Experiences with Round Rock, Texas Smart Center...?

[m0nkeyb0y]

Howdy!

I am a new owner of a Smart Passion "orphan" from the Round Rock, Texas Smart Center. After many weeks of trying, I have finally got the management to provide me with the "window sticker" for my unit. This would appear to confirm my suspicion that I paid several thousand dollars more than "MSRP".

I am planning on giving the dealer the benefit of the doubt and asking that they "do the right thing" and refund the excess (I know, good luck, huh?).

I was wondering if anyone had experiences (good or bad) that they would like to share, regarding your experiences with the Round Rock Smart Center.

Thanks, in advance!

[xrisnothing]

Dealers typically load up orphans with options like LoJack and tint, things that that the car cannot be configured with when you order them and the dealers make a decent amount of money from this practice. I doubt very much that you'll receive anything back from them, after all you signed the contract. You knew how much it cost and at that time that is what it was worth to you. Those of us that reserved early on paid less certainly, because we did not pay for dealer options that we did not necessarily want. But we had to wait nearly a year for our cars. It cost us time to get a smart. It cost you a bit more money. Smart is a pure price brand. They cannot charge you any more than MSRP for these cars. What they can and do do is add high margin options. If you don't want LoJack or whatever they're tacking on, then fine. There are plenty of other people in line that will pay the price.

Be happy with your smart. It's a unique car. That's why there is a line a year+ long.


*edit*
I'll be picking up my car tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes for me. They've seemed like decent people so far, so I don't expect any surprises.

[jediknight36]

I havent had any experence from RR, but Ill be picking up my smart from there in about 4-5 months. Its stated that once you give up your reservation, the dealer buys your reservation for $99 and then they own the car. They can charge anything they want for whatever they want. They wont give you a dime, but that dosnt make them bad. They just need to make a profit. They way smart sales work is similar to Scions. Toyota DOES NOT WANT TO SELL YOU A SCION! They make almost nothing on the sale, because of the pure price point. They can haggle with you on trade or anything. Same here. Dealers generally love the orphans. Be happy you have a smart and if you really want your money back, reserve one and sell the bad boy when yours comes in. maybe by the the economy wont be as trashy as it is now.

[Trena]

your purchase order should list out the options they put on it, so between the sticker and it you should know exactly what you paid for. but like everyone has said, of course, you can't expect to get an orphan for MSRP. you would be very lucky to get a used one for msrp, with a 1000 or more miles on it. supply and demand, you know...

[smartHHO]

Plus, you are getting a car that everyone is waiting for. Even if they do add fluff, you are doing like most are doing on ebay. It is called SUPPLY and DEMAND. Economics 101. They had it, you wanted it, so you paid the price for it. As far as I am concerned, the RR guys and gals are great. I have yet to pick mine up, due in next 3 months, but if I had a chance at an orphan, I would first see what it had and cost. Then, I would most likely not take it, due to I only got what I wanted for my Cabrio. I plan on going down to Mother's window tint for my tint. They put better Tint on and it is only 399.

[texaspierz]

We oght our orpan from Roundrock in May. They did not add anything on that I didn't ask for--just my equipment requests.

[SuperGeek]

Buyer's Remorse ... do you feel like you didn't get the car you wanted? Why didn't you insist on getting the sticker before committing to the purchase?

I haven't heard anything negative about Round Rock, but I couldn't judge your individual purchase experience because I wasn't there. It seems to me that a few weeks ago, you bought the orphan and the sale was done. The dealer's obligation now switches towards warranty service only. If you knowingly paid $25,000 for the car, it was your responsibility to make sure you walked into the dealer knowing that the car was worth $25,000 to you. The S in MSRP stands for "suggested." The dealer can add on ten grand worth of nav equipment, chrome, candy-apple paint, whatever... the point is you chose the car, stated your intent to buy it, and then committed to the purchase. Your legal window to cancel ended in 72 hours. That's because a car loses 25% of its value once it's driven more than a few days by a new owner. Except in the case of a rare car like the Smart, which you can resell for near MSRP after you get your title.

All that said, the good I've heard about Round Rock suggests that if they did charge you a few grand over MSRP, they probably included options with actual value. When a Smart is orphaned, it belongs to the dealer to pimp out any way they think they can sell it.

[Fredvon4]

I reserved on 30 April 2007 and 377 days later after MUCH anger and frustration with smartUSA, Internet Brands, David Shembri and a host of bad press here on SCOA telling me I am an idiot for having realistic expectations... I got to meet and do the deal with Mark, Arik, and Paul of Round Rock smart center. Next month after a 10~11 month wait I will again trek to Round Rock to spend my hard earned cash with them for smart number 2.

First rate operation, NO BS, and super helpful folks

You should know the PAG business model really sucks for these guys

While we do get a new car for only MSRP (instead of the inflated market demand of Miata, Mini and other high desire low volume cars in the past) the dealer is stuck with a very limited fixed sales future based on the 24~28 car per month sales for first 3 years. PAG only pays them 7% to 9% per sale and trust me that is not enough to stay in business on 28 cars per month sales.

They are allowed to own as theirs, and sell, any "Orphans"

There are NO limits from PAG on who a dealer choses to sell a "orphan" to and what options they add on.

I know the smart RR guys and gals... I know for a fact that you were presented by the sales person and later Arik with exactly how the car was configured and how much they wanted for it

You had every opportunity at home, or there, to get smart on the smart and know exactly how much MSRP is for each of the three versions and 6 options.

Additionally there is about 10 months of info here at SCOA and at least four other web site on the rip off dealer add on costs.

I am such a tight wad that I gutted out the 377 days for my Farnsworth just because paying MSRP already screwed with my sense of right and wrong...no way could I pay $399 for $165 worth of window tint or $1200 for $350 worth of powder coated wheels

In your case fellow smart owner.... P.T Barnum had some wise words a few decades back

BUT hey... you now got a cool car...time to spend a ton of you green modding him or her.....grin

[Smart_Dude]

I've bought three (3) vehicles from Smart Center of Round Rock and all of them were clearly deliniated as being exactly what the MSRP was for the vehicle. Of course, the price inflates with tax, license, extended warranties, goodies (tint, mats, etc.). In fact, I received a 'window sticker' with each car at time of purchase. No problems whatsoever with these guys.
Cheers,
Jeff

[JanetMermaid]

I've never had anything but good experiences with the RR folks. I believe there is miscommunication going on, I doubt seriously if they are being deceptive.