Published June 4, 2012
By Jeff Cobb
Well, what do you make of this example of “creative marketing,” as a reader described this story sent to us? A seller of an Illinois home listed originally for $1.49 million has knocked off $350,000 – and, as an extra added bonus – the seller is including an 85-kwh Tesla Model S.
The bonus Tesla is possible due to the seller having a “reservation number in the three hundreds” out of more than 10,000 reservation holders Tesla says are waiting to buy the all-electric luxury sedan due for first deliveries June 22. We're assuming it will be more expensive 85-kwh version as the first 1,200 delivered cars will be, according to Tesla.
This year only 5,000 or so Model S reservation holders will be able to purchase the sought-after car, which means if someone wanting one got in line now, it would be well into 2013 before the car was actually taken home.
But, if you want a 6,750-square-foot home built in 2001, located 30 miles northwest of Chicago in the suburb of Inverness – and you want a Model S – now’s your chance.
This news comes via Green Car Reports' editor, reporting for Fox News, and noted also is the seller’s Web site titled, appropriately enough, getafreetesla.com.
On the site, the seller says with a hint of desperation:
“I get it. Houses are hard to sell these days. That’s why I reduced the price by $350,000, and I’m including a brand new 2012 Tesla Model S electric car. As you may know, there is a waiting list of over [sic] 6,000 on this car. My reservation is #300+ so you will get the car quick. All reasonable offers considered. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity.”
But what does this actually mean? The market for houses in Inverness is weak, but for Model S it’s great?
In any event, due to the perceived novelty of this marketing scheme, the law of unintended consequences (or were they intended?) has blown the winds in this seller’s favor and now this relatively obscure advertisement and realtor listing are being disseminated far and wide by relatively high-ranked Internet media.
But, as the law of unintended consequences may even continue, how might the seller feel if a few people come along to take the offer? Would the seller still be able to let buyers up-bid for the house, or is the price now pretty well fixed, possibly even due to drop lower?
We’re not sure, but if you take the deal, the ad says "reasonable offers are considered," so you may want to negotiate yourself a properly installed Level 2 charger for your new Tesla in the garage. That big battery will need it.
