What’s going on at the Saab Aero Academy website?
I got an email from a guy over the weekend. He’s interested in attending the Saab Aero Academy at the Road Atlanta course so he made some enquiries. Being a smart kind of guy, though, he was forearmed with a little bit of knowledge, which as your mother will tell you, is always a dangerous thing.
His query was to confirm the cost of the program. As he purchased a Saab late in 2007, he wanted to make sure that a) he was eligible to participate and b) the price was right.
Here’s the answer he received (on a Sunday, no less - kudos for timely replies) from SaabUSA via email:
Dear Mr……..,
Thank you for contacting Saab! We appreciate the time you have taken to write us.
We apologize for any confusion; however, the 9-3 2.0T is not an eligible vehicle for the Aero Academy program; the 9-3 must be an Aero model to qualify. Although your vehicle does not qualify for the program, you may still participate in the Aero Academy for a fee of $1495.00 per person. For more information on the Academy, please visit http://www.saabacademy.com/. We hope that this information clarifies any uncertainty regarding the program and that you are enjoying your new Saab!
At Saab, we strive to provide exceptional customer service. If we can be of any further assistance please email us or call 1-800-722-2872, between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., Eastern Time, seven days a week. Thank you for contacting Saab!
Sincerely,
The Saab Marketing Team
http://www.saabusa.com
Now that’s all well and good. But as I mentioned, our enquirer had a little bit of knowledge and something in this answer just didn’t ring true.
The customer service rep has probably gone to the aforementioned Aero Academy microsite, got the conditions and costs from there and relayed them back to our enquiry-making 9-3 owner. Fair enough.
The problem lies in the fact that neither the person maintaining the Aero Academy website, nor this customer service rep, received the memo in October last year:
The exclusive Saab Aero Academy two-day performance driving school held at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga., once reserved for Saab Aero model customers only, is now available to U.S. drivers everywhere. The cost is only $495 in combination with the purchase of a new Saab and $1,000 more without.
The offer of $1,000 off the price is open to all US Saab customers and they have a year from their date of purchase to take up the offer. Our enquirer purchased his car in late October, which is when this new offer came into play - hence there may be some ambiguity about his particular circumstances - but that shouldn’t have led to the response he got, nor the out of date nature of the information on the external Aero Academy website.
I’m sure this is an honest mistake on the part of the representative. I hope those in charge of the information make sure that Aero Academy website is updated as soon as possible.
——
Note: the Aero Academy section of the SaabUSA website seems to be OK. It’s the page at http://www.saabacademy.com/ which is a problem and whilst the SaabUSA page is OK, it does refer people to the external page in one spot.
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I attended the Saab Aero Academy last week where I had the time of my life. It’s a steal at $495.
If you’re eligible, take advantage of the opportunity. You’ll find out what you and your new SAAB are capable of. You get lots of seat time to run it through all sorts maneuvers.
Let us look into this. Just to be sure, is the Saab in question a 2008 model? This is required to qualify for the discount.
Up till 2007 MY the only car that was eligibe was the Aero. As of 2008 MY all Saab’s are eligble at a cost of $495. Anyone can attend for $1495.
Thanks Jan-Willem and Saabrep. I’m unsure as to the year of the guy’s vehicle. I just know he purchased it in late October 2007. Given the slow rollout of 2008 vehicles and the incentives on 2007 vehicles at that time, I’d hazard a guess and say it’s a 2007.
BUT
That doesn’t explain the info that’s on the Aero Academy website, and it doesn’t necessarily explain the response he received, either, as there’s no reference to the year of his vehicle precluding his attendance. It’s jus tthe fact that it’s a 2.0T that’s the problem.
Every report I’ve heard from the academy is great, so it’d be a real bonus to have that Academy website up to speed on the current eligibility requirements.
OK, am I eligible then? I bought a MY07 2.0T back in November. Having the summer off, I’d love to take advantage of this.
Please, please I hope so.
You’re eligible to attend, Joemama, but you’re not eligible for the $1,000 discount. That’s as per the press release at the link. It’s 2008 models only that get the discount (the theory probably being that late purchasers of 07 models got a pretty decent discount on the car itself).
Hello all. It was I who submitted the inquiry to SaabUSA. The Saab I purchased is a 2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T. I flew all the way up from Houston to Denver just to get it
By my understanding of what I read in these comments and the press release, I should be eligible for the $1,000 coupon, no?
Seeing your car is an 08 model, then you should certainly be eligible. Did you receive the certificate around 4-6 weeks after purchase? Your dealer should have sent off notification when you bought the car and that would have triggered the process.
I’ll alert JWV from Saab about this development and hopefully there should be a response forthcoming soon.
No, I received no information regarding the Saab Aero Academy.
I do not believe that the dealer was aware of this revision to the Aero Academy eligibility rules.
Thank you all for your help, it is much appreciated.
I would like to point out and thank Jan W. Vester for taking time to address things like this. Certainly he’s a busy man, but it means worlds to me (and hopefully others) that he is willing to take time to respond to questions and concerns personally. In my opinion, few things can show better just how dedicated he is to the future of the brand.
Thank you Jan-Willem! You’re the man!