As I continue to read about those of you who have been contacted by a sales rep and invited to stop into the dealership, I feel a deep envy. I cannot believe how many places across the country have seemingly been ramping up and all that just seems to make it harder to wait for my dealership to get with the program, too.
What's really ironic is that my dealership is in the US Headquarters, Bloomfield Hills. Perhaps they have so much more going on that they have not had time to worry about making contacts, figuring we are all just eagerly awaiting. I keep telling myself that their attention is also being stolen away getting ready for the NAIAS coming up in January, but certainly not every person is being pulled away by that.
I guess if I didn't have a couple of Michigan faithfuls that stopped by the dealership to give me an update every so often I would be going stir crazy. These days after Christmas when a lot of people have time off work would be a great time for both parties of a couple to be able to stop in and shop and even pick up that vehicle. As luck would have it, it will require taking a personal day off work to get there to pick it up.
Those of you who have gotten into dealership showrooms and actually touched the cars and looked at the layout, count yourselves lucky. That has to help fend off the huge craving for a bit longer.
Yea, I feel for you. I've been able to feel, touch, fondle, caress, play with and even drive the smart. First at a couple of road shows here in Los Angeles, Then at the LA Auto Show and the smart house.
Still, my dealer is not yet open, they don't call me since they really don't know anything, anyway. Cars have not arrived there. The walls are waiting to be patched and painted. Computers aren't hooked up, yet. Life's a female dog (***** is not allowed I see)!
When they're ready to give you the hug you want, they will.
When I called my dealer I was told that they have no information on who the reservation holders are. They said that Smart won't release that information until everything is ready nationally and that this is being done to "ensure the integrity" of the reservation process. IF thats true I really wonder HOW these folks are told that their dealer will track their car this week, or that the dealer has called them.?
I think it's the other way around, most of us have contacted the dealer (via e-mail). In san diego I found out who the smart director was by looking at the san diego MB website then I e-mailed him. He has been very open with me and answered all of the questions that I have asked him. The construction of the dealership looks to be done and they held west coast training there last week. As for recent news they hope to open on January 2, a group of us San Diego reservation holders are thinking of meeting at the dealership and chatting with them. Last I have heard is that they expect the port to start releasing cars on Jan 15, but could be as early as Jan 10. So hang in there or you can try and contact you local dealership to see if they have any new info.
I contacted the dealer in Tulsa, OK just before Christmas asking if they would be my dealer here in Arkansas and if they got the list of reservations holders and got this reply:
"Thank you for the email. I am sorry but we do not have the list yet. We just got back from training for the smart and were told we would be receiving this on Jan 1st. As soon as we get it we will definitely be in touch with you. We will be the dealer for Oklahoma, Arkansas and parts of Missouri and Kansas. Sorry I do not have any more details as this point but I will keep you posted and we receive more information."
Still looks like things will kick off at the first of the year.
I contacted the dealer in Tulsa, OK just before Christmas asking if they would be my dealer here in Arkansas and if they got the list of reservations holders and got this reply:
"Thank you for the email. I am sorry but we do not have the list yet. We just got back from training for the smart and were told we would be receiving this on Jan 1st. As soon as we get it we will definitely be in touch with you. We will be the dealer for Oklahoma, Arkansas and parts of Missouri and Kansas. Sorry I do not have any more details as this point but I will keep you posted and we receive more information."
Still looks like things will kick off at the first of the year.
IS NOT TOO FAR AWAY NOW, Harley!!!!!!!!! YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
It is true that the dealerships have not been fed too much info from PAG or SCOA, either. Most of the info my dealership gets that's as updated as can be comes from here and I feed it to them. I'm told that I am their lifeline to what's going on....how about that?? So hang on to your hats when the real deal opens for sure!! I'm getting so excited about this finally coming to reality I can't stand it......
MB San Diego does expect to have demo vehicles in a week or so, but the person I spoke with said there was a slight delay for California cars due to emissions reasons. Ho hum.
I'm on the border with Indiana about 180 miles south of Chicago and I feel like the ugly stepchild!
I got NO invitation to the Road Show held in Indy earlier this fall - I read it online at the SmartUSA website and then I wasn't allowed to testdrive because even though the roadshow was open from 1-4, for example, I got there at 3pm and they were finished booking drives! I even showed my reservation paperwork and they couldn't have cared less.
I haven't received Volume 11 of the e-mail newsletter - I got Volume 10 which was "Happy Holidays" and that's it.
I figure my dealership will be in Indy, but I have no additional information. I can go up to Chicago, if necessary, but I'd rather not when there are Mercedes dealerships in Champaign, for example.
So I sit, blissfully clueless, waiting for the call / e-mail / carrier pigeon to bestow me with information.
I haven't heard a peep from my closest dealer.. a mile or so away in San Francisco. And.. I suspect I'd be in the top tier of early arrivals, though I'm going to be away most of January. I wouldn't want to miss my chance and have them sell it out from under me. YIKES!
I've posted this several times in different strings.....do not.....DO NOT..wait for your dealer to contact you. Go there or call them or have a friend go there...give them a copy of your reservation/confirmation whatever...and make yourself known. Nothing is written in stone yet. I don't think anyone has actually made a purchase agreement with money down, etc. AND their may be an orphan car or two in the months ahead (in some areas) that may become available. Be alert....the world needs more lerts.
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