What does it take to reserve???

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by jacobzcool1

Hey!

Finally got to test drive a smart for the first time yesterday! i was wondering what you have to do to reserve?

What i "think" is that you just pay the $99 and then when the car arrives that is when you do the financing and all of the $ stuff...or do you finance online...or do you have to visit a smart center when you reserv to look at your credit or something?

Originally Posted by sheureka

Just go to smartusa.com - you can configure your car and make your reservation there.

Originally Posted by Orphan-Beggar

Consider reserving NOW-
You may not be able to 'handle the wait'

(search 'yaris')

all these bring up good points......1st, after placing your "reservation" either online or at your smart center, you will be asked to "configure" (actually choosing colors, options, etc) months later. if you DO "reserve" online, you can "configure" a smart at that time, but that is NOT your official "configuration".

2nd, ORDER NOW!!! waiting 4 months now until the first of the year will end up. more than likely, mean you may have to wait an additional 6-8 months! i reserved in March of this year and "DDE" (Delivery Date Estimator) tells me i should have mine between July and Sept of 2009....that's about 17 months. currently, only 5 months later, there is a 22 MONTH WAIT!!! see what i'm saying? ORDER NOW!!!!

and 3rd, GET ON THEIR ORPHAN LIST IMMEDIATELY. if you want to save some $$ up first, then you can always 'pass' if you're offered one, but i would suggest doing everything you can to take it if it's even close to what you want.

the best advice i can give is go place your "reservation" NOW, pay your $99, get on an orphan list NOW and then do the best you can to FORGET ABOUT IT! one day you will get "The Call" that either there is an orphan available OR the smart that you "configured" has arrived. either way, take a few 'chill pills' and WAIT!!!!

[jacobzcool1]

Awsome Jeepster55! Thanks...although i am still worried, so what if it is delivered and i can't quite actually "get" it yet? Will they hold it until i can once it is brought to the states? or will it go to someone else as an orphan?

[jwight]

You have a 30 day window from the time the dealer notifies you the car is en route (somebody help me with the actual point the 30 day clock starts ticking); if you decide not to take the car within the 30 days, or simply let the time run out, the dealer has a new orphan.

[JPaul]

Yes, jwight, you got it: 30 days from the "official" notification that your car is either en route, or available.
I use to think that it was from the time you've been told the car is ready for delivery, but it has been posted that the count down starts from the day the customer has been officially told, either in writing or over the phone.
Next question: does a voice message left on a customer's phone count as a notification?

[jacobzcool1]

hmmm...that is something to think about! but thanks again for the info!!!