OrangeBingo

Has anyone who bought the RX-8 done the rebate for recent graduates?

RX8-U-UP

My wife is enrolled in graduate school, working towards her MBA, and we recieved the College Rebate of 500 dollars on our Winning Blue RX8. Our dealer was Sandy Sansing Mazda in Pensacola Florida, she showed proof of enrollment, and there were no questions asked.

8_wannabe

I did, today at Cush Mazda near San Diego. The first two sales reps were a bit confused and said the 8 didn't qualify, however they double-checked with the manager and he said "Do it!" Just to compare notes: I did not get $500 off the car, but they said I should get a rebate check in the mail in a few weeks. Is that how it worked for you? This was for a masters degree I got two years ago. I showed no proof but they said I should fax evidence of this to their office.

RX8-U-UP

Ours was applied as part of the down payment. We had her enrollment document with us, and they made a copy, and said it would be taken care of.

Hercules

It's a factory to DEALER rebate... so it should get taken off immediately.

I'd do some yelling about it.

RX8-U-UP

I just wanted to follow-up and let everyone know that I am currently enrolled in an MBA program with an estimated graduation date of August 2004. Our dealership applied the $500.00 rebate to our down payment. They made a copy of my graduate program schedule, provided by the dean of the College of Business, and that was all they needed. The dealership receives the $500.00, so if your dealership told you anything different, I would definitely ask questions.

Good luck and I hope you are able to get your rebate applied.

OrangeBingo

Thank you all for the feedback. I will consider the rebate to be the start of my mod fund.

8_wannabe

Darn it! As hard as I try, I always get screwed on these things. RX8-U-UP, can you tell me what dealership applied your College Grad rebate to your down payment? I'm gonna set Cush straight on the matter. And thanks for the tips. If we pool our resources we can beat these guys into submission.

RX8-U-UP

Hi 8_wannabe,

Our dealership was Sandy Sansing Mazda in Pensacola, Florida. Near the bottom of the contract, listed under the down payment, they placed "$500 Cash/$500 College Grad Rebate" for a total of $1,000.00. The check for the $500.00 will go directly to them. I think the Tributes that are now coming into dealerships are also 2004 models, and the rebate is good on these also.

You can also access the requirements for eligibility for the rebate on the MazdaUSA web page. Although the web page refers to new 2003 model vehicles, MazdaUSA has verified that the rebate also applies to the 2004 models, since the rebate is good through, I believe, September 1st.

I have talked with several dealerships throughest the SouthEast, and they have all stated they will be honoring the College Grad rebate on the RX-8.

Good luck, and I can probably fax a copy of our contract to your dealership if that becomes necessary.

8_wannabe

The mazdausa web site has an 800 number for this, so I called. It's weird; a human being answered the phone without any machine intervention. Virtually unprecedented. Anyway, what the very nice lady told me is the $500 graduate rebate can be handled in two ways. The dealer can take it off the price of the vehicle, or they can charge me full price and I'll get a $500 check in the mail. The latter is what's happening to me. My only peeve is I was not told both alternatives by the dealership; I was only told I could receive a check later. I'll wait, pay the $500 towards my loan, and then refi. I got my loan via Mazda for a quick-and-easy purchase, but they're certainly not the best interest rate in town.

8_wannabe

Hey, what's the $500 cash deal? Did I get doubly screwed on this deal?

RotoRooter

Wake up 8-wannabe . . . I think that the cash is your actual cash down payment.

8_wannabe

I guess you're right. Mazda has a deal on their web site called Customer Cash where they give cash back on certain cars. I thought maybe he had finagled that on the 8. My bad.

RX8-U-UP

The $500.00 cash was the deposit we put on the car when it was ordered. They've had that money for awhile. The other was the College Grad Rebate, for a total of $1000.00.

We had a 3.9% rate from our Credit Union, so I am glad they applied the rebate. I don't think we were given the option of receiving the check.

Kap

Do you happen to have this 800 number handy? I skimmed over the MazdaUSA site and couldn't seem to find it. Much appreciated if you could post it or pm me with it.

eccles

www.mazdausa.com - build and buy - special offers - mazda graduate program takes you here where you'll find all the details and the 800 number.

Kap

Thanks a lot eccles, I'll call them Monday and see whether the dealership was trying to lead me astray or not.

Kap

I just called the number on the Mazda site and found out that NO, the RX-8 does not qualify for the college graduate program as it's an '04 model.

8_wannabe

Don't take no for an answer, Kap, despite what the website says. Several here have gotten the rebate and several others have been promised the rebate. Just tell the dealer that Mazda said it's ok, mostly they're too lazy to check and just give it to you. Elsewhere on this forum one of the Mazda salesmen who posts verified through Mazda that the 8 qualifies. I guess it just depends on who you ask or how you ask or if you ask.

budaman

I've been following this thread for a while now, waiting to get verification from Mazda on the CG rebate for the RX-8. All of our info states that it applied to '02 & '03 models and as we know the RX-8 is an '04. Mazda called me back today and confirmed that the RX-8 will not be eligible for the rebate for at least 90 days. Anyone who got the rebate off the cost of the car or listed as down pmt. by the dealer should feel extremely lucky because the dealer will have to eat the $500, which means you got a $500 discount on the car. If they gave you paperwork to send in to Mazda to be reimbursed you'll likely get a thanks but no thanks from them. I know Mazda's name is in the tank with a lot of you already because of the delays and I felt it was best to get this out in the open before any more expectations were smashed. If you can get it from them though, get it and run!

Kap

I purchased my 8 on a Saturday, so the dealership couldn't check with Mazda about the eligibility of the 8. So no matter what I told the sales manager about how everyone else on the face of the planet buying RX-8's is getting the college grad promo, the best he would do was to put in writing that if I could verify the promotion, I would get a check for $500 no questions asked. Guess they did the right thing.

8_wannabe

Buda, I was getting ready to reluctantly agree with you when I pulled out the rebate form that I and the dealer signed. Most of it is info about the car (VIN, my address, etc.) but at the bottom is the following which I quote in its entirety:

"Important - Buyer and Dealer Should Read

By signing this form, Buyer and Dealer each confirm that Mazda should make payment as indicated by BUYER'S CHOICE. Mazda has no obligation under this program other than to make such payment, and that such obligation exists only if this form is accurately completed, and mailed to Mazda Program Headquarters. Buyer and Dealer acknowledge that while Mazda will promptly process this form for payment and attempt to send payment within 30 days of receipt hereof, neither Buyer nor Dealer shall rely on such payment for any purpose (including the making of any payment on a loan secured by the above vehicle.) Dealer further acknowledges that the RDR transaction must be received by Mazda from Dealer before this form can be processed, and certifies that the purchase (sic) of the above described vehicle has, in fact, signed this form as buyer."

Below that statement, the dealer rep (in my case, finance guy after receiving manager verbal approval) and I signed. There are no other provisions or small print hidden on the form, and I don't see much wiggle room for them to get out of this contract. It is clear I am dealing with them in good faith, and they have made representation to me that the $500 will come, not "might" come. Mazda didn't write in many or any loopholes for themselves as to whether they get to determine eligibility for rebate. It sounds like they are entrusting the dealer to make that determination, after which the rebate will be honored.

By the way, they didn't give me a form to submit. They kept the form, I signed, they told me to fax them my diploma which I've done, and they will turn it all in for me. I don't know how it will pan out, but one way or another I'm gonna get my $500 back. I think once the buyer talks the dealer into signing this form, the buyer is sitting pretty, whether as a rebate or instant $500 off.

RotoRooter

By dealer challenged me to provide in writing any customer who actually got the $500 rebate. If I show it to him, I get the cash. Show me some love please. Anybody can help me?

8_wannabe

Now this is weird. The dealership faxed in all my college rebate paperwork 2 weeks ago. Today I called the rebate hotline and they said they haven't received anything and to send it again. so I called the dealer, they said not only was it sent but they've received approval.... for $250! So what's up with that? Getting anything back is fine but I thought the deal was $500?

8_wannabe

Ok, now I'm mad. One more dealer thinks they're dealing with one more chump, so now they've got a fight on their hands. After a couple weeks where they told me they submitted the rebate form (but being evasive about its status) I called Mazda HQ. HQ is soooo nice, and I mean that seriously. HQ realizes I've got an RX-8 and they said straight out they will honor the rebate. However, the dealership has yet to turn it in despite telling me they did.

So, in today's mail what do I get but a NEW rebate contract from the dealer. They want me to sign and send back to them, but this time for only $250! Bull! I've got a signed agreement with them already for the $500 and I guess they've decided they can squeeze out another $250 profit before they're through with me. Ain't agonna happen, but now I'm in battle mode. I'm done dealing with their finance flunkies; time to work with managers, and failing that, small claims court. I'm just fed up, sick and tired of being treated like a chump by corporations. It seems to be becoming the predominant American business model: "Aggravate our customers, those people who give us money to stay in business." For my part, I'm drawing the line right here.

Oh, and don't forget: "We want to be your dealer of choice. Please send all your friends here. And perfect 10's on the customer satisfaction survey is the ONLY passing grade." Yeah, like they really mean it. Stand by for further details. I'm gonna get this rebate; it's now down to how much pain do I have to inflict before they realize that. <sigh> this is all so unnecessary. I was so ready to be a nice guy with them.