Delivery delay for 2007 3500s

[hkpierce]

For those of you waiting on your 2007 3500 or thinking of ordering one, an interesting post from YahooSprinterVan from a dealer:

#38966 From: "Roanoke Motor Co." <hstephenwhite1@...>
Date: Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:39 am
Subject: 2007 Sprinter orders - info from dealers

a word to all faithful Sprinter devotees out and about.
As a Sprinter dealer, we can provide information to customers
ONLY when that information is first provided to us, and we can
count on it to be reliable.

Regarding orders, specifically the 2007 - 3500 1 ton models.
Today, we requested, again, information as to the delay of SOLD orders
that were input into the system soon after the ordering became available.
Today, Today, we were told that 2 problems exist: 1st, there is a Robotic
issue with the 3500's, and 2nd, there is a supply problem with the axles
for the 3500 Cargo vans. This means both the 144, 170 and 170 extended.
Furthermore, we were told to expect these models in the 4th quarter of this year.

There you have it, like fresh baked bread, hot from the oven.
Can you order online and skip the dealer ? NO
Even the very largest Fleet customers have to go through a dealer
to get their product.
What if everyone who purchased a house skipped the realtor ?
We, as dealers, have no control what-so-ever with plant production.
When a unit is built, it will be shipped. Simple as that.

This is very frustrating for us as well as you, and even more so , as
each and every customer continues to phone and e-mail us looking for
the vehicle that they ordered, so they can get on with their lives.

We will continue to provide this great group with information as it is
available to us.
Wishing you a Good Day today and a Better Day tomorrow ! !
Stephen White
Roanoke Motor Co & Sprinter Sales
office # 815-462-5715 ( toll free 888-203-7950 )
fax 815-462-5740

[Altered Sprinter]

Confirms this is a global situation, D.C.G is not about to have a 100+day inventory of unsold stocks sitting on the docks it can't sell, smart strategy, not so good for the customer who wants it now:yell: today or yesterday.
Sign of the times.
Richard

[jdcaples]

Confirms this is a global situation, D.C.G is not about to have a 100+day inventory of unsold stocks sitting on the docks it can't sell, smart strategy, not so good for the customer who wants it now:yell: today or yesterday.
Sign of the times.
Richard

It's a smart strategy for a manufacturer to tell its authorized dealers about robotic problems and a shortage of 3500 axles if that's the truthful reason behind the delays.

It would also be wiseto send out a notice to dealerships, indicating they should cite the bulletin number and its contents to customers that have ordered a vehicle.

Allowing - or worse, (perhaps) relying upon - a dealer to post information in an Internet-accessible electronic forum is not a great strategy.

-Jon

[Altered Sprinter]

For those of you waiting on your 2007 3500 or thinking of ordering one, an interesting post from YahooSprinterVan from a dealer:

#38966 From: "Roanoke Motor Co." <hstephenwhite1@...>
Date: Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:39 am
Subject: 2007 Sprinter orders - info from dealers

a word to all faithful Sprinter devotees out and about.
As a Sprinter dealer, we can provide information to customers
ONLY when that information is first provided to us, and we can
count on it to be reliable.
Unless you have been pre advised beforehand from informative sources, back dating 12 months March 2006
Official internal and Media release, both internal from Benz, and public editorials based, on media-release kit - information

Regarding orders, specifically the 2007 - 3500 1 ton models.
starts at 3.5 Ton
Today, we requested, again, information as to the delay of SOLD orders
that were input into the system soon after the ordering became available.
Today, Today, we were told that 2 problems exist: 1st, there is a Robotic
issue with the 3500's, and 2nd, there is a supply problem with the axles
Dual wheels to be deleted for single wide rear rim , to allow for full rear pallet loading. with the exception of Ireland. [Don't ask Why:thinking:]
February 2006 D-B advised DCX upgrade for 2007: U.S Spring release, March 2006.
for the 3500 Cargo vans. This means both the 144, 170 and 170 extended.
Furthermore, we were told to expect these models in the 4th quarter of this year.
Either Auburn Hills: MI. emails to dealership by media release and mail printed information. in e commerce, and CD format etc.that pertains to design changes.
Either Dealership management is not passing this through to the sales staff? or they are not reading the barrage of regular morning mail, in their emails.

There you have it, like fresh baked bread, hot from the oven.
Can you order online and skip the dealer ? NO
Even the very largest Fleet customers have to go through a dealer
to get their product.
Not on special bulk orders they don't Like the hydrogen units negotiation is done via the top brass, the dealer delivers and has little or no input towards these products bulk fleet discounts are included along with special finance arrangements.
What if everyone who purchased a house skipped the realtor ?
Not uncommon, you get a better deal by cutting out the middle man , the negative is your dealing with an on-line robot.
We, as dealers, have no control what-so-ever with plant production.
When a unit is built, it will be shipped. Simple as that.
This would be true, however the dealer has a known time frame for delivery, standard practice is to sell stock in inventory, rather than risk a delayed commission , if the customer gets cold feet, the salesman feels time is wasted, but isn't that the reason for a holding deposit,?

This is very frustrating for us as well as you, and even more so , as
each and every customer continues to phone and e-mail us looking for
the vehicle that they ordered, so they can get on with their lives.
True life's one big roller coaster.:thumbup:

We will continue to provide this great group with information as it is
available to us.
Wishing you a Good Day today and a Better Day tomorrow ! !
Stephen White
Roanoke Motor Co & Sprinter Sales
office # 815-462-5715 ( toll free 888-203-7950 )
fax 815-462-5740

It's a smart strategy for a manufacturer to tell its authorized dealers about robotic problems and a shortage of 3500 axles if that's the truthful reason behind the delays.
The truth is the transition of changing from dual to single wide rims has began, as Mercedes-Benz had already advised back in February 2006.
Mercedes has never been known to hold large stocks of parts, it orders only what is required to reduce costings, As MB made the decision last year, predicting a drop in sales for 2007 they cut production estimates by six percent, to avoid a possiable inventory over kill.
DCX was advised of this , last year it is also in their financial reports for 2005-2006 annual meting reports.of planed production for 2007-2008

It would also be wiseto send out a notice to dealerships, indicating they should cite the bulletin number and its contents to customers that have ordered a vehicle.
This is done on a day by day basis , staff meetings by management are held for the large dealer ships as an informative meting to familiarize with ongoing production of units in the respective section that are endemic to the dealers products.on a regular basis.

Allowing - or worse, (perhaps) relying upon - a dealer to post information in an Internet-accessible electronic forum is not a great strategy.

-Jon
I'm not sure if they are actually allowed too! due to possiable conflict between different managements upstream.
Richard