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Originally Posted by PhantomX
Scion Ambassador. Each dealership that sells Scions have one. I am one.
Scion advertised like crazy in ESPN.
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So the only demographic that would purchase a SCION is a sports watching male? What happened to the other networks the other car manufacturers advertise one (probably not in the budget) but then again as per their commercials you'd never know Subaru has a BRZ.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhantomX
Incorrect. Business fails only when the other sales people don't properly follow the Scion Process. And the other sales people don't properly follow the Scion Process usually because they don't believe in the product or the process. Believing in the product creates excitement, and such excitement is usually perceived as something positive towards the vehicle by the customers. People don't go into dealership having no clue what they're looking for and without any knowledge of how things work. We're in the information age, after all. These "bells and whistles" you're talking about is you wanting the special edition features to be options you can add in the Personalization Process, which I actually think is a good idea. The only conundrum is the "special editions" would no longer be special.
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I think the problem is Scion customers want a choice (like Subaru did with the Limited and Premium). If you want bare bones get the base model, if you want HID/push button start/etc get a deluxe model, if you want TRD accessories and etc order (like heated seats/mirrors) them as options (makes the dealership more money and keeps customers happy). If you want the limited buy that -> a limited edition should be like what Scion did with the tC spec series and Honda did with the Si Mugen(special color/limited edition wheels) not just raiding the parts bins of extras we want that everybody like Hyundai already has. Case in point, every FR-S should have HID (maybe the special edition can have the Corolla's LED headlights). I was thisclose to purchasing a BRZ for the bells and whistles (despite loving the FR-S's front bumper skin) luckily I liked silver ignition and went for a ten series instead.
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Originally Posted by PhantomX
And that's the only issue some people don't get. Pure Price doesn't just take away the haggling, but allows the MSRP to be so low, the money the dealerships make is a thousand or two less than the Toyotas. (ie: iM = Corolla S Plus [but with slightly more stuff] equivalent, yet iM is $20k MSRP and Corolla S Plus is $21k. Add the missing features and you'd be looking closer to $22k-$23k.).
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Human nature.... everybody thinks they can beat the salesman.
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Originally Posted by PhantomX
To us? Sure. We drive FR-S/BRZs. The only next closest sporty car is the tC. If Scion was only catering to those looking for cheap sporty cars, then not only will their line up be only the FR-S and tC, but their sales number would also be significantly less. But no. Their target market are the teens, young adults and those looking for inexpensive cars that meets their needs, whether you're a track fiend or a high school student or college student or graduate or successful person.
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Others must find their lineup less than exciting as the sales prove it. In the northeast (please jump in fellow forum members) the only Scions I ever see on the road (in NY/NJ/PA) are mostly 1st gen tCs and (1& 2nd gen) xBs, I see a lot of 2nd gen tCs (not as many as 1st gen) and the occasional FR-S. Where are the iA and iMs (not to mention the discontinued models)? Nobody will buy them unless Toyota promotes them. I've felt like a Scion employee since the purchase of my '08 tC years ago explaining the brand to young and old alike and its relationship with Toyota (could be worse -could be Hyundai).
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Originally Posted by PhantomX
Exactly. People used to complain that Toyota's vehicles were getting old with its market, meaning they needed a way to tap into the younger generation for they are the future buyers, and building brand loyalty from their customers at a young age is a smart way to go.
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I like Scion a lot they're a very good value (this FR-S is my second Scion) and reading about how dealerships were able to opt out of Scion/have no presence in the media/have salespeople that haven't done their homework makes me wonder about the brand (though you do seem well indoctrinated).