Subaru donations...

[Okayer2570]

What I don't understand is why does it bother you lol. Its not your money anymore. You purchased a car from them you handed them the money. Now it is theirs to do what they want with.

You don't give the money to the charity Subaru does. They dont write on the check "donated from so&so." So even if you don't support the charity you did not donate. You bought a car.

 

You purchase a car on the street. Guy who sells you the car takes the money you gave him goes and buys crack or drugs and o.ds is that your fault? Not really. Lol he did what he wanted with the money.

 

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[SBT]

Not sure who is it bothering, and beyond that it appears your logic is a bit flawed.

 

With the purchase, and by verbal contract if not in any paperwork, Subaru agreed to pay the funds to the charity the buyer chose. Without the purchase and the buyer's choice, there would be no donation.

[hmmrdwn]

SBT, so your logic is that Subaru keeps the money if someone doesn't chose a charity?

 

GM also has a foundation for students, that doesn't appear to be tied to individual sales;

 

http://www.gm.com/gmfoundation?seo=goo_|_GM+GM.com_|_AWR-GM+Pillars-BMM_|_Community+%26+Education+-+Foundation_|_%2Bgm%20%2Bfoundation

 

Ford also does this'

 

http://corporate.ford.com/our-company/community

 

Chrysler's:

 

http://www.chryslergroupllc.com/COMMUNITY/Pages/Overview.aspx

[hmmrdwn]

What I don't understand is why does it bother you lol. Its not your money anymore. You purchased a car from them you handed them the money. Now it is theirs to do what they want with.

You don't give the money to the charity Subaru does. They dont write on the check "donated from so&so." So even if you don't support the charity you did not donate. You bought a car.

 

You purchase a car on the street. Guy who sells you the car takes the money you gave him goes and buys crack or drugs and o.ds is that your fault? Not really. Lol he did what he wanted with the money.

 

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LOL....Let's run with your analogy for the fun of it. All of I can think of is that you must have voted for Mayor Rob Ford. I guess people voted Marion Barry back in after he got busted. I wouldn't have voted for him though.

 

Just kidding of course. Thanks for bringing that up and having fun with this.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRJnDoskKut3asfLcz0TNN3hpuLO4_UXY86kS8Q6SYxXDBzbXuA

[SBT]

SBT, so your logic is that Subaru keeps the money if someone doesn't chose a charity?

 

Subaru, although very small by comparison to the big mfgrs, is still similar to most corporations. They likely set aside the funds in a charity "pot" and whatever wasn't specifically chosen/directed as a result of a sale, was probably ported into all of the available recipients. Good for their customers, good for their charities, good for their bottom line, and most importantly, the generated "good will."

[hmmrdwn]

Subaru, although very small by comparison to the big mfgrs, is still similar to most corporations. They likely set aside the funds in a charity "pot" and whatever wasn't specifically chosen/directed as a result of a sale, was probably ported into all of the available recipients. Good for their customers, good for their charities, good for their bottom line, and most importantly, the generated "good will."

 

No doubt. I can think of many positives for Subaru tying it to individual sales.

[hmmrdwn]

I'm just glad we are having a civil conversation about this.

[SBT]

Yes it is. Thanks!

[hmmrdwn]

Between school fund raisers, sports fund raisers, church, alumni, community based, etc. We are inundated with charitable giving opportunities. It's nice that Subaru tells you up front that they are taking your money and putting it towards a charity of your choice. Granted they get the deduction and not you, plus there are obvious overhead and expenses. Now you know they are taking $250 from your purchase price and setting up a tax deductible foundation to divest the involuntary donations.

[SBT]

However they work it or fund it doesn't concern me, in any way. Not sure why it appears to bother some that Subaru is a corporate sponsor for non-profit organizations.

 

FWIW, when I buy my Subarus, I buy at Dealer Invoice (minus) Dealer Holdback (typically 2-4% of MSRP under invoice). So, if they're provisioning the $250.00 from my purchase, then they're likely taking it out of their contribution, not mine.

[hmmrdwn]

However they work it or fund it doesn't concern me, in any way. Not sure why it appears to bother some that Subaru is a corporate sponsor for non-profit organizations.

 

FWIW, when I buy my Subarus, I buy at Dealer Invoice (minus) Dealer Holdback (typically 2-4% of MSRP under invoice). So, if they're provisioning the $250.00 from my purchase, then they're likely taking it out of their contribution, not mine.

 

I hear you about profit. . It would be interesting to know what the profit is per model. At one time, Chtysler was making 6k on each minivan sold. Then the profit center moved to SUVs. I'm sure the donation per unit doesn't bother most buyers. It doesn't bother me that much either. I thought it would be interesting to discuss. Glad to see trolls didn't drag it down. It's fun to look at things Subaru is doing differently than other auto companies. Right now other companies have Holiday sales promotions with links to Christmas and Subaru is talking about giving. Does that reach out to their target market? Do their awd cars naturally sell that they can take this pseudo political advertising campaign? Does the campaign work?

[ehsnils]

Not much profit on the car sales, they make the big money on aftermarket. Some models are even sold at a loss.

[lockmedic]

Once a year, my store hosts an adoption event for the local animal shelter. We also donate 100% of sales on that day to the shelter via the humane society. We also get pledges from other businesses in town to do the same. Small store, small town, so it's not a ton of money, but everything helps. We usually raise a few grand, combined.

 

So, by this logic, I would better serve my customers by just giving them the stuff they come in to buy for free that day, and let them donate what they would have spent to the charity of their choosing?

 

The logic I apply to it is, buy something you need AND support a great cause at the same time. Win-win. . . unless you don't like supporting homeless animals. . . in which case, eff you, we're giving them your money anyway. Neener-neener.

[hmmrdwn]

Once a year, my store hosts an adoption event for the local animal shelter. We also donate 100% of sales on that day to the shelter via the humane society. We also get pledges from other businesses in town to do the same. Small store, small town, so it's not a ton of money, but everything helps. We usually raise a few grand, combined.

 

So, by this logic, I would better serve my customers by just giving them the stuff they come in to buy for free that day, and let them donate what they would have spent to the charity of their choosing?

 

The logic I apply to it is, buy something you need AND support a great cause at the same time. Win-win. . . unless you don't like supporting homeless animals. . . in which case, eff you, we're giving them your money anyway. Neener-neener.

Sounds like a great program that is totally optional by motivated customers. Great job and nice way to involve customer. No expense or overhead and local charity. I love it.

[The B4]

I hear you about profit. . It would be interesting to know what the profit is per model. At one time, Chtysler was making 6k on each minivan sold. Then the profit center moved to SUVs. I'm sure the donation per unit doesn't bother most buyers. It doesn't bother me that much either. I thought it would be interesting to discuss. Glad to see trolls didn't drag it down. It's fun to look at things Subaru is doing differently than other auto companies. Right now other companies have Holiday sales promotions with links to Christmas and Subaru is talking about giving. Does that reach out to their target market? Do their awd cars naturally sell that they can take this pseudo political advertising campaign? Does the campaign work?

 

Subaru discovered in the mid 2000's that rebates just devalued the brand, hurt resale values, and didn't move the needle for them anyway.

 

For that reason, Subaru dropped the MSRP's on the lineup in 2007 (from like $300 to $2600 if i remember correctly) and removed cash rebates. Since then, Subaru spends the least amount of money in incentives of any manufacturer.

 

Subaru makes its money on vehicles when it sells the cars to the dealers. Whatever the dealer makes on it at that point is between us and the dealers.

 

Since Subaru customers aren't as interested in rebates and are interested taking care of other people and the environment, Subaru chooses to donate money to promote end of year sales. It's a feel good for buyers, protects resale values, and actually helps people in need.

 

It still comes purely out of SOA's profit and since every car gets a donation, it's actually real money spent. A lot of the end of the year sales events put rebates on prior model year, base models, and slower selling vehicles. The hotter models get little or nothing at all.

 

Subaru is paying out on every car, even the hot selling stuff which is pretty much the entire lineup. It will be $10 million this year for a total of $35 million since the program started.

 

There's a difference between actually paying money to someone else for a good cause (Subaru) and charging less money for your own product (everyone else)

[hmmrdwn]

Subaru discovered in the mid 2000's that rebates just devalued the brand, hurt resale values, and didn't move the needle for them anyway.

 

For that reason, Subaru dropped the MSRP's on the lineup in 2007 (from like $300 to $2600 if i remember correctly) and removed cash rebates. Since then, Subaru spends the least amount of money in incentives of any manufacturer.

 

Subaru makes its money on vehicles when it sells the cars to the dealers. Whatever the dealer makes on it at that point is between us and the dealers.

 

Since Subaru customers aren't as interested in rebates and are interested taking care of other people and the environment, Subaru chooses to donate money to promote end of year sales. It's a feel good for buyers, protects resale values, and actually helps people in need.

 

It still comes purely out of SOA's profit and since every car gets a donation, it's actually real money spent. A lot of the end of the year sales events put rebates on prior model year, base models, and slower selling vehicles. The hotter models get little or nothing at all.

 

Subaru is paying out on every car, even the hot selling stuff which is pretty much the entire lineup. It will be $10 million this year for a total of $35 million since the program started.

 

There's a difference between actually paying money to someone else for a good cause (Subaru) and charging less money for your own product (everyone else)

Nice well thought out response. What does Subaru (SOA) do with the $250.00 per car between the time the car goes to the dealer and is sold when a charitable organization is designated? Escrow account?

[ehsnils]

Nice well thought out response. What does Subaru (SOA) do with the $250.00 per car between the time the car goes to the dealer and is sold when a charitable organization is designated? Escrow account?

 

Does anybody care? It's their money at that stage and they can do whatever they like with it.

 

It's probably just accumulated in a total account for the daily operations and then at regular intervals they do transfers to the selected charitable organizations. No need to have a special account for it.

 

I suggest that if this is an itch for you then avoid scratching that itch in public, send SOA a snail mail ask them how it works instead.

[laff79]

Nils just owned you

[hmmrdwn]

Does anybody care? It's their money at that stage and they can do whatever they like with it.

 

It's probably just accumulated in a total account for the daily operations and then at regular intervals they do transfers to the selected charitable organizations. No need to have a special account for it.

 

I suggest that if this is an itch for you then avoid scratching that itch in public, send SOA a snail mail ask them how it works instead.

 

You may not read the news in the US, but charities are under attack. I thought it would be interesting to discuss Subatus.

 

http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/president-again-attacks-charitable-deduction/

 

http://cironline.org/reports/wake-report-charities-come-under-increased-scrutiny-4934

[hmmrdwn]

What appeared to be well run charities by prominent athletes have been under attack too.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2013/11/27/leroy-butler-charity-grand-jury-investigation/3767769/

 

Other articles talk about what is accomplished and not what is raised:

 

http://www.npr.org/2013/07/05/181693499/do-we-have-the-wrong-idea-about-charity

 

It's all very germane considering Subaru's current campaign. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with Subaru's, in fact there are great things they do like making it local. It's a feel good program. It would be interesting to see the mechanics of it though.

 

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-10-22/opinion/chi-20131022-lies_briefs_1_tax-exempt-status-nonprofits-charities

[The B4]

Non of that is relevant to this discussion.

[ehsnils]

In a PM:

So you are saying I shouldn't openly discuss or ask questions about Subarus charities? . Is that type of civil free speech prohibited?

 

I'm just saying that you have provided your arguments, and we have provided counter-arguments and right now it seems to at least me that you are trying to overload us with your opinion. If you don't like the foundations that receives the money then tell that to SOA, not us. You may tell us if you get an answer. This isn't a court of law, it's up to everyone to decide for themselves if they are willing to prefer a certain recipient or leave it to SOA, and if they can't choose - so be it.

 

If you prefer to donate to the National Socialist Movement or the United States Marijuana Party it's not my business. Maybe Bosco would like to have a word with you on the matter in the PA, but it's still your money. If people want to buy a car from SOA and some of the money ends up in a charitable foundation that's questionable, then you shall take that with SOA and not us.

[laff79]

I got a PM too. Still not sure what it means. It's obvious mister hmmrdwn cannot handle a civil argument without copious amounts of butthurt.

[hmmrdwn]

In a PM:

 

 

I'm just saying that you have provided your arguments, and we have provided counter-arguments and right now it seems to at least me that you are trying to overload us with your opinion. If you don't like the foundations that receives the money then tell that to SOA, not us. You may tell us if you get an answer. This isn't a court of law, it's up to everyone to decide for themselves if they are willing to prefer a certain recipient or leave it to SOA, and if they can't choose - so be it.

 

If you prefer to donate to the National Socialist Movement or the United States Marijuana Party it's not my business. Maybe Bosco would like to have a word with you on the matter in the PA, but it's still your money. If people want to buy a car from SOA and some of the money ends up in a charitable foundation that's questionable, then you shall take that with SOA and not us.

Lol I love you ehnils. I wouldn't support any of those charities, but do support sensible corporate charitable giving...especially if it includes free speech. Maybe Subaru should include the ones you suggest, that would be funny? Just kidding of course.

 

Maybe we should all sit around and feel good in the dark? Lol. Let's not ask questions.

[ehsnils]

Maybe we should all sit around and feel good in the dark? Lol. Let's not ask questions.

 

Just ask the right questions to the right target.