A number of Smarts due in port....

[Dave Van]

Per the tracking website the TAMESIS docked yesterday in Baltimore and due to unload mine and many other Smarts today! How long from unload to dealer approx??

[mfoster]

There are actually two stops in Baltimore. First stop was yesterday and the second is today at a different location. My brother-in-law's smart is on the TAMESIS.
Depending on what cars are on the ship determines where they get unloaded. smarts get unloaded at a Mercedes owned dock. I talked with my dealer this morning to try to get a feel for the length of time and they wouldn't give me an answer. I would say, pending no accident with a particular car that it would be within a two week period to the dealer as they have to get the cars out of there to make room for the next shipment. Sometimes an individual car will have issues that need to be fixed before they will put it on the truck, maybe cracked panels or something.
I have a call into the dock to see if individuals are allowed to come down and view the unloading of the cars. I'm waiting on a return call but not holding my breath.

[gingerm]

congrats for you -at least your smartie made it to the usa - every day my dde goes out one day ever since I received my 90 day notice.

[Red_fortwo]

I wonder if there is a considerable feast/famine cycle at the dealerships as they await the arrival of the next boat, or if the steadier overland distribution (truck/rail) evens that out by emptying the lot at the port about the time the next boat arrives?

In response to how long it takes once it's stateside, I would say much of that depends on where you are in the queue for overland distribution. Mine took over a month (received mid-Feb off the first boat in early Jan), but part of the delay there was the shifter mods that they were doing at the port that now should be done at the factory. No matter how long it takes for your smart to get to you, it will seem TOO long.

[digitalstew]

Originally Posted by Dave Van

Per the tracking website the TAMESIS docked yesterday in Baltimore and due to unload mine and many other Smarts today! How long from unload to dealer approx??

Mine was unloaded in Baltimore on July 14 and arrived in Indianapolis late afternoon on July 17. Took a day to get prepped, and I picked it up on Saturday, July 19. Looks like the delay is a lot shorter now from US arrival to the dealership.

[rawlus®]

Originally Posted by Red_fortwo

I wonder if there is a considerable feast/famine cycle at the dealerships as they await the arrival of the next boat, or if the steadier overland distribution (truck/rail) evens that out by emptying the lot at the port about the time the next boat arrives?

In response to how long it takes once it's stateside, I would say much of that depends on where you are in the queue for overland distribution. Mine took over a month (received mid-Feb off the first boat in early Jan), but part of the delay there was the shifter mods that they were doing at the port that now should be done at the factory. No matter how long it takes for your smart to get to you, it will seem TOO long.

there is definately a surge effect. dealer may get 4 truckloads at once, and not get another delivery for several weeks.

[Little John]

Originally Posted by Dave Van

Per the tracking website the TAMESIS docked yesterday in Baltimore and due to unload mine and many other Smarts today! How long from unload to dealer approx??

This webcam link shows the TAMESIS docked.

Baltimore - Haze Cam Pollution Visibility Camera Network

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by digitalstew

Mine was unloaded in Baltimore on July 14 and arrived in Indianapolis late afternoon on July 17. Took a day to get prepped, and I picked it up on Saturday, July 19. Looks like the delay is a lot shorter now from US arrival to the dealership.

WOW...I thought mine was fast - Docked on May8/9 and car was delivered on the 13th.

Bottomline Dave - probably a week or less!

[burtandnancy]

Does anyone know...Do smarts for the west coast get trucked or boated over, thru the Panama Canal that is...

[aviddk]

Originally Posted by burtandnancy

Does anyone know...Do smarts for the west coast get trucked or boated over, thru the Panama Canal that is...

It seems to me that Smart PDX said they came into Long Beach via ship.

Smart should get on the iPhone bandwagon and allow people to watch their cars all along the way. They should put wireless tracking barcodes on all these things and let people watch them move around the world. Even as they go through the assembly process with updated stats about where the car is in the build. A great marketing strategy.

Apple really has the order anticipation/fullfillment thing worked out to the Nth degree. They have customers salivating long before they purchase stuff. If you don't belive me check out Where is my damn iPhone. Then go to Macrumors and watch as grownups, myself included, work themselves into a frenzy about the ship date of their iPhones.

Using this for the Smart Car would only add to aura of the whole experience. As evidenced by the many threads here on delivery status.

aviddk
Ashland, OR
Smart CDI wannabe