Dealer Closed!
Have just learned that the classy dealer, Devon, Pa has closed. Very sad, Hank
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Permalink Reply by fastturb on -
On Saturday January 9th, 40 smart owners (representing the SmartAlecs Car Club of the Lehigh Valley) met with the Mid-Atlantic Director SmartUSA to provide our concerns, ideas and feedback of the Devon Smart Center closing. To replay: this center was outside Philly and serviced many smart lovers from mid PA through eastern PA including Harrisburg areas, Lehigh Valley (Allentown, Bethlehem etc), Philadelphia, Delaware and surrounding areas. The only other smart center in PA is Pittsburgh (350 miles from Philly). The devon center was managed by a MB dealership that recently changed owners. One of the first actions of the new owners was to shut-down the smart center with owners getting very short notice or NO NOTICE all.
The SamertAlecs have been very active having meets and shows nearly every month. They have showcased their smarts to the public, opened thier doors and panels for all to see and learn. They have had articles in the newspaper and TV. Passion is extremely high, very evident and overly compelling. But we feel betrayed and it was good to have someone from smartUSA come and listen. Right now our only option is to go to another center for warranty work. For many this is at least another hour drive through the worse areas of traffic, additional tolls and in another state. Many members won't do it. They bought thier cars expecting service from a specific area and they still want it. They won't be recommending that other people buy smarts anymore, now knowing they must be purchased out-of-state. Southeastern PA needs to have a center and that is our message to smartUSA. We will see how well we are heard and what will be done. Supposedly Mr. Penske "hand picked" the original dealerships. Well, the choice for the Philly area center has not worked out but don't punish those of us who have supported smarts especially at the level we have. FIND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN EASTERN PA!
I hope everyone (or most) of smartUSAinsider members can support our request in any way possible. Please don't tell me about states that have NO centers - I know about that. Please don't tell me how your center is 6 hours away - I know that too. But we had a center that sold hundreds of cars and we expected it to be there when we need it. It's disappeared so we need a replacement that is as good or even better for us. And in return, we'll be the biggest promoters, advocates and lovers of smarts in USA.
thanks for reading my post if you got this far...
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Permalink Reply by spicejax on -
Henry, just a note to say I support your point.
We have nine smartCenters in Florida, with two in Tampa, and three in the south east/Ft. Lauderdale area. I'm sure if any of them were shut down FLA folks would be hurt as well. It's kind of a drag that smartCenters are just a add on to MB dealers. Euro motors PR doesn't match their actions, it couldn't 'cost' them that much to keep the smarts, all they do is add a few more sales people and floor space. They didn't close the DC smart center did they? This is a horrible event to happen to the smart brand I can't believe smartUSA had no long term contract with Devon. This could happen to any of us.
Maybe you could do a large meet like KS or Orlando, in Devon, 40 smarts is a great start, maybe you could get some of the folks that bought smarts from the DC center to back you, show Euro the power of the smarties.
Maybe, Fort Washington or West Chester can pick it up.
It seems like corporations will never get that it's people that buy their products, and disregarding the people will hurt their business, and cost more than the money spent on PR.
Good Luck, in your efforts
MJB
I just thought why they might have closed it: to avoid two franchise fees. If so, geez, what cheapskates! ( that's something that smartUSA could help with)
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Permalink Reply by Ryan on -
spicejax: I don't think anything can justify the closing of Devon. Supposedly they couldn't make enough money on a car they only made like $900 profit on. But guess what's going in it's place according to the latest i heard? A Rolls Royce dealership. Yeah.... cause i'm SURE the RR's will be FLYING off the lot in Eastern Pennsylvania in the horrible economy we have now.
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