I had a very positive experience with local smart center (Tysons). The sc specialists there are knowledgeable and seem to enjoy sharing with their customers. I've heard the same about other centers right on there forums. I don't think that the sc model is broken but some centers could work on their customer relations skills.
and in the end...as I said...their short sighted nature whatever the reasoning...could end them. In a bit when there will be more mini cars on the market, people will be less and less willing to put up with crap from anyone and be more willing to just take their business elsewhere...as for now we are stuck with one micro car on the market...not many options. Competition is bad for businesses because it makes them compete for your money...competition is good for consumers because it raises what each company must due to make a dollar. Also, remember I had excellent experience from Mini dealership in Orlando...not all dealerships are bad and so short sighted...from what I hear...other smart dealerships seem to be smarter about their business running. All I was saying is that how I was treated left a sour taste in my mouth...not something you want to do when you want people to spend money for a product you have. In the end you would think they would be doing anything they can to get a reservation list as long as possible...if this means answering 20 peoples questions to get one more in line...is that bad?
So, in short, yes, the person probably WAS brusque, and it was probably unwarranted. But this is a very unique situation at the moment. If they had 500 on the lot, and you walked in and got ignored, I would concur that they were a cruddy dealership and you should go elsewhere. I wouldn't judge the whole place over this one incident, though.
i agree that buying a smart IS a "very unique situation", but one that SMART has created, not the customer.
for smartUSA and some smart centers to put us in this position and then ignore us when we ask questions really isn't professional. THEY created the situation and THEY need to deal with it when dealing with THEIR customers.
this "situation" kind of brings to mind a 'Seinfeld' episode; The Soup Nazi. he had terrible customer relations, treated them like crap and yet, his soup was the best there ever was, so people, regardless of being treated like feces, would line up out the door and down the sidewalk for his soup.
if WE put up with a crappy dealer (or whatever the business) and continue to do business with them, then we have only ourselves to blame for the crappy service we receive.
Boy, that dealership sounds like A holes. My dealer here in Round Rock Texas are very freindly helpful staff. They go out of their way to get any information you are asking for. Not sure if it because they are TEXAN, and Texans seem to be very nice people. I have not had any bad vibes from Texans since I left California. That was over 10 years living here now.
I couldn't agree more. Marty at the RR center has been wonderful. He called me several times just to touch base and see if I had any questions. It was over 2 months from the time I met him (when I test drove a Smart) and the time he called with preliminary delivery information, and he still remembered me and my description of my "Smart Dory". He even asked to see pictures, which I sent. He then called to tell me how cool my car was going to look. Now they're working directly with my credit union on my loan information. I'm extremely happy with the RR group.
I grew up in Texas but spent 8 years living in California. I agree -- overall, folks here are nicer.
I couldn't agree more. Marty at the RR center has been wonderful. He called me several times just to touch base and see if I had any questions. It was over 2 months from the time I met him (when I test drove a Smart) and the time he called with preliminary delivery information, and he still remembered me and my description of my "Smart Dory". He even asked to see pictures, which I sent. He then called to tell me how cool my car was going to look. Now they're working directly with my credit union on my loan information. I'm extremely happy with the RR group.
I grew up in Texas but spent 8 years living in California. I agree -- overall, folks here are nicer.
Wow! I can't wait to meet these guys! Dallas is great, sales wise but I have never heard anyone talk about their dealer like that before. I am going to call down there to talk to them today. Let them know to expect Artoo. Can I be an honorary (sp?) member of the RR club since that's where I'm buying it?
Smart Center Houston North was great to me. Granted, I let the car sit on their lot for almost a month and they really needed to sell it by 4/30. I think that was for accounting reasons (it's a franchise monitored by corporate offices, they need to justify their existence). Berta, the salesperson, was incredibly friendly, even coming in on her day off to deliver the car. The others inside didn't seem too excited, but there were all of three visitors that Thursday morning. They picked me up at the airport in a dealer shuttle and made the purchase seamless. The test drive took longer than the paperwork.
I know in the Philadelphia area that the smart dealers are Mercedes dealers. Do you think it could be these people are used to a different clientele and don't understand what the fuss is all about ? People going nuts over a car that is less then 20k when they are used to selling cars over 50-60k.
I know in the Philadelphia area that the smart dealers are Mercedes dealers. Do you think it could be these people are used to a different clientele and don't understand what the fuss is all about ? People going nuts over a car that is less then 20k when they are used to selling cars over 50-60k.
Our smart was delivered to CHMB and the sales organization was NOT fun to deal with at all - major issues of poor communication (or outright bait-and-switch) by the 'salesman' and anti-smart policies by the management (different cash/ceditcard reqts). Have spoken to DevonMB specialists a few times to buy add-ons and extended warranties and they have been great to deal with. Note difference between 'salesman' and 'specialists'.
We are using CH for service - that part of the operation is well run, customer oriented and a pleasure to deal with (and is closer to Center City).
The attitude depends on the individual dealer, not the brand - we have bought 3 Mercedes (2 S-class, 1-E500) over the past few years and CH was the highest priced, most arrogant, worst to visit of the local dealers all 3 times we shopped and did NOT get our business - and will not even be considered in the future by us or anyone who asks us for Mercedes.
Last edited by phillysmart; 10-11-2008 at 03:13 PM.
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