Max Motors makes widespread headlines with AK-47 promotion

While television cameras capture the moment, Butler, Mo., car dealer Mark Muller holds an AK-47 in illustration of the promotion aimed at eslling more cars -- up to 100 more than they might have without it, he hopes. --Steve Moyer/Herald-Tribune

Last year he garnered national attention for his pistol give-away Mark Muller, owner of Max Motors in Butler, has outdone himself this year, the promotion he devised is giving a voucher for an AK-47 with the purchase of a pickup. Muller pointed out the voucher was good for more than the AK-47.

"Look if I said I was giving away $450 you wouldn't be here talking to me," Muller said. "That's why we put the AK-47 at the top of the list. I'm shamelessly promoting Max Motors and Max71.com. This is what makes America great, I support the Second Amendment that allows you to get one and the First Amendment that lets me talk about it."

Last year the attention year the attention has gone international. In addition to several national print media stories Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC broadcasters all have interviewed the Butler car dealer.

Thursday news crews from Al Jazeera and Russian television interviewed Muller. Sebastian Walker, the newsman from Al Jazeera, said he was looking for stories about the economy when Muller's promotion caught his eye.

"I was looking for something on the economy before the Bernanke's townhall in Kansas City," Walker said. "I heard about this and thought it would be a good story."

Muller said although the AK-47 was originally Russian-made, the product he supported was an American made semi-automatic version made in North Carolina.

"I support American products as long as they are good quality," Muller said. "The gun I'm promoting is American made the company is IO Inc. out of North Carolina."

Muller's support for American products is comprehensive, he stresses buying American in all things, especially cars and trucks. Asked by Walker if there were any foreign cars on his lot Muller was adamant.

"Absolutely not," Muller said. "I wouldn't have one under any circumstances."

Some of the interviews have been somewhat contentious. The CNN interviewer, Carol Costello, started questioning why Muller on his motto, "God, guns, guts and American pickup trucks", which she quoted incorrectly. Costello wanted to know why Muller included God in the motto with guns.

"You don't have a problem with God do you?" Muller asked.

"No, I just think putting God in a motto that also includes guns might be a little upsetting to some people," Costello said.

Most comments from the public have been positive, Muller said.

"I'd say the comments have been 97 to 98 percent positive.

"There was one comment that really made me think," Muller said. "A veteran said that he didn't like the fact we were giving away AK-47s, the guns predominantly used against us in Vietnam. That did give me pause."

With all the attention Muller said that he thought he might sell as many as twice as many cars as usual during this period.

"With the pistol giveaway I estimate we sold about 35 more cars than we would have without it," Muller said. "I'm hoping that we sell at least 100 more cars this year and I'd like to see 150 to 200 more."

Not everyone who buys a car from Max Motors comes to Butler, Muller said he just shipped two cars to Mississippi.

Muller isn't just depending on once a year stunts to keep business flowing.

He hired a company, The Psychology of Automotive Selling, David Diener, the owner was on hand during the promotion.

"Mark came up with the idea for the AK-47 promotion and I'm helping him out with that," Diener said. "I've had other promotions that I've done, the Cash for Clunkers promotion and $5 Used Car sales was something I've done. I'm just helping him out for 30 days and I'll be moving on."

Muller is not apologetic about his promotion and said that if the government would get out of the way there would be no recession, businesses could work out the problems themselves.

"Listen if the government wouldn't bog us down with things like the cap and trade and the health care debacle there wouldn't be a problem," Muller said. "We're not seeing a recession here because we refuse to give in to it. Let businesses do their job without interference and there wouldn't be a recession anywhere."