[Purin313]

Hi...

Currently I'm still one of the many people in this forum patiently waiting for my SLK350. However, I would appreciate if anyone who already received their R171 to give me some information as I kind of suspect that my salesperson is not being honest enough...

I was intially told about 2 months ago that my car would be built in the 2nd decade of Feb. and should arrive for delivery at late March. If this is all true, I would assume my car has already been built by now (as today is already the 19th) and waiting for shipment. I tried to reach my salesperson and was told that the car has been "planted" and won't know anything until next week. I then asked what "planted" means but unfortunately he did not quite answer my question. I then asked if "planted" means "completed", "produced", or "built" but still his answer is between a "yes" and "no". I then tried to push him by asking for a VIN number but he said he wouldn't get it until the car is shipped.

Now...my question is:

(1) What does "planted" means?
(2) Is it true that we won't get the VIN number until the car is actually on the ship? Or is it that the computer system at the dealership will reflect the VIN number once the car is built?

I'm just trying to figure out if my order has actually been delayed and the salesperson is just too embarressed to tell me the truth and thus gives me millions of excuses!

Thank you in advance for all of your help!

 

[Julien]

MB uses a letter number code to track cars like B3 through its NetStar system. Here is a list of the codes. BTW "planted" sounds like salesperson BS.[:0]

Here's a Netstar overview posted by Rod, I believe, a few months ago. Hope this helps.


A4 FINAL SUPPLIER ORDER/SCHEDULED NOT PRODUCED
B0 19 DAYS TO PRODUCTION
B1 13 DAYS TO PRODUCTION
B3 NO CHANGES POSSIBLE
B4 2 DAYS TO COMPLETION
B5 PRODUCTION COMPLETE
B7 AT PORT/READY TO BE SHIPPED
B8 ASSIGNED TO SHIP
C1 SHIP DEPARTED
C2 SHIP NOTIFICATION/ON WQTER
CS SUMITTED TO CUSTOMS
C3 CLEARED CUSTOMS
C4 AT PORT
D1 VPC RECEIVED
D2 SURVEYED AT VPC
D3 POTENTIAL DELAY
D4 READY TO DELIVER
D5 RELEASED TO CARRIER
D9 WHOLESALE/CONSIGNMENT PENDING
F1 WHOLESALED AND INVOICED
I1 RETAIL

 

[NukeSLK]

As soon as production is complete, the Dealer has or has access to the VIN#. My car was to be produced the last 10 days of December. I had my Vin# before the first of the year. It was loaded on the ship Jan. 3rd. It was at the dealer on Jan 24th. Hope this helps.

 

[Purin313]

Julien...thanks for all the code and definitions....To me "planted" also sounds BS to me cos' I kept asking him to give me another simpler definition of "planted" but he never did.

NukeSLK, thanks to you also for you experiece.

Now I think i have enough information to bring in front of this salesperson to prove that he's just BS-itting and demand a more definite answer.

How about the others? Any comments on my original thread?

 

[dsballdo]

ask the sales person the status code for your car. if he/she doesn't know what it is, ask him/her to have the sales manager check in netstar. usually by using their language they get the hint that you know what's going on. are there other dealers in your area who may be easier to deal with, less expensive or more honest? is there a porsche dealer in town with an extra 2005 boxster for sale? as a consumer you have lots of options if the dealer is a jerk and they don't have a large deposit.

 

[Duo-Art]

Planted? Ask the salesman if "he wants to get planted", Chicago Style. Also refered to as "A Dirt Nap".

 

[malibuite]

I just picked up my car today[][][]

Ordered mid-november with a delivery date of March.

However, in December the sales person told me it would be built 2nd week of January and here mid-February. 2 weeks ago he called and said it would be here Feb. 14th. Then he sort of lost track of it once it arrived in port in LA but called me on Thursday night as soon as it arrived at the dealer and said I could pick it up today. I never had a VIN# so don't know when they are available.

When I picked up my car today there was a silver 350 SLK on the lot with black interior. I do not know if it was manual or automatic or what options it had.

 

[vinnyz]

My car arrived on 2/17 and has been listed as
being discharged. Is NetStar a web site that allows you to track the vehicle even further along ?

 

[Duo-Art]

Only dealers can access Net Star. You have to ask your dealer to check the status for you.