We’ve all experienced the terrible grid-lock resulting from the number of cars on roads today. In the U.S. alone, we have more than 250 million registered personal vehicles, or 797 cars per 1000 people. Of course, one expects to see cars everywhere in such a comparatively well-off region. One might be surprised to learn that, despite being smaller than Connecticut, little Puerto Rico ranks twelfth in the world, with 635 vehicles per thousand people. This total far exceeds the rates exhibited by other countries in the region, for example, Mexico (275) and Jamaica (188). The quality of these vehicles ranges from luxury cars to salt-laden, rusted, beaters. Regardless of one’s driving preference, finding a vehicle is a veritable piece of cake here. A 15 mile drive along the principal west coast highway in Puerto Rico (Route 2) will expose one to approximately 20 car dealers. Naturally, with so many dealers offering similar selections, it is imperative that a dealership stand out from the competition. Some managers do the expected, posting signs promising huge savings. Others follow the US model of lining up their most attractive vehicles along the road. However, one technique that appears to be especially popular in Puerto Rico is the use of inflatables. Need to attract a potential customer? Why not use an inflatable dinosaur or other animal? The scene that keeps playing in my mind is that of a mom and dad driving down the road with their two kids in the back seat. Suddenly, little Lily yells from the back seat, “Mommy, Daddy, look over there. It’s an inflatable ape. If you don’t buy a car there, I’m going to scream until I turn orange.” A bit too histrionic? Then, perhaps, dear readers, you can explain to me how this really works(?).
Car-rumba
We’ve all experienced the terrible grid-lock resulting from the number of cars on roads today. In the U.S. alone, we have more than 250 million registered personal vehicles, or 797 cars per 1000 people. Of course, one expects to see cars everywhere in such a comparatively well-off region. One might be surprised to learn that, despite being smaller than Connecticut, little Puerto Rico ranks twelfth in the world, with 635 vehicles per thousand people. This total far exceeds the rates exhibited by other countries in the region, for example, Mexico (275) and Jamaica (188). The quality of these vehicles ranges from luxury cars to salt-laden, rusted, beaters. Regardless of one’s driving preference, finding a vehicle is a veritable piece of cake here. A 15 mile drive along the principal west coast highway in Puerto Rico (Route 2) will expose one to approximately 20 car dealers. Naturally, with so many dealers offering similar selections, it is imperative that a dealership stand out from the competition. Some managers do the expected, posting signs promising huge savings. Others follow the US model of lining up their most attractive vehicles along the road. However, one technique that appears to be especially popular in Puerto Rico is the use of inflatables. Need to attract a potential customer? Why not use an inflatable dinosaur or other animal? The scene that keeps playing in my mind is that of a mom and dad driving down the road with their two kids in the back seat. Suddenly, little Lily yells from the back seat, “Mommy, Daddy, look over there. It’s an inflatable ape. If you don’t buy a car there, I’m going to scream until I turn orange.” A bit too histrionic? Then, perhaps, dear readers, you can explain to me how this really works(?).
It causes you to take your eyes off the road while you’re driving, then you crash, then you need a new car!
So, that’s their secret