Open doors vs. Open for Business - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum
Home News Models Alternatives
 
Smart Car of America - America's Largest Smart Fortwo Enthusiast Community   Smart Fortwo, smart car, smartcar
HOME FORUMS GALLERY

Go Back   Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum > Community > smart General Discussion


Notices

SmartCarofAmerica.com is the premier Smart Car Forum on the internet. Registered Users do not see the above ads.
» Auto Insurance
» Supporting Partner
» Recent Threads
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-14-2008, 02:51 PM   #1 (permalink)
 
Harleyduo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Adrian, Michigan Registration nu
Drive: Cabrio
Posts: 188
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Open doors vs. Open for Business

When I called the Michigan dealership today, I was informed that they are 'technically' not open for business, yet. That statement caught me off guard to the point where I didn't ask them to clarify what that meant.

As I learned that they did not have accessories, yet, or parts, yet, or prices for extended warranties, yet, I realized that this 'soft opening' as some are calling it means that their doors are open and they are answering phones, but they really aren't prepared to do NORMAL BUSINESS, yet.

My question is whether anybody else has a dealer that is actually 'selling' stuff or even has any stuff to sell, yet? I guess, I misunderstood what Smart USA meant when they said their dealerships would be opening on January 14th. Obviously, it will take some longer to receive their products to sell, simply because it takes time to get it delivered and inventoried, etc. I'm just trying to gauge whether any dealerships are ahead of the others at this point. Any feedback?

Harleyduo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2008, 02:57 PM   #2 (permalink)
 
spdickey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Drive: Passion
Posts: 1,982
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Harleyduo View Post
When I called the Michigan dealership today, I was informed that they are 'technically' not open for business, yet. That statement caught me off guard to the point where I didn't ask them to clarify what that meant.

As I learned that they did not have accessories, yet, or parts, yet, or prices for extended warranties, yet, I realized that this 'soft opening' as some are calling it means that their doors are open and they are answering phones, but they really aren't prepared to do NORMAL BUSINESS, yet.

My question is whether anybody else has a dealer that is actually 'selling' stuff or even has any stuff to sell, yet? I guess, I misunderstood what Smart USA meant when they said their dealerships would be opening on January 14th. Obviously, it will take some longer to receive their products to sell, simply because it takes time to get it delivered and inventoried, etc. I'm just trying to gauge whether any dealerships are ahead of the others at this point. Any feedback?
No cars, no accessories, no t-shirts here at Beverly Hills today. Tomorrow is another day. People are walking in expecting to see cars and take test drives.

A "soft opening" in the retail trade is open for business without advertising a "Grand Opening." Time to get the kinks out before the crowds descend.

We 1173 expect a few "kinks" this week. We are on the bleeding edge here.
spdickey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2008, 03:00 PM   #3 (permalink)
smart happens here!
SCOA Club
 
SmartCard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Drive: Cabrio
Posts: 1,832
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My dealership was "open" Saturday, with 3 people readily greeting us as we walk in the showroom to chat. Of course, talk was ALL we could do as they also did not have any parts, accessories, not even any brochures! They were expecting stuff this week, and jokingly suggested that the showroom goodies would be shipped in the boot of the arriving cars!
SmartCard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2008, 04:33 PM   #4 (permalink)
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Diego
Drive: Passion
Posts: 661
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by spdickey View Post
No cars, no accessories, no t-shirts here at Beverly Hills today. Tomorrow is another day. People are walking in expecting to see cars and take test drives.

A "soft opening" in the retail trade is open for business without advertising a "Grand Opening." Time to get the kinks out before the crowds descend.

We 1173 expect a few "kinks" this week. We are on the bleeding edge here.
OK, ur starting to scare me a bit. can you say obsession? do you go to your dealer every day? i hope you live right across the street or something...otherwise we might need to contact Dr Phil.
bmx43 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2008, 04:47 PM   #5 (permalink)
 
a2jack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Annarbor, Michigan. (a2)
Drive: Passion
Posts: 2,141
Thanks: 376
Thanked 187 Times in 130 Posts
Dr. Phil.

God Yes... Get Dr. Phil here, right away. We are all going down for the count.

How long can we bear this wait? Worse, Harleyduo keeps rattling our cages :

A2Jack.

Last edited by a2jack; 01-14-2008 at 04:52 PM.
a2jack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2008, 06:26 PM   #6 (permalink)
 
SnakeFarm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Northern Southwest Tejas (east)
Drive: Passion
Posts: 532
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by bmx43 View Post
we might need to contact Dr Phil.
I'm thinking Dr. Phil is gonna' need back up on this one.
SnakeFarm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2008, 06:35 PM   #7 (permalink)
 
spdickey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Drive: Passion
Posts: 1,982
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by bmx43 View Post
OK, ur starting to scare me a bit. can you say obsession? do you go to your dealer every day? i hope you live right across the street or something...otherwise we might need to contact Dr Phil.
No didn't go today, I was there Friday (been inside twice in a month), they said nothing was due to arrive until later this week, hence my "today" comment.

And I'm with Britanny on a Dr. Phil visit. Just say no.
spdickey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2008, 06:42 PM   #8 (permalink)
SCOA Club
 
SPDYII's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Houston, TX Reservation #1394
Drive: Passion
Posts: 400
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by spdickey View Post
No didn't go today, I was there Friday (been inside twice in a month), they said nothing was due to arrive until later this week, hence my "today" comment.

And I'm with Britanny on a Dr. Phil visit. Just say no.

What??? You didn't visit your dealer or the smarthouse today?
SPDYII is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2008, 06:46 PM   #9 (permalink)
 
spdickey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Drive: Passion
Posts: 1,982
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by SPDYII View Post
What??? You didn't visit your dealer or the smarthouse today?
I would have, but it's closed Mondays (g). Forgot, I was at the dealer on Saturday, not Friday, along with the visits to the smart house and BH Motoring to check on the Brabus bits.

With cars arriving tomorrow (???) I might drop by during lunch (I work 2 miles away) to check things out.
spdickey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2008, 06:57 PM   #10 (permalink)
SCOA Club
 
SPDYII's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Houston, TX Reservation #1394
Drive: Passion
Posts: 400
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by spdickey View Post
I would have, but it's closed Mondays (g). Forgot, I was at the dealer on Saturday, not Friday, along with the visits to the smart house and BH Motoring to check on the Brabus bits.

With cars arriving tomorrow (???) I might drop by during lunch (I work 2 miles away) to check things out.

What???? You work? (Sorry I could not resist.)
SPDYII is offline   Reply With Quote
Today
 


This ad will not be shown if you are logged in.

Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
smart showroom in Dallas is open 911k smart News & Rumors 21 01-08-2008 05:02 PM
Smart Center of Devon PA Open mfoster smart News & Rumors 0 01-03-2008 10:42 AM
San Francisco...when does it open? crateampscal smart News & Rumors 18 12-08-2007 05:55 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:11 PM.



Smart Cars of America, LLC is not affiliated with, authorized by, associated with or have any connection with G&K, Zap, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz AMG, Mercedes-Benz McLaren Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, smart Canada Division, DaimlerChrysler, Chrysler LLC, DaimlerChrysler AG, Maybach, smart gmbh, a division of Mercedes Benz LLC, the manufacturer of SMART automobiles, smart USA Distributor, LLC, a division of Penske Automotive Group, Inc, the exclusive authorized U.S. importer and distributor of the smart vehicle or any of their official dealerships


Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2
Garage Plus vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.
Ad Management by RedTyger