SMART Dealer and Service going out of business!! (Re: sc White Plains)

[a2jack]

I don't think any dealer has made any profit as yet with the Smart car.

They are just now beginning to run out of warranty, so now some cash can start to flow back into the dealership. If they can just hold out...

Many dealers were depending on other car brands to subsidize their Smart franchise. Now all brands are in the tank.

As owners we would be OK if we just had a service manual so that we could take the car elsewhere for repairs. As it stands now, we are screwed when it fails. NOT IF...WHEN! A2Jack

[SuperGeek]

My biggest hope for the auto industry is that they transform their selling model to something more based on immediate demand. Wal-Mart did the same thing with cereal, why can't we do the same with cars? OK that's oversimplified and apples vs. tow trucks but personally I liked the online custom-order process. I've never once seen that option for Toyota, Honda or GM. Instead, it's, "come browse the lot for a day, think about it, let us hard-sell you something you don't want." No, my time is far too valuable to me.

I did that just a month before picking up my Smart. Saturday, I browsed four lots. Three hard sells, one with no interest once they found my budget. The next day I get a call from the Smart dealer saying I'm within 30 days. The whole time I was on the lot I was thinking how easy it was to get my own custom configured vehicle. Sure, I'd prefer to test drive and kick tires, etc... so now that there are actual dealers with demo models, selling a Smart should be a breeze compared to the competition.

GM's nearly bankrupt. What if instead of having millions of cars waiting on the lots, they only produced the cars people expressed interest in, with most of them reserved and a few 'orphans'? Make people wait a week or two... it's a long-term investment, not a doodad on a shelf. Cars don't need to be an impulse buy or hard sell.

[jwight]

Here's the RAF Upper Heyford shot; quite a comedown from when I was stationed there in the early 80s.

[jwkriz]

Disappointing news from Smart - our dealership in White Plains NY has closed its doors. This leaves us (in northern Westchester county) with quite a schlep to the nearest dealership. I'm curious to hear from anyone else who is a significant (more than 50 mi or so) distance from the nearest Smart dealer.

[JPaul]

Not only did we know about the impending closing, but even their smartUSA.com page had been limited by password for a while.
Let''s hope for those who have invested in a smart Dealership that this is not the beginning of a sad trend...

[smartHHO]

I am hoping that Round Rock stays open. Heck, they were the number one seller and number one in customer service last year. I am really surprised they opened a Ft Worth one. I am guessing that they have plenty of them still going out around here.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by jwkriz

Disappointing news from Smart - our dealership in White Plains NY has closed its doors. This leaves us (in northern Westchester county) with quite a schlep to the nearest dealership. I'm curious to hear from anyone else who is a significant (more than 50 mi or so) distance from the nearest Smart dealer.

I'm 49.91 driving miles away from mine and feel relatively happy about it. I was at my sc yesterday having the transmission 2.0 upgrade done, and it was quite quiet - one looker in the two hours that I was waiting (had other things done besides 2.0). My sc is part of a big, diversified auto group with offerings from Hyundai and Scion to Audi and Porsche, unlike Ray Catena which is all high-end. I suspect that diversity is an advantage in these times, though scVAB's three-high smart tower is presently on hold.

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by jwkriz

Disappointing news from Smart - our dealership in White Plains NY has closed its doors. This leaves us (in northern Westchester county) with quite a schlep to the nearest dealership. I'm curious to hear from anyone else who is a significant (more than 50 mi or so) distance from the nearest Smart dealer.

Long way from anything, Thats why we got a smart. The further you are from things the more the smart pays is Gas savings.


I havent been back to my smart center Since we picked it up. 10K service will come within the month and that will be our first time for the 75 mile drive. I just hope they don't expect me to get their by 7:30 to get in for the day, Not going to happen.

When we purchased our smart we were happy to see the dealer already adjusting the offerings of other brands. Right next to where the smart stand alone building was placed, the Big H building was being converted to a used car lot with a strange driveway. At least our dealer was forward thinking.

[chasingrabbits]

Originally Posted by smartHHO

I am hoping that Round Rock stays open. Heck, they were the number one seller and number one in customer service last year. I am really surprised they opened a Ft Worth one. I am guessing that they have plenty of them still going out around here.

you haven't heard anything have you. Have there been any hints that they might be in trouble?

[chieftmc]

I'm 96 miles from SC Indianapolis. SCI has hosted many events here and many make the trip from even further distances then I