Monday, December 31, 2012

Ken Garff Honda of Orem Facebook Giveaway Rules and Guidelines

Ken Garff Honda of Orem promotions and giveaways are in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. If you have any questions regarding promotions and giveaways please contact Wendell Wood, Ken Garff Honda of Orem's Internet Marketing Manager, at 801-714-2200.  Do NOT contact Facebook. Ken Garff Honda of Orem will conduct its giveaways as described in these general rules, and by participating, each participant agrees to the following:
1. Eligibility: You must be thirteen (13) years of age or older and a Utah resident in order to qualify. 
2. Entries: Entry in the giveaways requires the individual to “like” Ken Garff Honda of Orem on Facebook and follow the giveaway rules posted by Ken Garff Honda of Orem on the Ken Garff Honda of Orem Facebook page. Only one (1) entry per authorized account holder. The authorized account holder is deemed to be the natural person who is assigned to the Facebook profile.
3. Giveaway drawings: Drawings will be done at random and the name of the winner will be displayed on the Honda of Orem blog in order to announce the winner. The entrant selected as a winner must comply with all terms and conditions set forth in these rules and regulations, and winning is dependent upon fulfilling all such requirements. Winner will be notified through Facebook. Ken Garff Honda of Orem is not responsible for notifications that are misdirected or not received because of email addresses or mailing addresses that are not correct. If the winner does not reply to the Facebook notification or contact Ken Garff Honda of Orem within 72 hours of the drawing, an alternate entrant may be selected at random from the entries received.
4. Giveaways: Giveaway prizes will vary. The prize is not transferable, redeemable for cash or exchangeable for any other prize. The prize MUST be claimed at Ken Garff Honda of Orem, 115 E. University Pkwy, Orem, UT 84058 within seven (7) days of the giveaway end date. Certain giveaways might be date specific (i.e. tickets, etc) and the winner must be available on the dates specified. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
5. Winner/Redemption: The winner must claim the prize in person at Ken Garff Honda of Orem and provide a valid personal photo ID. Ken Garff Honda of Orem reserves the right to use the winner’s name, picture and likeness for publicity purposes. The winner may be required to sign a release to confirm the receipt and acceptance of the prize. Travel expenses will NOT be paid.
6. Conditions: By accepting the prize, the winner agrees that the organization may use the winner's name and picture for advertising and promotional purposes without further consideration, unless prohibited by law. By participating in the giveaway, the participant agrees that Ken Garff Honda of Orem, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and all of its officers, directors, employees and representatives will have no liability whatsoever for, and will be held harmless for any and all liability for any injury, loss or damage of any kind to persons, including death, and property due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the prize or participation in the giveaway or any prize related activity. Subject to all federal, state and local laws. Void where prohibited.
7. Other: By participating in the giveaways, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of the Ken Garff Honda of Orem personnel. Persons who violate any rule, gain unfair advantage in participating (including, but not limited to entering the giveaway more than once), or obtain winner status using fraudulent means will be disqualified. Unsportsmanlike, disruptive, annoying, harassing or threatening behavior is prohibited. In the event of a dispute, all entries received will be considered to be made by the authorized account holder of the Facebook account as on record at the time of the giveaway ending.
8. Disclaimer: Ken Garff Honda of Orem will interpret these rules and resolve any disputes, conflicting claims or ambiguities concerning the rules or the giveaway. Ken Garff Honda of Orem’s decisions concerning such disputes will be final. If the conduct or outcome of the giveaway is affected by human error, any mechanical malfunctions or failures of any kind, intentional interference or any event beyond the control of Ken Garff Honda of Orem, Ken Garff Honda of Orem reserves the right to make revisions to the giveaway, terminate the giveaway, or make such other decisions regarding the outcome as Ken Garff Honda of Orem deems appropriate.  All decisions will be made by Ken Garff Honda of Orem and are final.  Ken Garff Honda of Orem may waive any of these rules in its sole discretion. Any attempt to deliberately damage any website or to undermine the legitimate operation of this promotion is a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, the organization will aim to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution. This contest will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Utah,U.S.A., excluding its conflict of law principles.
9. No purchase necessary to win.

Updated 2/7/2013

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Tips for Winter Driving

My dad grew up in Wyoming.  His first winter in Utah he stood outside and watched, mesmerized, as the snow fell to the ground.

"Never seen snow?" an acquaintance conjectured.

"I'm from Wyoming," my dad admitted.  "I've seen a lot of snow.  I've just never seen it fall down to the ground.  In Wyoming, it usually blows sideways."

Dad had a lot of experience with snow driving along with a few other bits of expertise.  (Dad had us all practice driving as if we suddenly had come on a cow in the road.  His tip?  Let up on the brake at the last second and hit the thing square on.  Evidently, if you do, you're less likely to flip the cow up on your hood.)  One of dad's most important tips for stopping in the snow: pumping your brakes.

Pumping your brakes is one of the most counterintuitive things to do when you're rapidly sliding toward something, in part because it requires you to take your foot off the brake over and over.  'Course, we kids all learned to drive in cars with "standard" brakes, something that's hardly standard any more.

Virtually every car made in the last 20 years (I totally made this statistic up) has anti-lock brakes (ABS), and the bonus is, with ABS you don't need to pump the brakes--they pulse for you.  Probably one of the hardest things for me to learn to do in adulthood was to stop pumping my brakes in the snow and just trust the car.

The other day, as I slid around in the snow with my brakes pulsing, I realized that now might be a good time to offer up some tips on winter driving.

Photo courtesy: Honda Ridgeline Facebook page

1. Know your brakes.  If you drive an older car with standard brakes, follow my dad's tip and pump the brakes.  If you have ABS, a smooth slow braking job will do the trick.  Don't let the pulsing throw you.  Just keep the pressure on.

2. Keep your distance.  When driving in the snow, you need to keep up to three times the distance that you normally would from a car in front of you.

3.  Slow down.  In any kind of inclement weather, it's important to slow down.  Snow can reduce visibility as well as stopping speed.  Even if you slide into something, if you're traveling slowly it's far likely to be disastrous.

4. Don't stop.  It can be hard to get the car going on slick, slushy roads.  If you can just maintain your slow speed and avoid stopping, that's idea.  When you have to stop, say, to turn across traffic, give yourself lots of extra space as you'll be slower getting going than you thought.

5. Turn into a skid.  The best advice I've seen on this is from an MSNBC travel article.  They said, "If you start to skid, steer the vehicle gently in direction you want your vehicle to go and don't touch the brakes."

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Christmas Dinner Report

I have never had an experience, either personally or in business, quite like the Ken Garff Honda of Orem Christmas dinner service project.  It was overwhelming to hear the stories of wonderful people caught in difficult situations.  It was excruciating to help decide which families would receive a dinner.  And it was moving to get the thank yous of those who were helped.

Honda of Orem definitely had their own skin in the game, donating Walmart gift cards for every basket.  But the hams and the turkeys?  From the employees.  Stuffing, potatoes, fruit, vegetables, yams and marshmallows, and on, all from the generous donations of Honda of Orem employees--everyone from salesman to accounting to service techs.  These good people opened their hearts and their wallets to provide a nice dinner for those who had had a rough year.  As one thank you note put it, "You have been a bright spot in a not-so-bright world for [this little family] at this time."

The donations were so significant that each family received not a ham or a turkey, but a ham AND a turkey.  One thank you note said this, "I just wanted to say thank you for your amazing generosity and tell you that your bounty was shard twice over.  There was so much food that there was more than our family needed for Christmas.  I called my Bishop and we were able to share our dinner with another family in need.  Thank you again for all your kindness!"

It would be wholly inappropriate not to give credit to Debi Mauer who ran this whole program.  She collected donations from the employees, she arranged for donations from business partners including Smith's, Mimi's, Texas Roadhouse, and Village Inn.  She also had the privilege of calling the families to tell them they'd been nominated and arranging the delivery of the dinners.  It was an emotionally impactful responsibility.

"As I talked to one woman," she told me, "I knew nothing of her story, but as she cried getting this news, I started crying.  I was working so hard to maintain my composure and be professional, but I was leaving long gaps that were awkward."


Above all, this little story shows who Debi really is.  Not only is she a woman who can make things happen, but she's a woman with a giving heart.  She is a perfect representative of the Ken Garff Honda of Orem employees.  Our motto is "We hear you."  That's because we listen.  And we listen because we care.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Test Driving the Sporty 2013 Civic

In the spring of 2011 the newly redesigned 2012 Civic was unveiled--and universally panned.  Reviewers complained about the interior, the steering and the look.  But the Civic isn't just any car--it's Honda's number one seller.  So only a year into the redesign, Honda has set a new standard and dramatically "refreshed" its top seller.

Introducing the 2013 Civic just 19 months after its redesign, Honda has recreated the Civic adding impressive new features and a sleek new look.  If I had to sum up the 2013 Honda Civic in a word it would be--sporty.


Rather than feeling like I'm climbing to a run-of-the-mill compact car, I felt like I was climbing into a sports car--and I was driving the EX not the designed-sporty Si.  The gleam of the chrome on the exterior, the beautiful stitching on the interior and the perfectly responsive steering make this "refreshed" vehicle refreshing to drive.


Honda added a back-up camera standard on all Civics, as well as SMS text message (where the car reads your message to you), Pandora internet radio and Bluetooth streaming audio.  Not only is the car super quiet (another "refreshed" feature), but it is so darn fun to drive!


I drive an Odyssey.  I love that Honda's minivan is incredibly responsive and turns in mid-size car amount of space. But even that comparable tight turning, did nothing to prepare me for the responsiveness of the Civic.  Not only does it turn in a seemingly bicycle size circle, but there's just something perfect about the steering.

The steering isn't so responsive that it's jerky, but it's also not in any way stiff or difficult.  It's hard to describe, just know--it is amazing.  The thing just begs to be taken on a long drive up a canyon where you can just turn and turn and feel in love.

I also love the Eco button.  In this car, you have cool 3D-ish floating blue bars that frame the speedometer.  When you're driving in the most eco-friendly, gas-milage-saving way, they turn green.  I was almost ridiculously enamored with trying to keep the lines green.


The new 2013 Honda Civic really leaves me speechless.  I guess the only thing let for you to do is come test drive it yourself

Monday, December 10, 2012

Wanted: 12 Families In Need

Christmas is a wonderful time of year with all of the lights, smells and, activities that represent this season.  Yet Christmas can be a hard time when you're down on your luck.  (And which of us hasn't had a Christmas or two like that.)

In the spirit of Holiday giving, Ken Garff Honda of Orem would like to give a turkey or ham and all of the fixings fit for a Christmas dinner to 12 families in need.  The problem?  We don't know who needs the help.  But we believe you do!

To nominate a family in need (you can nominate yourself), send a private Facebook message to the Ken Garff Honda of Orem page or send an email to jennakwood@gmail.com with the following information.

  • The last name of the family
  • How many people are in the family
  • What city they live in
  • A bit of their story

Guidelines:  We will be sponsoring families in Utah County anywhere from Lehi to Payson.  Nominations will be accepted from Tuesday Dec 11 - Sunday Dec 16.  The nominator will be contacted on the 17th or 18th and informed whether or not we will be able to help the nominee.  If we can help the nominee, we will need to collect further info such as phone number and address so that we can deliver the dinner.

Update:
The groceries will be delivered by Ken Garff Honda of Orem employees during the day on Dec 21st--the Friday before Christmas.  The food will be unprepared so the family can use the ingredients to prepare family favorite recipes. 

Thursday, December 6, 2012

15 Gift Ideas for the Car Lover in Your Life

Christmas is a hard time to find the right gift for everyone.  Here are some helps and hint for the car lover in your life.

1.  Back seat car organizers are perfect for seats with no pockets.


2. An oil change is something that you have to do several times a year anyway.  Gift a Ken Garff oil change and get an executive wash and vacuum included

3. All weather floor mats are a must.  If someone on your list doesn't have them, this is the perfect gift for them.

4. Car wash gift cards make a perfect stocking stuffer!

5. For winter months, a steering wheel cover will keep a loved one's hands from the cold.

6. XM Satellite Radio is a great gift for the music lover on your list. 

7. Everyone needs an emergency kit in the their car.  It's an easy thing to forget about, but it's also inexpensive to give.  Nice sets start around $30.

8. A trunk tray protects your trunk from all of the things you haul.  

9. Here at the Honda of Orem store, giving a prepaid maintenance is a great option.  It includes 3 oil and filter changes, 3 tire rotations and 3 car washes.  

10. Giving someone a car is outside of what's possible of most of us, but giving a full detail is the next best thing.  It revives the car making it seem like new.

11. Thinking green and clean, you can get a reusable trash sack--a super handy gift for people with kids or who are on the road a lot.

12. An auxiliary cable is helpful for all kinds of things including, plugging your iPod right into your sound system.  

13.  For families, a DVD player is a must.  Portable ones are affordable and easy to find.  If you're feeling generous, getting one installed may be the best gift yet.

14. Coolers that plug into the auxiliary jack, are especially thoughtful for the frequent traveler. 

15. Car magazines like Car and Driver or Motor Trend have been popular at my house.  It keeps your car lover up-to-date on what's going on in auto industry.


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

The Package Deal

When my husband and I first bought a car from Ken Garff Honda of Orem, one of the first things we did is cancel our AAA membership.  Although, AAA provides a number of different services and benefits, we'd used it largely for roadside assistance.  Thanks to a special Ken Garff program, that assistance was no longer needed.

The program has morphed a bit over the years, but the spectacular service remains the same.  It's called GarffCare and let me tell you, the Garff's know how to care.


When you purchase a car at any Ken Garff dealership you get the GarffCare package as part of the deal.  It's an automatic add-on with no costs or paperwork.  GarffCare provides free towing to any Ken Garff location running from Odgen to Spanish Fork and also in the Park City Area.

They also provide roadside assistance including jumping a dead battery, unlocking your vehicle if you left your keys inside, and installing a spare tire for you if you have a flat.  In fact, they'll even bring you 2-3 gallons of gas if you've run out.  Something, that I'm embarrassed to admit that I've done.  And really, it's no body's fault but my own, still, they'll come right out to save the day!

The GarffCare program insures that you can get on-the-spot car registration, saving you a trip annually. They also provide a patch-and-go service for a flat tire repair at no charge.  Just imagine, you've got a flat tire.  Calling 1-877-222-5887 connects you to a tow truck who changes your tire for you. Then you drive to the nearest dealership and they patch your flat and get you back on the road. The total cost?  $0.  Nothing!  Nil.  Zip.  Zilch.  Nada.  It's just the Garff way of thanking you for your business.

And to sweeten the deal... every service you get at the dealership service department, even if it's just an oil change or tire patching, you get a GarffClean--an executive wash and vacuum every visit.