Brabus Rip Off??

[debbyp2000]

Ok,

Here's the deal.. In October I was offered the opportunity to configure a Brabus. I jumped and did so the first day. All of us Brabus converters were told once we did so there was no going back. No problem! Silver/Silver Brabus Cab. Config on Oct.23rd.

So, my local dealer was trying to sell their demo and said they would sell it to me at MSRP. Only problem was it was 400.00 more than what I thought. We went back and forth and finally figured out it was the cell and paint charges.

Only problem is, my initial config. page states that the cell, interior, and paint are N/C!

The dealer says they will honor my config page ONLY if I buy their demo (with 50 miles on it) and without the alarm I added. I'm waiting because I want to put those miles on it and I know mine that I configured will be coming soon (although DDE has been gone for a month!)

My question, dear future Silver/Silver Brabus owners, is are we being ripped off for 400.00? We were not initially told this was added to the price and now Smart says (yes, I asked them) that we will be charged for this addition.

I personally think it is wrong... What do you think

[Macaw]

I thought all 2009's delivered after dec 31 had the $400 price increase

[yellow-smart]

I think you have several options here:

1. $400 is nothing compared to the overall price of the car, pay it and let it be known at the time that you think this is not part of the original configuration and price and that the dealership will have to work hard to regain your trust.

2. Don't buy the demo or your reserved car. Let Smart USA know why you are giving up your reservation.

3. Ask them to negotiate a lower interest rate, say 1%. I think the money saved will equate to around $400 or slighly more. The Bank takes a hit on this one.

4. Aks them to reduce their doc fees.

5. Pay the $400 but ask for 10% discount on all future parts. I do this routinely as a veteran alway. Most dealers have not had a problem. Some give me up to 30%. I was able to pay Nissan parts for my wifes car from the Honda dealer at cost. Worked out great.

Just a few suggestions.

Yellow-Smart

[debbyp2000]

Originally Posted by Macaw

I thought all 2009's delivered after dec 31 had the $400 price increase

My argument on that one would be this car was not available until 2009 so if they were going to increase by 400.00 we should have been told upfront.

[debbyp2000]

Originally Posted by yellow-smart

I think you have several options here:

1. $400 is nothing compared to the overall price of the car, pay it and let it be known at the time that you think this is not part of the original configuration and price and that the dealership will have to work hard to regain your trust.

2. Don't buy the demo or your reserved car. Let Smart USA know why you are giving up your reservation.

3. Ask them to negotiate a lower interest rate, say 1%. I think the money saved will equate to around $400 or slighly more. The Bank takes a hit on this one.

4. Aks them to reduce their doc fees.

5. Pay the $400 but ask for 10% discount on all future parts. I do this routinely as a veteran alway. Most dealers have not had a problem. Some give me up to 30%. I was able to pay Nissan parts for my wifes car from the Honda dealer at cost. Worked out great.

Just a few suggestions.

Yellow-Smart

Yellow,

I like your ideas! I know it is only 400.00, but I just think they should honor what they said they were charging us. If you go to the Smart website, they now show that they are charging extra for Power Steering. I asked Smart about that since the Brabus gets the comfort package, so the Power Steering should be free. They said that was true, but their site shows a charge. The dealer MSRP does not include a charge for Power Steering, so maybe that is a misprint on the Smart Page.

I passed on the demo - not sure where they drove it for 50 miles, and figured maybe by the time mine comes I will get a better interest rate.

Thanks for the ideas!

[Goldstar]

Gee, for some reasons, I lost connection to SCOA and have to retype everything.

Good that you brought the matter up, Debby. I went back to check my emails. On the day I did the switch to a Brabus, the configuration confirmation email showed:

body panels in silver N/C
tridion safety cell, silver N/C
Upholstery color: silver N/C

The next day, another email with subject title "Your Smart fortwo Brabus Request" showed:
body panels in silver tridion safety cell, silver $400.00
Upholstery color: black leather N/C



Both emails were from customer-service@ib-smart.net with a physical address of smart USA C/O Internet Brands
909 N. SEPULVEDA BLVD., 11TH FLOOR
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245

I believe a/some mistake(s) was/were made somewhere thus we were presented conflicting info (note that there is no Upholstery color: silver option). Nonetheless, customers should not be penalized for the mistakes that merchants themselves made. Nonetheless (again), there is always the fine print and there's no exception here. Both emails include this: There is no price guarantee and the dealer price of your vehicle may vary."

Any consumer rights expert at SCOA?

[C-SMART-C]

For me, at the time of conversion to BRABUS. It stated that the silver is extra $400. May be they screwed up in some e-mail but not all.

Originally Posted by Goldstar

Gee, for some reasons, I lost connection to SCOA and have to retype everything.

Good that you brought the matter up, Debby. I went back to check my emails. On the day I did the switch to a Brabus, the configuration confirmation email showed:

body panels in silver N/C
tridion safety cell, silver N/C
Upholstery color: silver N/C

The next day, another email with subject title "Your Smart fortwo Brabus Request" showed:
body panels in silver tridion safety cell, silver $400.00
Upholstery color: black leather N/C



Both emails were from customer-service@ib-smart.net with a physical address of smart USA C/O Internet Brands
909 N. SEPULVEDA BLVD., 11TH FLOOR
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245

I believe a/some mistake(s) was/were made somewhere thus we were presented conflicting info (note that there is no Upholstery color: silver option). Nonetheless, customers should not be penalized for the mistakes that merchants themselves made. Nonetheless (again), there is always the fine print and there's no exception here. Both emails include this: There is no price guarantee and the dealer price of your vehicle may vary."

Any consumer rights expert at SCOA?

[JPaul]

The Penske Automotive Group and smartUSA contracted Internet Brands to handle the $99 reservation program. You could consider calling smartUSA in Bloomfield (1-248-648-2500) ans ask them what's on file for your reservation. It may help.

[johnnjefferson]

Well, their price listing shows an extra charge for the silver metalic cell and and extra charge for the silver metalic body totaling to $400.00. I didn't think it was worth it and don't like the two tone so I have black and black ordered.

[debbyp2000]

I didn't get that second e-mail stating the price was 400.00 but, here's a concern. if you go to the smart website and look up Brabus, you'll see this:
Factory installed options
Silver metallic paint (requires silver tridion safety cell) $225
Silver metallic tridion safety cell (requires silver bodypanels) $175
Alarm system $160
Power steering $450
Fog lamps $110
Daytime running lamps $50

You HAVE to buy the tridion if you buy the silver, so why don't they just put it together?

And more troubling is the power steering at 450.00. According to my latest conversation with Smart (oh they love me! ), this is included in the comfort package and we won't pay extra... But can't you see the writing on the wall???