05-06-2020, 07:25 AM | #287 | ||
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05-06-2020, 07:34 AM | #288 | |
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I agree that the switch would have been difficult, and they may have to kill the program for a few years only to re-invent it in a way that makes more economic sense. But ask yourself the question - if you never knew of ED discounts and BMW introduced an ED program that cost $1000, would you consider it?
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05-06-2020, 07:49 AM | #289 | |
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Dealers can go to the ED well as often as they want for "normal" cars. They don't have to stock them, nor do they come out of a allocation. We're happy to do that anytime. But try the same with an M-car that can't be replaced in inventory and the landscape changes. BMW screwed the pooch on this when they introduced the F10 M5 and gave them away to any dealership for ED with no impact on allocation. No one wanted to buy one from a dealer for US delivery because they could get a much better deal on "extra" cars through ED. That was BMW's fault which they quickly corrected for all later M-cars, after decimating the resale value of the F10 M5 nearly before it was out of the box. So many mistakes, the program really didn't have a chance for longterm survival. |
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05-06-2020, 07:50 AM | #290 |
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Times are Changing indeed. I've had two friends do ED and they both said it was the most amazing experience and would absolutely do it again. It's unfortunate to see this no longer be an option.
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05-06-2020, 08:09 AM | #291 | |
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05-06-2020, 08:17 AM | #292 | |
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When they dump a newbie at my desk to show them what they need to know, I tell them to get a different job, mostly because their heart isn't in it. I bought my first BMW in 1971 and I've been president of CCA something like four times during which I was the point-man for justifying the Club loyalty payments to members to BMWNA every year. I devoted most of my life to BMW, because that's what I liked. I'm just like some of you, but I'm just giving you another perspective. I'd stop doing this in a heartbeat if there wasn't some satisfaction in it. The ED part is a minor bump in the road for any dealership. 500 per year is barely one-per-dealership. Why does BMW care? I said if they asked me I could design a program to create the experience without pissing off the dealers or the customer. Tesla and buying-on-line keeps being brought up. Do you really want to give up the hunter-gatherer negotiations? The dealers don't like it. Some don't mark this shit up. Others do. If customers picked their dealers on service rather than price, you'd be driving change, but don't expect both and then complain when your sales droid has no product knowledge. Most salespeople aren't even paid on BMW AVP money anyway so they have no vested interest when a negotiation goes below invoice. They'll take their minimum commission and move on. They really don't care if they're selling BMWs or Chevies. That's what you get. And then there are others who do. But there won't be for long. So, bemoan the loss of ED but worry more about the focus of BMW to just stay alive. Worry more about the remaining Quandt family cashing out to the Chinese. Or, like me, surround yourself with the type of BMWs you like best and just say "screw-it" to whatever happens next. I'm headed out to work now in my E28 535i stick. Carry on. I'll watch the growth of this tempest-in-a-teapot when I get home. Freude am Fahren! |
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05-06-2020, 08:26 AM | #293 |
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This option will definitely be missed, glad I was able to do it a couple times and would have done it again in the future.
Just not sure what they are doing anymore. First a horrible g8X M3/4 grill and now this. Bad move by BMW |
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05-06-2020, 08:56 AM | #294 | |
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Reflecting on the process, you are absolutely correct. I still visited the Welt and still did my road trip in a great car. The only thing I missed was the delivery photo op. Perhaps if I had visited with you my experience would have been different. The dealers I visited in Florida had zero interest in placing an ED order. They want quick sales out of inventory only, and quoted insane prices to dissuade me from the process. So to me, as much as I like the brand and aspects of its culture, with each successive BMW the process is increasingly transactional. Each time I return to the same dealer, the salesman I purchased from previously is gone anyway. There is nothing about the experience that compels me to be loyal, especially when I email or call around and find huge price discrepancies on similarly priced models. So I hate to agree, but you are right. The ED program has lost its appeal all around, and for the 500 per year who pursue it, why should BMW bother? Another side of this after that road trip: driving in Germany is just not as enjoyable as I remember on previous trips. |
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05-06-2020, 08:59 AM | #295 | ||
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05-06-2020, 09:16 AM | #296 |
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Is this a BMW Munich decision or BMW NA? Big difference IMO.
Seems BMWNA can be shortsighted at times. Can other regions do ED? Canada? Asia? |
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05-06-2020, 09:36 AM | #297 | ||
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I skipped ED this go around on my 2020 M4 and went for PCD but it wasn't because of price necessarily although that did play a part. I wanted to take my in-laws and family on a European driving adventure and couldn't do that in an M4. So I rented a manual Lancia Box car and drove 1700 miles throughout Italy last summer. People say they are leaving the brand and renege on that promise. I won't. This really seals the deal for me. PS. They aren't going to bring back the program. It's over. BMW doesn't care about the "enthusiastic" arm of its customers any longer. Edit. My wife just said I should cancel my CCA membership. Done and Done |
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05-06-2020, 10:01 AM | #298 | |
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I don't disagree at all, but never's a long time. Who knows, a new "European Experience" program could be announced in five years as an extra-cost option to the customer and with normal dealer discounts. I can dream I guess.
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05-06-2020, 10:05 AM | #299 | |
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05-06-2020, 10:12 AM | #300 | ||
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What do they offer that other brands aren't doing better? It used to be driving dynamics but that is long gone. Even the new G8x is really just a rebadged Audi RS car. There are plenty of SUVs that are better looking and drive better then BMWs offerings at the moment. They needed to set themselves apart from the pack. Instead we get this. |
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05-06-2020, 10:13 AM | #301 |
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Voice your feedback
I too will not be buying another BMW if I can't do ED (and I'm in Canada, where there's no discount for doing ED).
I voiced my sentiment with an immediate message to the relevant BMW customer service email. You remove ED => I'm not doing the M2C purchase that I was planning to do. Simple. Maybe a cascade of lost sales from enough ppl will make them reconsider. And if not, well, then, I guess they can tell themselves they made the right decision. ...Andrew |
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05-06-2020, 10:19 AM | #302 | ||
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Here it is: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...9#post26140589 Please join! |
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05-06-2020, 10:42 AM | #303 |
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For my last 3 BMW's, I passed on ED because the lack of incentives and ability to get 8-10% discounts for a local purchase. That, plus not having to wait 8-10 weeks for my car to be delivered, more than offset the $1000 I paid to Sixt for a 2-week BMW rental. Plus, I was able to start my trip where I was going to be traveling. Berlin, Paris and London respectively. So, I will not miss ED. Perhaps it would be different if I were looking for a special car, for which discounts and incentives were sparse.
I agree with the observation that driving in Germany (and Europe, generally) is MUCH less fun. We avoid the Motorways for the secondary roads, where the speed limit is constantly changing. I find myself watching for speed limit changes, rather than the scenery, because of the now-ubiquitous speed cameras. I have been unable to complete ANY European trip in the past three years without at least one citation for missing one of the incessant drops in speed limits from 80 KPH to 50 KPH, many of which seem to occur randomly and for no apparent reason. Sixt takes it's cut for giving my data to the authorities and then I pay up for the fine, which is generally less that Sixt charged. I recently cancelled a 2-week trip to Germany because of the lockdowns. This time it was to Munich, where I had a $800 5-series BMW reservation with Sixt, and would have covered Southwest Germany. We may, or may not ever, reschedule that trip |
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05-06-2020, 10:49 AM | #304 | |
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05-06-2020, 10:52 AM | #305 |
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I have done 2 deliveries in Europe. One was at Welt. It was a great experience.
Looking at the BMW Canada website, the option is still there so it is possible that the announcement only impacts BMW in the US which calls itself BMW North America. Worth asking if you are in Canada. For the time being with travel being restricted it is a moot point. Looking forward to travelling back to Europe. |
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05-06-2020, 10:55 AM | #306 |
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Seems odd even if they were "loosing money" in jt. To me it was more of a marketing initiative. The amount of people I've shared my EU trip with is worth a lot. Its brand building and personalized the experience.
Killing this was a big mistake. Glad I did it, and I would have done it again. Another nail in the coffee of what what made BMW great. |
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05-06-2020, 11:03 AM | #307 |
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Buying a new car is super annoying anyway!
Who has time for the dealer's bullshit going back and forth like on a Bazar? Make it more clear and less complicated for the customer similar to Tesla. We are in 2020, who needs dealerships anyway except for parts and maintenance? Most buyer know more about the car as the salesman anyway. |
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05-06-2020, 11:03 AM | #308 | ||
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