Damned if you do... Damned if you don't... or just Damned?

As we posted a few weeks back the fall out from the AIG incentive program in the press has continued to influence sponsoring companies.

To wit... Chrysler to Suspend Dealer Reward Program to Cut Costs

It makes some sense - especially in light of the money they are asking for - and the fact that they are privately held - meaning they don't share any financial info so they want to keep as low a profile as possible. I'm sure they know that transparency is something I would want to see if I was lending them money. Oh, wait - I am!

So, Chrysler cancels their reward program for their top dealers. The article mentions they talked with the dealers and everyone is cool.

Then this hits the fan... Chrysler, GM Blow Half a Million on Thank-You Ads

It seems that both GM and Chrysler took out full page ads thanking me for the money I lent them! But it cost me $500,000 per company!! I would rather Chrysler spent the money on the Dealer reward program and at least got some input from the dealers on what they should be doing to save the company. They don't need to thank me for the loan. We all know the folks that they really need to thank are our representatives in Washington. Oh, wait... that was done at fund-raising time.

In any event (or as the case may be - no event) I think the need to reward distribution channel partners and employees is important. I don't think a PR stunt like the ads did anything for anyone. But I can see how they were caught in an uncomfortable position - if they ran the reward program they get hit... they thank me for the loan (geez... that was nice) they get hit.

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe...

I2I - Incentive Intelligence

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