So, I've been reading - in various posts - questions about what incentives apply when you order a vehicle. Is it the incentives that apply when you order the vehicle, or the incentives that available at the time the vehicle is delivered?
The incentives of interest, in my case, are the 3.9% financing for 60 months with a $1000 rebate. I asked my dealer (sales manager) if these incentives hold true when my vehicle arrives. He told me that the 3.9% financing would still be in place but that if the $1000 rebate was no longer being offered, then I would lose it. However, he said I would be eligible for whatever rebate was available at the time of delivery. So if the rebates are better when the Liberty is delivered, then I'll get to take advantage of that, but I’ll lose if the incentives are less, or non-existent.
I had my doubts about my dealer’s response, especially after reading a few post on the forums. So, I called DC Customer Service about the issue. The Customer Service representative told me that my dealer was incorrect.
Here are the facts as the Customer Service rep laid them out:
These incentives have code numbers. The code number for the 3.9% for 60 month financing is 35A51. The code number for the $1000 rebate associated with financing at the 3.9% rate through DC is MAC55. Interesting tid-bits - the 35A51 is on my sales contract.
The Customer Service rep explained to me that both those incentives (code numbers) fall under what is called "Sold Order Protection". That means that if they were available at the time you ordered your vehicle, then you are still eligible to receive them when the vehicle is delivered. The rep also told me that if the incentives are better when the vehicle is delivered then when the vehicle was ordered - you can choose the better (new) incentives.
The rep also told me that not all incentives are "Sold Order Protected". She said you have to check on the individual incentive (code number) to verify if it is protected or not. She told me that the dealer should be able to tell you when asked. I replied that I wouldn't be so sure about that and told her what my dealer said to me. She was surprised. I asked what I should do if the dealer still sings the same song when my vehicle is delivered. She told me to call her or another representative back and they would take care of it.
I don't know about the rest of you, but for me this tends to bolster my opinion that dealers (sales people) often don't know what they are talking about, or do in some case - and are simply trying to take advantage of you.
In any case, I would recommend doing advanced research. Call the DC representatives with your questions about a vehicle purchase before going to the dealer. In essence - know the answers to most of the questions you'll have for the dealer before you get to the dealership. Go ahead and ask you dealer sales people the questions you have. Their responses may give you some insight as to the character of the dealership you are dealing with. Armed with the necessary information in advance will keep you from getting screwed by a sales department that is either ignorant of the facts or just trying to take you for a ride.
The incentives of interest, in my case, are the 3.9% financing for 60 months with a $1000 rebate. I asked my dealer (sales manager) if these incentives hold true when my vehicle arrives. He told me that the 3.9% financing would still be in place but that if the $1000 rebate was no longer being offered, then I would lose it. However, he said I would be eligible for whatever rebate was available at the time of delivery. So if the rebates are better when the Liberty is delivered, then I'll get to take advantage of that, but I’ll lose if the incentives are less, or non-existent.
I had my doubts about my dealer’s response, especially after reading a few post on the forums. So, I called DC Customer Service about the issue. The Customer Service representative told me that my dealer was incorrect.
Here are the facts as the Customer Service rep laid them out:
These incentives have code numbers. The code number for the 3.9% for 60 month financing is 35A51. The code number for the $1000 rebate associated with financing at the 3.9% rate through DC is MAC55. Interesting tid-bits - the 35A51 is on my sales contract.
The Customer Service rep explained to me that both those incentives (code numbers) fall under what is called "Sold Order Protection". That means that if they were available at the time you ordered your vehicle, then you are still eligible to receive them when the vehicle is delivered. The rep also told me that if the incentives are better when the vehicle is delivered then when the vehicle was ordered - you can choose the better (new) incentives.
The rep also told me that not all incentives are "Sold Order Protected". She said you have to check on the individual incentive (code number) to verify if it is protected or not. She told me that the dealer should be able to tell you when asked. I replied that I wouldn't be so sure about that and told her what my dealer said to me. She was surprised. I asked what I should do if the dealer still sings the same song when my vehicle is delivered. She told me to call her or another representative back and they would take care of it.
I don't know about the rest of you, but for me this tends to bolster my opinion that dealers (sales people) often don't know what they are talking about, or do in some case - and are simply trying to take advantage of you.
In any case, I would recommend doing advanced research. Call the DC representatives with your questions about a vehicle purchase before going to the dealer. In essence - know the answers to most of the questions you'll have for the dealer before you get to the dealership. Go ahead and ask you dealer sales people the questions you have. Their responses may give you some insight as to the character of the dealership you are dealing with. Armed with the necessary information in advance will keep you from getting screwed by a sales department that is either ignorant of the facts or just trying to take you for a ride.
