When is someone going to take control of orphans

SPDYII · 02-06-2008, 01:33 AM

This orphan business has got me worried. Apparently Pensky has not established a company wide policy on orphans. I think everyone agrees that for 2008 and maybe 2009 there are a limited supply of cars coming to America. Orphans are coming in as excepted but one thing that was maybe not anticipated was that people on the reservation list could get an orphan and their original reservation also. That would give that person two cars in the 2008 model year. Then their also those people (without a reservation) that happen to walk in off the street to a dealer that has orphans and walk out with a car. I can't fault anyone in this except management. People want cars and salesmen want to sell them. That doesn't do much for me, who is quietly waiting my turn in the nations fourth largest city (Houston). My so called dealer isn't even open yet and some people are getting two cars while I watch the supply for 2008 dwindle. I think that their are a lot of people like me. For a product that is being sold by word of mouth this may live a lot of people with a bad taste in their mouth. I don't want my car early, I just want a chance to get my car in 2008! Is that to much to ask for someone that reserved their car in Oct. of 2007?

SmartBob · 02-06-2008, 02:50 AM

A valid complaint for sure. One would think when you buy an orphan you should surrender your reservation. However....I don't think a big percentage of people can (or want to) afford to buy a second car enough.to be a problem. Other things to consider...the economy right now is probably causing people to bail on their reservation freeing up more cars for us. I'm not worrying about it too much. I should have my car by spring or summer and that's fine with me. By the time I get my car I may be able to pay cash for it.

rrrucke · 02-06-2008, 03:39 AM

At Edison, I was told of their first shipment of 30 smarts, 6 people cancelled and those orphans have been snatched up!

Smartdavis · 02-06-2008, 07:41 AM

It costs the dealer money to keep cars on the floor. Dealers have credit lines that allow only so much inventory. Moving cars quickly is how they make money. Hard to fault the dealers for selling cars to willing buyers after they get a cancellation. As to the reservation system it was only $99 and fully refundable. I think the low reservation price attracted many who were only mildly interested to get into the line. When they are now asked to commit real money at delivery they get cold feet. If Smart just e-mailed everyone who reserved and said we now want to increase the deposit to $500 non-refundable to stay on the list, I bet the numbers would change dramatically. In the end I am pretty certain that everyone who really wants a car this year, is going to get one. It's just a bit annoying to see a few others get them sooner.

a2jack · 02-06-2008, 07:58 AM

Wife read somewhere on the web that Internet Brands was going take over allocation of the orphans.

I tried to find the link, but could not.

Anyone hear of this ?

Panos · 02-06-2008, 08:20 AM

I also think the same thing. If you want to get a Smart in in 2008, you'll get one. Maybe you won't get the one you ordered specifically, but you will get one.

Dealers want to move these cars as soon as they get them in. Especially how there's no policy on how to handle the orphans. There might even be some dealerships that might not have an orphan list...Maybe it'll change a couple months down the road and there will be a policy on how they handle the orphans .

I believe that if i really wanted a Smart ASAP, i could get one within a couple weeks, at most. What dealer would turn down a customer that walks in that really wants to buy the car that the previous buyer backed out from earlier that day?? Is it fair to you and me that have reservations and have to wait close to a year to get one? NO..but there's nothing stopping them from doing it, for now at least.

2micro4u · 02-06-2008, 08:39 AM

I like the orphan idea. If I get lucky to get an orphan I will surrender my reservation once I take delivery of my new SMART.

Smartdavis · 02-06-2008, 08:55 AM

I agree. If I am able to get an orphan I am quite happy to release my original reservation. If I want another car I should go to the back of the line. That only seems fair.

smartyPantz · 02-06-2008, 09:40 AM

I emailed my area dealer asking about their policy on orphans and asking to get on any list that they may maintain.
I heard exactly diddly-squat.
I would like to make an in-person visit there. I shall see if Mr. SmartyPantz is interested in that. He wasnt the last time I asked. However this coming weekend is my birtday and we are going to dinner in the same town where the dealer is so perhaps I can wangle a smartCenter visit ...

EDIT- I emailed the dealer via their on-line contact form requesting a test drive. Let's see if they respond to this!

MercuryX100 · 02-06-2008, 11:50 AM

I thought orphans would be offered to everyone on the dealer's reservation list, in order of reservation. Of course that was before we found out the dealer's lists are basically just the next batch of cars due in. I had assumed the dealers would get a list of everyone in their area who reserved. I realize dealers don't want to hang on to cars they can sell. I was hoping smart/PAG would have a workable policy in place which would take better care of us early reservers.