Is this deal a Scam?

Boone · May 21, 2004

I clipped an Advertsisement from the GreenBay paper placed by Shawano Power Sports. They are offering a "Cashable Voucher" of $3000 on an Artic Cat ATV "cashable voucher in approximately 3 years time." The program is administered by the Consumer Trust, 225 Broadway NY,NY.

2004 Artic Cat 400 Automatic
MSRP $5,599
Voucher -$3000
Your Cost $2,599

Is this deal for real?

cowboydoc · May 21, 2004

Yes those deals are for real. BUTTTT there are very strict guidelines that you have to adhere to. Be extremely diligent and real ALLLLL the fine print. You also pay all the money upfront for the vehicle. In three years time if you stay up with all the criteria you get the $3000. The dealer pays a small portion of this upfront.

I bought a horse trailer on one of these deals three years ago. As long as I follow everything they have spelled out I will get $10,000 next year. If I mess up even one thing you lose the money.

RobS · May 21, 2004

<font color="blue"> there are very strict guidelines that you have to adhere to </font>

What sort of guidelines? Maintenance? Condition? Owner feedback? What is in it for the seller to offer this voucher?

Seems very unusual to me /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

cowboydoc · May 21, 2004

No nothing like that. What you have to do is there are certain dates that you have to fill out paperwork on the voucher. For example when I got mine I had to file all the paperwork by a certain date. Once that is done they give you a date. On that specific date you have to claim the voucher. If you are even one day late you lose it. They are banking on our disorganized lives not having to pay.

What is in it for the seller is that they get an upfront fee for this from the dealer. The seller is counting on you not remembering in three years that you have this voucher. There is also paperwork that you have to keep those three, in my case four, years to be able to claim the voucher as well.

RobS · May 21, 2004

That is one wierd sales scheme but I bet I could handle it. Is this something one could routinely ask about when making major purchases?

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Boone · May 21, 2004

Rob they also had new Artic Cat snowmobiles with 100% cash back in the ad.

Boone · May 21, 2004

Thanks for the info Doc.

cowboydoc · May 21, 2004

No it's not a routine thing. You will occasionally see it at different vehicle, trailer dealerships. It's something that these company's market to them as a way to entice customers and pay close to retail and make it look like you are getting a great deal. Which you are if you do everything right and want to wait 3-5 years for your rebate.

Mysharonna · May 25, 2004

No...I don't think this is a scam. My neighbor bought some windows about 3 years ago and got a cashable rebate from a company out of Missouri and she is delighted because she just got her money back.

Boone · May 28, 2004

Had the day off yesterday, so I hopped on the motorcycle and ran to the JD dealer in Pulaski for a mower part. Since I was going west I decided to keep going and run out to Shawano and see what the story was on the voucher program and maybe buy an ATV.

I pulled in at 4:30pm and walked in to the showroom. Guy behind the counter asks if I need some help. I reply yes I need to talk with a salesman. Counter guy replies what do you want to know.
I point to an easel that has the terms of the voucher program pinned on it. Tell me how this works and what models are available for it, I need some prices on ATV's.
I ask how much the Mule is and how much the Arctic Cat 400 is. He tells me the price. I walk over and look at the AC 400. He stays behind the counter.
Then another couple walk in, he asks them if they are here to pick up something and pulls out a stack of paperwork. I look around for about ten minutes to see if I was abandoned or if someone really wanted to take my money. Nope.

I walked out. Figured that must be why they have to offer a voucher program, can't work a customer. There were several other people in the offices and around the place at work. Doing something that must have been more important.

The terms as close as I can remember them:
Go to a website and retrieve some number specific to you.
Copy of birth certificate or notorized passport.
Current utility bill.
Proof that you paid for the machine.
Sending all material without exception by registered mail in a 7 day period after three years.

On the way out I stopped at the Bombardier dealer and looked at the Outlanders. The quality appeared to me to be much higher than the Arctic Cat. I like the Outlander series.