Another Update For Those Waiting

[BigBadHemi]

Hey everyone,
The following information in this post represents my understanding of the current situation in Brampton as explained to me by my district corporate representative. I cannot absolutely guarantee the veracity of what was I told beyond telling you that in the past, he has always been dead on with respect to all the current issues of production. I welcome any additonal information, clarification, or correction of anything discussed here and I apologize for any inconsistencies or inaccurate information contained herein.

I spoke with my regional DCX rep today and he told me the following: Supplier issues have once again limited SRT-8 build production. Currently, eight 300C SRT-8's and nine Charger SRT-8's are being produced every day. These production levels are enough to ensure that many orders will be delayed for some time, as the rate of orders increase and begin to pile up. and production stalls or remains the same. Production of this build is scheduled to stop and remain dormant until the second allocation period,(meaning Jan/Feb), sometime in mid-November. I confirmed this with a DealerConnect help desk dealer service representative and the Daily News posted online in the TOPS ordering system.

I came across this info when I was attempting to modify an order on an allocated Charger SRT-8 for a customer who wanted a Bright Silver Metallic that would be here soon. The two other incoming units already in D1 status had made it in under the wire for cars that werent designated as sold orders.
The status for the other two of our four had been changed to ZA status, which we'd never seen before. A quick call to my help desk peeps revealed that ZA is "factory cancelled" status. However, they were still scheduled for November builds in the system. I called Brian "X" who explained that the way which DC operates, (which, for once, makes sense,) is to delay sequentially preceding VON's in favor of those which have been marked as sold units. So what we did, and he promises will work, is for him to mark the units as sold, because we cant modify them here, once theyre in ZA. They were ordered pretty early into the availability, so they should in all likelihood, get through. I'll keep my fingers crossed for my customer, though, because I get almost as excited to deliver my SRT's as my customers do when they get them.

What I'm about to tell you may not be altogether based on a set-in-stone logic set or absolute altruisms;however, I can guarantee it is not altogether misguided, though. My advice to all those waiting for an order is this:


CUSTOMERS:

- For those of you who have orders, verify and confirm with your providing dealership that your order is marked in the ordering system as a sold unit with your name and address attached to said order. Ask for proof - they should be able to provide you with a customer-friendly copy of an advance shipper showing vehicle options, build status, and your name and address.
- Be persistent. If you're not, chances are that you will get blown off or lied to. Believe me, I see it each and every day. Most salespeople do not have the access to check on the vehicles themselves - they have to corner a manager and then get them to look it up for them, which can be a very time consuming task.
-If youre name is not on the vehicle, make sure that gets updated, I see orders placed for people quite frequently without taking the extra minute to enter the customer data.


SALESPEOPLE/DEALERSHIP PERSONELL:

-I would never engage in, nor encourage behavior that contradicts company policy or is anything other than completely transparent and honest. Also, I would like to think that no dealership employee would ever besmirch their own personal integrity or violate the enormous faith and trust placed in them by our benevolent and formidable benefactor, the Daimler Chrysler Corporation - by marking their orders as sold and then using funny anagrams or silly Russian pronunciations of their own names for the customer data, to ensure that their allocations got filled right away. Thats the sort of thing that the shady former GM or GSM that got fired/"resigned" under a cloud of suspicion and questionable bookeeping would do. Im sure you all heard about "that guy."


Anyways, if I'm wrong on something, then correct me, if something needs to be clarified, please clarify or include amplifying info. I'm just trying to keep yall informed. With all due respect to those awaiting cars who dont work for DC, you're probably not the best person to dispute anything here, I don't care what your "salesperson" told you, because the vast majority of my peer group, knows even less than the operators on the DC Hotline, who are bussed in from soup kitchens across the country, and then given fifteen minutes of training before they start fielding you guys' calls. I'm sorry, I was way off base, there. Very informative, those guys.

PROPS TO THE BOYS IN BRAMPTON

Best Regards,
ANONYMOUS



p.s. I'll update this as soon as I can as I am busy selling PT Cruisers *GOSH*

[Model 57]

So people with SRT8 Magnums hoping for deliveries in the near furture, can forget about it. The production schedule is only for C's and the Chargers?

[Rambit]

Kinda scary, but it contradicts the information ResumeSpeed has. He says they're building 25 cars a day in Brampton. They're not saying anything at all about this on the Brampton site, and the questions have been asked.

Rambit

[BigBadHemi]

I haven't gotten clarification from him yet, however he may have been referring specifically to the cars available for our market/region?, and he also said that they were working on resolving the issues, that may very well have happened. If you have something to add, then by all means please do so. I don't think it's about who's right and whose wrong, isn't it about informing people who are here for just that reason? If you have something constructive to say, please do so, but dispense with the grade school stuff already.

Originally Posted by Rambit

Kinda scary, but it contradicts the information ResumeSpeed has. He says they're building 25 cars a day in Brampton. They're not saying anything at all about this on the Brampton site, and the questions have been asked.

Rambit

[Rambit]

Originally Posted by BigBadHemi

I haven't gotten clarification from him yet, however he may have been referring specifically to the cars available for our market/region?, and he also said that they were working on resolving the issues, that may very well have happened. If you have something to add, then by all means please do so. I don't think it's about who's right and whose wrong, isn't it about informing people who are here for just that reason? If you have something constructive to say, please do so, but dispense with the grade school stuff already.

That was the information I had to offer. You got a hair trigger or what? All I stated was what ResumeSpeed posted. Relax BigBadGuy, no one is saying you're right or wrong. Lots of people here have "inside" information. Sometimes it's just rumor, sometimes it's true. You reported one thing and RS reported another. I should point out to you ResumeSpeed is a trusted and respected member here, with tons of credibility, but you only have a very few number of posts. I could have linked the post for you if that would have helped you out.

Rambit - from way up North where the sun don't shine, but the fingers are fat.

[ResumeSpeed]

Originally Posted by BigBadHemi

...I spoke with my regional DCX rep today and he told me the following: Supplier issues have once again limited SRT-8 build production. Currently, eight 300C SRT-8's and nine Charger SRT-8's are being produced every day. These production levels are enough to ensure that many orders will be delayed for some time, as the rate of orders increase and begin to pile up. and production stalls or remains the same. Production of this build is scheduled to stop and remain dormant until the second allocation period,(meaning Jan/Feb), sometime in mid-November. I confirmed this with a DealerConnect help desk dealer service representative and the Daily News posted online in the TOPS ordering system...

I am constantly surprised at the amount of misinformation that comes from "the bottom to the top". From salespeople, sales managers, regional reps and right up the ladder everyone seems to have a different story on production holds, delays, quantities and so on. This has been going on since last year when pilot models of the SRT's were first produced and hasn't stopped since. How many times have we heard that production has been "reduced" or "stopped"?

In almost any situation of a production holdup the "reasons" (like supplier shortages or QC problems) are never divulged by those who are truly in the know, this information is usually kept very classified for a lot of obvious reasons. This results in all kinds of rumors and speculations that spread on the internet like wildfire. A classic example was the "Kicker" situation back in the spring and summer. I lost count of how many different "reasons" that were speculated or given regarding the delays involved. DCX is notorious (and I am sure other auto companies as well) for keeping everyone in the dark when "issues" arise. Sometimes for good reason, sometimes in the opinion of many perhaps not.

The current production situation is as follows... first of all, to quell a topic that always comes up, Charger SRT-8 production has not, and will not have an effect on 300C SRT production. The "total" production numbers for the 300C, Charger and Magnum were all put together a long time ago. DCX was well aware of the potential demand they were going to encounter for all three vehicles and set production numbers accordingly. That's not to say that there was no room left for adjustment based on unexpected market conditions, they could certainly vary the numbers between the vehicles somewhat, but probably not by large amounts due to pre-set supplier commitments for the quantities of parts required. In other words, DCX didn't just decide after 300C SRT production started that they were going to make a Charger version or whatever, again, this was all set up in the early stages of the LX product development.

Brampton is currently building a LOT more than "8" 300C SRT's per day. The first three days of this week, for example, they have built almost 100 vehicles (!!). If production continues at a similar or even reduced pace for the rest of the month then October will be the THIRD month in a row that they have rolled out MORE THAN 400 300C SRT-8's.

I'd have to check the numbers for Chargers and Magnums but they are also rolling right along this month. Magnums are the "least popular" of the group so of course less of them are being built. Charger production has only been rolling a little over a month, I would estimate that about 250-300 have been built so far.

As far as a "shutdown" in mid November I have not heard anything one way or the other so cannot comment with any accuracy as to the truth of it. I'll continue to "keep an eye" on the situation and report, as usual, if I hear anything.

[Rambit]

Thank God you chimed in on this one RS!

Rambit

[dlyle]

Thanks for the info ResumeSpeed. Can you give us an indication of how many Charger SRT-8's are being built? I agree about the misinformation....there is so much out there. Chrysler is telling me that my SRT-8 (283806) is scheduled to be built 11/10 but my dealer says that Dealer Connect shows an estimated shipping date of 11/3. Autorail from the Charger forum says it was sheduled to begin production 10/21. From what I hear it still shows as status D1 with an 01 priority. So at this point I'm not really sure of anything other than the fact it hasa VIN.

Glad we've got people like you that can get us some information.

Doug

[ResumeSpeed]

Originally Posted by dlyle

Thanks for the info ResumeSpeed. Can you give us an indication of how many Charger SRT-8's are being built? I agree about the misinformation....there is so much out there. Chrysler is telling me that my SRT-8 (283806) is scheduled to be built 11/10 but my dealer says that Dealer Connect shows an estimated shipping date of 11/3. Autorail from the Charger forum says it was sheduled to begin production 10/21. From what I hear it still shows as status D1 with an 01 priority. So at this point I'm not really sure of anything other than the fact it has a VIN.

Glad we've got people like you that can get us some information.

Doug

Glad to help out whenever possible. Production of the Charger started about 6 weeks ago and so far several hundred have been built and are at or on their way to dealers all across the U.S. It's hard to say when exactly your's will be built but I do know that it has not been built yet. Keep a close eye on the Brampton site updates and I'm sure you will see some progress soon. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

[QuikSilver]

Right about now I'm feeling very fortunate to have walked into the dealership, have an SRT8 come off the truck that morning(w/no name attached to it)-and paid MSRP for the Silver Beast 3 hours later!!!

To hear the waiting game you guys are going thru is AGONIZING!!!!!