the scoop
Welcome to the space where we will save all the the information from smart
>> Information to answer to your questions & feedback
>> Give you new insights
>> Provide you with news
We will always keep the latest post on the main page of smartUSAinsider and save all the previous ones in here.
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Please check out our 'the scoop' tab for previous postings
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Date: 5/22/2013
Candy is dandy, but a chocolate smart melts your heart. Just a reminder that this morsel of goodness still needs a name. Are you the one that recommended the perfect fit? We've pulled our top six and want to put it to a vote. Cast your ballot here: http://smart.cr/10U0uWt
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Date: 5/16/2013
Sweet, smooth, satisfying, addicting. Check out our latest smart limited edition. With it's deep, dark chocolate exterior, it's a complete package and guaranteed to turn heads. There's only one problem – it doesn't have a name. We need your help to get out of this sticky situation. Visit our Facebook page (http://smart.cr/10T8f3n) and post your suggestions in the comments. Our product team will pick the top 5, and Insiders will have the final say by voting for their favorite title of this tantalizing smart.
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Date: 4/21/2013
You can give your smart more personality with tridion and side mirror wraps. It’s so easy we can show you how to do it in six seconds.
Visit the smart Expressions page to check out a list of available styles: http://www.smartusa.com/smartexpressions/
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Date: 4/10/2013
Want to get your hands on the new smart electric drive? Well, good news. smart is taking it on tour! Check out funtestdrive as we hit up 11 major cities this spring and summer. Be the first to take the new smart electric drive for a spin, and enter for a chance to take it home. Check out the events section for a full list of tour dates: http://bit.ly/rvbBjx.
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Date: 4/03/2013
smart USA Insider is getting a makeover, and the members are in the driver’s seat! Take a look at the banners below and vote for your favorite here. The image with the most votes on April 10th will become the official header for smart USA Insider!
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Date: 3/26/2013
smart’s launching its “Owner Stories” Campaign, and as an Insider, you get a first look. For part of the promotion, we asked our drivers for their safety stories, and we picked a few to highlight on our website. Check them out below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments:
Couch Potato:
I was cruising along a two-lane highway in my 2011 smart passion coupe. The pick-up truck in front of me was hauling a large couch in its trailer, so naturally, I kept a safe distance. Suddenly, the truck hit a bump and the couch flew out of the back.
I had three options: swerve into oncoming traffic, plow into the snow bank to my right, or hit the brakes and face the couch.
The couch it was. The impact was immense, and it sent my car towards a ditch. But I was able to stop safely on the side of the road. I looked myself over and was relieved to see I was unharmed. And to my surprise, my smart was hardly damaged. In the days that followed, I learned why.
The smart’s shorter front-end helped push the couch away from my car, rather than up in the air, which would have aimed it towards my windshield and caused more serious damage. I’ve told many people this story, and they’re always surprised at how my little smart stood up to such a big impact. But I’ve always felt safe in my smart, and I’m so thankful I was driving it that day.
Mark D. – Maryland
The Trade-Up:
It was a beautiful summer evening outside Chicago, and I was on my way home from work. Traffic was moving quickly as I approached the Naper Boulevard interchange, like I had done time and time before. But this time was different. I remember a black shadow moving across my rear window – not an unusual occurrence with the road’s multiple lanes. Then, things went a little foggy.
I don’t recall the initial impact. But I remember gripping tight on the steering wheel and coming to a stop next to the highway’s sound wall.
A few kind strangers waited for the ambulance with me, but I was quickly discharged from the hospital with minor cuts and bruises. It was clear that the other driver, who was merging carelessly, had sideswiped my passenger side. He never looked over to check the lane he was entering. And the smart’s safety features, including its multiple airbags, helped protect me from any serious harm.
My insurance covered a trade-up to a replacement car. And after how it performed in my accident, there was no doubt I was getting another smart. I even upgraded to a cabriolet!
Since the accident, I’ve had several people ask me, “How could you drive something so unsafe?” My response is always, without hesitation, “This is my second smart. And I truly feel the first one saved my life.”
Bob L. – Illinois
It’s not too late to share your experience! Share your safety stories on our Forum Thread (http://smart.cr/13tA5Fo) and we may pick yours to be featured on our website.
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Date: 2/24/2013
We're celebrating Hollywood's biggest night with smart-sized films! Follow @smartcarUSA on Twitter for special video tributes as the big winners are revealed. http://smart.cr/RNwmKr
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Date: 12/17/2012
As all of you know, the smart electric drive will be available for purchase in 2013. You can pre-register here: http://smart.cr/W5h20c. But there are some special features on this vehicle that make it unique. smart Digital Marketing Specialist, Eric Angeloro, breaks down some of the EV’s lesser known attributes.
December 14 - The ED3 and Me
December 16 - Charging
December 18 - Sound Box
December 20 - Regenerative Braking / Charging
December 22 - A/C Pre-charging
December 27 - Charge Level and Power Level Gauge
December 29 - Safety
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Date: 11/28/2012
smart teamed up with American fashion designer Jeremy Scott to create this fun and unique fortwo.
The car debuts at the LA Auto show (Nov. 30 – Dec. 9th) but as an Insider, you get a first-hand look. Let us know your thoughts on this forum post: http://smart.cr/RjcFgg
You can learn more about the car from Bettery Magazine: http://smart.cr/TuicyI
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Date: 11/14/2012
Lena is training in smartville. As part of her program, she gets to learn about smart from all angles, including the assembly line. Follow her blog as she chronicles her week in Hambach, France. Lena, our “unspy,” will provide Insiders with a behind the scenes look at the factory.
Day 1: Arriving in smartville
Day 2: Installing headlights
Day 3: Quality control
Day 4: Assembly Line
Day 5: electric drive
Lena has access to a ton of great information but she may be too busy to answer some of your questions. If there’s something you’d like to know more about, send us a message at www.smartusainsider.com/sUSAIadmin.
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Date: 10/31/2012
Happy Halloween, smarties.
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Date: 10/03/2012
There’s been a lot of discussion about the price of the electric drive. As members of sUSAI, you’re one of the first to learn about the vehicle’s price, which we are announcing today. The MSRP for the coupe is $25,000, and the cabriolet is $28,000. The net price after tax savings could be as low as $17,500 for the coupe and $20,500 for the cabriolet (with full $7,500 tax credit).
If you’d like to learn more about the car or if you’d like to preregister, visit our website at: http://bit.ly/smartED
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Date: 09/26/2012
Hi, Insiders. Heading to Jam on the Dam? (http://smart.cr/QoFCSw). We are too! The smart marketing team will be out at the event documenting the festivities and would love to speak with a few drivers who have unique owner experiences with their fortwo. Are you prepared to tell your smart story? Here are a few questions they may ask:
- People are often amazed to see much they can fit in a smart. Tell us about the largest/craziest/most surprising thing you ever carried in yours.
- As smart owners, we all share a connection. Tell us about a time you had an unexpected or memorable interaction with another smart owner. You know that fun moment when you pass another smart owner on the road?
- smarts may be small in size, but they’re big on safety. Tell us about a time when smart’s safety technology helped you or someone you know.
- smarts are designed to be up for anything. Tell us about the most unique, fun or memorable place you’ve taken your smart.
- Buying your first smart is a memorable experience. Tell us what you remember from the day you first got those keys in your hand.
- Is your customized smart the most interesting one on the road? Tell us about how you’ve made your car a true expression of yourself.
- Everyone knows that smart’s park-friendly size is convenient. But when has your smart’s “parkability” truly saved the day?
If you’re interested in sharing your smart experiences and will be attending the event (either the Pre-Jam meet-and-greet on Oct. 5th, or the Jam on the Dam Oct. 6th), send us a message or call (347) 762-7864 by WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3rd with a brief summary of your story, your contact info, and best time to contact you at: http://www.smartusainsider.com/profile/sUSAiAdmin.
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Date: 09/20/2012
smart celebrates innovation behind the wheel and on the screen at the undrive-in event, featuring independent short films curated by Independent Filmmaker Project.
Visit our Facebook tab to find an event near you: undrive-in.
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Date: 09/18/2012
Hey, Insiders! Check out this special behind the scenes look at the making of smart’s “Tough” safety commercial.
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Date: 09/17/2012
The new smart electric drive is coming soon to the United States. Agile. Safe. Incredibly fun to drive. And, it's exceptionally environmentally friendly. Learn more about the vehicle on smartusa.com.
You can get it before anyone else. Pre-register for the electric drive here.
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Date: 09/09/2012
Last month, we showed you our “Fun to Drive” commercial. Now check out the new “Safety” and “Grocery” spots. Let us know your thoughts on our Insider forum here: http://bit.ly/QdP4bz
Safety
Supermarket
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Date: 08/23/2012
Like no other car, smart can be customized to be an extension of your imagination, your passions, and your personality. So we’ve invited five unique bloggers to design a custom smart wrap that best expresses them. Visit our Facebook tab (http://on.fb.me/RGT1up), check out their wraps, vote for your favorite and you’ll be in the running to score your very own custom-wrapped MacBook Pro!
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Date: 8/4/2012
Insiders get a first look at smart’s new television commercial. Check it out and let us know your thoughts here.
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Date: 08/01/2012
Happy August, smarties. Here are the upcoming events for the month. Message us at www.smartusainsider.com/sUSAiadmin if we missed any meet-ups.
August 12th: Chicago Meet-n-Eat (Roselle, Illinois): http://www.smartusainsider.com/events/chicago-meet-n-eat-3
August 23rd – August 26th: Outsmarting the Dragon 2012 (Fontana Dam, NC): http://www.smartusainsider.com/events/outsmarting-the-dragon-2012
(If you're going make sure you say 'hi' to smart Field Operation Managers Ben Thomas and Michael Kennedy. Both of them will be at Outsmarting the Dragon.)
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Date: 7/11/2012
It’s time! smart’s epic Tag Your Own Adventure has finally arrived. Go to Facebook and click-through the album and most importantly don't forget to tag your vote. Our hero's fate depends on you: http://on.fb.me/Oy2f59.
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Date: 7/2/2012
Summer is in full swing for smarties. Check out these upcoming events for July. Message us at www.smartusainsider.com/sUSAiadmin if we missed any meet-ups.
July 4th: 4th of July Parade at Roman Forest (Roman Forest, TX): http://www.smartusainsider.com/events/4th-of-july-parade-roman-forest
July 8th: smart car run (Dedham, MA): http://www.smartusainsider.com/events/smart-car-run
July 8th: Chicago Meet-n-Eat (Schaumburg, Illinois): http://www.smartusainsider.com/events/chicago-meet-n-eat-2
July 13th: smart Rally at the Glen (Watkins Glen, NY): http://www.smartusainsider.com/events/smart-rally-at-the-glen
July 14th: July Road Trip at the Houston Ship Channel (Houston, TX): http://www.smartusainsider.com/events/july-road-trip-houston-ship-channel
July 21st: smarties of Indiana Parke County Covered Bridge Run (Rockville, IN): http://www.smartusainsider.com/events/smarties-of-indiana-parke-county-covered-bridge-run
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Date: 06/29/2012
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Hey, Insiders. We made a few updates to the smart USA Insider site. First, we cleaned up the site navigation and page tabs:
1. Blog posts and the scoop can now be found as a drop-down menu under “News”
2. Photos and videos are filed under “Multimedia”
3. List of members, groups, and the chat can be found under “Community”
Second, you will find a new FAQ section listed within the Community menu. We’ve collected some of your common smart questions and placed them in a convenient Frequently Asked Questions page: http://bit.ly/NFHPZj
We’ll be updating the info based on your feedback in the forums and our future live chats, so check-in often. What other questions should we add?
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Compelled by the spirit of adventure, Charlotte Rios (65 years young), took her passion coupe on a solo journey to Coachella, a multi-day/two weekend concert featuring some of the world’s best musical talent.
Packing her smart with everything that she would need for 4 days, taking in to account every possible scenario, she trudged through a mile line wait to the campgrounds in 4 wheel drive mud.
Thank you, Charlotte, for proving that unbig can be just right.
Check out these photos that she was kind enough to share with us:
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We've updated our website with the 2013 smart models and lifestyle accessories so it’s time to make your MY2013 dreams come true! Let your imagination run free and design your vehicle. Pick the color or wrap that suits your personality. Find the right upholstery option that makes the inside of your smart feel like an extension of your home. There are dozens of new lifestyle accessories that add that crucial character accent, and it all starts by clicking the link and making that first choice: Pure, Passion, or Cabriolet? Have fun, insiders. 
Link: http://bit.ly/smartMY2013
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“Bring Your Child to Work Day” was created to help the next generation’s future development. Thursday, April 26th marked the 20th Anniversary of this program at smart USA.
Check out this video of the kids creating a customized smart wrap (similar to the one created by Billy the Artist http://bit.ly/JbKSu1). We think they definitely gave Billy a run for his money.
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Hello, Insiders. Here’s a list of smart events for the month of May:
5/19: Drive and Dine to Krebs (Krebs, Oklahoma) (http://bit.ly/IF9sAn)
5/20: smart Alecs Cruise to Wind Gap, PA (http://bit.ly/IF9wjE)
5/23: 4th Annual smart Track Event in Indianapolis, IN (http://bit.ly/KsVe3y)
5/26: Road Trip to Add-a-Spare (Shreveport, LA) (http://bit.ly/KsVeR7)
If we’re missing any events, send us a message at http://www.smartusainsider.com/profile/sUSAiAdmin.
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smart USA Insider is happy to introduce profile badges on our network. Drivers will be awarded different icons for specific achievements! Because the badge lives on your profile photo, everyone will know what you’ve accomplished.
The first badge we are releasing is the “100K” badge. It honors our drivers who have reached 100K miles with their smart. 
Message us (http://www.smartusainsider.com/profile/sUSAiAdmin) with a photo of your odometer proving you’ve reached this milestone, and we’ll add the badge to your profile. Who’ll be first to show off their achievement?
If you have any ideas for future badges, let us know here: http://bit.ly/JsabqE
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Boston College students share their knowledge and perspectives on smart cars.
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Tracey Matura, General Manager of smart USA, discusses her experiences in this New York Times Interview. http://nyti.ms/GCWe9x
If you were interviewing Ms. Matura, what would you ask her?
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Boston College students are analyzing smart drivers for a class project. Show you smart love and support them by answering their survey questions: Survery
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Green Car Reports recently put out an article measuring the vehicle cost per MPG of several cars. We’re happy to say that the smart fortwo is number one on the list with a score of $347/MPG. If you want to learn more, you can read the entire article here: http://hgm.me/yLtO4W. 
We know that some of you get more than 36/MPG. What is your dollar cost per MPG (Price of smart / Average MPG)?
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Time to rev your engines and honk your horns in celebration. We’re excited to announce the official smart USA Insider redesign. Just like our cars, sUSAi got a new custom wrap. Don’t worry, all the site features and tools are the same (they just look a lot nicer).
This new skin is part of our efforts to make smart USA Insider the go-to hub for owners and enthusiasts to connect with each other, converse about the brand, and above all share their love for smart.
Let us know what you think of the redesign on this thread: http://bit.ly/wimsta
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An additional 100,000 smart vehicles worldwide have helped parent company Daimler increase 2011 sales by 8%. We wanted to say thank you to our sUSAi community. We appreciate the continuous work you do to spread the joy of smart.
Source: http://bit.ly/yFogPQ
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We’re giving smart USA Insider a facelift in 2012. Keep checking the community as we unveil more in the next few weeks. 
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smart Insiders, we invite you to honk your horn and celebrate 2 unbig milestones. On Monday, December 26th, the 50,000th smart owner joined our family, and on Friday, January 13th, the 50,000th person “Liked” our Facebook page.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our #smart50K Twitter contest. We will be reaching out to the winners with a direct message on Twitter. 
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If haven’t already seen it, check out our new TV spot: unclutter. Feel free to share and discuss the commercial with the smart Insider community.
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The smart community is full of passionate and unique members. To help highlight our drivers, smart recently teamed up with the Sundance Channel to produce vignettes showcasing the smart car lifestyle. Enjoy these videos featuring smart insider Dan Katz, Sarge’s Delicatessen, Morgan, YOR Health and Leslie.
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We're excited to announce our new YouTube channel named smart USA tv.
Soon, we will be growing this channel and would love the opportunity to use some of your personal video content down the road.
Check out our new channel and hit me up with your feedback. We want to make our channel a popular destination for anyone "tubin'" out there on the web.
Keep on smartin',
Eric
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This month, your DVI USA team joined forces with Clean Ocean Action (COA) to help clean the shores of Sandy Hook, NJ for Fall Beach Sweeps 2011. It was a great opportunity for us and it opened our eyes to how wonderful our beaches are and how we need to pitch-in to keep them that way. Our awareness about our environment and the potential negative impact our actions may have on it was certainly raised. We're fortunate to work with an eco-friendly brand like smart and we encourage everyone to get involved in their community and volunteer for an effort such as Beach Sweeps if they can .
To learn more about COA, click here: http://www.cleanoceanaction.org/index.php?id=2 
smartfully yours,
Daimler Vehicle Innovations, LLC
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Insiders, Today marks the launch of our National Marketing Campaign, giving smart a new face and brand direction!
This comprehensive campaign spans all marketing channels – focused on creating our brand image and elevating awareness of both the brand and the vehicle.
Television
We are thrilled to announce that the first ever national smart TV commercial hit the airwaves this morning on shows such as Good Morning America and the Today Show. This commercial, titled ‘unbig’, will continue to run for the next two weeks on Network Television to generate broad reaching exposure for our launch.
Network highlights include:
>> Presence on all four major networks for the Fall Season Premiers. Look for smart on such shows as Dancing with the Stars, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS LA, Parks and Recreation, Blue Bloods, and many
more.
>> Two weeks on early and late night television – the smart commercial will be seen on The Early Show and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, along with other favorites.
>> Jimmy Kimmel will feature smart with a custom live commercial during his show tonight!
Network television will then be followed-up with National Cable and Spot TV for the remainder of 2011. A total of 19 networks will be showing our smart commercial, from the broad (TNT, Bravo, USA) to
the niche (Planet Green, Logo, IFC) cable network channels.
Digital
Going further inside, the digital media campaign will begin the week ofSeptember 26th with banner ads and homepage takeovers.
Social Media & Website
Be sure to check out smart on Facebook (facebook.com/smartusa), Twitter (twitter.com/#!/smartcarusa) and YouTube (youtube.com/smartusafortwo). Facebook and Twitter now have a new look and feel to match our marketing campaign. You’ll also be able to view the smart commercial on both our Facebook and YouTube channels!
Lastly, I invite you to visit the all-new face of smartusa.com. Our homepage has a completely new look that includes mobile and tablet platforms (iOS and Android) to further reinforce the smart brand experience.
We’re truly excited about this new face and direction for smart – and we look forward to sharing in this excitement with you!
smartfully yours,
smart Marketing & Brand Management Daimler Vehicle Innovations, LLC
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Greetings Insiders!
We're excited to announce that six new dealers have joined our dealer network! Each smart center will be available for both sales and service:
Arizona
smart center of North Scottsdale
18530 N. Scottsdale Road, Phoenix, AZ 85054
(480) 991-1155
Illinois
smart center of Orland Park
8430 West 159th Street, Orland Park, IL 60462
(708) 460-0400
smart center of St. Charles
225 N. Randall Road, St. Charles, IL 60174
(630) 485-2300
New Jersey
smart center of Bridgewater
1250 Route 22, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 685-0800
Pennsylvania
smart center of West Chester
1260 Wilmington Pike, West Chester, PA 19382
(484) 313-1100
Texas
smart center of Plano
4464 West Plano Parkway, Plano, TX 75093
(972) 599-0909
Yours,
Deirdre O'Grady
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Hey Insiders,
Many of you have asked us in the 'give us a shout' thread about what we are doing these days to market our beloved fortwo and if we are in fact doing anything, can Insider members be the first to know.
I am happy to give you the scoop that later today we will be adding a new tab to our Facebook page called 'Urban Green.' This fall, smart USA has teamed-up with author Neil Chambers to support his nationwide book tour. He will be visiting colleges and universities all over the U.S. regarding the state of “green” today and what we can do for tomorrow.
The best part is that he will be traveling to these campuses in a 2011 smart fortwo and you can follow him on twitter as well.
Make sure to join the community on Facebook if you haven’t already and let us know what you think of this new tab and this event. There's more to come so stay tuned.
Yours smartly,
Eric
#urbangreen
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well hello there!
I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Eric Angeloro and I am the new Digital Marketing Specialist for smart here in U.S.
What does that mean you ask? Basically, I will be the steward of our Face book and twitter channels as well as engaging all of you here on Insider among other things.
I joined the smart team a few days ago. So, give me a bit of time to get going on my side, but know that we're going to take Insider and our web presence as a whole to the next level very soon.
I also see we have a rabid smart fan base here and I dig all of the pics and posts as well as all of the drive events you all put together. Really, really cool! You are all true evangelists for this brand and we are proud to have you!
I have access to a red passion cab right now and I truly love it. It's the most attention I have ever received driving anything and it's a real blast to drive.
It's a thrill for me to be able to do a lot creative work, play with cool cars as well as connect with all of you virtually.
I will be taking a look at the "give us a shout" section as best as I can and I encourage all of you to keep up the energy and participation.
So, hello again and I will "see" on the internet!
Yours smartly,
Eric 
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August 29, 2011 A message from Deirdre O'Grady, Dealer Network Lead, smart:
It's me again!
We are excited to share with you the opening of our newest smart center in North Olmsted, OH. North Olmsted, OH
28450 Lorain Road, North Olmsted, OH 44070
(440) 716-2700
smart center of North Olmsted will be available for both sales and service. Please join me in welcoming our newest dealer!
Keep checking 'the scoop' for the latest on dealer openings and more!
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August 19, 2011 A message from Deirdre O'Grady, Dealer Network Lead, smart:
We would like to welcome two new smart centers to our family of
dealerships! Each will be available for sales and service:
Oklahoma City, OK
1225 North Broadway Avenue, Oklahoma City OK 73103
(405) 488-2640
San Juan, TX
400 East Expressway 83, San Juan TX 78589
(956) 787-4400
Stay tuned for more new dealer announcements in the weeks and months ahead.
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August 3, 2011 A message from Deirdre O'Grady, Dealer Network Lead, smart:
Greetings smart Insiders!
We are delighted to announce the opening of three new smart centers in Florida. Each dealer is available for both sales and service: Coconut Creek
4250 N. State Road 7, Coconut Creek, FL 33073
(866) 306-6947 Orlando
810 North Orlando Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751
(866) 415-8684 Sarasota
4754 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL 34233
(866) 315-0515
Our team is working diligently to increase the presence of smart in the United States. As Tracey mentioned to you in her post last week, development of the smart dealer network is a top priority for us. We look forward to sharing with you several more dealer openings in the coming weeks and months ahead!
Warm Regards,
Deirdre O’Grady
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July 29, 2011 A message from Tracey Matura, General Manager, smart:
These past few weeks have gone by in a blur since we have started with smart and I wanted to update you on two areas that we’ve seen a lot of questions about: the dealer network and our marketing plans.
As far as the retail network is concerned, this is a top priority for us. Our goal when we took over from the Penske organization was to have essentially the same footprint, i.e. 75 dealers. Those dealers are in place but we are keenly aware that there are gaps in coverage that need to be taken care of as well as areas of untapped opportunity. To that effect, we plan to add another 25 dealerships by the end of the year.
On a related note, I’ve seen several questions as to whether smart service, parts and/or accessories – or the fortwo itself -- would be available at every Mercedes-Benz dealership. The answer to that is no: all sales and service will be at authorized smart dealerships where we will have trained personnel who can support smart to the level of your expectations.
From a marketing standpoint, our main goal will be to increase awareness of the smart brand and the fortwo. Beyond the fact that MBUSA has some top-tier platforms that we’ll be able to leverage to increase visibility of smart, our team is currently working with our agency team to develop a robust marketing plan that increases awareness and perception and reflects the iconic nature of the smart brand. This will include traditional advertising (yes, TV commercials), online presence, social media and events. Our goal is to realize a creative campaign that breaks through the clutter and brings to life not only what makes smart unique but also the right car for the right people. I think you’ll like it.
Obviously sites like this one will be undergoing change and a lot of that will be based on input from you. With that in mind, I’d really like to encourage you to share with us your thoughts, comments, questions and ideas. We’ve started a new discussion in the forum section ‘give us a shout’ to facilitate that. I can’t promise you that everything will be answered all the time but what I can promise is that everything will be seen and we will address as much as we can.
That’s it for now…we’ll be back at the page in the weeks ahead!
Tracey 
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June 9, 2011 A message from Mercedes-Benz USA’s Tracey Matura, incoming General Manager, smart:
It’s a pleasure to be able to introduce myself and start a dialogue with smart owners and enthusiasts. I had hoped to meet some of you personally at the Midwest Rally in Wisconsin Dells but unfortunately there was a conflict. I’m confident, however, that the opportunity will present itself down the road. In my place, I’m sending members of my team to get the conversation going.
As you can imagine, things are a little hectic now as we prepare for the transition. There’s a very high level of activity because we want to ensure that this process is seamless for you and that there’s little, if any, inconvenience. At the same time, our top priority is to quickly deploy our resources to take what Jill Lajdziak and her team built over the past few years to continue growing the brand. They’ve done a terrific job laying the foundation and we want to build on that to elevate awareness of the smart brand and the products and build on the unique community and culture that’s been established.
While we’re at the very beginning of this process, I know that many of you have questions. Most of the questions I've seen are in areas that are our own top priority right now: the retail network and customer support, marketing and, of course, the product. In the weeks ahead we will be sharing information with you on each of these topics. I hope that you will continue to provide us with input and raise any questions. Once we transition over in July, we’ll make sure you have all the appropriate contact information.
In my first few weeks “on the job”, the enthusiasm and the passion that smart has evoked among employees, owners, enthusiasts and drivers at large, convinces me that the smart brand can be a thriving example of innovation and inspiration that paves a new road for a new millennium. I think it'll be a fun drive for all of us. 
Tracey Matura
Comment
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Comment by Jim Duke on March 18, 2012 at 9:56pm -
I am having problems with the car not shifting right. Had it to the dealer twice replaced the clutch and other parts. It lasted a week the first time then back to the same issue. Second time dealer had it for 2 weeks while I was out of town this time it lasted 2 weeks and now it's acting up again. Before I send it back to the dealer is anyone else having issues and what was the fix? Feels like Smart doesn't know
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Comment by toes on September 3, 2011 at 7:57pm -
Delete Comment Hello Eric and welcome to the community. It is good to know that we will have you as a dedicated steward here.
Drive smart!
Tobias
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Comment by Greg Smith on August 25, 2011 at 9:32pm -
I just bought mine from the Naples Mercedes Benz Dealer. Best buying experience I have ever had and I love my Smart.
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Comment by starlord on August 19, 2011 at 2:26am -
It's great to see that Mercedes-Benz USA is taking an interest in the smart car, plans to do some marketing, and will do their best to get the brand going -- I look forward to what comes next!
Christopher "StarLord"
Founder, Smart Owners Club of San Francisco
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Comment by Debra Pope on August 10, 2011 at 6:03pm -
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 5:40 PM
Message body
I just wanted to report my 1st concern with you, and the chain of events. On 7/6/11 I drove home from work which included a few stops and on an off the freeway. I had just stopped for a red light, on a surface street, the light turned green and I proceeded and was up to approx. 30 mph. All of a sudden it felt like my car was out of gear and I was accelerating and going nowhere, My car never stalled, just coasted. I was able to get off the road into a parking lot. It was the scariest feeling, I was going through the gears, but all thet showed up was P and N,
no R or D.
I called Smart Roadside and arranged to have the car picked up and towed to my dealer, I explained that I was unsure about the dealer since the website was now listing 2 addresses. 1 on Telegraph Road and 1 on Woodward Ave.They assured me they would get it to the right place safely.
Mon 7/8/11 I get a call from the Telegraph location, that my car was there, but the Smart dealer had moved. It would have to be towed again to the correct dealer. OK I had left a voice mail at the Telegraph dealer, for Mark, my service guy, but he left over 2 months ago. Is it the dealers responceabilityto change or delete that voice mail ????????? So I had to call Roadside service again and have them pick up my car and transport it to the new dealer. I did not receive notice via email or US postal mail that this change had happened,
This is TERRIBLE customer service, and to top it off, there is no real explanation, why my car failed like this?
Do you realize every time it hesitates I will be afraid, it could happen again. Apparently when the service manager approached the car, it started right up and went into gear, no problem, so no real concrete answer or reason why this happened, I can't help but think how much worse it could of been if i was merging onto or off the freeway or even on the freeway at 70 mph . My car has been checked out and returned to me, today over 48 hours later.
I did not ask, but was I entitled to a loaner ? I am not sure what my warranty covers, but know it's valid until 2/1/2012. Is there an extended warranty available and what is the cost and what does it cover.
I have the 2009 Smart 4 2 Passion Cabriolet.
Debra Pope
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Comment by Jan in West U on August 5, 2011 at 4:07pm -
We need a 'LIKE' button for comments. Anyone agree with me?
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Comment by Ryan on August 5, 2011 at 1:59pm -
Well, i was talking with Jill sometime before this whole changeover fully went through, and she was going to have Chris Duffner contact me about some of the issues i've had with my car of which the previous local Smart Center for me (Smart Center Trevose) was absolutely zero help. Haven't heard anything from Chris on the subject, and it's been nearly two months since our last discussion. Took my Smart down to the new Smart Center Devon around the middle of June to have some of the stuff looked at, and among the things i wanted them to check out was the engine malfunction light that is illuminated on the dash. After going there and them looking at it... they told me they couldn't tell me what was wrong with it because the software for their code scanners wasn't updated with Smart's information yet. Would have kinda expected someone there to inform me of that before I drove my car all the way down there. They also couldn't help me with the wheels, roof, or fuel filler door because of not really being up-to-date on warranty information and such. So i wound up driving down there, and only got an oil change, which i could have done at home for much less. Now i just noticed that the screen that rolls out under the roof panel won't actually roll out, and gets stuck somehow.
I really do like the car... but i'm just getting tired of trying to get certain problems dealt with, which my work schedule usually isn't the most accommodating for. I'd trade it in... but no dealership i went to will give me more than $7,000 for it, and i still owe nearly double that, which i wouldn't even remotely be able to afford to pay off on top of a new car. Been trying to sell it outright, and have had a couple people seem very interested, but nobody has followed through yet.
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Comment by Jim Ramsdell on August 4, 2011 at 7:24pm -
being a smart car owner and dealership mechanic for 27 year. why is the smart company not advertising .
i have more and more peaple who stop me and my wife and ask about the little car.
they have no idea that the car is made by mercedez-benz . they also think the car is very unsafe. why ?????????????? are you not advertising .
why do you not have a dealership in the cape cod area?
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Comment by spicejax on August 3, 2011 at 12:58pm -
Very Good, mikey likes this.
MJB
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