Central Ohio GM dealer: "Buy a truck, get a gun!"
By Chad D. Baus
Coming off of the blast of consumers that bought into the government's Cash for Clunkers ruse, car dealers across the country knew that September was going to hit them hard. Traditionally, short term incentive programs result in "borrowing from tomorrow's sales," and dealers anticipated a return to the dismal sales numbers that have marked the rest of 2009 as soon as the government ran out of cash.
One dealer in Delaware, Ohio chose to try and ease the pain with a promotion that may have been the first of its kind in Ohio:
The promotion, which began in mid-September, is being run by Chesrown Superstore (www.chesrown.com), and is specifically targeted to hunters and sportsmen.
Ryan Gill, Chesrown's Internet sales manager, told the Columbus Dispatch that the GM dealership has sold ten vehicles under the promotion, despite what by all accounts has been a dismal post-Clunkers month for automobile dealers nationwide.
According to the story, customers who buy a truck, SUV or crossover also receive a voucher worth up to about $500 to a local hunting club to buy a rifle, shotgun or crossbow.
Chesrown bought newspaper advertisements directing readers to Trucksnguns.com. In the ads, two AK-47s floated above a tattered American flag with the tag line: "Buy a truck, get a gun! It's that simple."
Visitors to Trucksnguns.com are rerouted to the Chesrown.com site.
The promotion was timed to coincide with the beginning of hunting season, Gill said, because many of his truck customers are hunters. The dealership gave vouchers to the pro shop at Black Wing Shooting Center in Delaware.
Chesrown wasn't looking for controversy, and it hasn't gotten much attention, good or bad, Gill said.
This marks the second time in recent weeks than an Ohio business has seen the wisdom in directing targeted ads to gun owners.
Calanni Auto Service in Lakewood, Ohio is offering a 10% discount for customers with a valid Conceal and Carry license.
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