Info recieved from Smartusa over the phone

[pensacola4/2]

;)Hey all....just spoke with smart rep at smartusa this morning and asked them a few of questions about confirmation numbers, configuration (or invite) call, and approximate dealivery time of vehicles....she said that the second configuration call or invite call will come over the next couple of months and is based on when you made your reservation...this being completely seperate from when you may actually get your smart...the delivery period of ones car basically depends on your geographic location (makes sense since she asked me for my zip code)...the delivery of your car will then depends on dealer inventory and the amount of reservations that are in your area....thougth yall might appreciate the tid-bit...

[jwight]

Originally Posted by pensacola4/2

;)the delivery of your car will then depends on dealer inventory and the amount of reservations that are in your area....thougth yall might appreciate the tid-bit...

Thanks for the info.

Not sure what she meant by dealer inventory; the ealy smarts are all pre-ordered so your car is built and delivered in based on where you are in the order line. The only dealer inventory will be the demonstrator cars; if somebody drops an order it should go to the next person on the list vs. a walk-in sale. At least that's the way I understand it.

[mfoster]

I think the inventory is dealer allotment, which should be based on the $99 reservations.

[gamernotwatcher]

The dealer allotment will be approximately 30/month (this is all based on information, rumors, conjecture, and approximations made on this forum)

[Fredvon4]

There is just not enough info to even make an informed guess about any dealer allotment

It is safe to assume that PAG pre orderd a selection of colors and models for every one of the "Smart Centers"

It is safe to assume that real insiders on PAGs and IBs staff will get their cars first

From there, we have guessed that France probably can ship about 2000 per month to Baltimore MD and maybe southern Calif or a Seattle/Tacoma port

How those will be allocated or distributed seems to really depend on how many reservations there are for the remainder of the first 2000, and how those early March 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23rd "reservations"/"Comfirmations" are distributed accross the US

Once we see that all happen-- then we can probably make better SWAGs (scientific wild arsed guesses)

Of course Roger Pensky or the Schembri guy could just tell us... OH well silly me... THAT'S not gonna happen

[lhoboy]

Originally Posted by mfoster

I think the inventory is dealer allotment, which should be based on the $99 reservations.

It is not. According to my call this morning with SmartUsa, the dealers are getting preset allocations. Depending on where your reservation number stand relative to other customers assigned to that dealer, will determine when you get your car.

For example, if you are number 10,000 in the total queue, but number 1 at your dealer in Fargo, ND (hypothetical), you'll get your car in January. If that same 10,000 position in NYC puts you at number 5000 for the dealer, 2009 may be a possibility.

If a given dealer has excess allocation, that allocation will be diverted to the high volume dealers. They will have agreed not to sell to someone off the street.

[Carnut]

lhoboy is probably right on. I was told that each dealer would receive an allocation based on their business paln so they could make a profit. Obviously dealers in larger buyer concentrated areas will get their 30+ per month, with smaller centers getting less.

[24-42]

"Going to the next person on the list, upon cancellation". would only work if everyone ordered exactly the same thing. If someone has an apple on order, they don't want an orange. The amount of phone polling, going down the list, is impractical. I'll bet the car in question will end up in the first person on 'Standby's drivrway.

Any suggestions ?

Donald LaFavor

[Carnut]

Don't bet too much on that. I predict this will be one of the "cleanest" debut of all time! That's the smart way!

[Old smart]

My guy told me that it was a case of "first right of refusal." No, it probably wouldn't be what you ordered, but if you want it anyway (and forfeit your ordered car), you got one that much earlier. If you don't want it, then you just wait out your own, and the next guy down on the list gets a shot at it. Et. seq.