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Update 11/1/14: I got the 7,500 miles.
Saturday I went to a Cadillac dealership in La Quinta, California to test drive a Cadillac to earn 7,500 American Airlines miles.
Unfortunately the deal is now dead as View from the Wing reported (and no, I don’t have any idea whether your scheduled or completed test drive will earn the miles.)
I’ll post my experience anyway because these test drive promos in which you can earn something like miles or a prepaid gift card are common enough.
- What was the process?
- How long did it take?
- Did I have to take the test drive?
I set up my test drive online through Cadillac’s chat function for 11:30 AM at a Cadillac dealership near where I was staying for the weekend. At the appointed time, I headed to the dealership and my first turn was onto Miles Ave, an auspicious start.
I got to the dealership on time and told the first employee that I had set up a test drive online through the promotion to earn American Airlines miles. He had never heard of it.
He told me I would be talking with Deena, and pointed me to a waiting area. I waited 20 minutes, reading the paper and eating the freshly baked cookies, which kept being replenished. Deena didn’t appear.
I went back to tell them I was still waiting, and I was assigned a new salesman.
I had indicated I was interested in a Cadillac XTS when I had set up the test drive, but I had no interest in purchasing a Cadillac.
The salesman brought around the Cadillac XTS and photocopied my driver’s license. Since I have a Hawaii ID, he asked if I was new to California. I was honest and said I was only around for a few days.
I hoped he would let me out of the test drive and just do whatever he needed to do for me to earn my miles. I didn’t want to waste his time. I wasn’t worried about my time because I thought test driving a car would probably be fun.
We went through a 10 minute test drive, and it was fun. There’s no law against acceleration.
I got back to the dealership, and he gave me his card. He tested the waters with, “Are there any numbers we can put together to get you into this car today?” I said there weren’t.
The manager gave me a piece of paper with the dealership’s code and told me “to input it online” to get my miles. I asked where. He said, “Wherever you set up the test drive.”
I explained that I did that on chat, so there was nowhere to input the code. He asked for my AAdvantage info and said a secretary at the dealership would process everything for me.
We’ll see.
I may or may not get the miles. I would prefer the former, but won’t do much in the latter case. This promotion was like a lottery ticket. I might get 7,500 miles (worth $131 to me) or I might not for about 1 hour of my time including getting to and from the dealership. If I don’t, at least I got to test drive a Cadillac XTS and learn a little more about these types of promotions.
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I took the test drive last week after making an appointment for 3 PM on a Monday. I arrived and spoke to a salesman and told him I had an appointment. They had no knowledge of the appointment but took me for a test drive on an ATS. I was concerned about Bluetooth interfacing with my phone, but we could not get them to dance. We did the test drive and upon going back to the office, he asked what it would take to get me into a Cadillac. I told him I was still shopping and he took my driver’s license and said they would input the data for the miles.
Thought I had some time to sign up for this but missed it. Too bad, I actually enjoy test drives.
I went in told them i have no interest in the test drive and im doing it just for miles and he took my info and i got the miles two weeks later
Sounds like a very poorly run promo. I’m not surprised they pulled the plug..
(Also shocked they’d just keep you waiting at a dealership!)
My story goes like this: called the number on the promo and waited for an hour before being helped by a csr who took all my info and asked for my first and second dealership locations in NYC since not all dealers were participating. Approximately 15 mins later a manager from my second choice dealer called me up and told me to come by any day after work and they’d show me whatever I wanted to see, no need to test drive. I went that Monday after work and was greeted by the same manager who handed me off to a salesman, who handed me off to a receptionist to process the 7500 miles. After completing whatever it was she did I took a look at all the cars and then found the salesman to ask some questions so I wouldn’t feel like a schmuch. There was no pressure to buy and the salesman was happy to compare all the competition and even voiced his love of other manufacturers. After perusing for a bit more I left. Total about 15 mins and no test drive. Was told to call in a few weeks if the miles don’t post. The dealership was under construction and I don’t think anyone is able to test drive cars at the moment so that may have been a factor in the ease of my transaction with them. Plus it’s NYC, so who wants to sit at stop lights all day.
That’s the deal with Car dealers they don’t know how to sell a product . That’s why I like EU hotels most staff is in it for a lifetime and know how to treat people and are worried about your stay ..I wouldn’t have done that for 30k points you should’ve told you about the car then asked IF your interested not MONEY first . I told one fool yes I’ll spend $70k in ten minutes just because you need the money and walked out and brought my car at another cheaper better dealership.
I did mine in Pasadena CA last week and they looked me up and down (I don’t exactly fit their demographic) and asked if I wanted the test drive or just the miles. I said I could test drive but I was really there for the miles. He copied my drivers license wrote down my AA number and that was it 10 minutes in an out. Miles posted already.
Going for the test drive today at Chicago Cadillac.
When I reached the Cadillac Dealership – they said that I was not in their system (i.e. registered under the Cadillac American Airlines promotion for their location). I then asked that who called me to schedule the call. They didnt know. Then I called the Cadillac Concierge at 844-469-2234 and they said that I am in the system and my appointment is at some other city in Illinois. I said that it is too far for me to go and I need to be signed up for the dealership I was currently at. They did the update. I confirmed with the rep and he said that I was NOW in the system and he said that he gave me the miles and did not want to waste my time or his by the TEST DRIVE. I then checked my AA account instantly but the miles were not there… Guess I will check after few days…
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