News from my local dealer

scoutmaster · 12-15-2007, 07:53 AM

I contacted my local (New York City) dealer-to-be this AM. When I asked when I might expect to take delivery, I was told "I believe we are already sold out. Have you visited smartusa.com?". When I replied that I had reserved on the first day (1173) and confirmed ASAP, he didn't quite know how to respond except to refer me to smartusa (we all know how little info we get there). The big question for me is: am I one of the "sold out" buyers?

scoutmaster · 12-15-2007, 08:06 AM

I called smartusa to ask the status of my order reserved the first day (1173) and was told "you should get your car by the end of 2008. Are they for real???

robotbill · 12-15-2007, 08:14 AM

Yes ,you are. I did this same thing on 10 DEC here in Cleveland at the Smart Center of Bedford. 5 guys are standing around a desk, I say I reserved my car 12 APR...when could I expect delivery? 4 of them immediately say it won't be first quarter. The 5th older guy says you guys are nuts that is an early reservation and that car will be here in Jan. He knew all about the reserve system. The sales people don't get how excited people are about this product. As usual we know more about it and the process than they do, until they get the list in their hands with the names and contact info. take this all with a grain of salt. Extensive training will be needed by Smartusa employees, it remains a mystery to me why the consumer in the auto industry knows more about the product/process than the sales force.

**jwight** · 12-15-2007, 08:47 AM

Bill,

You are on the money; having dealerships up and running even in the first quarter of 08 will take a major effort, and staff training is the crux of the problem. Your experience with the sales staff is scary, but not as scary as the potential problems with a newly trained service staff. Haven't seen anything so far on service techs going off for training, although they must be (or at least should be.) Maybe some of the dealer folks on the forum can enlighten us as to the training and certification of the smart usa service techs.

scoutmaster · 12-15-2007, 08:48 AM

Amen to that. Patience may be a virtue but when it comes to the Smart, it's a necessity.

Old smart · 12-15-2007, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwight

... Maybe some of the dealer folks on the forum can enlighten us as to the training and certification of the smart usa service techs.

They are to be trained at United Technologies Institute. No idea of the length or depth of the training program.

**jwight** · 12-15-2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishrdnc

They are to be trained at United Technologies Institute. No idea of the length or depth of the training program.

Thanks, fish. Have you got a link or something to United Technologies Institute? The closest I can get is UTC Learning Institute and that seems to be for United Technologies Corp. employee training. Thanks!

Old smart · 12-15-2007, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwight

Thanks, fish. Have you got a link or something to United Technologies Institute? The closest I can get is UTC Learning Institute and that seems to be for United Technologies Corp. employee training. Thanks!

My mistake - "Universal Technical Institute": http://www.uticorp.com/default.aspx?tabid=254

smartNM · 12-15-2007, 10:20 AM

Just a couple observations on the commentary...

Asking random salespeople about the smart is not the way I would seek information. Of course an enthusiast is going to know more than a salesperson you bump in to. Each dealership has a smart USA Dealership Coordinator. If you want the best information, that is who I would talk to, not just a group of guys and then get upset when they don't have any good info.

Each dealership has assembled a smart team and I am willing to bet those team members know a lot more than the guys you talked to. Many of the dedicated smart staff have gone to training just for smart.

The technicians have all already gone to training. Only the finest technicians were approved to be a smart technicians. The experience level that this team has is pretty remarkable and I think the overall level of service will be much better than a normal luxury car dealership.

sisyphus · 12-15-2007, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smartNM

Just a couple observations on the commentary...

Asking random salespeople about the smart is not the way I would seek information. Of course an enthusiast is going to know more than a salesperson you bump in to. Each dealership has a smart USA Dealership Coordinator. If you want the best information, that is who I would talk to, not just a group of guys and then get upset when they don't have any good info.

Each dealership has assembled a smart team and I am willing to bet those team members know a lot more than the guys you talked to. Many of the dedicated smart staff have gone to training just for smart.

The technicians have all already gone to training. Only the finest technicians were approved to be a smart technicians. The experience level that this team has is pretty remarkable and I think the overall level of service will be much better than a normal luxury car dealership.

Thanks, smartNM! That's just the sort of input we have been seeking for some time! It's all starting to come together!