Last summer United offered miles and ‘discounts’ on the purchase or lease of certain Mercedes models. The offer was restricted to MileagePlus elite members.

That offer is back:

You’re getting an ‘online price’ which doesn’t strike me as special or something you couldn’t replicate on your own, though for someone who doesn’t like the negotiation process this could be advantageous.

And earning 25,000 miles for a CLE, E-, or M-class Mercedes isn’t a lot for a major purchase like this (it’s perhaps the value of an additional $350 kicker).

But if you’re in the market for a new Mercedes, and can’t negotiate a lower price than the United mileage offer presents, it could be a way of extracting the last $350 out of the deal.

It’s strange, I think, that this is offered only to United Premiers. Perhaps the company (TrueCar) earning commissions has a limited budget for marketing the deal and so can only market to a subset of the United database. Focusing on United elites can be both a good way to target higher-income (although not super-rich) members while at the same time making the offer appear exclusive.

What I don’t like is though the graphics on the landing page offer miles for CLS, E, and M-class Mercedes, and the e-mail United is sending out says it is valid through March 31, the terms and conditions on the website don’t appear to have been updated since the earlier iteration:

The mileage offer is valid only on a new vehicle purchase or lease of any 2014 E-Class and any 2014 CLS-Class through January 2, 2014.

I’m confident though that they’ll stand behind what United has e-mailed out (they’re going to have a contract with MileagePlus that requires it), take screen shots if buying an M class car though.

(HT: Mark K.)

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