Smart Center Buffalo Ending Sales

5755 Views 19 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Jo e Lefors, Dec 31, 2017

racerrobcc4

Discussion Starter · Dec 22, 2017

Just found out that my dealer, Smart Center of Buffalo will not be offering future Smart brand sales but will continue to offer service for their customers

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1stiski

· #2 · Dec 22, 2017

Euromotors in Devon PA same . When I went in for my first service my salesman filled me in on it . He was rather disappointed with father Benz approach on the Smart marketing from the start . The Coup De Grace was the limited distance the new electric provided for an owner (which many of Devon’s customers came from a distance) to get service on an ED . Many he said would have to be roll backed in just to have a basic service and that left future customers disappointed . He mentioned that they have loyal customers who balked at Daimler’s decision to end the ICE , but as any business model would show , when sales are not there , soon the product won’t be there . Sad end , but sometimes extinction happens . Only thing I do like is my cars rareity, it’s own personality in a sea of clones and knowing there should be ample parts available for at least a time .

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Jo e Lefors

· #3 · Dec 22, 2017

racerrobcc4 said:
Just found out that my dealer, Smart Center of Buffalo will not be offering future Smart brand sales but will continue to offer service for their customers

And another one bites the dust. 26 left and counting down...
No surprise here...it's only a matter of time.

Optimist

· #4 · Dec 22, 2017

Total Remaining smart Centers: 25

The hurricane knocked out Puerto Rico.

ElementalDragon

· #5 · Dec 23, 2017

Yea.... i can't imagine any FORMER smart centers going all in and not offering service for current owners (not even sure if that was an option that was on the table for them?). Such a bummer that they decided to go all-electric from this point on... but hey... they're still a business, and need to consider the cost of importing and testing and all that other expensive stuff that goes along with it. And the lackluster sales in this "great" nation where SUV's and pickup trucks rule the road (sometimes it seems like they LITERALLY rule the road) tipped the scale for them. Just like 1stiski said, for Devon, and probably the vast majority of the few Smart Centers that even DID exist prior to them going all-electric, most of their customer base more than likely lived outside the driving range of the ED to make it to the dealership for service.

The SMARTER (no pun intended) thing for them to have done was had limited dealerships (though having quite a few more nationwide wouldn't have hurt) to actually sell the cars, but have it so that all Mercedes dealerships could service Smart's. I've lost count how many people i've spoken to, both when i had my 451, and even now that i have my 453, who seemed interested in the car.... but were immediately taken aback when I told them that the only dealership close to here is an hour drive away. People probably would have been OK with the idea of having to drive a fair distance to buy the car... people do that all the time if only a certain dealership has the exact car they're looking for spec'd the way they want it. But having to take that SAME drive just to get any sort of maintenance done that they can't do themselves is a nail in the proverbial coffin.

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smark

· #6 · Dec 23, 2017

Nearest smart dealership, for us. 600 miles north, west, east, and south. Never see 451’s on the road here, anymore.

racerrobcc4

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 25, 2017

MB did not market the smart in the USA properly. They continued to try to sell it as a "city only" car, rather than show that it can actually be a great car in rural areas, such as where I live. It's perfect driving on the twisting back roads and handles the rural highways fine. They could have turned it around... heck they still could, but I doubt they will try or put any effort into it. The big know-it-all execs will just blame it on the American market, stating that all we want are big SUVs today... yet they never even tried to market the car outside of city driving.

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1stiski

· #8 · Dec 25, 2017

racerrobcc4 said:
MB did not market the smart in the USA properly. They continued to try to sell it as a "city only" car, rather than show that it can actually be a great car in rural areas, such as where I live. It's perfect driving on the twisting back roads and handles the rural highways fine. They could have turned it around... heck they still could, but I doubt they will try or put any effort into it. The big know-it-all execs will just blame it on the American market, stating that all we want are big SUVs today... yet they never even tried to market the car outside of city driving.

I agree fully !! It’s a shame that this little vehicle wasn’t given any applause for its rural prowess, it rocks on our country roads , twisty mountain inclines and interstate distances ... such a sad fact MB , missed that niche of many potential buyers .

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SmartCarDan

· #9 · Dec 27, 2017

racerrobcc4 said:
Just found out that my dealer, Smart Center of Buffalo will not be offering future Smart brand sales but will continue to offer service for their customers

I got Buffalo's remaining 2017 inventory delivered to my dealership to sell from here in Lynnfield, MA. I have helped some of Latham/Albany's former customers get their new electric smarts shipped to their homes and then they are able to get service at their old smart dealers when needed. I'd be happy to help any of Buffalo's clients as well and arrange transportation. A few of Buffalo's clients have already reached out to me about future business, so thank you for your support of the brand and I look forward to helping you.

NY state has a rebate on electric cars, but ONLY if the customer purchases from a NY dealer. With Buffalo and Latham gone, that only leaves MB Manhattan. I have had NY clients know this and still choose to pay more to buy from me in Lynnfield, MA and get the new car shipped to them. To those clients, thank you for your business.

CT has the same rule (must buy/lease from a CT dealership to get the state rebate) but CT doesn't have any smart dealers left, so CT customers are left out and have no method to claim their state EV rebate on a smart. CT makes an exception for TESLA buyers since they don't have "dealerships" in CT, so I asked the state of CT to make an exception for smart car buyers but they denied my request.

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SmartCarDan

· #10 · Dec 27, 2017

1stiski said:
I agree fully !! It’s a shame that this little vehicle wasn’t given any applause for its rural prowess, it rocks on our country roads , twisty mountain inclines and interstate distances ... such a sad fact MB , missed that niche of many potential buyers .

With the ICE version, I think MB/smart missed a HUGE opportunity by not marketing it more towards people who own RVs and could use the smart as tow-car. They didn't give towing instructions to dealers at all on the 451, and smartUSA waited too long to give us 453 tow instructions. Owner's manuals would said something like "contact smart dealer for towing information" but we had no information to provide for 451, and very little for 453.

453 EV is not tow-able (so we're told), though it could have had a much larger potential target market if it had been designed to be pulled behind an RV.

We sold just as many, if not more, ICE smart cars to the rural regions of New Hampshire and Maine than we did to city-dwellers. I had a great time delivering those cars to the owners and taking the cars on mountain roads, long stretches of highway, etc. I got to drive an electric smart to the top of Mt. Washington which was a lot of fun. They still have their 451 EV for trips up and down Mt Washington- the regen braking going down was ridiculous.

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jbjinturner

· #11 · Dec 27, 2017

Aristocrat in Merriam is the same way. Only sold a couple of 2017 gas 453's. Will not sell any ED's. Will continue to service 451's and 453's for some time. Too bad

Reactions: 1

Mister_smart_LA

· #12 · Dec 27, 2017

SmartCarDan said:
With the ICE version, I think MB/smart missed a HUGE opportunity by not marketing it more towards people who own RVs and could use the smart as tow-car. They didn't give towing instructions to dealers at all on the 451, and smartUSA waited too long to give us 453 tow instructions. Owner's manuals would said something like "contact smart dealer for towing information" but we had no information to provide for 451, and very little for 453.

453 EV is not tow-able (so we're told), though it could have had a much larger potential target market if it had been designed to be pulled behind an RV.

We sold just as many, if not more, ICE smart cars to the rural regions of New Hampshire and Maine than we did to city-dwellers. I had a great time delivering those cars to the owners and taking the cars on mountain roads, long stretches of highway, etc. I got to drive an electric smart to the top of Mt. Washington which was a lot of fun. They still have their 451 EV for trips up and down Mt Washington- the regen braking going down was ridiculous.

My personal opinion is that, as long as RVers are willing to pull a small trailer for the smart EV to sit on... it's just as good of a choice as a tow vehicle as the gas smarts are. After a long road trip, I don't see too many trips that involve straying far away from the RV and the RV Park... the range of the smart EV should be more than sufficient. It's still a lighter car than most if not all...

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pastor45

· #13 · Dec 28, 2017

They were never into the sales of smart. Every time I took mine to get maintenance I would look at new ones and I would have bought one if they seemed to care. I always felt I was bothering them.

jwight

· #14 · Dec 28, 2017

Ohio has gone from four dealers selling smarts to one - Mercedes-Benz of Easton, in Columbus. They are showing two 2018 EDs iin stock. The dealers in Cincy and Cleveland will continue to provide smart service only (probably not for EDs, since they never sold them....)

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smark

· #15 · Dec 28, 2017

Personally my self. I would just buy a used ICE smart car. To pull behind a RV. Cheap, used ones go for around $4-7k. Minus the extra weight of hauling a ED smart. On a small trailer. If the ICE smart breaks, at least there service across the country. If the RV breaks down too. You can take the smart, make to the next town. To get help. In Colorado, leave the RV, at the RV Park. Drive the ICE smart around the mountain scenery. 58 mile driving range in a EV, though mountains doesn’t cut it.

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Jo e Lefors

· #16 · Dec 28, 2017 (Edited)

Even using a smart as a dingy for a RV, your potential sales are restricted to mostly singles or couples. Not really good for young couples with kids or even one child. Certainty not if they want to tour around once they set up camp.
My niece and her husband pull a Chevy Suburban behind their diesel pusher RV, but they have 4 kids.

I have to agree with you smark. If you are going to be pulling a smart it better well be a gasser. A 60 mile range won't cut even for some of the retired campground hosts I know. The campground can be 100 miles from any town.
You take a gas powered car "smart", that can be towed 4 down, now let's limit it by replacing the gas engine that has a full tank range of over 300 miles and you can refill in about 7 mins. swap it with an electric motor and batteries that have 60-70 mile range and can take 2 to 4 hours or more to fill (charge) Throw in mountains, A/C or Heat if its cold, you can forget about even getting 60 miles, PLUS you now need a trailer to tow it on. Pretty much useless.

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halfcack

· #17 · Dec 29, 2017

Hi,

Do you have any ev's in stock. How much to ship to Binghamton, NY?

Also, I have a bit of a problem. I have another lease car, 2016 Smart, gas. Since I have less than 2000 miles on it, there was a great amount of leeway between servicing.

This past week I saw the message indicator turn from 8500 mile checkup to 28 days.

Benzel-Busch sent me a due for 8500 mile servicing. When I wrote back and mentioned it will be quite a long time before I reached 8500 miles so I will contact you.

The message indicator changed to 28 days after I sent them an email saying that since I’m not going to make a 12 hour round trip drive twice, prepared the road crew to do an in drive serving.

I guess the question is servicing mileage or time based.

Benzel really messed me up. I had the first 2017EV come in. Unfortunately the sales guy, did not order the plain EV I wanted with wheels as the only option but a model with every option available at the time, close to 30,000$. Heated seats, heated steering wheel, etc, in a car with Battery problems.

I would have lost 1000$ in that once in a life time sweet moment. If you are trying to help people as stated keep me in mind. PM me, I wanted to lease/own an Electric Smart since it came out.

At my age, it’s getting harder to do things but the problem is time.

I sort of gave up with all the unusual sales promotion from a major luxury car manufacturer.

I could make it to Lynnfield for a pick up as well. Nothing is out of the question including any customer you have that might be interest in a perfect gas model.

Thank you !

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TomLeeM

· #18 · Dec 31, 2017

I also think MB missed with not bringing the Forfour to the USA. They say it is a crowded market but it is - IMO - crowded since so many are interested in a four door four seat car. I read that they were working on a SUV version of the Forfour. I think it would compete with similar size vehicles and be popular in colder regions.

I would have loved to have a Smart roadster come to the US. I think it would make the Smart brand more appealing, just my opinion.

I think those concepts by Smart would be big sellers if they were produced. (just my opinion).

DowneasTTer

· #19 · Dec 31, 2017

TomLeeM said:
I also think MB missed with not bringing the Forfour to the USA. They say it is a crowded market but it is - IMO - crowded since so many are interested in a four door four seat car. I read that they were working on a SUV version of the Forfour. I think it would compete with similar size vehicles and be popular in colder regions.

I would have loved to have a Smart roadster come to the US. I think it would make the Smart brand more appealing, just my opinion.

I think those concepts by Smart would be big sellers if they were produced. (just my opinion).

Sorry but even if they had the cars to sell..... it would be a disaster with the marketing team the mother ship has for smart. Take a look at Fiat. Same kind of thing with a expanded car line. Started with the 2 door 500 added a 4 door (didn't sell) added a suv (didn't sell) added a roadster (didn't sell). On top of that FCA actually had a small advertising budget. Plus imho a much better car to sell in the USA.

Jo e Lefors

· #20 · Dec 31, 2017

DowneasTTer said:
Sorry but even if they had the cars to sell..... it would be a disaster with the marketing team the mother ship has for smart. Take a look at Fiat. Same kind of thing with a expanded car line. Started with the 2 door 500 added a 4 door (didn't sell) added a suv (didn't sell) added a roadster (didn't sell). On top of that FCA actually had a small advertising budget. Plus imho a much better car to sell in the USA.

You hit the nail on the head.

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