Got an "exclusive invitation" from my dealer to a "very special event created just for new Toyota owners"...sounds like a sales pitch of some sort masquerading as a party! However..."receive a free oil change certificate for attending" is enticing. Anyone ever attend one of these?
About 12 years ago, My Dad bought a Saturn. The dealership had a "New Owners Barbeque". Just for kicks, I went with him. I thought from a marketing standpoint it was brilliant. Some hot dogs, paper plates and some pop and chips. A talk about how they had just purchased the most wonderful car available BUT they needed to change the oil regularly and at the dealership and of course keep up with regularly scheduled maintenance. Plus I think an assistant mechanic did a quick demonstration of how to change a tire and by my observation most people attending were hooked. The whole "Barbeque" couldn't of cost very much at all to throw, and most people were very impressed and hooked into dealer maintenance. My advice is if you've got the time and just want to, go, have fun. But expect it to be kind of like a time-share experience where at one point or another they will try to sell you on sometype of dealership maintenance loyalty. By the way, I'm not instantly trashing dealer service. Sometimes it's the best option. But I am saying as far as parties go? I've never seen a service department with a velvet rope and a big line of beautiful women trying to get in.
Our dealers around here never offered anything like that. But then, this is New York. Q: How many New Yorker's does it take to change a light bulb? A: F*** YOU !!!
Yes, they served pizza, subs & soda. You get to talk to the service people & other owners. No sales pitch. Enjoy.
Some dealers really do get it. They have things like this, they let other drivers share experiences and everyone walks away a little wiser. The dealer might not try to sell anything but they know that if just one person becomes a lifelong customer they will have more than earned back the cost of hosting the event. They are tapping into an existing customer base and spending tons less than traditional marketing.
When I bought my Prius V from Longo Toyota, the sales person mentioned that they have a special event for new car buyers which would include a buffet, free oil change coupon and a touch up pin. Did you get your car from Longo?
I attended the event when I got my 08 Prius. It was nice to meet other Prius owners, they put out a nice spread and got to me some of the mechanics, got oil change cupons ect. They exploded an air bag in the parking lot, it was an nice event.
I bought mine at Darcars of frederick, and was invited to the new owner party. I know the fellow who sold me the pri and he told me that attending will give him some browny points. It was a soda and cookies affair, the GM told us how great the dealership was, and raffled a couple of Toyota blankets, did not learn anything new except that oil changes are better when done at the dealership
Our local Dodge dealer has a cookie and coffee welcome for new Dodge trucks owners--or at least did in 2003 when we got ours. It was well worth going to. Wish our Toyota dealer did the same.....
