly, do the people Cadillac and Lincoln want to sell cars to even know that Hormel makes bacon or that Johnny Walker offers a black label whiskey by and large?

 

[free_energy0]

So, based upon that graph, I can only assume that BMW and Lexus customers will come stampeding into Cadillac showrooms any moment now to bask in the unparalleled customer service offered by that brand? And this for Lincoln too apparently? Of course, the problem here is that those surveys are asking people who actually bought cars from those brands what they think, and as we all know it is the people who aren't buying cars from Lincoln and Cadillac who are the problem.

Based upon that graph, it is clear that Lincoln is not "leaps and bounds beyond Cadillac" in terms of customer service. Rambling about BMW and Lexus doesn't change the fact that you're demonstrably wrong.

 

[roy219]

I don't think your typical high-end luxury buyer will fall for a Black Label Fusion any more than they would fall for a 1/2 price LV bag sold in a Bangkok back alley.

Exactly. Using your culinary analogy in post #3, it's the difference between huge portions of a flavorless entree slathered with condiments and other ancillary items versus a much smaller quantity of a meticulously prepared dish using quality ingredients.

 

[syr74]

Based upon that graph, it is clear that Lincoln is not "leaps and bounds beyond Cadillac" in terms of customer service. Rambling about BMW and Lexus doesn't change the fact that you're demonstrably wrong.

So then, we can logically assume, the fact that Toyota sells more cars than GM does must mean that Toyota is a notably superior product to GM as that is effectively people voting with their wallet. You can't have it both ways, a vote by keypad or by checkbook is still a vote, so feel free to agree to the superiority of Toyota over GM at anytime.

You're referencing a graph that insinuates Cadillac provides superb customer service to that offered by Lexus. Even you havent drank that much Kool Aid.

 

[roy219]

You're referencing a graph that insinuates Cadillac provides superb customer service to that offered by Lexus.

Cadillac dealerships DO provide customer service that's among the best of any luxury automotive brand. Moreover, Cadillac improved in this survey to a greater extent than Lexus, which had ranked #1 in 2012 and 2013 (Cadillac held the #2 spot both those years). Cadillac's commitment to providing its customers the best service experience possible is absolute, and the JDP CSI survey confirms this.

Previous year's JDP CSI study results:

2012 study:

 

[megeebee]

And your point, Mercedes CLA starts at 29,900. There are a lot of wannabes that buy cheap MB and BMW's. I don't consider the chevette version of any premium brand to be anything but the chevette of that brand. Premium is what ever ones personal tastes are. For some it's more than others. I hope they sell a crap load of them.

There is an enormous difference here. Mercedes is a brand that has an almost unassailable reputation in the Luxury Market and a large line of vehicles ranging to over $100K. Mercedes can AFFORD to do a CLA and a GLA, though I don't think in the long run it will be good for the brand.

Lincoln?

 

[2b2]

Honestly, a lot of people are missing the point here. Black Label is another part of the strategy Lincoln is using to bring customer service up to a level where selling fully premium cars through their dealership network isn't a silly proposition. Since they literally cannot easily make dealerships provide a Lexus-like dealership experience, they keep looking for new strategies and end runs to dangle carrots in front of the dealership body in an effort to compel them to up their game of their own volition. The fact that Lincoln can package these incentives into something that plays into a higher end marketing ploy is just icing on the cake.

Wherever you may think these two brands are relative to product cadence, in terms of finding ways to provide a truly premium customer service experience Lincoln is leaps and bounds beyond where Cadillac is right now. In fact, Cadillac only really began taking this part of the equation seriously a little less than two years ago.

the Black Label approach along with other changes made to the customer service experience serve as solid footing. But, they have to keep moving the ball forward or it will all be pointless.

Agree re: dealers

I posted about that at FiN

re: "keep moving"
imho...well
all things considered (like the "pace" since the the MKZ-Concept was shown),
they already know how milk the {whatever** for all it's worth and then some...
...REAL momentum, esp. leading to market share ... ... ...
guess I'll depend on the $5billion budget for that

If they rework the MKS, make it a little larger and "Black Label" it, they may be okay. To do this with the C? i don't think that they'll be a lot of takers.

wish! I knew what they're planning to "replace" the current MKS
(( honest, FLincMoCo, I wouldn't tell ANYone!! ... except Jose

))

for the C,
I can see it becoming a bit like a 'rather/somewhat' expensive pair of crosstrainers(gymshoes)...
...appealing to a LOT of people with a B R O A D r a n g e of income (or SOMEbody's income)
edit
"Tiffany says her MKC cost over $10k more than Buffy's CLA"