Status codes/how the post configuration process works?

[mdfortwoguy]

I think the build/shipping process has been reverse engineered with amazing ingenuity, but there are still a few things that I wonder if any of us can figure out.

On a few of the Boxster sites that I have read - they have literally 50 or 60 production status codes for tracking the vehicle through the order/build/delivery process.

The only thing I have heard of for the smart is being in status "C". Are there any other codes/anything else that the dealers would have access to regarding tracking this information?

Regarding the 90 day email - I have heard that this is something that comes from the dealer, and I have heard that it is something that is automatically generated by smartusa. If this is true, and the -4 rolling DDE situation pans out, I never got my 90 day email.

What type of information do the dealers receive once the car has been built - do they receive any shipping paperwork or such?

[DFWehman]

I received an e-mail July 12. I asked for the VIN, did not have it initially, but e-mailed it to me two days later. With the VIN I determined the arrival date in Baltimore from the shipper. Oddly took less time to cross the atlantic than to go from Baltimore to NJ..

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by mdfortwoguy

[...]The only thing I have heard of for the smart is being in status "C". Are there any other codes/anything else that the dealers would have access to regarding tracking this information?[...]

The only thing I have is this explanation from a smartCenter:

Once smart 1 has released the information to us, we review each name (and VIN# if available) against the production schedule. Customers are then notified of the status of their car in the following sequence:
C = In production [if there is a VIN# the vehicle is 30-45 days out from port. If not, 45-60 days out]
D = Shipped [this indicates the release of the vehicle to the shipping company in France- 15-30 days out form port]
1= In Port [this indicates that the vehicle has arrived in the US but has not had the final inspection completed and has not yet been released to ground transportation for delivery to the dealer- 10-15 days out]
5 = In Route [vehicle is released to ground transportation- 7-10 days out]
In stock= It is here! [PDI is started- 3-5 days to deliver]

[Octavias Dream]

JPaul, I've recieved the 90 day e-mail from Smart USA, on January 4th, checked with the Dealer and they show an estimated build date is 2/25/09 with an estimated arrival date of 3/7/09 to the dealership.
Now the DDE is steadily moving out a day at a time for the last week, it now shows 90 day window of 2/14/2009 to 5/15/2009,
What do you go by, the 90 day window, the dealership or the DDE, do you know which would be more acurate? And when do you think the dealership will be able to see more information? Any info. would be great.

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by Octavias Dream

JPaul, I've recieved the 90 day e-mail from Smart USA, on January 4th, checked with the Dealer and they show an estimated build date is 2/25/09 with an estimated arrival date of 3/7/09 to the dealership. Now the DDE is steadily moving out a day at a time for the last week, it now shows 90 day window of 2/14/2009 to 5/15/2009,
What do you go by, the 90 day window, the dealership or the DDE, do you know which would be more acurate? And when do you think the dealership will be able to see more information? Any info. would be great.

Thank you for your confidence in my "expertise" but... I'm NO EXPERT. Just going through others experiences, I'd say that, with the infos you got, you may make plans for late March, early April.

- Your Dealer has access to "smart 1" R11 (from memory), a site that informs those who have access of any car's specifics. So he should know best, right?
- The DDE keeps moving according to the estimated day of delivery as Smartville can foresee (delivery to happen one month into the DDE window).
- As for the 90 day window, it was what it was then. But that has changed since.

Good luck. It's just around the corner. You'll have fun!

[jandjcs]

Hi Octavias dream,
Exactly same is happening to me now, DDe mowing every day, today it says 3/15-6/13.
Calle the dealer yesterday and was told that now when I got the smart e-mail about 90 days they will receive fax with more info within a week.
Anyway, she told from experience I should have the car end of March- midd of April. Good. Just hope will still have my work at the same time.
Good luck in your final wait :-)
Josef

[Octavias Dream]

Thanks all, that helps, I'll contact our Dealer, see if they know anymore. Had heard that the system Dealers use is called "J Walk"

Not sure of that tho. My DDE moved out another day today. Thought you'd like to see progress so far:

Reserved on April 7 '08
Received 1st DDE date on 09-16-08 - OCT-DEC '09
10-01-08 - AUG-OCT '09
10-03-08 - APRIL-JUNE '09
10-27-08 - MARCH-MAY '09
11-11-08 - FEB-APRIL '09
RECV. CONFIGURE E-MAIL ON 11-18-08
12-09-08 - RECV. ACTUAL DATE ON DDE - 3-5-09 to 6-3-09
12-11-08 - DEALERSHIP SAYS "ON THE WAY" SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE AT DEALERSHIP BY END OF MARCH! WOOHOO!!
01-04-09 - RECV 90 DAY E-MAIL FROM SMART 90 DAYS = 04-04-09
01-05-09 - Dealer advises: tentative schedule for the build date to be 2/25/09 with an arrival date of 4/4/09.
01-15-09 - DDE moves up to: 2/5/2009 to 5/6/2009
01-16-09 - Dealer advises: scheduled build date 2-25-09 with an arrival date of 03-07-09 at Dealership????
01-21-09 - DDE moves out to: 2/6/2009 to 5/72009
01-23-09 - DDE moves out to: 2/7/2009 to 5/8/2009
01-23-09 - DDE moves again out to: 2/8/2009 to 5/9/2009
01-26-09 - DDE moves out to: 2/11/2009 to 5/12/2009
01-27-09 - DDE moves out to: 2/12/2009 to 5/13/2009
01-28-09 - DDE moves out to: 2/13/2009 to 5/14/2009
01-29-09 - DDE moves out to: 2/14/2009 to 5/15/2009
01-30-09 - DDE moves out to: 2/15/2009 to 5/16/2009

[Old smart]

In my case, I never got anything from smartUSA, 90 days or otherwise. I got a 30-day standby from my dealer on 26 JUN 08, and my DDE got into the daily incrementation mode. At that point my dealer had six months of experience comparing the numbers and actually drop-off dates. He estimated almost to the day when mine finally came off the truck (23 JUL 08). I would talk to the dealer.

[jwight]

FWIW, as of this morning our DDE is 1/29/2009 to 4/29/2009. That's a move back from previous days when it was showing into February 09, different from the dealer's first estimated ("due in on 25 Jan 09") and quite a change from the initial DDE of Oct - Dec 09. So, who knows?

[Octavias Dream]

E-mailed the dealer and this is what they said:
"This is what I have-

Production Confirmed Passion Cabriolet Rally Red Silver Red
eta date 3/17/2009"
Hope she's right!