Configuration to delivery time?? Maybe sooner?? - Page 2

nodakkid · 02-09-2008, 07:01 AM

The problem with the "90 day Max" theory is the load leveling used to distribute the cars to the dealers. Each dealer is greeting about the same number of cars, which is reason behind the differences in the reservation numbers across the country (lots of early reservations - low reservation numbers with cars versus few early reservations - higher reservation numbers with cars). Without a good amount of information on the dealer load with reservation numbers, you can not accurately determine the deliverys. PAG knows the answer, it is reflected in the reservation to configuration, which accounts for the numbers being all over "the board". My dealer is still in the 1173 to 1175 range while I have seen numbers in Wisconsin and Neb. much higher. I am a 1181 but do not expect my car until mid-March at the earliest due to the high load of earlier numbers for my dealership. I configured on October 26, 2007 with no 30 day notice that some people are getting or any information on possible delivery date.

Fredvon4 · 02-09-2008, 07:40 AM

911k

My thoughts too... go to the SmartUSA web site and in the contact us area send them a note...

I doubt it does any good but at least they will have a history of how many of us feel like something much less then an "insider".

I also sent a snail mail note to CEO Roger S. Penske about my thoughts on this sales process.

I was respectful and polite but clearly indicated that this method is not to my liking and I am not to be considered a loyal customer that would recommend this process to any more folks then I already did, and regret.

Smartdavis · 02-09-2008, 08:51 AM

The first cars to our dealer arrived on site January 14th and they arrived with a Fed Ex package the day before with a list of names for those cars. This basic information was not available online, and incredibly Smart was having someone print names somewhere, and then manually sending out a package to the dealer. That is an amazingly inefficient way to do things. However, it's still less than 30 days from the start of the roll-out and I have to believe this whole process is about to get more automated because of a tidal wave of complaints from everyone (including salespeople). I think things will start to make more sense and tracking information available in the very near future. The dealers are getting hundreds of repeat calls asking "where is my car" and they would love to be able to give a straight answer. Hang in there.

meaux61 · 02-09-2008, 09:14 AM

I was at the dealership the other day. The Brand manager and I know that my car is hitting the Baltimore port on Feb 17th BUT...she said the hold up is that they have no idea when the truck is coming. She said it is like one person somewhere deciding where to send trucks with the cars and when. The dealers do not know until the truck shows up. This dealership has already delivered all thier allotment of cars that they got. They have an empty lot and no idea when more cars are coming. As far as my config to delivery time, I am an 1180 and I configured on 10/20. My car left Germany on February 4th and is expected in Baltimore on Feb 17th. I have my VIN number. I got it on Tuesday, Feb 5th.

Meaux

nodakkid · 02-09-2008, 10:14 AM

I am an 1180 and I configured on 10/20. My car left Germany on February 4th and is expected in Baltimore on Feb 17th. I have my VIN number. I got it on Tuesday, Feb 5th.

Meaux[/quote]

Who is your dealer? I have tried to get any delivery info such as VIN to track my car, no luck with my dealer - Loeber Motors, Lincolnwood. Only info provided, they do not get much info from Smart - hang tight. I am an 1181 with configure of 10/26.

meaux61 · 02-09-2008, 10:16 AM

My dealer is smartcenterindianapolis

Meaux

kurt013 · 02-10-2008, 08:44 AM

I configured 1/21. If the 3-4 months from configuration holds up that would be May 21st at the latest. I'd like that because the email that came with my config invite said they may be able to deliver it in the second half of 2008, which would be July at the earliest. How do we reconcile those two bits of info?

sk8ndad · 02-10-2008, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911k

If this were correct, my car would be here around the 17th of February since I configured on November 17. So far, not a word. This is absolutely the worst experience I have ever had purchasing a car.

Given that they just started delivering and they have said that since the beginning, not quite sure what you should expect. I just ordered mine and am kicking myself for waiting.

911k · 02-10-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sk8ndad

... not quite sure what you should expect.

I expected to be able find out if the car has been manufactured yet, shipped, etc. When I have called smartusa, they can't relay this information. Since PAG obviously has the data, I expected to be able to find out basic information.

When BMW released the Mini several years ago, all of this information was accessible online to the customers. It's not like smart is the first car manufacturer to try this approach.

nodakkid · 02-10-2008, 11:52 AM

I think that PAG felt it would be best to send out cars and cover the US with cars and only use the Reservation number as the order of delivery at your dealership. It would be nice if PAG would provide more information, I would just like to know when + or - a week or two. I really thought that my fairly early reservation would have provided a car in the first few weeks but here we are almost a month into the deliveries and not a single word on when.