GM To Give Away 1000 Vehicles

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:47 pm

Quote Â»DETROIT, United States (AFP) - General Motors announced a 25 million dollar giveaway promotion that will allow consumers to win some of the automaker's most popular vehicles. The promotion announced Sunday at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit is linked to the company's OnStar communications service, which includes features such as emergency road service and global positioning information. The giveaway includes vehicles such as the Hummer H2 and the Cadillac CTS. The so-called "Hot Button" program allows consumers visiting a dealer selling OnStar-equipped cars to activate the service. They are told immediately if they've won one of 1,000 vehicles. The promotion begins Monday and will run for 56 days. The company makes the odds of winning at one in 5,500. The world's largest automaker has set the pace before with aggressive promotions in the past few years. The introduction of zero-percent and aggressive low-rate financing in late 2001 began at GM and was followed not long after by other automakers. The two-month giveaway, which will include 2004 model year vehicles from all of the company's eight brands, is designed to spur traffic during a traditionally slow time of year for the industry. "It's a strong traffic moving program for us," said John Smith, GM group VP of sales, service and marketing in an interview on the sidelines of the Detroit auto show Monday. GM is billing the "Hot Button" program as the biggest two-month giveaway in history. http://www.gm.com/vc/hotbutton/index.html

cibomatto · Post by **cibomatto** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:10 pm

I am totally going for it..

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:21 pm

I read somewhere if you win, you win a vehicle from the brand you played in. IE, if you press the button in a Pontiac, you win a Pontiac.Make sure you play from the brand you want to win!

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 2:28 am

Any luck for us Canucks???

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 2:35 am

Bro it was worth a shot , non?

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 2:39 am

Do they do OnStar up there? Probably one more thing you need to be protected from Another article on the deal (but doesn't mention Canada)Quote, originally posted by "http://www.sunspot.net/business/bal-bz. ... -headlines" Â»GM to give away 1,000 vehicles to boost salesDealer visit required but no test drive or sales pitch --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Associated PressOriginally published January 6, 2004DETROIT - General Motors Corp. plans to give away 1,000 cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles in 56 days beginning Monday as part of a $50 million promotion to generate showroom traffic and build awareness of its nine U.S. brands. The world's largest automaker expects 5.5 million people to take part in the Hot Button program, which ends Feb. 29. The company said the odds of winning one of its 54 different 2004 models are about one in 5,500. Steve Hill, GM's director for retail planning, said the company wants to close the gap between many consumers' perceptions of GM and the reality of its product portfolio. He said many buyers don't know that GM's lineup includes brands such as Saab, Saturn and Hummer. "We need to be intrusive and get people to take notice," Hill said. GM plans to encourage consumers to participate in the promotion with a marketing campaign that includes TV, print, Internet and direct-mail advertising. To take part, consumers must visit a local GM dealership and press a blue OnStar button in a designated promotional vehicle. OnStar, a GM subsidiary, makes the nation's most-used vehicle communications system. Contestants will be required to provide identifying information - the last four digits of their driver's license number and home phone number - to an OnStar operator, who in turn will tell them whether they've won. GM said players will not be required to take a test drive or listen to a sales pitch, and the identifying information will not be used in future marketing. All GM models are included in the contest, but the vehicle won will vary. A person may play only once and only one person from a household may enter. GM employees and immediate family members are not eligible, though GM retirees may take part. Hill said the company hopes to increase traffic at its 7,000 dealerships by 30 percent to 40 percent during the promotion. Through November, GM's U.S. sales were down 1.7 percent from the corresponding period a year ago.

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 2:56 am

Yes smart #$% we have OnStar lol Anyways just read the fine print and I can't enter the contest even if I could: GM employees and their immediate families.....my brother works for GM!

Merzbow · Post by **Merzbow** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 1:03 am

So what if you don't have on-star? You can't win? That doesn't make sence because onstar is fairly new...if you have it, chances are you probably just rescently bought a car

Robert G · Post by **Robert G** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 2:46 am

I heard just the opposite, the car you win may not be the the one or the type you played the game in. From the commercials it sounds like after you press the Onstar button, you need to participate in something to play the game. Has anyone done it yet?

Robert G · Post by **Robert G** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 2:47 am

You don't need Onstar. You don't even need to own a GM car. You just go to a GM dealer and they will have a car with Onstar set up to play the game.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:32 am

Quote, originally posted by GM Hot Button Official Game Rules Â»NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. NO TEST DRIVE OR SALES PRESENTATION REQUIRED. The purpose of the dealership visit is to participate in the promotion. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited. Game begins on or about January 4, 2004 and ends February 29, 2004 ("Promotion Period"). Who may participate: Promotion open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older at time of entry and hold a valid U.S. driver's license. Employees, officers, and directors of General Motors Corporation ("GM" or "Sponsor"), its subsidiaries, affiliated companies, dealerships, advertising and promotion agencies, and those associated with the development, distribution or implementation of this Game, their immediate families (including parents, in-laws, siblings, children or spouse, regardless of where they live) and members of the same household, whether related or not, are not eligible to participate. How to play the game: Visit a participating GM dealer during the Promotion Period and press the blue OnStar button in a designated GM Hot Button promotional vehicle equipped with OnStar to speak to the Operator, and connect to the game play phone line. You will be asked to provide your primary home telephone number, your home zip code, and the last four (4) digits of your driver's license number. The game play operator will tell you if you are a winner. In the event that a designated OnStar equipped promotional vehicle is not available for any reason, you may obtain an official game play request form from your participating GM dealer. To play the game by mail, complete the game play request form with your name, address, city, state, zip code, home telephone number, the last 4 digits of your driver's license number, one selected vehicle model/brand from the dealership you visited, and the complete name of the dealership where you received your request form, and mail in an envelope to: GM Hot Button Game Play Request, P.O. Box 16593, Mascoutah, IL 62224-6593. Requests must be postmarked by March 1, 2004 and received by March 8, 2004. All required information, including dealership name, must be included or request form is void. Only original game play request forms are eligible. Photocopies of request forms, or electronically, digitally, or mechanically reproduced game plays will be disqualified. Independent judges will play the game on your behalf and will inform you if you are a potential winner. Only winners will be notified. Limit one game play per person. Limit one game play per home telephone number or household during the Promotion Period, regardless of the method of participation. All game play registrations and requests become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned, and no correspondence will be entered into. Winning: If you receive a winning message from the GM Hot Button game play operator, or independent judges who played on your behalf by mail-in request, you are a potential winner subject to verification. Your game play will be verified by independent judges whose decisions are final and binding in all respects. Odds of winning: Total approximate number of game plays available is 5,500,000. Total prizes: 1000. Odds of winning: Approximately 1:5,500. Prizes: 1,000 Grand Prizes. 1,000 GM vehicles will be awarded based on the participating GM dealerships and the make/brand of the designated OnStar equipped promotional vehicles used by participants when playing the game. A winning participant will be awarded a GM vehicle that corresponds to the make/brand of the vehicle used when such winning participant plays the GM Hot Button game or the make/brand of the vehicle indicated on participant's mail-in game request form. For example: If a participant receives a winning message while in a Pontiac vehicle, the prize awarded will be a Pontiac, with make, model and features as determined at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. If a participant receives a winning message by mail-in request, the prize awarded will be a vehicle based on the name of the participating GM dealership and the make/brand of vehicle sold by the named GM dealership as indicated on such participant's game request form. Of the 1,000 total available vehicle prizes approximately 625 will be Chevrolet, with a minimum Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $9,995; approximately 15 will be Oldsmobile, with a minimum MSRP of $18,950; approximately 130 will be Pontiac, minimum MSRP $15,495; approximately 43 will be Buick, minimum MSRP $22,305; approximately 6 will be Cadillac, minimum MSRP $31,060; approximately 70 will be GMC, minimum MSRP $15,405; approximately 2 will be HUMMER, minimum MSRP $49,995; approximately 104 will be Saturn, minimum MSRP $10,995; approximately 5 will be Saab, minimum MSRP $26,090. The actual vehicle and features/options will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, and actual MSRP of each vehicle may vary depending on the features/options it contains, but will not fall below the minimum MSRP for each vehicle brand listed above. Vehicles will be delivered to winner through the participating GM dealer that the winner visited to participate in the game. No other delivery option will be available. Vehicles will not be delivered anywhere outside the United States. Subject to availability, prizes will be delivered approximately 120 days from final verification of participant's eligibility. Winner is responsible for all taxes and expenses, including but not limited to: sales tax, luxury tax, destination charges, registration, title and license fees, insurance, and all other costs incurred in claiming, registering or using the vehicle. Winner must present their valid U.S. driver's license, verify the home telephone number they provided to participate in the game, and provide satisfactory proof of liability insurance prior to prize delivery. Prize details and availability are subject to change. In the event a particular vehicle cannot be supplied for any reason, a similar vehicle of comparable value may be substituted at Sponsor's sole discretion. Prize is non-transferable, and no cash substitutions except at Sponsor's sole discretion. One prize per person, household or family. Average vehicle cost based on all available prizes is $28,000. Total MSRP of all available prizes: $28,000,000. Claiming prizes: Potential winners will be required to complete and submit an affidavit of eligibility and a liability/ publicity release within 3 business days of receipt. If for any reason the potential winner is deemed ineligible, or does not complete and return the required documents, prize may be forfeited and will be awarded in the second chance drawing. All unclaimed instant win prizes will be awarded via the second chance drawing. Acceptance of prize also constitutes permission to use winner's name, biographical information, voice and/or likeness for Sponsor's promotional and/or advertising purposes without notice or further compensation, unless legally prohibited. Winners agree to provide General Motors Corporation, and its agents, successors and assigns, full written permission and authority to use, copyright, reproduce, display and publish in any media, now known or hereafter developed, including the world wide web, their name, address, photograph, or other likeness, voice or biographical data. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by the Official Rules of this Game and the decisions of the judges, which shall be final and binding in all respects. Second Chance Drawing: You may enter the second chance drawing as often as you wish by mail. Previous game play does not apply, nor will it be counted, in the second chance drawing. To enter the second chance drawing, legibly hand-write your name, address, city, state, zip code, e-mail address, and home phone number on a 3 x 5 ca
rd and mail in an envelope to: GM Hot Button SECOND CHANCE, P.O. Box 16594, Mascoutah, IL 62224-6594, for receipt by March 15, 2004. One entry per outer mailing envelope. Each entry must be original and hand-written. No photocopied, or electronically duplicated entries allowed. All eligible second chance entries received will be entered into a drawing for remaining unclaimed Grand Prizes, if any remain unclaimed. Remaining Grand Prizes (if any) will be awarded via random drawing from among all eligible entries received. If necessary, a random drawing will be held on or around March 31, 2004 by an independent judging agency whose decisions are final. Sponsor will attempt to notify Second Chance winners, if any, by overnight mail within ten (10) days of the drawing. Odds of winning prize in the Second Chance drawing depend on the total number of eligible entries received and the number of prizes (if any) that remain unclaimed. Conditions: Entrants, by participating, release and agree to hold harmless Sponsor, its respective affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind to persons, including death, and property, arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, use or misuse of a prize, participation in any Game related activity, or participation in this Game. Limitations of Liability: Neither Sponsor, nor its respective agencies are responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by telephone or OnStar users, tampering, manipulation, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Game and assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, satellite malfunction technical error, theft or destruction or unauthorized access. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, incomplete or postage due mail. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds, in its sole discretion, to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Game, to be acting in violation of the Official Rules, or to be acting in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. Any use of robotic, automatic, macro, programmed or like entry methods will void all such entries by such methods, and disqualify any entrant using such methods. If, for any reason, the Game is not capable of running as planned by reason of, but not limited to, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which Sponsor, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, deems could corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Game, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Game and select the winners from entries received prior to the action or as otherwise may be deemed fair and equitable by Sponsor. Only the number of prizes stated in the Official Rules will be awarded. If, for any reason, the number of instant win prize claims received exceeds the stated number of prizes, such prize will be awarded through a random drawing from among all prize claims received for that prize. Winner's List: To receive a list of the winners, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope before March 31, 2004, to: GM Hot Button Winners List Request, P.O. Box 16595, Mascoutah, IL 62224-6595. Sponsor: General Motors Corp., 100 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI 48265-2000. Ã‚Â©2003 GM Corp. All rights reserved. The marks of General Motors and its divisions are registered trademarks of General Motors.

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:52 am

no employees? I'm out......good luck whomever tries

Robert G · Post by **Robert G** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:38 am

Thanks. Now I need to figure out whether I'd rather try for one of the 130 Pontiacs or one of the 2 HUMMERs. I had heard that if you won but didn't want the vehicle being provided, you could apply the value to another GM vehicle of your choice, but that isn't in the rules, so I guess it would be up to the dealer or GM.

Viben' round · Post by **Viben' round** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 12:17 am

Yeah good luck to all of those who CAN play the game. This is the one time it stinks to be a family member of a GM employee. What I could do for a Hummer.... I mean the truck.... Get your heads out of the gutter people!

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 10:45 am

Hmmm, how to figure the odds. Looks like the odds of winning would be better in a Chevy, since there will be 625 of them given away, but then again, a large number of them could be cavaliers, which I wouldn't particularly want. One of the 2 H2s would be nice, but if there are only 2 of them, the odds of winning anything would probably be fairly low. Then again, Chevy has the vette...

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 2:04 pm

I'd take my chances trying for one of the "approximately" 5 Saabs. LOL, my g/f would be soooo mad if I won!

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:47 am

Tried it. Lost.

Robert G · Post by **Robert G** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 5:12 am

I went to a local Cadillac dealer. I really like the SRX. I lost, but the SRX looks great.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 5:12 am

Can you go to another caddy dealer and try again?NM, I just read the rules, limit one gameplay per person, and one play per home phone number.

Caretaker · Post by **Caretaker** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 5:48 am

I find it interesting that over 80% of the cars are at the Chevy dealer. Perhaps I have some chance at winning the Maxx

Robert G · Post by **Robert G** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 6:42 am

For those who haven't played yet, I had heard that if you win and you don't want the car offered, you can apply the cash value to any GM car, but I didn't see anything like that in the rules.

Reynoma · Post by **Reynoma** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 10:55 pm

Those of you who have played: did you just walk into the dealer and tell them you wanted to play the game. Did they put any pressure on?

Robert G · Post by **Robert G** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 11:26 pm

I went to the dealer and said we wanted to look at an SRX and play the game. We indicated that we weren't ready to buy anything, and there was no pressure. Sat in a gret looking SRX and the salesman said that was one of the cars set up to play the game -- just push the OnStar button. I did, played the game.....and didn't win.

JustinVGT · Post by **JustinVGT** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 11:53 pm

I played at a Pontiac dealer, didn't win. No pressure from my salesman at all. That Onstar is pretty cool.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 11:01 pm

I played and did not win.Tried it from a pontiac, can't rememebr if it was a grand prix or grand am. Man was that a low ceiling. Car had a sunroof, which was open, and my head stuck up through it, the headliner was even with my eyebrows. Doesn't matter how nice the car was, headroom is a really important factor in my vehicle choice.I got my second chance entry form, I'l fill it out and send it in. Figure the chance of winning a car is worth the cost of a stamp.

fuel4soul · Post by **fuel4soul** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 2:32 am

I'm dragging my dad up tonight to play since I'm not "of age".I wouldn't mind a new CTS or a F/O Grand Am GT I'll tell you I lost when I get back on later...

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:28 am

Don't remember seeing a recent thread about this, but GM is doing this again.http://www.gm.com/automotive/v....html" Just visit a participating GM Dealer. Press the OnStar button in the designated Hot Button vehicle.Speak with the OnStar advisor, who will notify you if you are a potential winner.And right now get $1,000 Hot Button Bonus Cash on any 2004 or 2005 car or light-duty truck.For Hot Button Bonus Cash you must take delivery by 5/31/05. See dealer for details.."Game begins on or about April 11, 2005 and ends May 31, 2005 "If a participant receives a winning message while in a Pontiac vehicle, the prize awarded will be a Pontiac, with make, model and features as determined at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. POTENTIAL WINNING PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED A SPECIFIC VEHICLE MODEL OR FEATURES, REGARDLESS OF WHICH SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS USED TO PLAY THE GAME. THE DESIGNATED PROMOTIONAL VEHICLE IN PARTICIPATING DEALERSHIPS IS NOT A REFLECTION OF A PRIZE OR POTENTIAL PRIZE."

redlava · Post by **redlava** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:10 am

I don't want to rain on anybody's parade here, but didn't I just see a post in here on how GM might have to axe one or more of it's car lines because of all the money it is losing. So the solution that they have come up with is giving away 1000 cars?!?!?! That makes perfect sense.

21Rouge · Post by **21Rouge** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:20 pm

Quote, originally posted by joatmon Â»Game begins on or about April 11, 2005 and ends May 31, 2005 Quoted from the Pittsburgh tribune Review dated April 25th:Scott Coulson won a Pontiac Vibe from #1 Cochran MegaCenter in Monroeville in the General Motors national Hot Button contest. Coulson planned to buy a car, but won the Vibe by pushing the "Hot Button," part of a promotion for GM's OnStar safety and security technology. Coulson returned and bought a Buick Rendezvous for his wife. Chances of winning are one in 3,000, according to GM.

esjones · Post by **esjones** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:07 am

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish Â»NM, I just read the rules, limit one gameplay per person, and one play per home phone number.Mike, I just read the rules and cannot find anywhere that it says one play per home phone number, just one play per person. Can you tell me if I've overlooked something?I went to a Cadillac dealer last night to play. Didn't win.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:19 am

Quote Â»Of the total available vehicle prizes approximately 67% will be Chevrolet, with a minimum Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $11,910; approximately 12% will be Pontiac, minimum MSRP $21,300; approximately 3% will be Buick, minimum MSRP $23,495; approximately 1% will be Cadillac, minimum MSRP $30,885; approximately 8% will be GMC, minimum MSRP $16,060; approximately 0.3% will be HUMMER, minimum MSRP $31,800; approximately 8% will be Saturn, minimum MSRP $11,995; approximately 0.6% will be Saab, minimum MSRP $23,685.Hmmm, again, the big decision, to go for higher probability and lower value, or go for a smaller chance of winning a bigger prize.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Mon May 16, 2005 2:42 am

I keep forgetting to go try this. Maybe tonight I will win a new car

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Mon May 16, 2005 8:36 am

Tried it. Lost. Again (was several weeks ago when I tried.)

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:09 pm

Well, General Motors (actually probably corporal motors, or maybe private motors, I doubt the General himself recorded the message) is sorry to say that I did not win a new vehicle this time.

esjones · Post by **esjones** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:54 pm

Quote, originally posted by ColonelPanic Â»Tried it. Lost. Again (was several weeks ago when I tried.) Rules say ONE game play per person. If you were truthful about your personal information you gave them both times, they would disqualify you. If you WEREN'T truthful and you won, they would discover it and disqualify you.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Wed May 18, 2005 1:11 am

Quote, originally posted by esjones Â»Rules say ONE game play per person. If you were truthful about your personal information you gave them both times, they would disqualify you. If you WEREN'T truthful and you won, they would discover it and disqualify you.Uhm...I think he's talking about last year and this year, not two instances this year.

blake31 · Post by **blake31** » Wed May 18, 2005 3:56 am

i can't win because my whole family works for GM, but one of the local dealerships is doing a hot button deluxe edition, where they give away four 1 year leases, and even GM employees are eligible for this. 2 in may and 2 in june. i went to the drawing for the may leases, but didnt win. although, after they drew names for the leases, they drew 10 names for $100 each, and i did win that! now i've got 2 more chances to win a lease next month.

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Wed May 18, 2005 9:27 am

Quote, originally posted by esjones Â»Rules say ONE game play per person. If you were truthful about your personal information you gave them both times, they would disqualify you. If you WEREN'T truthful and you won, they would discover it and disqualify you.Yes sir, I am well aware that "Rules say ONE game play per person." This was for two separate "OnStar Hot Button" promotions.Do notice the following:Timestamp on first message: 8:47 PM 1/9/2004Timestamp on most recent message: 7:36 PM 5/16/2005I'm well aware of the rules, and I play strictly by the rules... I don't cheat at anything at life, so I'm not too keen on being called out for something of this nature in which I did NOT do. Was there anything that stated one can only play once in their entire lifetime, regardless of how many times this promotion takes place? Was I disqualified from playing in the 2005 event because I played in the 2004 event? And one would think, the same salesman at the same dealership who sat with me for the contest the first time would not offer to let me make another attempt if I was disqualified.And yes, they had all of my proper information, complete and accurate, and the same exact information both times.Thank you, drive through.

esjones · Post by **esjones** » Wed May 18, 2005 10:15 am

Quote, originally posted by ColonelPanic Â»I'm well aware of the rules, and I play strictly by the rules... I don't cheat at anything at life, so I'm not too keen on being called out for something of this nature in which I did NOT do.OK... OK... I surrender! I'm sorry, I apologize, etc. etc. I (obviously mistakenly) misunderstood your "several seeks ago" phrase to mean earlier in this same promotion. Mea culpa.I try to play by the rules, too. I don't even try to sneak 13 items in the "12 Items or Less" checkout lane.Still Friends?