If you're willing to take it off your list because some guy at an auto show wouldn't let you sit in it one time, I don't know what to tell you.
Seattle Auto Show - Jeep FAIL!
2
Jeep continues to shoot itself in the foot! So here's the story...
Saturday, I stop at my local Jeep dealer to ask the perennial question, "Where's the @#[email protected]%^! Cherokee?" The Sales Manager tells me, "Well we don't have any yet, but there is one at the Seattle Auto Show!" Says I, "Cool! I'll head down tomorrow because I want to see it up close and to sit in it."
So this morning, I change my plans radically, drive in to Seattle, battle traffic, battle parking, buy the ticket, and wander all over the hall trying to find Jeep. After about 15 minutes of wandering, I finally spot them over in a back corner. And...
Immediately award them the "Marketing Morons of 2014" award... There it is. In a nice gray. On a platform. With the sign, "Please Stay Off The Platform"!!!!
Here's a pic for your viewing dis-pleasure:
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So I can't see it up close and personal, can't touch it, and can't sit in it. And then Mr marketing jock in the cheap suit starts blathering about the wonders of the Cherokee! I go through major hassles and waste $24 to see one car and all I get is more marketing spam!
I've had it with Jeep. The Cherokee is off my list. It's obvious that they don't know how to run their company. Good luck to you folks who want to take the risk.
Regards,
Dan.
p.s. As a comparison of the right way to market a car, here's a pic that I shot of the new Tesla. My apologies for the quality, but taking the pic was very difficult because of the poor lighting and I was dodging at least 30 people crowding around to get close to the car. Tesla is brave enough to let kids and adults crawl all through their $90K car (it was the top end model), but Jeep is too terrified to let potential customers even touch theirs. Arrrrgh! So stupid!
![]()
Saturday, I stop at my local Jeep dealer to ask the perennial question, "Where's the @#[email protected]%^! Cherokee?" The Sales Manager tells me, "Well we don't have any yet, but there is one at the Seattle Auto Show!" Says I, "Cool! I'll head down tomorrow because I want to see it up close and to sit in it."
So this morning, I change my plans radically, drive in to Seattle, battle traffic, battle parking, buy the ticket, and wander all over the hall trying to find Jeep. After about 15 minutes of wandering, I finally spot them over in a back corner. And...
Immediately award them the "Marketing Morons of 2014" award... There it is. In a nice gray. On a platform. With the sign, "Please Stay Off The Platform"!!!!
Here's a pic for your viewing dis-pleasure:
So I can't see it up close and personal, can't touch it, and can't sit in it. And then Mr marketing jock in the cheap suit starts blathering about the wonders of the Cherokee! I go through major hassles and waste $24 to see one car and all I get is more marketing spam!
I've had it with Jeep. The Cherokee is off my list. It's obvious that they don't know how to run their company. Good luck to you folks who want to take the risk.
Regards,
Dan.
p.s. As a comparison of the right way to market a car, here's a pic that I shot of the new Tesla. My apologies for the quality, but taking the pic was very difficult because of the poor lighting and I was dodging at least 30 people crowding around to get close to the car. Tesla is brave enough to let kids and adults crawl all through their $90K car (it was the top end model), but Jeep is too terrified to let potential customers even touch theirs. Arrrrgh! So stupid!
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To clarify, because that came off sounding more harsh than I intended, I just think that, while I can understand your being frustrated, and really don't think one bad experience - that had nothing to do with the actual vehicle - is a good reason to write it off.
Your call, man. But here's the reality of the situation and the reason that you are so worked up:
(To borrow from your original post)
"So this morning, I change my plans radically" - This is your fault.
"Drive in to Seattle" - Your decision.
"Battle traffic" - Not your fault, I suppose, but more yours than Jeep's
"Battle parking" Same as the above.
"Buy the ticket" - Your decision. You knew that the auto show wasn't free.
"and wander all over the hall trying to find Jeep. After about 15 minutes of wandering, I finally spot them over in a back corner." - That is their fault. It's a shame you had to walk so far.
"I go through major hassles and waste $24 to see one car" - Again, that is your choice. You chose the hassles and agreed to the ticket price.
"I've had it with Jeep. The Cherokee is off my list. It's obvious that they don't know how to run their company." - Wait, what? What a drastic turnaround. Suddenly it is Jeep's fault.
I'm not trying to belittle your situation. I would also be pissed if I did all that and didn't get to sit in it when I assumed I would. And sure, we'll say it's about Jeep and not the Cherokee. But you are now basing your whole opinion of the company off of a few comments on a forum and this one experience that was, let's face it, mostly your own fault.
As others have said, this is not exactly a new thing at auto shows. You can go in most cars, but there are always a few that you can't. It is unfortunate that this happened to you, but saying that Jeep does not know how to run a mutli-million dollar company because they did something that other car companies have also done is just, well, amazing.
Again, not trying to make this an argument, and I hope you're not offended by any of this. Just trying to point out a few things.
(To borrow from your original post)
"So this morning, I change my plans radically" - This is your fault.
"Drive in to Seattle" - Your decision.
"Battle traffic" - Not your fault, I suppose, but more yours than Jeep's
"Battle parking" Same as the above.
"Buy the ticket" - Your decision. You knew that the auto show wasn't free.
"and wander all over the hall trying to find Jeep. After about 15 minutes of wandering, I finally spot them over in a back corner." - That is their fault. It's a shame you had to walk so far.
"I go through major hassles and waste $24 to see one car" - Again, that is your choice. You chose the hassles and agreed to the ticket price.
"I've had it with Jeep. The Cherokee is off my list. It's obvious that they don't know how to run their company." - Wait, what? What a drastic turnaround. Suddenly it is Jeep's fault.
I'm not trying to belittle your situation. I would also be pissed if I did all that and didn't get to sit in it when I assumed I would. And sure, we'll say it's about Jeep and not the Cherokee. But you are now basing your whole opinion of the company off of a few comments on a forum and this one experience that was, let's face it, mostly your own fault.
As others have said, this is not exactly a new thing at auto shows. You can go in most cars, but there are always a few that you can't. It is unfortunate that this happened to you, but saying that Jeep does not know how to run a mutli-million dollar company because they did something that other car companies have also done is just, well, amazing.
Again, not trying to make this an argument, and I hope you're not offended by any of this. Just trying to point out a few things.
Ah, so I've convinced you. The tune changes.
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