Smart refuses to sell to Alaskans!

[jwight]

Pretty confusing I'll agree - but while M-B may be providing tech support and maybe even eventual warranty resolution, the fact is we owners have to deal with PAG's smart centers, not M-B's Mercedes dealers, for getting any service, warranty or not, on our cars. So, my viewpoint is it's PAG who supports USA smarts, and to bring this back to the OP's topic, no PAG smart centers in Alaska, so no smart sales there. I guess someone will have to be the test case for a car that is bought elsewhere and then ends up in Alaska with a warranty issue. Glad I don't have to face that situation.

[jediknight36]

Someone should ask Dave...

[Fredvon4]

Why ask David Shembri anything? He has proven consistantly to not be responsive or have any valid input.... as always in my opinion... (no grin, I am very serious)

John is right in that it is confusing, and none of us would want to be in the position to be the test case

Something I did not amplify in my "move to Alaska scenario" is that while PAG or MB is contractually obligated, and in the USA, Federally Mandated to provide warranty repair... the fact is..... if I did move to Ft Greeley the time from fault to repair is going to be very long and frustrating

New Business

No matter what you paid or to whom, the extended (warranty) service contract is equally owrthless in Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska... each contract, I have seen, will eventually require AUTHORISED service center repair

[jediknight36]

Well, I don't know about you, but I remember people here used to call Dave and get some really good answers on this forum. I don't remember ANY bad or otherwise flat responses from people who got into contact with him directly.

[Nicholas]

So when my son's smart finally arrives and since the original order was placed, the Navy moved him to Hawaii his order is no longer good even though the goverment will pay to ship his personal vehicle, he can no longer receive his smart??? Yea, go figure...

[Fredvon4]

jediknight36
you have PM

[Smart_ABQ]

Interesting discussion. Perhaps someone that has their smart can peruse their warranty documents fine print as it pertains to the issue of moving to a region that does not have an adequate service presence?

I'm guessing but I'll bet that there is a clause that essentially voids the warranty service obligations if the consumer chooses to do this. The profit margins on the car to begin with aren't going to allow the company much room to go out of their way to accommodate everyone. Buyer beware. If I were in this situation, I'd get the absolute word from smartUSA regarding what will or will not be possible before purchasing.

[ak_jorge]

Wow, thanks for all the great replies! I had no idea our situation would generate so much interest.

I must admit that I was (and am) unfamiliar with Smart's warranty. I've only owned one new vehicle in my life, and while I would expect the manufacturer to make repairs at no charge during the warranty period, I always assumed it was my responsibility to get the vehicle to a dealer, not theirs. Maybe I've just never bought anything from a company quite as fancy as Smart!

I was also interested by the question of whether Smart is on the hook for such costs when an owner moves to a place like Alaska (or Hawaii, or Australia). Again, I think it should be my responsibility to get the vehicle to a dealer. Seems like a strange position for smart to take.

Finally, I've never heard of "orphan" cars before. I found a ton of discussions about them, but none that explain what they are. Are these pre-ordered vehicles that no one purchases?

And thanks to AKDeano for the shipping ideas! You and Reuben Willis should have a race!

[jediknight36]

Originally Posted by Fredvon4

Why ask David Shembri anything? He has proven consistantly to not be responsive or have any valid input.... as always in my opinion... (no grin, I am very serious)

John is right in that it is confusing, and none of us would want to be in the position to be the test case

Something I did not amplify in my "move to Alaska scenario" is that while PAG or MB is contractually obligated, and in the USA, Federally Mandated to provide warranty repair... the fact is..... if I did move to Ft Greeley the time from fault to repair is going to be very long and frustrating

New Business

No matter what you paid or to whom, the extended (warranty) service contract is equally owrthless in Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska... each contract, I have seen, will eventually require AUTHORISED service center repair

what does it hurt to ask? At worst, we are no further than we are now. No better, no worse. In stead of thinking of things that wont help us figure this out and griping about smartUSA, we should work to find solutions to this issue.

[Smart Enuf]

Originally Posted by ak_jorge

Wow, thanks for all the great replies! I had no idea our situation would generate so much interest.

I must admit that I was (and am) unfamiliar with Smart's warranty. I've only owned one new vehicle in my life, and while I would expect the manufacturer to make repairs at no charge during the warranty period, I always assumed it was my responsibility to get the vehicle to a dealer, not theirs. Maybe I've just never bought anything from a company quite as fancy as Smart!

I was also interested by the question of whether Smart is on the hook for such costs when an owner moves to a place like Alaska (or Hawaii, or Australia). Again, I think it should be my responsibility to get the vehicle to a dealer. Seems like a strange position for smart to take.

Finally, I've never heard of "orphan" cars before. I found a ton of discussions about them, but none that explain what they are. Are these pre-ordered vehicles that no one purchases?

And thanks to AKDeano for the shipping ideas! You and Reuben Willis should have a race!

According to the 2008 smart USA Warranty:

1) The purchaser for use of the vehicle is the party covered by the smart USA Limited Warranty (Para 2.1.A at 5);

2) The Limited Warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair any item on your vehicle that is defective in material or workmanship (the only exception is tires, which are covered by the tire manufacturer, and anything you added or changed after the car left the manufacturing plant). Warranty repairs or adjustments -- including all parts and labor connected with them -- must be made by a smart center (Para 2.1.B & C at 5);

3) The Limited Warranty covers the cost of towing your vehicle to the nearest smart center if your vehicle cannot be driven because a covered item has failed (Para 2.1.D at 5);

4) The Limited Warranty covers your vehicle if:

• it was built for sale in the U.S.
• it is registered in the U.S.
• it is driven mainly in the U.S.
• it is operated and maintained as described in the Operator's Manual and Scheduled Maintenance Guide (Para 2.1.G at 6).

Note: Nowhere in the Limited Warranty is "United States" defined to exclude Alaska or Hawaii, nor are there express terms prohibiting the moving of a smart from one state to another state or from one of the contiguous states to Alaska or Hawaii.

The only possible provision I saw that could restrict the warranty on a car purchased in the lower 48 and moved to Alaska or Hawaii is in Para 4.4 (at 11):

"All of the warranties, except for the Federal Emission warranty and the California Emission warranties, are made under Michigan law, and Michigan law will be used to interpret them."

So, unless it's not an emission's related warranty repair, and Michigan law speaks to the issue of whether a warranty is voided or restricted if a vehicle is moved to Alaska or Hawaii, I don't see anything else in the warranty that would prohibit you from getting warranty service if you moved your smart to Alaska. Even if Michigan law applied, it would not restrict your rights to warranty repairs under federal or California law with regard to emissions related defects; covered systems are quite extensive (see Para 5.1-5.3).

Any experts out there on Michigan warranty laws that can enlighten us?