E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

Is My MB Dealer Scamming Me?

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Old Mar 10, 2005 | 07:47 PM
  #1  
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From: So. Cal.
Is My MB Dealer Scamming Me?

Guys -- I need your help on this.

I received a totally unsolicited call from a salesperson at my MB Dealership in in So Cal (MB Long Beach), and he gave me the following (rehearsed) speach:

"Hi Mr ______, do you still own your 2003 E 320? Well, I have a great offer for you -- right now MB is offering to buy back your Benz and terminate your lease early at no cost or penalty to you if you agree to purchase or lease a 2005 model year MB of your choice. We just got the new E350 in and it has more power than your car, and is newer!" (yes he said the last part, no joke)

I told him that this sounded great, but there was no way I would agree to increase my lease payments and I'd want a comparable car (I have a E320 Sport)... and he gave me the old line of "well come on in and let us make you a deal!"

So my question is: what's the deal here? It's gotta be a scam. Why would MB offer to get me out of my 48 month lease 28 months early?

I just don't get it... and I come from the school of thought that if it walks like a duck and smells like a duck, it's probably a duck...

But, if this isn't a scam, would you do it and why?

Questions/Comments welcomed...
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Old Mar 10, 2005 | 08:15 PM
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Towards the end of last year I was offered an early termination of the lease on my 01 E320 4M if I were to lease another 05 E Class. This was a legit offer. I did not do it as it really did nothing for me. In feb when the lease expired I did pick up a new 05 E320 4M and believe it or not the payments on a 4 year lease are not significantly different than the 01. A 28 mo zero cost termination sounds to me like its pushing the envelope a bit. Perhaps the salesman just wanted to get you in the door and try to bury the buy out cost in the new lease??
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Old Mar 10, 2005 | 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted by sosh
A 28 mo zero cost termination sounds to me like its pushing the envelope a bit. Perhaps the salesman just wanted to get you in the door and try to bury the buy out cost in the new lease??

Yeah, that's what I don't get... I've heard of the other scenario you describe a lot, especially when it's the end of the lease and the manufacturer wants to keep you "in the family"... but in this case the call was totally out of the blue and totally unsolicited on my part... maybe it's because they read my mind and saw that I was day dreaming about the new GS (which I really like)...
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