The IB/PAG contract alludes to involvement after the dealers are in operation, including running a customer satisfaction survey system (satisfaction with the dealers) and the smart1 program. They do operate the 1-800-smartusa number and the customer service center as part of the contract.
An enlightening inclusion is PAG's intent to market the car online, thus IB's continued involvement. One wonders then exactly how much dealer sales activity there will be. IB may provide "leads" (potential customers) by means other than the reservation program.
The contract can be terminated, but not before 01 MAR 08.
Is is possible that when the dealers are finally announced, and everything is said and done, that the online reservation system will be taken offline and replaced with a "find your local dealer" selection, so as if anyone is still wanting one at that point, would call their dealer directly?
No, per Penske in the San Jose video, he said the ordering process will continue online. Your place your order on the website, and pick up the car at a smart centre. No haggle, no suprise. I'm sure you can walk into a smart center with a fist full of cash and try do do a deal, but Roger is trying to design a new paradigm with the smart distribution channel.
I saw another posting that 1189 (Apr 4th) confirmation happened today (11/9). I also looked at the data that Paul C posted on reservations as a function of time. I still think this model will be pretty close. I expect the error to be not more than about 1 week unless UAG changes the rate at which they do reservations (and I would expect changes to mostly be to go faster). According to these estimates, I still expect getting up to at least 1300 by mid-December for confirmations.
Deliveries are another matter. We have absolutely no data on how that process will work. Still, for the many people still waiting for a confirmation e-mail, I hope this offers a glimmer of a hope that you'll get to that next step soon.
Seems to me that PAG has two basic options when dealing with the confirmation schedule. They could go the army way - hurry up and wait. Get a lot of confirmations and go through them as well as they can. Or they could handle the confirmations as just one more part of the Just-In-Time production method they use at Hambach. Have enough confirmations to handle the immediate future. There are advantages and disadvantages to both systems and they could go somewhere in the middle too. Since the confirmation won't affect the delivery date of the car, I prefer the Just-In-Time system. I'd rather make my confirmation after folks here have some real-world experience with the car. Some of my concerns are the quality of the leather seats, the desirability of power steering, the red (orange?) color and the visibility of the digital clock. Finally, kudos to smart1 for some good math. Don't know if he'll be right, but it's a good effort.
Seems to me that PAG has two basic options when dealing with the confirmation schedule. They could go the army way - hurry up and wait. Get a lot of confirmations and go through them as well as they can. Or they could handle the confirmations as just one more part of the Just-In-Time production method they use at Hambach. Have enough confirmations to handle the immediate future. There are advantages and disadvantages to both systems and they could go somewhere in the middle too. Since the confirmation won't affect the delivery date of the car, I prefer the Just-In-Time system. I'd rather make my confirmation after folks here have some real-world experience with the car. Some of my concerns are the quality of the leather seats, the desirability of power steering, the red (orange?) color and the visibility of the digital clock. Finally, kudos to smart1 for some good math. Don't know if he'll be right, but it's a good effort.
Paul, looking at your order date, I'd bet you a diet coke that you'll get your confirmation note not later than about Dec 8. Model says before Dec 1, but it can be off by as much as a week. I saw today that we are up to 1196 today, and that's pretty much right on the model. I also saw the very unfortunate case of a forum member missing the confirmation process because of a trip. I'm very sorry to hear about that. I'd recommend you stay on your e-mail between Thanksgiving and Pearl Harbor day!
Paul, looking at your order date, I'd bet you a diet coke that you'll get your confirmation note not later than about Dec 8. Model says before Dec 1, but it can be off by as much as a week. I saw today that we are up to 1196 today, and that's pretty much right on the model. I also saw the very unfortunate case of a forum member missing the confirmation process because of a trip. I'm very sorry to hear about that. I'd recommend you stay on your e-mail between Thanksgiving and Pearl Harbor day!
No way would I take that bet, especially since your model continues to be pretty accurate. Besides, if I won I'd have to drink a diet soda. No matter how it works out, since we live in the same general neighborhood we'll run across each other and when that happens I'll spring for a Sam Adams.
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