Let the Scalping Begin - Portland Style

[Iceberg]

I saw this on the Portland Oregon Craigslist today:

Smart Passion Coupe 2008 - $21000

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Reply to: sale-536829118@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-01-12, 12:11PM PST

Brand new Smart Passion Coupe 2008 with 10 miles on it in Black with Black trim and black interior. Will list options on further contact. Delivery will be in the next month. This is the new off the lot car not the retro fit model from previous years.


This item has been posted by-owner.
Location: Portland


Man, this really torques me off. I sure am glad I will see my car, that I will use, some time late in the year (#1399).

[SnakeFarm]

Hopefully smart really is taking this seriously and standing behind their threat of kocking off scalpers. I know it's a free country (in theory) but I'd like to see this kind of oprotunistic bottom feeder get the carpet pulled for once. The least they could do is wait until they actually TAKE delivery for crying out loud.

As a matter of fact, I think advertising it before they take posession is a clear sign of intent to become a broker and one of the reasons I signed up for the reseveration is that I had a reasonable expectation this would be enforced. If it can be demonstrated that smart knew about these brokers and DID not act... well, do we have a case?

Maybe, maybe not. That's what makes law so much fun.

[spdickey]

smart is monitoring the net to shut down sales of reservation spots. Most of the eBay postings seem to disappear within 24 hours.

[flywithsean]

After the car is purchased smart will not be able to do anything to stop a sale since it is at that point a used car.

I hate when stuff like this happens but at least the dealers are not gouging prices.

[spdickey]

But this guy is advertising the car before he takes delivery. Makes him a broker, so smart can refuse to deliver him a car and advise Craigs list he's selling something he has no right to sell.

[flywithsean]

Originally Posted by spdickey

But this guy is advertising the car before he takes delivery. Makes him a broker, so smart can refuse to deliver him a car and advise Craigs list he's selling something he has no right to sell.

Believe me I am not defending that guy, but we will see what happens once people get the cars in their hands. smart will not be able to stop that.

Reselling a reservation is a big no no

[jwight]

I originally agreed with Iceberg, but the more I thought about it, the more I think this guy is not off base. He's not selling his place in line (reservation); his car is a month out; don't know how he got the 10 mile figure but it really doesn't matter; when he takes delivery of the car you can buy it.

Since Craig's list apparently doesn't have the same requirements as eBay, he's on solid ground and he's not violating his agreement with smart either (selling a single car does not make him a broker IMO.) Just my .02.

John

[Lewis]

Dealers not gouging flywithsean? What about my dealer charging $500 in "fees" for ordinary paperwork associated with buying the car?

My previous car purchase, a Mazda had ZERO fees so please don't tell me the dealers are not gouging. You know with the smartcar in such short PAG EASILY could put an IMMEDIATE stop to this gouging by dealers if they threatened them with less allocations if they charge these fees. but they haven't- PAG is more worried by the actions by a few jerks reselling their cars for profit- why else would they have geeks looking at the internet to report to eBay etc? So by their actions and inactions PAG is telling me it's ok for their dealers to gouge on EVERY car sold but it's not ok for their customers to gouge on resales by a few misfits desperate for easy cash.

THANKS PAG!

Love the thought of paying my dealer $500 for nothing.

[bmx43]

Originally Posted by jwight

I originally agreed with Iceberg, but the more I thought about it, the more I think this guy is not off base. He's not selling his place in line (reservation); his car is a month out; don't know how he got the 10 mile figure but it really doesn't matter; when he takes delivery of the car you can buy it.

Since Craig's list apparently doesn't have the same requirements as eBay, he's on solid ground and he's not violating his agreement with smart either (selling a single car does not make him a broker IMO.) Just my .02.

John

ur right. there is nothing illegal with what this guy is trying. that's cool. his problem is with Smart. He clearly does not have this car yet, so he is in effect selling his place in line, just rewording it. I have a feeling this is why he did not list the VIN or the options so it will be harder for Smart to track down who the rez holder is. will be interesting to see what happens if they are able to.

that said, once people take delivery, it's a free market and they can sell it for whatever they want to and Smart can't do a thing about it.

[stevenvillatoro]

We'd all like a high resale value for our smarts. The value of the car is according to what someone is willing to pay for it. If there is sufficient demand to exceed the supply, you will be assured that your smart will retain greater value. I'd be happy to see these things reselling at $21K apiece (if not more!), even though I plan to keep mine for a long, long time.