Orphan List Fees

[smart i am]

$300 to get on orphan list??? Is this what other dealerships are doing???
I don't want my $300 held forever!! I already put $99 for reservation.

Did anyone else pay fees??

[jwight]

A California dealer wants $2K; up to the potential buyer whether to fork it over or not. Personally, I'd find another smart center.

[redbluff]

Originally Posted by smart i am

$300 to get on orphan list??? Is this what other dealerships are doing???
I don't want my $300 held forever!! I already put $99 for reservation.

Did anyone else pay fees??

I got an orphan but when I called around they were trying to do this as well. I did not have to do it and got mine at the Smart Dealer in Columbus. Also they dont load up the orphans with optons there either. Keving Crosby is the Smart Sales Manager and is a good guy

[Orphan-Beggar]

If the deposit is refundable, do not hesitate!

[Springlering]

We are on the orphan list in Atlanta. There is no fee, they've already called us twice. One was too expensive, the other we couldn't get ahold of my daughter, and just missed it. ;-(

When we went to pick mine up yesterday, Smart Center of Buckhead had an orphaned Pure with zebra stripes in the showroom. It was under 12k sticker.

Some idiot in Atlanta ordered it without AC. It would be a great car for someone up north. The zebra stripes were pretty awesome.

BTW, I hadn't ever thought about it from the dealer point of view. They were pretty disgusted because they are stuck with it as a white elephant, and they had no choice in the matter. So don't be so hard on the dealers. There's a lot of give and take in the whole process, and they are "taking" a lot of risk in a lot of regards.

[sbernali]

Originally Posted by smart i am

$300 to get on orphan list??? Is this what other dealerships are doing???
I don't want my $300 held forever!! I already put $99 for reservation.

Did anyone else pay fees??

I was on a $2000 waiting list at Smart of Universal City. I would have put more but they wouldent let me. I got my smart in 4 weeks 5 days. I would do it again in a heart beat. Now that eveyone is seeing the smart car out on the roads the orphan list are getting longer and longer. If you realy want one I would pay that $300 dollars and get my name on the list. Everyday you wait the list is getting longer.

[Dan500]

They aren`t charging to get on the orphan list here in MN.

[a2jack]

Wait a minute...Are you guys saying the money up front for a shot at an orphan is not going to be applied to the purchase price of the car?

BTW. One of the Atlanta folks who ordered a car without an an air con is a member of this list and posted about getting one installed after market. We never heard how he came out. Wonder if that is the same car.

A2Jack

[stormer13]

Originally Posted by Springlering

We are on the orphan list in Atlanta. There is no fee, they've already called us twice. One was too expensive, the other we couldn't get ahold of my daughter, and just missed it. ;-(

When we went to pick mine up yesterday, Smart Center of Buckhead had an orphaned Pure with zebra stripes in the showroom. It was under 12k sticker.

Some idiot in Atlanta ordered it without AC. It would be a great car for someone up north. The zebra stripes were pretty awesome.

BTW, I hadn't ever thought about it from the dealer point of view. They were pretty disgusted because they are stuck with it as a white elephant, and they had no choice in the matter. So don't be so hard on the dealers. There's a lot of give and take in the whole process, and they are "taking" a lot of risk in a lot of regards.

Hi Springlering,

I was just wondering how long ago did you enter the orphans list ( I just added myself today)

[Winnetou]

It is my understanding that the so-called “fees” for entry to orphan lists are merely deposits to be applied to the final price. This is certainly the case at smart center Smithown (Long Island, New York).

It makes sense to ask customers for a deposit in return for placement on the orphan list. It helps to prevent wasting time with customers who are not serious purchasers.

Indeed, the general problem of excessive orphan cars and lengthy waits for delivery of reserved cars might have been largely prevented had smart USA requested a non-refundable $500 deposit upon configuration.