DDE vs Reality

[propes]

This is my first post here in quite a while - I had a rant a few months ago after the DDE was put in, when I found out the wait had been extended to 18 months. I didn't say I wasn't going to get the smart, but my enthusiasm had been dampened.

Well, it's creeping back up, and I'm finding myself sighing when driving by the dealership again. I've also, like others, found my DDE date drop a couple months sooner. But I wonder, when the DDE says my window opens in two months, and I haven't even configured yet - just how realistic is the DDE?

[SmartCard]

Seems the DDE is pretty spot on when the build time approaches. However when its over a year out, well there's no data on that yet, but lets put it this way- its just a flexible educated guess!

[Dave Van]

Mine in Jan 08 was May, by March it had moved to June, by May it was Aug. In June in went to Sept. Today it says July 2008...the car came into the dealership 8/5/08....your guess is as good as anybody!

[jediknight36]

At least you have a DDE.

[parnami]

My experience is as follows:

My FIRST DDE was nov 08 - Jan 09. The ship carrying my car JUST docked in Baltimore this morning, Aug 6, 2008 with delivery anticipated by Aug 15, 2008.

[Suze]

Originally Posted by propes

.... the DDE says my window opens in two months, and I haven't even configured yet - just how realistic is the DDE?

Hmmm.... this doesn't sound right. I think you normally configure 6-8 months before delivery.

I reserved in Sep 07, Configured in May and my DDE also opens in 2 months - Oct 19, 08.

Have you called smartusa? Even tho they are short on info, it might be worth a try.

[dd1]

It should be DDE vs. Location. Here in the Dallas area It's 24 months. I reserved in 8/07 12 months ago and don't expect to Config until late in this year.

[jediknight36]

Originally Posted by dd1

It should be DDE vs. Location. Here in the Dallas area It's 24 months. I reserved in 8/07 12 months ago and don't expect to Config until late in this year.

Good lord. Glad Im not the only one here. I know a guy that has an orphan in Flower Mound and thats what he said last time we talked. Any one know about another smart center in DFW?

How do you know when you will config?

[Ken Boothe]

I reserved 5/23/07 configured 3/7/08 My DDE says Dec08-Feb 09.
I noticed someone in the Dallas area that reserved 11 days before me
got their car July 3rd. There sure must have been a lot of reservations
in that 11 day period. I wish there was more transparancy to how
they are handeling reservations. When you spend some time reading
some of the post and look at the times it sure doesn't look like they
are makeing any effort to equalise deliverys. I saw one post that said
a dealer in NY area had delivered 399 cars if you divide the number of
cars the smart website says have been delivered by the number of dealers
they say they have then thats twice as many as it should be.
Again some transparancy would be nice.

[jediknight36]

Here is an email I just got about this very same issue. Im sure similar emails have been posted elsewhere, but this ones mine.

"Thank you for your interest in smart USA. The reservation program opened March 19, 2007, and we had a bevy of reservation holders place their reservation for a smart fortwo vehicle. Unfortunately your reservation number does not have a numerical significance. Your reservation number is a number assigned to you in order to keep track of your reservation. Your contact is dependent on several factors including when you placed your reservation, how many reservation holders are in your area, and the dealership allocation.



Our records show that you are currently waiting to complete the next phase of the reservation program, which is the reservation confirmation program. The reservation confirmation program will consist of an invitation sent to your email address ----@mac.com, and you will also receive a courtesy phone call. During this time you will have the opportunity to confirm or change your previous reservation details, and select your factory installed options. Also you will either be assigned to the smart center that is near your geographical location. Or, if there are multiple facilities near you, you may have the opportunity to select the smart center of your choice.



Your invitation will be sent to you with in the next weeks to months. Unfortunately we are unable to provide a specific time frame as your invitation is generated by an automated system.



Further more I apologize for the inconvenience Mr. ----, unfortunately I am unable to provide you a 90 day time frame, as the distribution process has yet to be finalized in your geographical location.



We are currently taking in consideration the daily variations such as; reservation cancellations, the distribution of the vehicle. Please continue to check the DDE (Date Delivery Estimator) from time to time as information is updated daily.



We appreciate your patience Mr. ____, while we continue to determine a better estimate of your vehicle’s delivery date.


If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact us via email or by phone at 1.800.smartUSA.



Thank you for your interest in smart USA. You will be hearing from us soon!



Jamie Thompson

Customer Service

1.800.smartUSA

www.smartusa.com"