[pktojd]

Form a post on Autoblog re: the 2010 Mustang and the option packages -- suspension, appearance, performance -- that are available:

"If there is one important lesson to be learned from the premium German automakers, it's that having lots of personalization options can be highly profitable. With that in mind, there are a seemingly infinite number of parts available from Ford Racing including both go-faster bits and visual accouterments. . . . Thankfully, unlike most aftermarket parts, the official stuff from Ford Racing comes with a full warranty, and upgrades are also available for both V6 and GT models."

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/0...stang/

 

[MagoonR]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (pktojd)

IIRC, the C30 also had a large number of personalized choices......and didn't do well.

 

[pktojd]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (MagoonR)

Quote, originally posted by MagoonR »

IIRC, the C30 also had a large number of personalized choices......and didn't do well.

Yes, but those choices, as I recall, were purely aesthetic -- roof flags, interior accent elements, and perhaps some accessories. Meanwhile, first in Germany and now in Sweden you can buy tuning packages for Volvo, done by outside vendors, that are then fully warrantied by Volvo.

Admittedly, the Mustang has an established fan base and name recognition that the C#0 could probably never hope to achieve, but an advertisement would have been a step in the right direction.

 

[volvdog]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (pktojd)

Actually, the only thing that Volvo (specifically Volvo North America) is good at is pissing off their loyal customers.... Bought a 2009 C30 exactly one week before they came out with the new enhanced warranty for 2009 models (effective starting 6/2 and extended through the end of July). I guess timing in life is everything (and my local Volvo stealer claimed ignorance of this new warranty until the day it was announced by Volvo). However, Volvo NA customer service was happy to offer me the enhanced warranty coverage on my week old car for the meager sum of $2995... wrote a letter of complaint to Doug Speck, President of VNA and of course never received a reply... That C30 is probably the last new Volvo I'll ever buy...

 

[stev vanveit]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (pktojd)

What about the new "Polestar Performance Upgrade Package Brings Volvo Race Technology to the Road" as posted in News and Rumours?

It is suppose to increase performance by 0.5 seconds with a new engine control system and is backed by Volvo Car Corp and Polestar Racing AB.

 

[Pinstripe]

^
Not available on this side of the pond.

 

[VolvoMax]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (pktojd)

Ford has always had performance applications that could be purchased thru the dealer body.
Ford has a large presence in NASCAR as well as other racing series in the past.
Volvo has no such association, nor does Volvo have an owner base amenable to these types of products. At least not in the US.
Look it all comes down to money.
If EVOLVE or IPD or Heico was raking in big bucks selling Volvo performance parts you can bet that VCNA would want in on the pie.

 

[BarentsBlueV50]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (volvdog)

Quote, originally posted by volvdog »

Actually, the only thing that Volvo (specifically Volvo North America) is good at is pissing off their loyal customers.... Bought a 2009 C30 exactly one week before they came out with the new enhanced warranty for 2009 models (effective starting 6/2 and extended through the end of July). I guess timing in life is everything (and my local Volvo stealer claimed ignorance of this new warranty until the day it was announced by Volvo). However, Volvo NA customer service was happy to offer me the enhanced warranty coverage on my week old car for the meager sum of $2995... wrote a letter of complaint to Doug Speck, President of VNA and of course never received a reply... That C30 is probably the last new Volvo I'll ever buy...

This I just don't understand. Why be mad at Volvo? A sale has to start at some time and it has to end at some time. If Volvo never offered that promotion would you still be happy with your C30 and buy another Volvo?

Your stealer may be telling the truth. Sales promotions are tightly guarded secrets. For example, let's say word leaked out a week before hand. Then, Volvo would have zero sales that week, and the week after they would have to give more discounts than if word had not leaked out. So the promotion program would cost them significantly more than they had predicted or forecast.

You think Toyota or Honda lets their dealers and customers know in advance when their promotions are starting? Think again.

Two weeks after I signed the contract to do my OSD they offered the free trip to Ireland and the premium package went from half off to free. Oh well. Like you said, timing is everything in life.

 

[Munin]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (volvdog)

Quote, originally posted by volvdog »

and my local Volvo stealer claimed ignorance of this new warranty until the day it was announced by Volvo

That part I can actually believe. It was clearly in Volvo's interest to keep this deal very close to itself until it went into effect.

 

[VolvoMax]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (volvdog)

Incentives and programs change constanly. Sometimes you pay more sometimes you pay less. Changing the incentives are meant to encourage new sales, you had already bought your car. No reason for Volvo to give you an incentive you weren't entitled to.

 

[gascos80]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (VolvoMax)

Max, although what you say is true, it sounds a tad offensive. The "timing is everything" would be much better language to use.

I did "walk away" from one of the cell phone providers when they did not want to make any concessions to me during the service UPGRADE, while giving all kinds of incentives to new users of lesser tiers.

I stay with Sprint and Road Runner as ISP because of their sensitivity to existing customers. I am not getting the full-blown marketing promotions, but definitely getting some "cancellation prizes".

 

[VolvoMax]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (gascos80)

Quote, originally posted by gascos80 »

Max, although what you say is true, it sounds a tad offensive. The "timing is everything" would be much better language to use.

Maybe so. In the case of the OP his incentives were good enough for him to buy the car. Now that they have changed his offer wasn't good enough?? He wants a do over?
We are all adults here. We all make decisions based on the data we have available. Sometimes we do better than other times.
My point is that, where car sales are concerned, you can always count on incentives getting better from time to time. Someone somewhere is probably gonna get a better deal than the ones that are out there now.
As a consumer, you cannot get hung up over that or you will NEVER buy anything. the only thing you can do is ask yourself, "Do I feel good about this purchase today?" If so, buy the car. Don't feel bad if a better deal comes out. Sometimes deals get worse. Ask anyone who held off leasing an XC90 instead of getting one in Dec.

 

[volvdog]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (VolvoMax)

I completely admit that it's 'sour grapes' and I'm sure the folks that bought a new Volvo on June 1st (the day before the new enhanced warranty deal came out) have far more reason to be pissed off than I do. Volvomax is a Volvo sales manager so I would expect him to have this opinion (so Max did you sell a car to a customer on June 1st, if so, what was their reaction the next day when Volvo came out with the enhanced warranty coverage that they were a day late for???).
Back in January I bought a new 2008 Saab 9-3 wagon to replace the wife's mini-van. Two months after I bought that car the rebate incentive increased significantly. I was not upset about that at all as 1. two months had passed and 2. the desirable cars leftover eligible for the increased rebate were few and far between.
In the case of my C30 purchase on May 26th I asked my dealer if they had any information on what the purchase incentives would be for the month of June. They pleaded ignorance (which may in fact be true but on past purchases I've made near the end of a month they did provide me with info on what the next month's incentives would be. So maybe the enhanced warranty incentive was 'super secret' and maybe it wasn't, I'm sure only VolvoMax knows for sure). No doubt anyone in my position wouldn't be very happy with the circumstances.... just venting....

 

[VolvoMax]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (volvdog)

Actually, I haven't had a single customer call and complain about not getting the Safe and Sound promotion. customers aren't stupid, they understand that programs change.
As a consumer you have to ask yourself 2 questions, "Is this the right time for ME to buy a car?" and "Is this the right deal for me?".
If you answer yes to both questions, buy the car and don't look back.
There are ALWAYS situations where you coulda woulda shoulda saved some more money. Let it go, enjoy your car don't blame the manufacturer for the business side of things. It isn't personal, it's business.
As a business, manufacturers RARELY share their upcoming promotions with the dealers. They reason is they don't want to stunt any of todays business. If they do share future plans it is usually to let the dealers know that a particular program is ending.

 

[volvdog]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (VolvoMax)

Quote, originally posted by VolvoMax »

Actually, I haven't had a single customer call and complain about not getting the Safe and Sound promotion. customers aren't stupid, they understand that programs change. As a consumer you have to ask yourself 2 questions, "Is this the right time for ME to buy a car?" and "Is this the right deal for me?". If you answer yes to both questions, buy the car and don't look back. There are ALWAYS situations where you coulda woulda shoulda saved some more money. Let it go, enjoy your car don't blame the manufacturer for the business side of things. It isn't personal, it's business. As a business, manufacturers RARELY share their upcoming promotions with the dealers. They reason is they don't want to stunt any of todays business. If they do share future plans it is usually to let the dealers know that a particular program is ending.

That's a fairly generic statement. My question was very specific... Are you saying that you did have customer(s) buy a car on Monday June 1st and that they were not upset when Volvo came out with the new enhanced warranty protection the very next day? I find that VERY difficult to believe....

 

[VolvoMax]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (volvdog)

To be specific, we didn't sell a new car on June 1st. However, none of the people who bought cars in May called to complain.

 

[volvdog]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (volvdog)

Well guys I'm going to have to eat some crow on this one. Somehow Chris Dauerer (cdauerer here on the forum) from customer service at Volvo Cars North America found me here on Swedespeed and hooked me up with Bill Casey (who works for him) in VCNA customer service. After some negotiation with Bill I was able to add the new C30 to the Safe and Sound warranty program for a reasonable sum. Chris is a member on these boards so if you ever need to talk to VCNA customer relations drop him an IM. Thanks again Chris & Bill!

Modified by volvdog at 12:22 PM 9-3-2009

Modified by volvdog at 5:13 PM 9-3-2009

Modified by volvdog at 5:15 PM 9-3-2009

 

[Munin]

Re: Maybe the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree -- Ford Gets It; Volvo? (volvdog)

Quote, originally posted by volvdog »

Well guys I'm going to have to eat some crow on this one. Somehow Bill Casey from customer service at Volvo Cars North America found me here on Swedespeed and after some negotiation I was able to add the new C30 to the Safe and Sound warranty program for a reasonable sum. Hopefully Bill will establish a presence here on Swedespeed as an open line of communication to the 'mother ship'... Thanks again Bill!

Awesome! http://********************/smile/emthup.gif