just my opinion (and we all know what an 'opinion' is like.....) but i believe it's way past time for smartusa to make some policies regarding orphans, both in the reservation process and at the smart center level.
first, i believe that each reservation holder, once they are invited to configure and CONFIRM, they be required to place a $500 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT and be 'pre-approved' for a loan. should they be a 'cash customer' (you're either paying cash OR you will provide your own financing) you can so state that you do NOT care to be 'pre-approved' but instead be required to place $1,000.00 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT in lieu of pre-approval. this would take many profiteers out of the mix and allow only those who want smarts for themselves to get one. sure, there'll be some that will still go through the process, but not NEAR as many as there are now.
second, should a smart be 'orphaned', smart centers would be REQUIRED to follow protocol and contact those who have placed themselves on an 'orphan list' to offer the orphan. they would go down their list until they get someone that says "yes, we'll take it!". now what the smart centers DO with that orphan prior to that call, as far as accessories, add ons, etc....that would be entirely up to each center. sorry, it's THEIR car...they can do with it as they please. i don't like it, but the fact is they're in business to make $$ and need to turn a few extra bucks whenever possible.
and third, but not last.....ANYONE who purchases an orphan would be required to give up their reserved smart. this would also keep many from getting smarts
'just to hold them over' for a few months until
their car arrives, at which time they sell the orphan on eBay, autotrader.com or whatever and for, in many cases, more than MSRP. it would also allow more people, for example, who may truly want a Cabriolet, lets say, GET ONE rather than someone else that is only taking it because they simply have to have a smart NOW!
it's time that smartusa set some policies, which in turn would, i believe, lessen the wait time for a smart car for everyone. with the
current wait time at 22 MONTHS, many people may just pass and go buy a Honda or Toyota and they will never get to enjoy smart ownership.
it's time we as smart reservation holders and current owners start being less greedy and start taking others into consideration. simply put, if you WANT 2 smart cars, RESERVE 2 smart cars. should something come in via the orphan route, then by all means take it, but pass your ordered smart on for someone else to enjoy.
ok, got that off my chest.......now i'm running for cover
Furthermore, why punish those with CASH requiring a larger down payment?
What really should have happened is when a car is orphaned they go to the next person on the list who configured a car like it and sell it to them. That would be the most fair, but it wouldn't allow the dealers to capitalize on the demand for the car. I would compare the way things are now to a sports franchise that has pre-sold season tickets. If someone decided they didn't want their tickets, they should be passed on to the next person on the list who wants that section, not have the franchise add seat cushions, parking passes, beer holders and whatever else they can to charge inflated prices and offer them up to whover is willing to pay the price. And yes, I was one of those willing to pay the price, but it isn't the most fair system.
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