Dealer is saying 3-6 month wait - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Actualsize · 05-11-2008, 04:17 PM

I drove past the newly built Tampa, FL dealership and noticed cars out front so decided to stop in. I was shocked when the manager there was stating that the factory is having them tell new people that are ordering that the wait is only 3-6 months.
I went to the official Smart car website and I still have a wait until May-June 2009.
I find this odd for them to tell new people this when its clearly not possible. I still haven't even configured my car yet!

SmartBob · 05-11-2008, 04:35 PM

I'd bet they're counting on orphans to be available before your actual order would be processed. Meaning that cancelled orders will be for sale before your model could even be built.

Actualsize · 05-11-2008, 05:36 PM

I just find it interesting to tell new people coming off the street that the wait for a Smart car is only 3-6 months when there is so many people still waiting. Mean while making new people think that if they order one today they will get it into 3-6 months. Especially when I come home and my DDE is still a year + away. Seems like the factory is stretching the truth just a tad.

Anyone else hear this from dealerships?

smarticus · 05-11-2008, 05:53 PM

"Seems like the factory is stretching the truth just a tad".
They are certainly well practiced by now.

**jwight** · 05-11-2008, 05:56 PM

Don't believe the factory is at fault; Hambach doesn't communicate with the dealers. My guess is, and it's only a guess, it's a dealer ploy to get people on the hook. A newbie might be willing to sign up for a 3 - 6 month wait. If the dealer tells them at least a year, maybe even 18 months, they're down the street to the Toyota or Honda dealer.

Big Panda · 05-11-2008, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Actualsize

I drove past the newly built Tampa, FL dealership and noticed cars out front so decided to stop in. I was shocked when the manager there was stating that the factory is having them tell new people that are ordering that the wait is only 3-6 months.
I went to the official Smart car website and I still have a wait until May-June 2009.
I find this odd for them to tell new people this when its clearly not possible. I still haven't even configured my car yet!

did you confront them about this? i certainly would have asked them to 'clarify' their "3-6 month wait" comment, seeing that you know better. ;)

Actualsize · 05-11-2008, 06:00 PM

I do know better, thats why I didnt bother wasting any more time there and walked out

I feel bad for those who didn't do their homework and will just believe 3-6 is the truth through and through.

Big Panda · 05-11-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwight

Don't believe the factory is at fault; Hambach doesn't communicate with the dealers. My guess is, and it's only a guess, it's a dealer ploy to get people on the hook. A newbie might be willing to sign up for a 3 - 6 month wait. If the dealer tells them at least a year, maybe even 18 months, they're down the street to the Toyota or Honda dealer.

i agree.....that and what "SmartBob" said.....they're planning on an 'orphan' showing up that meets your criteria within 6 months.

only problem with that scenario is that more than likely you'll end up with a lot of upset customers, since the orphan list will more than exceed the number of ophans available in a 6 month period.

they'll catch on and inevitably end up with a Honda or Toyota......

Actualsize · 05-11-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwight

Don't believe the factory is at fault; Hambach doesn't communicate with the dealers. My guess is, and it's only a guess, it's a dealer ploy to get people on the hook. A newbie might be willing to sign up for a 3 - 6 month wait. If the dealer tells them at least a year, maybe even 18 months, they're down the street to the Toyota or Honda dealer.

haha funny you say this. They are right smack in the middle of two dealerships and down the road from about 4 others.
I do have a feeling that its just the dealer and not the factory. Im sure if it has turned into 3-6 months the factory would be more then thrilled to let people that have been waiting know that.

smarticus · 05-11-2008, 06:34 PM

Smart USA could make things right by passing along the information that they have. For example: The factory knows how many of what model they are requested to build. PAG knows to whom and to where they are to go. By sharing this information with the dealers, they could largely eliminate the backlog and the bad feelings that reservationist have had to endure. If they would tell the dealer receiving the car the following:
This car was built and reserved for, _________
The next person in this dealers area with this configuration is, __________
The third person in this dealers area with this configuration is, __________
and so on, then instead of putting someone that has waited more than a year off even more as they deliver to someone off the street, they could fill the orders as placed, which is how they implied it would be done from the start. No stories, no stuffing the cars full of junk options, and no peeved reservationist that so far have been the best advertising this company has. There would also likely be far less smarts on ebay because more people would have what they wanted.