Quote:
Originally Posted by paul c
I checked autotrader.com for smarts a few minutes ago. There were 34 new smarts available, all from the dealers who own smart dealerships, including one of Penske's own. No pictures, but they do list VINs. The prices seem to be at MSRP. Does this suggest cracks in the reservation system? An advertising ploy on the part of the dealers, or perhaps a different way to move the orphans? Whatever it is, I found it disturbing.
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I agree with what a few others have said. I agree that it's disturbing to an extent. Earlier today I was really miffed about a guy on ebay selling TWO that aren't even delivered yet. I'm mostly over it now. ...for the moment.
By keeping the $99 deposit all the way through the process it allows people to take advantage of the system. Such as those trying to sell their reservation spot or those that configure then take Joe Schmoe to the dealership because Joe paid him for the vehicle he configured then will pay the dealership. Then again there will always be those that try to get around any system.
However if there was something in place such as a down payment of sorts when configuring then it might curb some of what we're seeing now. Then again it could also keep some who might otherwise want to buy the vehicle from being able to legitimately doing so. I know that I plan on selling my current car when I get my configuration email. Then use the money from the sale and the car payments I won't have to make for 3 months or so as my down payment on the smart. Figure I can do with just the Harley since it'll most likely be summer and can ride most days anyway.
Either way smart will get the money for their vehicles. In the meantime that doesn't mean I can't be anxious, impatient, and jealous. There is no perfect system but I don't think the one they have at the moment is working to the advantage of those of us who have waited only to see people with reservations after us get vehicles before us. Nor is it working for those of us who have waited only to read about someone getting lucky and adopting one with virtually no wait time. Nor is it working for those who honestly want one for their own personal use to see people buy then turn around and sell on ebay, auto trader, craigs list or other. It is what it is. I can beeitch about it but that won't change anything in the long run. Technically it could even work against me in the long run.
I've met Allison here at Dallas and she seems nice enough. She has our information and hopefully I can learn more at the upcoming open house. I do try to keep in mind though that her hands are a bit tied too. When we visited a few weeks back she explained they don't have any kind of list or any information of who is what unless they come in and leave their information like we did. So as frustrated as I am I really feel for the sales people. They are the ones stuck in the middle.
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