Why is Smart USA vehicle tracking so broken?

[toddnix]

Why doesn't Smart USA provide better tracking tools for their dealers?

I got the "within 30 days" email on Jan 11 - that was 38 days ago.

I was told 2 weeks ago to expect it within 5 days by my dealer...mmm, not quite.

Then last week, I got a "Finalizing for delivery" email from my dealer and was told to expect delivery on Saturday.

I went ahead and got all the financing ready to go, but still no car.

Now they say they don't know where it is, and they admit that the truck "just shows up".

I've never been able to track my VIN on Wallenius so I don't know if it's in Germany, at sea, in the US, or on a truck.

Very frustrating.

[SmartAzz]

Sounds very much like my situation, almost to the day of getting the '30 day' notice except i haven't received any finalizing communication

[skyzdlimit59]

I'm in the same boat and have gotten the word that it will be here Tuesday or Wednesday. I'll know soon enough if they're just stalling. I'll keep you posted. Maybe our cars are together somewhere? ;)

[Amethyste]

Wait a second... I typed in my VIN# on the Wallenius site and here's what i came up with:

Status Port Time(dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm)

LOADED ON VESSEL BREMERHAVEN 04/02/2008 15:51
RECEIVED AT TERMINAL BREMERHAVEN 04/02/2008 15:07
BOOKED BREMEN 28/01/2008 11:34

Can someone explain me these things?

Looks like my car was loaded on the ship on February4th!!! Man, should be here then soon?
Sorry to be a thread hi-jacker - but thanks to you ToddNix, I know where my car is at the moment...

[SMART]

I am not so sure that it is something broken at smart USA. I have heard rumors of port troubles lately but I would hold off from claiming that it is something that smart USA has done wrong.

[SmartAzz]

Originally Posted by SMART

I am not so sure that it is something broken at smart USA. I have heard rumors of port troubles lately but I would hold off from claiming that it is something that smart USA has done wrong.

Okay, but if Smart states they do not know where the car is and the dealer also does not know and they say that truck with cars 'just show up', who is responsible? HQ has to be able to be able to track vehicles, it doesn't make sense that the process is so obfuscated.

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by Amethyste

Wait a second... I typed in my VIN# on the Wallenius site and here's what i came up with:

Status Port Time(dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm)

LOADED ON VESSEL BREMERHAVEN 04/02/2008 15:51
RECEIVED AT TERMINAL BREMERHAVEN 04/02/2008 15:07
BOOKED BREMEN 28/01/2008 11:34

Can someone explain me these things?

Looks like my car was loaded on the ship on February4th!!! Man, should be here then soon?
Sorry to be a thread hi-jacker - but thanks to you ToddNix, I know where my car is at the moment...

yep, that means your smart is on its way.....keep on checking daily and when it arrives it'll show up in port of Baltimore.

[gavquint]

I received the same e-mail that within 30 days my car will be here that was 11Jan08 also, well took delivery yesterday 25th Feb08, where are you located we are in Fort Worth, Tx took delivery from SmartCenter Dallas. I am very satisfied with dealer and the follow up they did until we got the car.
It is the best looking Bumble Bee on the road of course it is Yellow with Black Trident Stripe. Good Luck on you getting your Smart with those kind of e-mails you received it should be arriving any time now.
We are looking to start some sort of Smart Club in the DFW area anyone interested drop me a post reply name is Charlie

[xcrew229x]

A question.... does anyone recall a time when anyone cared where their car was in the pipeline, prior to smarts? Just curious.........

[SmartAzz]

Originally Posted by xcrew229x

A question.... does anyone recall a time when anyone cared where their car was in the pipeline, prior to smarts? Just curious.........

Yessireebob - any other car we've ordered we have tracked. Timeline matters if/when you want to change something about the order and/or sell a current car or finance, etc.