Time from placing reservation to picking up "orphan" - 8 days!

hajiii · 06-02-2008, 11:03 AM

I got freakishly lucky and got a call from my dealer (location withheld at request of sales manager) 7 days after I had first placed the reservation online, 5 days after I had done my first test drive and had asked to be put on the "orphan" list (open color), then picked it up the next day! I had wanted black/black exterior cabriolet with red interior, got black/silver ext. cabriolet with red interior. Only extras I would have ordered were dashboard tach & clock plus heated seats, and it came with both. People at the dealership wanted to know if I was related to or friends of the manager (I'm not), as they couldn't believe how fast I got my Smart. And I didn't have to pay any deposit to get on the orphan list. Just my initial $99.

oldmike · 06-02-2008, 11:35 AM

Congats! but...

Reservation and orphan list are two different things.

Please do not tease the masses!!!

Do not feed the bears!!!

**Dunerunner** · 06-02-2008, 11:59 AM

hajiii - A fed bear is a ... Never Mind! Congratulations!! Got my Orphan in 18 days, you are a record breaker!! Now, tell the truth, the GM is your uncle, right?

rwjrn · 06-02-2008, 02:00 PM

I probably hold the orphan record. I went into the dealer and asked to be put on the list. He said we have two cabriolets available right now. I said, "I'll take that one." About an hour later I was driving home.

Sorry to all the masses waiting. Sometimes you just get lucky.

**Dunerunner** · 06-02-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwjrn

I probably hold the orphan record. I went into the dealer and asked to be put on the list. He said we have two cabriolets available right now. I said, "I'll take that one." About an hour later I was driving home.

Sorry to all the masses waiting. Sometimes you just get lucky.

So, from the time you reserved, I assume you had a reserved smart; until the day you walked into the dealer and drove home in your Cabriolet was how long?

hajiii · 06-02-2008, 06:18 PM

good point that "reserved" and "orphan list" are separate entities and not really related, except that I didn't know that and didn't think to ask to be on orphan list until after I reserved. And I can totally believe that a walk-in could end up driving out with a car. On the day I went in for mine, they had 3 other orphans with people coming to look at them. If one didn't show, I bet first come-first served. The sales manager gave me the impression that every second after the 30 days are up that he still had the car was costing him money.

**Dunerunner** · 06-02-2008, 09:23 PM

True, True, True...Have you played the lottery today?

IcePlanet · 06-02-2008, 10:05 PM

I reserved in late April and got on the orphan list early May.

On May 30, While I was at the San Antonio Smart dealership waiting for a test drive, I overheard a sales person on the phone trying to sell an orphan. After she hung up the phone unsuccessful in selling it, I yelled out "I'll take it!" To my surprise she OK. I went for a test drive and I walked out with a Smart. It is a Cabriolet, Black in and out with silver tridion. Not the color I was hoping for but good enough. I can always sell it when my reservation car comes in in a little over a year. I feel sorry for the next person on the orphan list that I stole this car from. I was just in the right place at the right time. I need to go buy a lotto ticket. I'm sure my name was way down on the orphan list.

**Dunerunner** · 06-02-2008, 10:14 PM

Every little bit helps!!..What has the great state of Texas told you folks your lottery money goes toward? Wow, that's off topic! Sorry.............

wiloran · 06-03-2008, 06:04 AM

OK, I have to sweep in to take the prize. I went to the dealer out of curiousity and drove my Orphan Annie home a couple of hours later. No reservation, no list, nothing but pure luck to be in the right place at the right time.

2200 miles and still smiling!