I can't for the life of me figure out why they would take so long. For that matter, why does it take any time at all? Isn't it just a front end to a database that stores your preferences. From an Information managment perspective it just seems really odd. In my perfect-little-world scenario, you put down your $99, get an invite to confure, go configure and get back an estimated delivery date all within a few momments. Then your dealer calls you, you make any final changes, pay the delivery fee or whatever and sign a binding purchase agreement.
Meanwhile, the frogs are cranking out smarts according to the precentages indicated by initial configurations.
I guess this system does give you some time to make up your mind but I don't see where six months to a year is helpful.
Can somebody explain the reason for the lag time?
They must be fine tuning their supply chain as the orders come in, Snakefarm.
And also fine tuning other processes that we are not aware of like coordinating shipments from the factory to the boat, then the boat to the docks in Baltimore, San Diego and wherever else they will come into the country. I really think alot of *stuff* is going on behind stage that we have no clue about....not sure what that could be but it could explain the lag to some degree.....all in good time, my good man....all in good time.
Johnnysan I think we all get that but.... on this end I, like Snake, can not think of one reason back on the 14th of Sept IB could not have sent the second step invites to 10,000 reservationists.... no human intervention is needed... the responses all go into a database. Then every 30 days do another 10K and in 90 days you have you complete data base with plenty of time to field the calls, make changes, sort our orders and send to mother MB, and plenty of time to send a second reminder to the ones that missed and did not ask for a refund...
This twice a week crap is just not making any good sense to me.... makes me think IB is incompetent....
I test logistics management soft ware...large scale...I mean REALLY large scale stuff. PAG IB only has to manage 30~35 thousand records... chump change in my world!
I can write the code to do this in MS Access in about an hour, collect all the customer data in less then two weeks, and then sort and parse the data any which way you could dream of....
Noting in the supply chain on the manufacturing side is impacted by PAG having a semi final list a month ago.....
Mine # is#1181 and was configurated on 11/3/2007. I remembered in 2003 I wanted an Infiniti G35 Coupe. I went in the local dealership to place my order. I knew exactly the color and equipment that I wanted. I was lucky that someone have just backout on a car almost exactly the way I want it so I replaced him on his order. It was Feb and I had to wait until June for my car to arrive. If I had to go the end of the line, I wouldn't get one until Sept. I had to give $1,000.00 not $99.00 to reserve. When I got the call from the dealer that the car was here, I had less than a week to pick up the car because there was people lining up to get them. I don't think this time is very painful because of my prior experience. Actually, It was pretty much the same when I got my ML in 99. It happens every time when a new car shows up and everyone wants to get their hands on the first ones. Law of supply and demand at work. Just relax and enjoy this community forum.
Must not be our time yet to "confirm"...8:00 P.M. here (again I realize we are on Eastern Time Zone and the main office should be on Pacific Time Zone - three hour difference). Oh well, I must be too impatience...sorry to rant...lol;)
Sorry, I need to make a correction on my previous post. My # 1181 and recieved the invite to configure on 10/26/2007 which was a Friday. The email was sent out 12:30pm west coast time.
.. on this end I, like Snake, can not think of one reason back on the 14th of Sept IB could not have sent the second step invites to 10,000 reservationists.... no human intervention is needed... the responses all go into a database. Then every 30 days do another 10K and in 90 days you have you complete data base with plenty of time to field the calls, make changes, sort our orders and send to mother MB, and plenty of time to send a second reminder to the ones that missed and did not ask for a refund...
This twice a week crap is just not making any good sense to me.... makes me think IB is incompetent....
I test logistics management soft ware...large scale...I mean REALLY large scale stuff. PAG IB only has to manage 30~35 thousand records... chump change in my world!
That's all well and good if each time a batch went out some human interventions is required. Every batch generates phone calls to the call center, they need to spread that out over several months time. Also each batch needs follow-up for bounced emails, missing items in the configuration, questions from customers. All takes time. I've worked in customer intensive programs where notifications need to go out and responses gathered. Its not all data bases and computers. People want to be hand held when buying a $14,000 plus item. Sending them all out in huge batches is not productive at all. Takes longer, but everyone gets their questions answered and their orders submitted.
Or do you like waiting 60-120 minutes on hold with the call center because some IT idiot said he could process 10,000 confirmations at once?
You don't seem to read for comprehension spdickey IMO
You also don't seem to have read the info linked to that had the details of the contract that PAG engaged with Internet Brands.... I wonder if you even know who you are defending so diligently
However you are doing a good job of describing a very incompetent operation
BTW Do you remember the posts where I take credit for at least 24 other "reservationists" ..... three that I "sponsored/coached" are slated to be Smart Car salesmen as well as New 451 owners
They are equally irritated and frustrated....
There is a lot more side e-mails and PMs about this subject then you see here on this web site brother....
But I get it ...no skin to you ...you are smug because you have your configuration done, you don't have to worry about being out of town and missing the note... you already have a solid idea who is going to take your money and a fair good guess that you have a car in the next 45~60 days...
Better then 3/4s of the "reservationists" do NOT have that warm fuzzy my friend
Times are tough for some folks, money is tight, needs are now, information is power, decisions need to be made, stocking hung, egg nog prepared....
You probably don't realize that I play devils advocate for those in our group that have serious concerns.
Did it occur to you that PAG might be playing games to see if they can get 10,000 of the 35,000 "reservations" to disapear... we both know there are not enough cars for the entire reserved group....
So maybe they are not simply incompetent... that might be forgivable
what do you mean confirmation? I just got an email today saying that a dealership will be calling me at the beginning of febuary to confirm options and work out a delivery program. is that a confirmation?
So maybe they are not simply incompetent... that might be forgivable
You also mentioned that I did not read for comprehension. Here is a short clip of something you wrote "no human intervention is needed... "
That is a bad assumption. Humans are in the process from the call center, to the factory floor, the truck drivers, boat captains, more truck drivers and then the dealers. We need to look at the whole supply chain, not the perfect world of configure to factory to delivery.
Let's see, you want them to send out 10,000 requests for confirmation right now because you think the system can handle it, right?
Bottom line, they can't get 10,000 cars down the assembly line in less than three months for US delivery. Why the need to rush all the confirmations now, back up the call centers, make a whole bunch of people make hard decisions right now for a car they can't produce until the middle of 2008?
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