German Car Zone

Since the GLK hasn't hit the UK market yet, I was thrilled to see the car in New York. No surprises as the car looked just like in photos, it's pretty and well designed but..............it's not for me. To me it's a soccer mom mobile just like the Lexus RX and the X3.

Hoping it would be a showroom hit, Mercedes-Benz loaded up its U.S. dealers with heavily-optioned, high-priced GLK-class SUVs only to see the economy tank, leading to an oversupply the company is now trying to fix with low interest rates and reworked option packages.

"We planned production in June and July of last year, and we didn't know where we would be in January," said Mercedes-Benz CEO Ernst Lieb. "We had models coming at $40,000-plus."

While the company sent many option-laden, high-end models to its U.S. showrooms, it ran advertisements touting a $33,900 MSRP and a $34,775 starting price after shipping charges were added in. Interested buyers flocked to showrooms looking for the attractive starting price only to find models stickering for well over $40,000 due to their options, U.S. dealers say.

The issue quickly became apparent to Mercedes, which rolled out a promotion offering a low 1.9% interest rate for 66 months starting in February, just one month after the GLK went on sale. At the same time, Mercedes listened to complaints about options packages and has reworked several that will go into affect this month.

For example, many customers told Mercedes that they wanted the sunroof, but not the $3,150 option package it was bundled with. Mercedes has now made the sunroof a $1,450 standalone option. Likewise, a navigation system was previously bundled with a $3,350 multi-media package and can now be ordered separately for just $1,800. To make it up to customers who bought GLKs before the changes went into affect, Mercedes sent $2,000 refunds to every customer that bought a GLK equipped with either of the original packages.


Mercedes-Benz Admits Sending Too Many High-End GLKs to U.S. | Motortrend News & Auto Blog - Wide Open Throttle


The refund is a classy, but costly move.


M

The cost of losing a customer is much higher, especially in this economy where customer retention is crucial for survival. Shame on Mercedes for decking out the GLKs they have shipped off. Most people are attracted to the car because it's affordable and aim at paying way less than 40k for the truck. Potential buyers must have been really bummed when they peaked at the price tags as Mercedes were defeating the purpose of the GLK. I can picture Orange County house wives emotionally discussing the prices over pink Motorola RAZRs. It's like when a computer manufacturer advertise a new laptop priced at "under" €400 -- only for customers to find out that the computer is underpowered and that adding options sky rockets the price to well over €400.

Looks like the GLK will get LEDs as well - just found on the website…:

I guess the last version of the R230 SL will also get them too. Mercedes and Audi in the LED race.

M

yes it will.

there was an article about amg package and leds on GLK

AMG package is also available - costs the standard 4.000 €!


edit:

Mercedes-Benz GLK350 AMG Styling Package



The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK has been a great success in the compact luxury SUV segment. It is the best seller!

To further enhance this great design, Mercedes is introducing the AMG Styling Package. This package will be available to order in January and includes:

AMG-designed front and rear bumpers with chrome skid plates

20" AMG twin five-spoke wheels with all-season tires

Aluminum roof rails

LED daytime running lamps (does not require lighting package)
The AMG Styling Package will be priced at $1,970.

Mercedes Benz | Atlanta Classic Cars | Jesse Cannon-Wallace

^^^ She has one of the best dealer blogs going IMO. I'd buy from her if I lived in Atlanta.

M

Yep...I love the info from her site...