Latest info from PAG

[kwagar]

In the never ending search for information regarding formal dealership announcements and dealer calls to reservationists I e-mailed Ken Kettenbeil at PAG today to see if I could get an update.

His response was:

Hello Ken -
Happy New Year -

You can expect dealer announcements around January 14 and contact from your local dealer beginning on this day as well.
Good news!

Ken Kettenbeil
Director Communications & Community Relations
Penske Corp

[sisyphus]

Ken Kettenbeil thinks this is good news? Crapola! Good news would be that the dealers will be announced today or tomorrow, and the headquarter dealership is open right now!
Any other news is just another delay.

What is his e-mail address, kwagar? I'd love for us to bury him with e-mail enquiries. On second thought, never mind. I want him to concentrate on getting some updates out without us having to browbeat and pester him for any new info.

Thanks for the attempt, kwagar. 'Preciate the effort!

[spdickey]

Same date I got from my dealer "candidate" (yea, right "candidate," the showroom is finished!) Jan 14.

One big hold up was California State issuing a dealership certificate. Can't sell cars without a license!

[Carnut]

Thanks for sharing. I had already pointed this out in two previous posts.

January 14th - 15th is the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Without a link through smart Connect a dealer is powerless.

[rrrucke]

Wow! This is news to me. But with my NJ dealership scheduled to get their demo on 1/10, I'm going to head to the dealer on 1/12 to see what's what. Thanks for sharing, Regina

[Harleyduo]

Gee, first we were told dealerships would be announced in Mid-December of 2007. Then we were told it had been pushed back until Jan. 2nd of 2008. Now we're informed that we should be excited that it will be Jan. 14th or 15th.

Hmmmm, I find it interesting that the North American International Auto Show also just happens to be holding it's PRESS PREVIEW for invited press members only on Sunday the 13th through Tuesday the 15th.

I feel like we are all being 'locked out' so the PRESS will feel like they got it FIRST so it will make an even BIGGER PUBLIC RELATIONS SPLASH.

What really adds insult to injury is that it's all of us that are going to make it happen, even much more so than the press people. We are the ones actually laying out the money, we are the ones that will be driving the vehicles, and we are the ones that will talk to thousands of potential customers yearly about our little cars and how they perform. It's too bad that we have to continue to be 'second' to all the GLITZ.

I mean, I can accept their not releasing their cars on the streets, but they could at least give us our 'data' so we could be making the final transactions less cumbersome and time consuming for all. I could be using this time during the next couple of weeks to call with exact VIN NUMBERS to get an 'exact quote' on insurance, etc. I could have all my required paperwork in hand so when I did appear on the showroom floor I would be in and out in record time.

Instead, when they finally honor me with that information, I will be feeling the need to scurry around like a wild man, and probably forget something in the process since I'll be so eager to get on the road to get to the dealership. My having MY NUMBERS of MY car would not interfere with the PRESS GLITZ at all,

I could even understand other reasons for the cars not being able to be delivered and driven on the streets for a bit, yet, but we have been POSTPONED to death, so they could at least give us some contact and information.:

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by Harleyduo

Gee, first we were told dealerships would be announced in Mid-December of 2007. Then we were told it had been pushed back until Jan. 2nd of 2008. Now we're informed that we should be excited that it will be Jan. 14th or 15th.

Hmmmm, I find it interesting that the North American International Auto Show also just happens to be holding it's PRESS PREVIEW for invited press members only on Sunday the 13th through Tuesday the 15th.

I feel like we are all being 'locked out' so the PRESS will feel like they got it FIRST so it will make an even BIGGER PUBLIC RELATIONS SPLASH.

What really adds insult to injury is that it's all of us that are going to make it happen, even much more so than the press people. We are the ones actually laying out the money, we are the ones that will be driving the vehicles, and we are the ones that will talk to thousands of potential customers yearly about our little cars and how they perform. It's too bad that we have to continue to be 'second' to all the GLITZ.

I mean, I can accept their not releasing their cars on the streets, but they could at least give us our 'data' so we could be making the final transactions less cumbersome and time consuming for all. I could be using this time during the next couple of weeks to call with exact VIN NUMBERS to get an 'exact quote' on insurance, etc. I could have all my required paperwork in hand so when I did appear on the showroom floor I would be in and out in record time.

Instead, when they finally honor me with that information, I will be feeling the need to scurry around like a wild man, and probably forget something in the process since I'll be so eager to get on the road to get to the dealership. My having MY NUMBERS of MY car would not interfere with the PRESS GLITZ at all,

I could even understand other reasons for the cars not being able to be delivered and driven on the streets for a bit, yet, but we have been POSTPONED to death, so they could at least give us some contact and information.:

That is if your assumption that they are waiting for an auto show before releasing the cars is true. It may not be.

Here is what we know...

Cars have been held up due to some parts replacement being done at Baltimore.

Dealers have not all yet received their state licenses, and we all know how fast the government works. Apparently PAG wants to announce dealers, with demos (and possibly stock) in hand, with licenses to sell cars all at the same time. That date PAG said is Jan 14-15.

So with that in mind, you may want to rethink your feelings about the press and GLITZ being the reason for the short delay in opening.

[Harleyduo]

Regardless of the 'REASON', some honest, open communications would be fast and easy to provide to all of us, and would certainly do away with speculation. Remember, they are the ones in possession of the knowledge and they are the ones that have given us two FALSE deadlines.

Research shows that people are much more likely to less stressed out if they are kept informed, even if that information is incomplete or changes or is of a negative nature. It's when people are left in the dark that anger rises, distrust builds, and conjectures and assumptions abound.

Canadians had a recall that held up their projected date. Once they found out, they were much more patient to wait until the product could be delivered. Ken Kettenbeil, does not have to put a positive spin on what's causing the delay, but he should give us the cause for the delay and what they are doing to speed things up once they are back on track. WE are the public he's supposed to be 'relating' to. We should not have to hear it second hand and with a 'spin' put on it.

[SnakeFarm]

Maybe they are scared too! What if it's a no-go. They'd have to return $40,000,000 + write off all the smart-house construction/training... If that ain't a mess it'll do till a mess shows up. (I am DIEING to say that in real-life)

[Old smart]

You know, it is kind of funny; as a reservation holder, I am so reachable that I got "holiday greetings from Smart USA" by email on 21 DEC, but not reachable (or worthy) enough to tell me any news. So it goes....