$2000 waiting list

[cmjars]

I was on the Orphan list Got mine.

Smart Center Universal City (Hollywood) is pleasure to deal with, I also put down $2000 to get on their Orphan list and the wait really wasn't that long.

-Christopher

[2009Aveo5]

Originally Posted by sbernali

Dealership is SMART OF UNIVERSAL CITY CA. The salesman was very very help full. SMART OF WEST COVINA was not as good but they dident ask for a deposit to be on there list but they only had 4 cars UNIVERSAL CITY had like 40.

That's funny, I was going to guess (not having a clue where you live) that it was either the Beverly Hills or North Hollywood dealer.

The deposit actually would give you a better chance to get an orphan as people aren't likely to put down that kind of money even if it is refundable. Again, my big question is which dealers force you to take every possible dealer add-on along with some other tactics that I've experienced at my local dealer. I was offered an orphan, but I turned it down due to add-ons, $1000 non-refundable hold deposit before they would give me a finance rate and trade-in value. I suppose I should have given her the grand as it would have been a oral agreement to hold the money and my credit card company would force them to give me the money back, but I really want a loaded passion without the add-ons and if that means waiting until the 2009 models come out then so be it.

[Westfield 11]

The Universal City Center is the same as the No. Hollywood Center.

[ex300SRT8]

In my situation at Universal / North Hollywood, it was clear that if I really wanted the cars that they had available now or in the near future, that it was a necessity to accept the dealer add-ons. In my case it was an upgraded alarm and "Kartrack" (GPS locating system in case of theft). The two together cost a tidy $2K.

[jburcina]

That is a total rip off. We don't charge our customers a dollar to get on the list. I don't think that Smart USA would like to hear there is a dealer out there conducting business in this manner. They don't need your money to hold the car as if you don't buy it someone else will. I have 20 people on my list with zero deposits. That would be $40,000 in customer deposits we are earning interest on.

Jason Burcina
Brand Specialist
Smart Center Sacramento

[sbernali]

Originally Posted by SmartCard

One important tidbit missing here - are you a $99 reservation holder already?

At this time I am on the $99 list the $2000 and the free list at the west covina dealership

[mvukovich]

The dealer in Bloomington had me on their orphan waiting list along with others with no deposit. When the dealership call with a orphan I wanted I put down 500 dollars to hold it for me and pick it up the next day. Glad I did it is a fun car......

[24-42]

Originally Posted by sbernali

At this time I am on the $99 list the $2000 and the free list at the west covina dealership

Something to think about;

Call Sacramento Center and see if they would put you on the list.

If you were able to buy from them with little or no add-ons, it would be an enjoyable although short trip to pick it up.

BTW: the offer of coffee is still on.

Donald LaFavor

[2009Aveo5]

A $2,000 refundable deposit is FAR BETTER than my local dealer tactics of a $1000 non-refundable deposit on orphans BEFORE they give you your financial rate and they refuse to tell you what your trade-in is worth until you give them the $1000 NON-refundable deposit. Oh, and they also add every single dealer add-on at full retail price. Welcome to Fairfield Smart.

[silvernitrate]

Charging outrageous prices for dealer add-ons to orphan vehicles is unethical in my book.

Questions:

Do they add dealer add-ons to the cars that are ordered under the $99 order program so that they can jack up the agreed upon price prior to delivery? That's against the law in most places.

Are the dealers creating orphan vehicles by trying to shake people down for more than the agreed price when the people who placed the order come to pick up their new car?

Are the dealers telling people who go in to pick up their cars, "Sorry, we had to place the add-ons on the vehicle, take it or leave it." Is this creating instant orphan vehicles when people walk away because they don't want to get ripped off?

About dealer add-ons:

- Adding add-on undercoating to factory undercoating actually causes more rust over the years.

- Fabric treatment is usually done by the factory or fabic manufacturer and, if not, you can do it yourself for 20 bucks.

- Pinstripes are BS if you don't want them added to your car. It's so 70's and is nothing but cheap tape that will ruin a paint job.

- Coating the factory paint job with an added-on acrylic coat can cause the paint to fade.

- If a person already has a GPS who wants to pay for another added by the dealer?

Frankly, I'll walk away if the dealer tries these tricks.

If there are dealers or Smart salesman out there, is sticking your new customers with add-ons standard practice? I sure hope not. If so, I will probably need to just cancel my $99 pre-order now and move on to one of the other cars I have my eye on.