I Love the DDE!

[Fredvon4]

Thanks all for the advice I appreciate it... but this car has enough troubles that my master mechanic eyes and hands will be all over the thing before any money changes hands...sure my wife could go pay and pick it up but that is not how I want to conduct the 1.5 hour away transaction

And the nice folks at Classic smart of Round Rock, particularly Paul (aka classicsmart) and Marty, my assigned sales person, both fully understand and have tried unsuccessfully to get the regional dude or smartUsa to give them some heads up on my car...no soap...oh well, tis a pity, cuz this could have been one of the better car buying experiances...

[Big Panda]

Fred,,,,are you then canceling your order? why not go ahead and take the car? it's still a new car with a new car warranty (2/24) should anything be wrong with it down the road.

AND, if you don't like it or have a need to sell it for what ever reason, do so and make some $$!

seems like a no-brainer to me. either keep the car and enjoy it OR sell the car and enjoy the PROFIT!

either way.....TAKE DELIVERY, MAN!!!!

[bumblebee08]

Jeepster, have you been watching e-bay? I have, the smarts are not bringing big bucks. The ones listed 4-6k over retail aren't being bid on. I don't think your going to see the high prices brought by early PT cruisers, and mini's. You may get 1000-1500 over retail, but that's about it.

[Dave Van]

The DDE is a shot in the dark....mine goes up and down every time I check it. Went from Oct to July to June to July....who knows!

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by bumblebee08

Jeepster, have you been watching e-bay? I have, the smarts are not bringing big bucks. The ones listed 4-6k over retail aren't being bid on. I don't think your going to see the high prices brought by early PT cruisers, and mini's. You may get 1000-1500 over retail, but that's about it.

i think you're right. the ones i've seen on 'autotrader.com' for more than $2-3K over MSRP aren't selling. they've all been on there for a while.

[smartazzz]

Originally Posted by Jeepster55

i just checked mine and it said i was to get my "E Class" between the dates of Mar-May 2010. do they know something "I" don't?

either i'm getting a HUGE raise or i'll be dealing in illegal activites in the near future, because currently i couldn't even afford a TEST DRIVE in an E Class.....

hahahhaa
L M A O

[Fredvon4]

Jeepster55

sorry for the poor wording... I am NOT bailing out... just expressing disappointment in SmartUSA and Internet Brands

I still hold some hope that PAG figures out this sales model has real potential but needs a serious re-look about customer frustration from lack of effective communication...

Hell, they have customers willing to wait a full year for a car...

Why not make them feel like insiders with a bit of predictable (every 30 days), timely (not 3 month old history), and semi accurate (you car is scheduled for production the week of 5 May and should be at your dealer aproximatley 45 days later) information?

All the DDE did was confirm that my e-mail address for both cars was in their system.... well I guess that is something....but still a pity IMO

[rawlus®]

new dates this morning.

Estimated ETA Date:

5/17/2008 to 8/15/2008

[jefferios]

I have been told its a total 12-20 month wait. It depends on if they increase their production output.

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by Fredvon4

Jeepster55

sorry for the poor wording... I am NOT bailing out... just expressing disappointment in SmartUSA and Internet Brands

I still hold some hope that PAG figures out this sales model has real potential but needs a serious re-look about customer frustration from lack of effective communication...

Hell, they have customers willing to wait a full year for a car...

Why not make them feel like insiders with a bit of predictable (every 30 days), timely (not 3 month old history), and semi accurate (you car is scheduled for production the week of 5 May and should be at your dealer aproximatley 45 days later) information?

All the DDE did was confirm that my e-mail address for both cars was in their system.... well I guess that is something....but still a pity IMO

Fred

i can understand your frustration and appreciate your situation. a few years ago i had a daughter enter the Navy.

anyway, i've just decided that i'm 'going with the flow' and see where that gets me. all the *****ing in the world that i do won't make the French build my car sooner. after reading so much here on the forum and talking to my Dealer (and being employed by a Dealer too), i can understand THEIR situation and that of the parent companies, PAG and Smart.

we've all got to keep in mind that this is a NEW CAR COMPANY and although they have personnel that have been in 'the business' prior to this, it's still a new experience for everyone and will take several months and perhaps years before EVERYTHING runs smoothly.

Smart has many priorities and i would imagine that unfortunately the DDE isn't at the top of THEIR list to get all the bugs worked out.

while the DDE issue, 'configuration' and or 'confirmation' timing and especially the delivery of the Smarts has left a bad taste in many in the US, i only hope that we Americans can start excersizing something that we are unaccustomed to using....that being PATIENCE.

for those who 'reserved' early last year and have not taken delivery, i fully understand and believe you DO need to continue to contact Smart AND your assigned dealer. for those who 'reserved' and have 'configured' but not yet taken delivery, again....keep in touch with your dealer. IF you're not feeling the love from your dealer, contact Smart.

as for those like me who just 'reserved' this year, we've got a long wait ahead so you had better be prepared. if you're not ready to wait 12-18 months, then maybe waiting for a Smart isn't for you.

ME? i'm patiently waiting it out and maybe, just maybe, i'll get lucky with an orpan!