Really, it's JUST a car. This shouldn't be some "life-altering" event the consumes all of your focus. The world will still end regardless of whether or not you get your car at the time you think you should.
Regardless, thanks for the infor Kwagar...beats the heck out of some Christmas greeting with a "Newsletter Volume 10" headline.
"The world will keep turning regardless......".......right?
The national release date for the car is January 14th. Your center's relation to the port assigned to handle their deliveries will determine when the cars come (i.e. the CA dealers are so close to the port they will get their cars first, middle of the country last). The first shipments are going to include some customer cars and some demo/showroom cars.
The people that placed their reservations first are going to get their cars in January, which is what the original goal was. The people that are going crazy about not being contacted is beyond me. The only delay smart USA has had to customers is the formal announcement of dealers, and that not by much. When the customer list gets delivered to the dealer, not every customer is going to get contacted right away (sorry to the guy that made his res in November and keeps writing about the lack of communication).
At the end of the day, everyone is still going to get their car precisely according the the reservation system. I guess I just don't understand why someone calling and telling you they are the dealer is such a big deal...the list on this site has all the dealers on it. Maybe it is just human nature (for some) to be skeptical of the system and critical of others. I think that once the first cars are delivered and people see that the cars are coming in the way they ordered them, priced correctly and delivered by a first class staff, everyone will calm down. The smart USA staff has it more together than any other brand out there and wants to get the cars on the streets more than anyone.
I have said this a few times and spdickey seems like the only one that has listened: The states issuing the dealer licenses have been the delay. NOT smart, NOT the dealers, NOT the factory. There are cars sitting at the ports that are ready to be shipped once the individual states are all taken care of.
Your center's relation to the port assigned to handle their deliveries will determine when the cars come (i.e. the CA dealers are so close to the port they will get their cars first, middle of the country last).
... I have said this a few times and spdickey seems like the only one that has listened: The states issuing the dealer licenses have been the delay. NOT smart, NOT the dealers, NOT the factory. There are cars sitting at the ports that are ready to be shipped once the individual states are all taken care of.
Thanks for the nice words, I feel like a lone voice in the wilderness amongst all the angst of the impatient. Hey guys, I've been waiting since I first saw the smart in 1999 in Vienna. Put down $1000 (later refunded) for a overpriced ZAP in 2005, and reserved in March (TEN months ago) for my 451.
As for port location, although both the San Diego and Beverly Hills locations have said their cars will come through Long Beach, CA, the tracking experts at clubsmartcar.ca haven't been able to located any ships heading to the west coast. The cars will probably be put on a train to the west coast from Maryland. My dealer rep is chomping at the bit to get hold of some cars. He admitted that there was some delay by smart USA on delivery (unsure why, perhaps some part needed to be checked/replaced at the docks). We are all expecting them nationwide on or around January 15. Yippee! I'll start bugging my salesman to see where I'm on the list AFTER they get the computer hooked up, hopefully next week.
Thanks for the nice words, I feel like a lone voice in the wilderness amongst all the angst of the impatient...
I think there are more patient folks here than you might think, it's just that the impatient ones make most of the noise.
When I first joined this forum I responded to a lot of the ranting and raving, but I quickly tired of getting flamed and called a PAG apologist. I figured, what the heck, these guys are just going to give themselves ulcers and high blood pressure - let 'em get on with it. Maybe some of them will even cancel and move me up the line...
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!
Stopped by Smart Bergstrum in Milwaukee he said they are officially open.
Receptionist sitting there playing on computer, fresh baked cookies for customers, service tech. sitting in the service center (got to ask him several questions since he had nothing to do) Wishes he had some cars to sell. He said that they are hoping to get cars mid month and hopefully info. on the reservations at that time.
Patient here as well. My dealer is in Tulsa and they have said (back right before Christmas) that they were on track for a Jan. 2nd opening. They said they would let me know when they get the list and what my place was. Jan. 2nd has now come and gone, but I have not bugged them about it. I see where the middle of the month is the time. They know I'm here now and will let me know when they are ready.
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I had forgotten since all my kids have their own families now......;) LOL
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