Bye for now Smart Folks

[gusfraga]

Lewis,

I am sorry about you leaving our smart club in NJ.
Any way if you need an smart ride let me know...
Regards
Gus

[CTJon]

In CT documentation fee are regularly 200 and up. It is just part of their profit just like all the fees everyone charges these days (car rental charge a facility fee - their building, a fee for the airport charges they get charged etc. Will I be happy about this, assuming I can't negotiate it, no but it probably won't stop me which is what the dealers count on. At this point in the Smart lifecycle the dealers just don't care. They aren't selling - don't have to - the just deliver and take a profit. I'm sure the franchise cost is very high as is the cost of the facility. It is a gamble for them. If Smart is a huge success, they make money. If gas goes down again, as I expect before the election, then sales may slow as they will if the get some horrible review of news of a major accident - then they may lose big. They are in it to make a profit.

[sisyphus]

Good luck to you Lewis! With just a little luck maybe you'll be able to latch onto a gently used smart in the not-too-distant future, and not have to see that abhorrent fee! Judging from that miserable dealer add-on you'll probably have to shop around outside of Jersey to get around it. Come back to us when you can!

[Beth in L.A.]

I understand too Lewis. Sorry that things have not worked out. I hope that PAG will get enough complaints that they will either force the dealers to re-evaluate their numbers, or allow you to choose another dealer and not lose your place in line.

Beth

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by Beth in L.A.

I understand too Lewis. Sorry that things have not worked out. I hope that PAG will get enough complaints that they will either force the dealers to re-evaluate their numbers, or allow you to choose another dealer and not lose your place in line.

Beth

Or. PAG will rebate it to the buyer.

[Fredvon4]

That is never going to happen... Orlando is reportedly charging $799 dealer prep.... no way PAG rebates that

As much as I like to think PAG does have a role and should discourage this gouging...This is not a Smart Car specific problem...It is a states consumer rights issue and your Attorney General and legislators are the real key to long term elimination of these clear contract frauds

[bmx43]

Originally Posted by fishrdnc

Or. PAG will rebate it to the buyer.

i think you guys are missing the point on this. it's not between you and PAG, the fight is between you and your shady-ass politicians. there is nothing PAG can do about these doc fees because they are allowed by your state. PAG can't mandate that, only your corrupt worthless state representatives can. what PAG is responsible for is holding the dealers to MSRP, and that, they are doing. the scary thing is that if PAG did not hold them at MSRP, you would be paying additional dealer markup ON TOP of your outrageous doc fees.

if you want to yell at somebody, call your state rep. he's the bad guy here.

[Lewis]

Thanks for your good wishes all. I just hope what I did has some positive effect for the rest of the buyers that follow me. I do think in the car business nothing matters but $ and while I know I'm a spit in the ocean I still think actual cancellations get noticed. I certainly have done everything I could to make Smart AG aware of the problem and in my estimation that's the only place you can expect help from. I think PAG is not on the buyers side in this one.

Realistically don't you think this subject came up at the dealers meeting? At a few days thereafter the fees started coming. So come on PAG must have given the sleazbags a wink and nod.

Since 2011 is the make or break year for the brand Smart AG will be the one to do something about this is anything positive gets done.

On a personal note I wanted a smart very badly and still do but as someone who has rented the 450 diesel in Europe I was a bit underwhelmed by the 451 (the mileage I've gotten on that thing is awsome, even climbing the Alps) so maybe sometime before 2011 we'll see the hybrid or diesels here in the USA?

Then you can bet I'll be back again as a smartcar buyer.

I think this forum is a wonderful service and I do wish the best of everything to all the nice folks here- you guys are trying to do your part to move things along towards a green future and I tip my hat to you all. I'm just a cranky old guy who rebels at being screwed around- but you should enjoy your smarts to the hilt.

[Lewis]

I respectfully disagree totally BMX. The power of setting dealer allocations could make this problem disappear tomorrow if PAG wanted that to happen. The're thick as thieves with the slimeballs. Even a 10% shift in deliveries would cut this garbage out but pronto! PAG wants this happen whether you wish to believe that or not.

Originally Posted by bmx43

i think you guys are missing the point on this. it's not between you and PAG, the fight is between you and your shady-ass politicians. there is nothing PAG can do about these doc fees because they are allowed by your state. PAG can't mandate that, only your corrupt worthless state representatives can. what PAG is responsible for is holding the dealers to MSRP, and that, they are doing. the scary thing is that if PAG did not hold them at MSRP, you would be paying additional dealer markup ON TOP of your outrageous doc fees.

if you want to yell at somebody, call your state rep. he's the bad guy here.

[bmx43]

Originally Posted by Lewis

I respectfully disagree totally BMX. The power of setting dealer allocations could make this problem disappear tomorrow if PAG wanted that to happen. The're thick as thieves with the slimeballs. Even a 10% shift in deliveries would cut this garbage out but pronto! PAG wants this happen whether you wish to believe that or not.

yes, but what you are missing is that this is not new or exclusive to the Smart car. this happens on every single car that is sold. why would PAG be expected to be any different? PAG isn't broken, the system is broken. you pay the doc fee on a toyota prius, just as you would on a BMW M3. it's the same fee. now it would be great to have PAG come in and say "not on our cars" and then they would get laughed out of the building. This will not change until it is mandated by law. i absolutely loathe car dealers and am by no means sticking up for PAG, i just think your anger is misplaced.