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Car Forum / Mercedes-Benz Cars / April 2005Mercedes just made me hate them
Mercedes recently revamped the high mileage awards and no longer offers lapel pins to original owners. So apparently they don't care enough about their customers to give them a 25 cent piece of metal? How bogus. The high mileage awards used to be much more thorough for original owners and I'm pissed as hell that 13,000 miles before my car can get an award they start skimping. This is enough that I'll never buy a Benz, my dad will never buy another benz (he bought 5 in a row, with the last one being a W126 in 1985 since all the newer models since have been much worse), and we might not even get a 300C SRT-8 like we had planned since it's the same parent company. I know other companies don't even have an award system, but to have one and then start skimping is so cheap. It's a lot like what I expect from Mercedes nowadays.Those cheap bastards. Richard A bit of over-reaction for "a 25 cent piece of metal." Kal >Mercedes recently revamped the high mileage awards and no longer offers >lapel pins to original owners. So apparently they don't care enough about [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >Mercedes nowadays.Those cheap bastards. >Richard That may not be accurate. I think it was Napoleon who remarked how men were motivated by virtually worthless bits of metal pinned to their chests. I may not have those details exactly right. In ant event, the marketing people should be smacked with a ruler. . > A bit of over-reaction for "a 25 cent piece of metal." > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >since all the newer models since have been much worse), and we might not > >even get a 300C SRT-8 like we had planned since it's the same parent > >company. I know other companies don't even have an award system, but to have > >one and then start skimping is so cheap. It's a lot like what I expect from > >Mercedes nowadays.Those cheap bastards. > >Richard I have to agree - no, a 25-cent piece of tin is not reason enough to buy, or not buy a Mercedes. But that's not really the issue. Here's the real issue: This is just one more symptom of a penny-pinching, cost-containment, corner-cutting mentality that has slowly permeated MB over the past few years. Figure it out - if the bean counters have cut corners on something so inexpensive to the coporate bottom line, then where else have they cut to the bone? If you have a new Benz, you have my sympathy. It's not about the money - I can afford (most) of the new models. I just happened to become acquainted with Benz when they were a premier automotive company - not just a cost center that could as easily be producing discount home appliances. Chrysler has brought a Wal-Mart mentality to the company that is entirely unsuited to the Benz automobile and it's market. Hope the stockholders are happy - but then, they're never dedicated to the company - just whichever company nets them a bit of profit six months down the line - when one company is trashed, they move their portfolio to greener pastures. Conrad > That may not be accurate. > [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] >> >Mercedes nowadays.Those cheap bastards. >> >Richard > Chrysler has brought a Wal-Mart mentality to the company that > is entirely unsuited to the Benz automobile and it's market. > Hope the stockholders are happy - but then, they're never > dedicated to the company - just whichever company nets them > a bit of profit six months down the line - when one company > is trashed, they move their portfolio to greener pastures. This is nonsense. Using this logic there would not be any quality companies that lasted. Which there are. Cutting costs is what business is about. Maintaining standards is also important. Time will tell if the Mercedes marque can continue to stand for something other then just overpriced garbage. Personally based on what I see in this NG, mercedes is due for a revamping, with more attention to basic quality and less to ove-engineered bells and whistles. This could ultimately make it a stronger brand IMO. >> Chrysler has brought a Wal-Mart mentality to the company that >> is entirely unsuited to the Benz automobile and it's market. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Using this logic there would not be any quality companies that lasted. > Which there are. Companies that lasted - I'll buy that - QUALITY companies that lasted - For example? I have been utterly dismayed at the degradation of quality in most areas of the manufacturing community in the last 30 years or so. I still have a number of pre-historic products in my home that were a) evidently built by people who cared what they were doing b) built by companies that "lasted", because c) I have from time to time purchased newer versions of the same brand only to find that they have been cost-cut, out-sourced and obsolence-planned to the point that they are utter junk. I know this smacks of "old-fartism", which I certainly am capable of - but sometimes the old farts have a couple of things going for them - like experience and wisdom. I asked for examples, so I'll give a a couple: My wife has burned out three of the new KitchenAid pro mixers in her catering business in the last two years - KitchenAid has been "improved" by outsourcing to, I believe China. She always has to fall back on my old, American-built KitchenAid. Craftsman power tools. Crap for the most part these days. My personal experience includes a belt sander that keeps destroying it's bearing mounts for the rollers, a 1/2" "Pro" drill that died the first time I chucked up a 1/2" wood bit in it, and a circular saw that utterly burned up it's motor while under no significant load, cutting 1/4" plywood, with no sign of slowdown or bogging - just a bad smell and sudden stop. But I still have and use frequently an old Craftsman table saw that has seen enough board-feet of lumber to build the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. Go figure. I have an ancient Maytag that I keep trying to hide in my shed because it's so ugly - but every few years, I'm obliged to drag it out to fill in for another "new and improved" washer that's died in the middle of a family re-union (always on a weekend - how do they do that?) > Cutting costs is what business is about. Maintaining standards is also > important. Cutting costs - OK. Maintaining standards? Pure distilled horse-manure. You can replace standards with marketing easily with a young market that has been educated to believe everything should be disposable after three years. Whooopeee!!! I'm driving a Benz til the lease runs out!!! As a purely objective experiment, discounting for accidents, lets see what the attrition rate of the current crop of Dodges, um, I mean MBs is compared to the mid-80's W123s after 25 years. I'll bet good money that the survival ratio is not even close. Do you want to put your money on that bet, or merely bet that 25 years from now there will still be some kind of Chrysler Benz product for sale that happens to have the star logo on it that your stockholders can trade in? > Time will tell if the Mercedes marque can continue to stand for > something other then just overpriced garbage. > > Personally based on what I see in this NG, mercedes is due for a > revamping, with more attention to basic quality and less to > ove-engineered bells and whistles. To quote my friend - this is nonsense. I have owned more vehicles than I care to think about. This has included Chevy Vegas and Cadillac ElDorados. I mention these two for a reason. At the time I owned them, I found NO significant difference in engineering between the Vega and the Cadillac. (OK, non-sleeved aluminum blocks on the Vega wasn't a reall cool idea), but mostly it was only more badly-executed bells and whistles on the Cadillac. Can you make a company profitable this way? You bet. Can you make a fine automobile this way? No way in hell. Do I have a problem with all the plastic parts on my buddies ML? Nope. I don't care if you build them out of gingerbread - as long as gingerbread WORKS. I have a problem with shoddy, ill-fitting plastic parts that break. I have no doubt that MB can "last" as a brand. But my argument is that sometimes a brand should represent more than the tri-star logo surviving on some cost-cut, out-sourced, marketing-above- engineering machine. It should represent the engineering and production values that established that marque. One can fail to recognize this, and still turn a profit. There will always be those who will jump at the MB name, just because of the reputation it earned at one time, but no longer deserves. Ultimately the question is this. Can the current corporate culture continue to educate the consumer to purchase stuff that is worse than they purchased last year? I believe the answer is yes. So yes, MB will last - as a brand - as a stock exchange entity - but as a premier manufacturer af fine automobiles? That is the real question. Sorry if I sound a little impassioned about this, but it's a bit like finding out that the girl you had a crush on in high school is now a hooker. Yeah, I'm sure she's making a living, turning a profit - but it just isn't the quality you fell in love with. Cheers, Conrad > This could ultimately make it a stronger brand IMO. >> On 2005-03-29 <snip> I have from time to time purchased newer versions >> of the same brand only to find that they have been cost-cut, >> out-sourced and obsolence-planned to the point that they are utter >> junk. I know this smacks of "old-fartism", which I certainly am capable >> of - but sometimes the old farts have a couple of things going for them >> - like experience and wisdom. I agree and also have many fine older things. Including plumbing fixtures... > I asked for examples, so I'll give a a couple: > My wife has burned out three of the new KitchenAid pro mixers > in her catering business in the last two years - KitchenAid > has been "improved" by outsourcing to, I believe China. She > always has to fall back on my old, American-built KitchenAid. My wife burned out her Old US made one. > Craftsman power tools. Crap for the most part these days. > My personal experience includes a belt sander that keeps [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > board-feet of lumber to build the Nina, Pinta and Santa > Maria. Go figure. Craftsman ain't what it used to be. Especially in hand tools... > I have an ancient Maytag that I keep trying to hide in my > shed because it's so ugly - but every few years, I'm obliged [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > should be disposable after three years. Whooopeee!!! I'm driving > a Benz til the lease runs out!!! That is apparently the prime profile for "luxury" vehicles like mercedes. Old nuts like you and me don't count, because we probably aren't buyers. > As a purely objective experiment, discounting for accidents, > lets see what the attrition rate of the current crop of Dodges, > um, I mean MBs is compared to the mid-80's W123s after 25 years. I'll > bet good money that the survival ratio is not even close. This is somewhat of the classic self fulfilling prophecy of "cars that last"... Cars are machines. as long as there are parts they can be serviced. If people keeps saying "Gee them volvos really last" then subsequent people spend more money making keeping there Volvos running due to higher expectations... Still, I drive a 19 year old mercedes, so I do believe that true quality shows up in the older specimens... > Do you want to put your money on that bet, or merely bet that > 25 years from now there will still be some kind of Chrysler > Benz product for sale that happens to have the star logo on it > that your stockholders can trade in? Boo Hoo, all american cars are crap and Germany rules. >> Time will tell if the Mercedes marque can continue to stand for >> something other then just overpriced garbage. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > To quote my friend - this is nonsense. I have owned more vehicles > than I care to think about. This has included Chevy Vegas LOL > and > Cadillac ElDorados. I mention these two for a reason. At the time [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > company profitable this way? You bet. Can you make a fine automobile > this way? No way in hell. Actually, you should go look at the new STS. It's nice. Companies go through cycles. Someday hopefully consumers are informed enough to insist on something better. > Do I have a problem with all the plastic parts on my buddies > ML? Nope. I don't care if you build them out of gingerbread - > as long as gingerbread WORKS. I have a problem with shoddy, > ill-fitting plastic parts that break. Don't know, but that sounds like an engineering issue. > I have no doubt that MB can "last" as a brand. But my argument is > that sometimes a brand should represent more than the tri-star [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > be those who will jump at the MB name, just because of the reputation > it earned at one time, but no longer deserves. Reputations don't last. Look at OJ. It's very true that in many cases fine companies end up as nothing but there name. > Ultimately the question is this. Can the current corporate culture > continue to educate the consumer to purchase stuff that is worse > than they purchased last year? I believe the answer is yes. So > yes, MB will last - as a brand - as a stock exchange entity - but > as a premier manufacturer af fine automobiles? That is the real > question. So you think they are intentionally building crappy cars? > Sorry if I sound a little impassioned about this, but it's a > bit like finding out that the girl you had a crush on in high > school is now a hooker. Yeah, I'm sure she's making a living, turning a > profit - but it just isn't the quality you fell in love with. Sad, really, sorry your taking this new world so hard. Don't give up yet, it isn't over. Marty >>> On 2005-03-29 <snip> I have from time to time purchased newer versions >>> of the same brand only to find that they have been cost-cut, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >>> - like experience and wisdom. > I agree and also have many fine older things. Including plumbing fixtures... Sigh - according to my urologist, some of my old plumbing is... oh, never mind ;-) >> I asked for examples, so I'll give a a couple: >> My wife has burned out three of the new KitchenAid pro mixers >> in her catering business in the last two years - KitchenAid >> has been "improved" by outsourcing to, I believe China. She >> always has to fall back on my old, American-built KitchenAid. > My wife burned out her Old US made one. She has my respect - and a certain amount of fear. Short of mixing concrete, I didn't think that could be done. >> Craftsman power tools. Crap for the most part these days. >> My personal experience includes a belt sander that keeps [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> Maria. Go figure. > Craftsman ain't what it used to be. Especially in hand tools... If only it were just Craftsman. But I'm sure the Sears/KMart mega-merger will make that all better. >> I have an ancient Maytag that I keep trying to hide in my >> shed because it's so ugly - but every few years, I'm obliged [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > mercedes. Old nuts like you and me don't count, because we probably > aren't buyers. Agreed, but if that is the prime profile, then we have a different product - NOT the product that earned the reputation, but something more homogenized to the "New World" way of doing business. I just don't think Benz when I see the newer machines, and while personally, I think this started sometime ago (Oh, ok dammit, there hasn't been a decent one since 1985 ;-) but the real slide down the slippery slope started with Chrysler. >> As a purely objective experiment, discounting for accidents, >> lets see what the attrition rate of the current crop of Dodges, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > people spend more money making keeping there Volvos running due to > higher expectations... I dunno about that. I'm the champion of lost causes. Everything built by man wears out and breaks and even God's own mountains wear down in time, but I've had too many vehicles that were just flat unmaintainable beyond a certain point - I would have had to rebuild the whole damn thing from the ground up. Perhaps people ARE more inclined to fix things on some vehicles, but perhaps some vehicles also respond better to that type of maintenance. No point in maintaining a Vega beyond a certain point, for example - there is no longer any non-corroded peice of chassis metal to attach new shock absorbers to. I don't believe in life support beyond a certain point, but I think that point almost doesn't exist for the older Benzes. > Still, I drive a 19 year old mercedes, so I do believe that true > quality shows up in the older specimens... (Jumps up and down and shouts "EXACTLY MY POINT") OK, now that I've got that out of my system... Those vehicles were satisfying to drive, and rewarding to maintain - OK, after a few hundred thousand miles, maybe you DO need new ball joints - replace them properly and you have another few hundred thousand out of the chassis. Worth doing, in my admittedly archaic playbook. >> Do you want to put your money on that bet, or merely bet that >> 25 years from now there will still be some kind of Chrysler >> Benz product for sale that happens to have the star logo on it >> that your stockholders can trade in? > Boo Hoo, all american cars are crap and Germany rules. Actually, in 20 years, probably China rules, but that's a different discussion for a different forum. American cars do piss me off, because I'm an American. I remember a news special (20/20 or some such) when the first of the Infiniti/Accura/Lexus cars were making a splash. The German spokesvolks were asked if they felt the Japanese were encroaching on their market. They said no, they felt that those who appreciated their approach to the art of the automobile would continue to buy German. Interestingly enough, the Japanese said the same thing - they were targeting the Honda/Toyata/Nissan market that wanted something a little more upscale, but felt the German market wasn't penetrable. BOTH the Germans and the Japanese said that their only concern was that Americans might get their act together, as they were both using cutting-edge American production line techniques, robotics, etc. - that we were failing to implement on our own assembly lines. There are signs of improvement on the American front. The cars we are turning out now are a marked improvement over the crap we thought we could get away with in the 70's and 80's. But some of the old shuck 'n jive attitudes still prevail. >>> Time will tell if the Mercedes marque can continue to stand for >>> something other then just overpriced garbage. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > through cycles. Someday hopefully consumers are informed enough to > insist on something better. Yes, the new STS is nice. It truly has some much-improved engineering. It also has it's share of bells and whistles. Stabilitrak? MagneRide freaking magnetic ride control suspension? I have no idea when my Bilstein shocks were replaced last - they may be original, although the idea of shocks with a third of a million miles on them still managing to dance that fine line between supple and responsive just blows my mind. Yet they do. Is a well engineered basic suspension a worse idea than a complex electronic system that may be (no, almost HAS to be) guilty of a dozen more possible points of failure? Here's a clue - How many Gran Prix racers are running the Stabilitrak system? Surely they need cutting-edge suspension more than someone driving their STS to the local convenience store. Variable valve timing? Don't get me started. What kind of cutting-edge 100th-of-a-second drag racing requires variable valve timing? Is this really something that's going to enhance the experience of hitting that long stretch of I-10 between Pensacola and San Antonio? Give me a break. Or give me a breakdown - another cute thing to die when you least need it to. I contend that premium does not necessarily equal gimmicky, and that engineering should deliver real value and performance, not mere bragging rights at the water cooler..."I have an incredibly small penis, but my car has MagneRide AND Variable Valve Timing - so there!" >> Do I have a problem with all the plastic parts on my buddies >> ML? Nope. I don't care if you build them out of gingerbread - >> as long as gingerbread WORKS. I have a problem with shoddy, >> ill-fitting plastic parts that break. > Don't know, but that sounds like an engineering issue. I'm not ready to drag the engineers out into the back lot, line them up and shoot them until I see what they originally specified, before the marketing and bean-counting androids trashed their original designs. >> I have no doubt that MB can "last" as a brand. But my argument is >> that sometimes a brand should represent more than the tri-star [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Reputations don't last. Look at OJ. It's very true that in many > cases fine companies end up as nothing but there name. No doubt. I'm mostly expressing dismay at what in my demographicly insignificant view is a calculated series of steps backwards. Look at all of the automotive firsts the Mercedes marque can claim. Could those have even happened in their current corporate culture? In other words, could OJ have been OJ if he had to play checkers? It's the wrong game. >> Ultimately the question is this. Can the current corporate culture >> continue to educate the consumer to purchase stuff that is worse [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> question. > So you think they are intentionally building crappy cars? I think that when they are cutting corners to the point that even a lousy lapel pin (the original point of the post) is too much expense that yes, crappy is not necessarily the goal, but is necessarily the result. Just how freakin' cheap is that? >> Sorry if I sound a little impassioned about this, but it's a >> bit like finding out that the girl you had a crush on in high >> school is now a hooker. Yeah, I'm sure she's making a living, turning a >> profit - but it just isn't the quality you fell in love with. > Sad, really, sorry your taking this new world so hard. Don't give up > yet, it isn't over. Nope it isn't over. One of the benefits of having a few miles on me is this - I really am much less worried about other's opinions of me. So... I don't plan on taking the new world hard - I plan on it taking me hard. If I don't like it, I'm going to bitch. I'm going to change political parties. I'm going to put my dollars where my mouth is, and not where I think things are going wrong. And wherever possible, I'm going to encourage folks to do the same. Education only hurts for a little while, but stupidity and apathy are terminal diseases. For people and for automobile makers. > Marty Conrad > he has my respect - and a certain amount of fear. Short > of mixing concrete, I didn't think that could be done. Frozen butter actually... Against my better advice. But it has a LONG and tedious service before she got to it. I think that there was a phase long before Chrysler was even a twinkle in MB management's eye. The legend goes that MBs were designed and built and then priced. However, as the car market became more competitive management felt it had to make to a price point, i.e. set a price and then build a car to fit. It manifested itself in various details, like the removal of damping in ash-tray covers in some models. We're talking maybe 10 - 15 years ago. This cause a lot of negative comment and some of that was reversed. How much of this attitude lingers? Who knows? In general one has to think in economic terms. Merc's bread-and-butter cars are sold in relatively large numbers against heavy competition. Quality and reliability do not have to suffer, as the Japanese manufacturers have shown. In my opinion the malaise arises from top management's fascination with irrelevant projects: household electrical goods, aerospace and the like, all of which divert from the main job at hand, which is to build trucks, buses and cars. Maybe the acquisition of Chrysler was a mistake, but it is the one venture where I can find some sympathy, as it was a quick way of establishing a massive passenger-car presence in the USA. After all, Chrysler sales are about double the volume of global MB-brand sales. On the other hand, maybe MB would have done better just growing organically, maybe even building more factories there? Despite all the negative comments I am happy, so far (he said carefully), with my 2001 CLK Cab. Niggles have been handled well by the Merc garages. I have done only about 20 000 mikes since new; not much, but still. DAS For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling --- [...] > Here's the real issue: > This is just one more symptom of a penny-pinching, cost-containment, > corner-cutting mentality that has slowly permeated MB over the > past few years. Figure it out - if the bean counters have cut > corners on something so inexpensive to the coporate bottom line, > then where else have they cut to the bone? [...] > Chrysler has brought a Wal-Mart mentality to the company that [...] >A bit of over-reaction for "a 25 cent piece of metal." > > Kal I don't think it is. This is just yet another step Benz has taken towards turning into complete utter crap. They stopped caring about their products in 1992 and now they show they don't care about their customers. "But if a long train of abuses, prevarications, and artifices, all tending the same way, make the design visible to the people, and they cannot but feel what they lie under, and see whither they are going; it is not to be wondered that they should then rouze themselves, and endeavour to put the rule into such hands which may secure to them the ends for which government was at first erected; and without which, ancient names, and specious forms, are so far from being better, that they are much worse, than the state of nature, or pure anarchy; the inconveniencies being all as great and as near, but the remedy farther off and more difficult" - John Locke - Second Treatise on Government This is just as applicable here as to government. Benz has made move after move in the direction of not caring and now this is the last straw, and it's not strange for people to be up in arms about this. I rather have nothing than have to deal with bullshit. Richard Oh dear... I only heard about this award in the USA through this NG. Didn't even know it existed before then. Can't say I have been bothered to check existence in Europe. Between my dad and me we have been driving Mercs almost continuously both as company and privately-owned cars since the mid-sixties. I think you have been cheesed off by the removal of something that you expected to obtain. Maybe this is just the trigger for you to do what you intended at some stage? I agree with you that it (award withdrawal) is a stupid thing to do but it alone should not have an effect, everything else being equal. What other brands give out awards? DAS For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling --- [...] > now this is the last straw, and it's not strange for people to be up in > arms about this. I rather have nothing than have to deal with bullshit. > Richard > I only heard about this award in the USA through this NG. Didn't even > know it existed before then. Can't say I have been bothered to check > existence in Europe. It's in Europe too...and everywhere else Benz's are sold > Between my dad and me we have been driving Mercs almost continuously both > as company and privately-owned cars since the mid-sixties. Between 1972 and 1985 my dad bought 5 Benz's. From longer ago that I care to know to 1972 his dad was buying Benz's, basically there was always a Benz in the family. My dad fully expected to replace our 380SE with the next gen S-class until he saw what the 140 was like. Haven't bought another Benz since. > I think you have been cheesed off by the removal of something that you > expected to obtain. Maybe this is just the trigger for you to do what you > intended at some stage? I'd say this is the straw that broke the camel's back. I would have given Benz a chance if their cars ever started to get good again, but not now. As long as the awards system stays like this I'll never buy a Benz. > I agree with you that it (award withdrawal) is a stupid thing to do but it > alone should not have an effect, everything else being equal. What other > brands give out awards? Granted none, but I think take away an award is worse than never having one, plus now what's left to seperate Benz from everybody else? They aren't clearly better than other similar cars any more, and now they don't show greater care for the customer either. Richard What would you do if you made a product that the buyers could brag about the quality by getting badges, then the quality of your product dropped so low that people no longer bragged? Only way out is to drop the badges. Problem now is all the old MBs with the badges, none on the new ones. Everyone now knows the quality is not there. If it were me, I would lower the requirements, send the badges on my own without being asked for them, in hopes people will display them. Paul > A bit of over-reaction for "a 25 cent piece of metal." > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >Mercedes nowadays.Those cheap bastards. > >Richard > I would lower the > requirements, send the badges on my own without being asked for them, in > hopes people will display them. Yuck. Badges, we don't need no stinkin' badges. Driving an older car in nice condition is enough of a badge for me. It's pretty obvious to anyone who cares that a 20 year old vehicle in nice condition has been around the block a few times and is being cared for... Marty (snipped horsewank) hehehehehehehehhhe f.ck me sideways with a beetroot! If a 25 cent piece of metal is thta important dont buy a Benz!!! Nige > f.ck me sideways with a beetroot! You can go fornicate yourself with a 10 foot clown pole > If a 25 cent piece of metal is thta important dont buy a Benz!!! Like I said, I won't be buying any more. What's left to seperate Benz from BMW? Nothing except for lower sales and not doing as well in the quality surveys. Benz really did die in 1992. Richard > a 10 foot clown pole What is a clown pole? I never saw Ronald McDonald with a pole. . >> a 10 foot clown pole > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > . Yeah you never saw him getting jiggie with Burgie. Hmm, isn't Marlinspike the home of thunderous and rambunctious Captain Haddock in the Adventures of Tintin? He does delight in blaring and whining about many little nit-wit items, namely the telephone connection mixed up with the butcher shop... > Mercedes recently revamped the high mileage awards and no longer offers > lapel pins to original owners. So apparently they don't care enough about [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Mercedes nowadays.Those cheap bastards. > Richard Makes me wonder the real reason MB is stopping the mileage awards. I doubt it's the cost of the program. I would think it more likely that it's an acknowledgement that the cars they are turning out today aren't going to last like the ones in the past. Might be embarrassing to have customers asking why there are badges for mileages the cars are incapable of ever reeaching.... > Makes me wonder the real reason MB is stopping the mileage awards. I > doubt it's the cost of the program. I would think it more likely that > it's an acknowledgement that the cars they are turning out today > aren't going to last like the ones in the past. Might be > embarrassing to have customers asking why there are badges for > mileages the cars are incapable of ever reeaching.... My understanding is they are not discontinuing the awards program, but have just stopped giving out lapel pins along with it. You still get the badge for the grill and a certificate, but no lapel pin. The program is still listed on the US website: http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?heritage/index.jsp  Signature- RODNEY > My understanding is they are not discontinuing the awards program, but > have just stopped giving out lapel pins along with it. You still get the > badge for the grill and a certificate, but no lapel pin. The program is > still listed on the US website: Right, before you got different, ONE PIECE, badges (silver, gold, platinum IIRC) for each award, and if you were the original owner you also got a certificate and a lapel pin. Now everybody gets 2 piece badges so as you step up in levels you just replace the lower part saying how many KM and you get nothing special for being an original owner. Just as with everything else, Mercedes is skimping. Richard >> My understanding is they are not discontinuing the awards program, but >> have just stopped giving out lapel pins along with it. You still get [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > owner. Just as with everything else, Mercedes is skimping. > Richard There aren't very many original owners that keep these cars that long (understatement of the week). Sorry you are PO'd about this, but if this is a make or break deal for you with an auto vendor, I recommend you seek professional help( and I don't mean a mechanic :~) > There aren't very many original owners that keep these cars that long > (understatement of the week). So, why should Benz bother skimping? It's not like they're losing a lot on it. > Sorry you are PO'd about this, but if this is a make or break deal for > you with an auto vendor, I recommend you seek professional help( and I > don't mean a mechanic :~) Har har. > Hmm, isn't Marlinspike the home of thunderous and rambunctious Captain > Haddock in the Adventures of Tintin? He does delight in blaring and > whining about many little nit-wit items, namely the telephone connection > mixed up with the butcher shop... YES! Finally someone gets that I'm not talking about those things used by nautical types to split twine but that I'm referring to Cpt. Haddock's mansion. Hooray! I think you should go buy youself a cookie for this. Everybody else thinks I'm talking about a nautical tool Richard |
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