First, let me restate my assumptions:
I don't begrudge Lotus from wanting or needing to raise the price. I do take some issue with the way it is being applied.
I think the price increase should only be applied to cars that have not yet had their build order submitted. In all fairness, since the build order is not changable once submitted, it arguably constitutes the final step in making a firm commitment to the purchase of your exact car. If someone has not placed their build order yet then they still have the option to reconsider the options to include accounting for the price increase or to even bail out entirely if they deem it necessary. That said, once the build order has been placed it seems to me that there is a commitment on both sides about the terms of the agreement. I agree to buy this specific car for this specific price...period. If LCU then jacks up the price by $1k, $5k, $10k, or whatever that should mean that they didn't live up to their end of the bargain. It's just not good form to ding customers this late in the process.
I have already placed my build order and I will still hold up my end of the agreement but I cannot stress enough that this has given me a very poor impression of the policies and management of this company. I will be compelled to caution all of the people I will meet when driving this car to be wary of shady business practices when buying a car from this company.
Please understand, I'm not angry about the $1k bump, I'm angry about their choice in how and when it is applied.
Now then... To all of you who have received your car at the original MSRP and who see fit to defend Lotus and their behavior, SPARE US. If you are so concerned with the well being of Lotus as a company or think this is a fair and equitable action on their part then send them the extra $995 first, otherwise your comments will be viewed as hypocritical at best and annoyingly disingenuous at worst. WE KNOW THE CAR IS GOOD AND PROBABLY WORTH THE MONEY. THAT IS NOT THE POINT OKAY? Parading around proudly proclaiming that this is okay or good business is shrill and contrived and you only make the rest of us more pissed off about this...
I don't begrudge Lotus from wanting or needing to raise the price. I do take some issue with the way it is being applied.
I think the price increase should only be applied to cars that have not yet had their build order submitted. In all fairness, since the build order is not changable once submitted, it arguably constitutes the final step in making a firm commitment to the purchase of your exact car. If someone has not placed their build order yet then they still have the option to reconsider the options to include accounting for the price increase or to even bail out entirely if they deem it necessary. That said, once the build order has been placed it seems to me that there is a commitment on both sides about the terms of the agreement. I agree to buy this specific car for this specific price...period. If LCU then jacks up the price by $1k, $5k, $10k, or whatever that should mean that they didn't live up to their end of the bargain. It's just not good form to ding customers this late in the process.
I have already placed my build order and I will still hold up my end of the agreement but I cannot stress enough that this has given me a very poor impression of the policies and management of this company. I will be compelled to caution all of the people I will meet when driving this car to be wary of shady business practices when buying a car from this company.
Please understand, I'm not angry about the $1k bump, I'm angry about their choice in how and when it is applied.
Now then... To all of you who have received your car at the original MSRP and who see fit to defend Lotus and their behavior, SPARE US. If you are so concerned with the well being of Lotus as a company or think this is a fair and equitable action on their part then send them the extra $995 first, otherwise your comments will be viewed as hypocritical at best and annoyingly disingenuous at worst. WE KNOW THE CAR IS GOOD AND PROBABLY WORTH THE MONEY. THAT IS NOT THE POINT OKAY? Parading around proudly proclaiming that this is okay or good business is shrill and contrived and you only make the rest of us more pissed off about this...