Dealer sold my reserved Brabus Smart

[Goldstar]

Originally Posted by jwight

Just my .02, .....
Wouldn't hurt to mention this is on SCOA now and people are waiting to see how it's resolved.

Thanks for your .02. They told me they would call me to go down to see the car sometime next week. I will keep posting.

BTW, who's worse is I did contact them earlier and found out the car was at the port. They said they would call when the car arrived. They were/should be well aware I was waiting to get the car. The ordeal began when I started to wander if it would take 3 weeks for the car to be transported while the ETA began to show 'VEHICLE DELIVERED'. Vehicle delivered to me meant bought/sold. But the 800 number personnel told me it meant at the dealer. I called the dealer, and was told they could not find the car , then ......

[John_H]

Thanks for bringing your issue to this forum. It's good to know when a dealership seriously drops the ball but you really should let us know which dealership.

I recall one other instance about a year ago when a reserved car was sold out from under the reservation holder; this was back when orphans were few and far between. It may be little solace that your situation appears to be extremely rare, but you're very justified (in my opinion) at your outrage with the situation.

Best of luck getting a timely resolution!

[Goldstar]

Originally Posted by John_H

Thanks for bringing your issue to this forum. It's good to know when a dealership seriously drops the ball but you really should let us know which dealership.

Best of luck getting a timely resolution!

Thanks. I am biting my tongue trying not to reveal the dealership as I know I have only bad things to say about them so far. I want to give them a fair chance as to wait and see how they solve the problem. Regardless, I sure hope they learn from this and refine their operation.

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by Goldstar

Regardless, I sure hope they learn from this and refine their operation.

I'm not taking their side by any means (based on what you told us, they were DEFINITELY IN THE WRONG), but with the economy the way it is right now and car sales still sluggish to say the least, I'm sure they would jump at the chance to have a 'done deal' on a car in their inventory. If they did contact you and you didn't happen to respond in their alloted time frame, then the car is sold. I know, this sort of happened to me, but at least it was with my permission.

I was told that there was a car available IMMEDIATELY like the one I had on order and they wanted to know if I were interested. I was on my way into work on a Saturday and I told them "Sure, I'm on my way NOW" and I turned around and headed the opposite direction.

BUT by the time I got to my smart center, the 'brand manager' took me aside and told me 'we have someone else interested in your car now and they were here on the lot, so we told them THEY could have it if you 'didn't mind'. HELL YES I minded, but I was a nice guy and said "go ahead", since I really wasn't prepared to buy one THAT DAY.

As it turned out, the other couple bought a Cabriolet and I got the one I wanted anyway, but at least they asked before they offered to sell it.

Hope it all works out for YOU TOO!

[NukleoN]

No excuse for the dealership. The OP with the 99 dollar deposit should have had first-right of refusal. I would bet the law is on his side too, as well as the reserve agreement. As far as I know, even if you leave a deposit on a sale such as a piano you would have first right of refusal.

I would do the same thing though, giving the dealer the change to make it right (and fast) and raise hell if they don't. The dealer really dropped the ball here and someone needs to be seriously reprimanded.

[Goldstar]

Nope, they never initiated calls to me. It had always been me calling the dealership and then told that they would return call. I was put in the position to wait to be called once the car came in. I waited, but no call. So, I initiated another round of phone calls. There have always been CONSISTENT INDICATIONS of INTENTION TO BUY the car FROM ME.

[Dunerunner]

It is good you posted Goldstar!! Smart dealerships, for the most part, have been "not your ordinary dealership" and have been very customer oriented. Reporting issues on this forum and contacting Dave Shembri are good things...it keeps the dealerships honest.

For future reference!!

Address for Roger Penske

Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
2555 Telegraph Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-0954

Tel: (248) 648-2500
Fax: (248) 648-2525

Dave Schembri's mailing address is:

smart USA
1765 Telegraph Rd.
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
His direct phone line is: 248-648-2450
and his e-mail is:dschembri@smartusa.com

[Carl242]

On another note, if anyone on the West Coast joins SCOA today and writes a post with a title like "Just got a Brabus Orphan!!!" . . . . be nice to them ;)

[Goldstar]

Originally Posted by Carl242

On another note, if anyone on the West Coast joins SCOA today and writes a post with a title like "Just got a Brabus Orphan!!!" . . . . be nice to them ;)

Agree, especially if he/she just happened to show up in the dealership and fell in love with the supposedly mine Brabus. It should not be his/her fault. He/she only has good taste.

I'm actually glad I posted as I got some very useful info. It had been several frustration and confusing weeks to me. I was always told that they would call back. So I waited, trying not to be pushy and called them back too soon. What's hilarious is I was told by a staff that he would call me first thing the next day. Of course, no call, so I called back and found out that he was actually off that day and the day after.
I still have to wait, but well, at least now I know I am not waiting in vain.

[NukleoN]

Originally Posted by Goldstar

Nope, they never initiated calls to me. It had always been me calling the dealership and then told that they would return call. I was put in the position to wait to be called once the car came in. I waited, but no call. So, I initiated another round of phone calls. There have always been CONSISTENT INDICATIONS of INTENTION TO BUY the car FROM ME.

I guess there's a silver lining here, the smart is still in demand and a Brabus selling in this economy is a good sign. Good for the company as a whole, bad for Goldstar.

I bet you can get them to perform due diligence once you make your case known...along with all of your phone calls/email or any paper trail you might have to corroborate your case. Have them make it right, and good luck.