Reservations over new reservation, and am I even reading the correct number?

[S_M_ART]

I am a new Smart enthusiast, hoping to become an owner; but I don’t understand the reservation/confirmation information circulated; there have been several posts I have read about the confirmation / reservation numbers having some sort of meaning. None of which seem to be consistent or indicative of when you will get your confirmation email/call.

My Experience:
My wife and I reserved/ordered a Smart, 15 minutes after my mother. The last five digits of of our confirmation numbers are the same 11578. We reserved at the dealer, not online.

My mother does not have an email account; the dealer could not reserve her smart without an email account, therefore she used one of mine. The email address is some sort of key identifying unique customer/order information.

We are in the system because we both received email order confirmations.

My Concern: Our email addresses will NOT produce a EDD at www smartusa com, thus I called 1.800.smart.USA and the operators response either lacked honesty or he was uninformed.

I was told I was too new to be in the system, and to check back in a couple of weeks. (I have a system generated email)

I asked what he could tell me based on my confirmation number. He explained to me nothing can be inferred based on the reservation/confirmation numbers. They are random and meaningless, and what information I have from the internet is untrue. When I pointed out to him that two orders within 15 minutes produce the same last five digits, his conclusion was that it was pure coincidence.
(If the numbers are entirely random then it would be highly improbable for us to have the same last 5 digits. If the numbers are the customers place in line then they should be auto incremented. One poster previously suggested that these indicated a time stamp, I can assure you they do not, have two reservation/confirmation numbers within 15 minutes of each other.)

Does anyone have information if the online system is different than the dealers?

Are the last four digits of my confirmation number the same as the 4 digit reservation number everyone is discussing?

Should I be concerned that neither the web DDE, nor the operator can locate my information to geive me information?

[JPaul]

It marks the precise time your $99 deposit was entered into the system.
I.e.
the number: 0345901558 or 03|45|90|1558
03 = 30 seconds
45 = 54 minutes
90 = 09 hours
(all Pacific time)
into the 1558th day after Jan 1, 2004
The program started March 19, 2007 with #...1173
Today's #...1580

[S_M_ART]

Thanks JPAul,

I tested the last 4 digits and YES this Sunday was the 1,578th day from 1/1/04. + my families two orders would be time stamped about 8 minutes apart.

Indicates either you are SMARTER, than a SmartUSA operator; or SMART doesnt want consumers to know the formula.

Should I be concerned that I cant get a DDE from the web then? Should I call the dealer?

[SPDYII]

Welcome to the fabulous world of smartcar buying. Many of us have puzzled over this procedure without much success for quite awhile now. We are constantly being told to please wait and be patient and be happy that someday you to will be driving a smartcar. So that is what I'm doing. Next week, next month, or next year I'll be ready.

[JPaul]

<smart1> deserves the credit for decoding the key last December.

DDE will only show a three months window when smartUSA decides to forward your "virtual folder" to Smartville in the near future.
Then again there is the issue of the new models. It may put lots of new reservations on hold for a while...
At that time, you'll be given the chance to confirm, or "configurate" (with the same configurator that you can find on www.smartusa.com site) the specific model, color, options and (I've been told) dealership near you. That'll be your chances to finalize your "order", the "C/C" referred often on these pages.
Your $99 deposit remains refundable throughout the whole process, should you decide to opt out.

[jwight]

Plenty of folks with lower res numbers still getting that same DDE message, while others with 1400 and 1500 dates have a DDE "estimated" date. Who knows?

[smartiePrincess]

Originally Posted by S_M_ART

Thanks JPAul,

I tested the last 4 digits and YES this Sunday was the 1,578th day from 1/1/04. + my families two orders would be time stamped about 8 minutes apart.

Indicates either you are SMARTER, than a SmartUSA operator; or SMART doesnt want consumers to know the formula.

Should I be concerned that I cant get a DDE from the web then? Should I call the dealer?

I reserved on 04/03/08 and still get nothing from the DDE. No worries. If you are in a hurry for a smart. You should go to your dealer and get on the orphans list.

[smartxs]

Originally Posted by S_M_ART

Thanks JPAul,

I tested the last 4 digits and YES this Sunday was the 1,578th day from 1/1/04. + my families two orders would be time stamped about 8 minutes apart.

Indicates either you are SMARTER, than a SmartUSA operator; or SMART doesnt want consumers to know the formula.

Should I be concerned that I cant get a DDE from the web then? Should I call the dealer?

A friend reserved about 10 days ago, their DDE timeframe started showing up on the third or fourth day - even though they had gotten the confirmation email almost immediately. Mine changed almost daily until the dealer told me it was loaded on the cargo ship, from that point on it has stayed the same. So make it a game, don't accept it as a rule.

As you have found out, smartUSA and even the dealers don't have as many answers as you can find on this and another 451 site. My dealer also denied the number meant anything and said it was a random number. It may be that is what they were told to say because the cars are NOT delivered strictly according to the reservation number. You can read on this site how geographical zones seems to make a difference as well as whether you are on the West Coast or the other one. Also, you will learn that you can get the VIN, and if on the East Coast can track your vehicle on the ship, but if on the West Coast, you are at your dealer's mercy to tell you when it has been loaded on the ship and the ETA in port. Then figure about 10 days to delivery.

Enjoy your wait, read the forums, learn about options like cruise control, Nav systems, wheels, exhaust systems, tires and more to pass the time!

I am nearing my envy end as my delivery date approaches - now about 3 weeks. Or maybe my envy is increasing.