Courtesy of Lexus

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Sales Reps

Yes, once again you can get a big red bow on a gift Lexus.

In fact, the way car sales are going, you can probably get a big bow on a used 1982 Volvo if you ask real nice.

The long-running "December to Remember" Lexus ad campaign that suggests giving that someone special one of the luxury cars with a giant red bow has taken on a life of its own.

But Steve Lace, vice president and general manager of Lexus of Tucson, 4373 E. Speedway and at the Tucson Auto Mall, isn't complaining.

"The December to Remember has been going on for I don't know how many years," says Lace. "It's become a very effective campaign. December has become for Lexus a pretty strong month (for sales)."

And while Lace, and most dealers, don't discuss sales figures, he says they've sold a few bowed Lexi as gifts this year.

"I don't know how many, but we're not out of bows," Lace hinted.

And while Lace said Lexus has carved out the car-with-a-bow identity for itself, he said customers do sometimes ask for the bow treatment on other marques.

He's not naming brands, but he said a customer came in Monday and wanted a bow for a slightly used non-Lexus at one of the dealership's parent company's other dealerships. And they got it.

The way things are going for many dealers, a giant bow probably looks like an easy way to close a deal.

Over at Emich Subaru, 6020 E. Speedway, sales manager Gary Privratsky said people occasionally even ask for bows on Subarus.

"We used to have a couple big bows up in our parts department and we'd just give 'em away. Unfortunately, not this year," Privratsky said.

"I'd throw in a tuxedo if I had to. This year's been a little tight," he said.