I Love the DDE!

[Old smart]

My DDE has moved for a fourth time since 31MAR this morning. The first change re-set my dates to bridge times that both myself and my dealer estimated independantly, and both well before the DDE. Though it has been dithering within a few days now, it still bridges our estimates.

[Fredvon4]

"You will be notified by your authorized smart center dealership when your vehicle is closer to its scheduled production date with a more accurate delivery date."

1215 reso = 30 Apr 07
15 Dec config
personal estimate May ~July 08

DDE = 3/7/2008 to 6/5/2008

11 April (today) to June 5th = 55 days

My dealer still has not seen my name on any IB or PAG provided list

I am a government employee that travels extensively and need some lead time to arrange purchase and pick up during a period when I am "in town"

My dealer has some employees that are prior military and they fully understand this logistics and scheduling dynamic.

They are just as frustrated as I am with the lack of more rational time lines ..... Or for that matter any information...

This dealer has already had one car hauler arrive unexpectedly and they had to provide the VINs to smart regional manager to get a list of who they were for... hummm seems to be another level of incompetence in my not so humble opinion!

I have told them, and they fully understand, that if my car magically arrives while I am out Temporary Duty (TDY) for 30~45 days they had better hold my car until my return.....

This of course is unfair to the dealer who gets charged a tax by days "on the lot".

With some reasonable advanced notice, I can re-arrange my schedule... But to block out a 90~120 day period where I cannot travel because a car MIGHT be inbound is not practical

So we wait, patiently, some more.... and I try to plan my business around me being "in town" as much of May, June, and July as practical....

Thanks for the insider info Dave...really

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by Fredvon4;58705......I have told them, and they fully understand, that if my car magically arrives while I am out Temporary Duty (TDY) for 30~45 days they had better hold my car until my return.....

With some reasonable advanced notice, I can re-arrange my schedule... But to block out a 90~120 day period where I cannot travel because a car [U

MIGHT[/U] be inbound is not practical

So we wait, patiently, some more.... and I try to plan my business around me being "in town" as much of May, June, and July as practical....

Thanks for the insider info Dave...really

may i make a suggestion. should you have TDY, arrange financing prior to your departure. only 'if' your car arrives are they to 'process' the paperwork. the car could be kept in their service dept OR you could have a designated person pick up your car and take it to your house.

OR you could just sign it over to me

seriously, i hope your Smart comes in before your TDY and it will be a non-issue. GOOD LUCK!!!

[Old smart]

You may be able to go to post legal at Hood and have them draw up a "specified" power-of-attorney for some particular person to purchase and take delivery of the car inyour absence. Shouldn't cost anything for the legal eagle.

My wife bought the house we live in with a SPOA faxed from Navy Legal Services, Diego Garcia (middle of the Indian Ocean).

[rawlus®]

my DDE changed today to 2 days later than it stated previously.

from
5/23/2008 to 8/21/2008
to
5/27/2008 to 8/25/2008

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by rawlus®

my DDE changed today to 2 days later than it stated previously.

from
5/23/2008 to 8/21/2008
to
5/27/2008 to 8/25/2008

2 DAYS??? why even bother?

[Teresa]

This may be a stupid question, but I reserved a couple weeks ago. Does anyone think I may confirm any time soon. The message I get keeps telling me that the DDE can not be estimated at this time. Do you think that they are speeding up production or something?

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by tmeade@marshall.edu

This may be a stupid question, but I reserved a couple weeks ago. Does anyone think I may confirm any time soon. The message I get keeps telling me that the DDE can not be estimated at this time. Do you think that they are speeding up production or something?

it's based on 'first come, first served' AND your zip code. if you live in an area where either NO one has 'reserved' or very few have, you will be moved to the head of the line.....at least that's what i was told in an email to me yesterday from Smart.

Good Luck with your Reservation, Confirmation and Configuration process....

[Teresa]

I know of 1 smart in the area where I am, but there probably aren't more than a dozen in the whole state. I live in Southern WV and my designated dealership is in Pittsburgh, PA

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by Jeepster55

2 DAYS??? why even bother?

its a computer passing time...where else is it going go?

My start date went from 4/14 to 4/21, then back to 3/24...seems alright to me!
Coincidently, my dealer let me know that my name was on its "reservation lead" list, but no vin yet. Sometimes VINs are included, or they follow are available a week or two later. To me, it almost sounds like the start date is chosen close to the production date, thereby allowing a 90 day window to make it across the pond, into port, and out to the dealer.