Still waiting for my GLE450 ordered 6/23/19
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AMG E43
Still waiting for my GLE450 ordered 6/23/19
I ordered a 2020 GLE450 in late June of 2019 from a dealer in Yakima, WA. It is now May of 2020 and I still don't have a car. I am certainly aware of some of the early production issues for the GLE line and now delays related to Covid19. However, this delay seems extraordinarily long. My build has most options except AIR-EBC. Any thoughts about this? Should I cancel my order and wait for a 2021 model? Does anybody know when the 2021 model will go into production? I'm not too happy about buying a SUV at the very end of the 2020 model year although I don't expect any significant changes for the 2021 model. I have never waited this long for a custom order from Mercedes. Thoughts welcome from MBWorld members.
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From: Plano, TX
2017 C300 Coupe (C205)
We ordered in December 2018, and ordered another one in July 2019 when there was no update for months, and many models sat in open lots in AL.
Both cars arrived within a week in late November.
I'm sorry that an order prior to our second one hasn't been fulfilled yet, and that you're going through what we did.
I expect you're past the commitment with the dealership for delivery, so there's no harm in ordering a 2021.
As long as you don't sign another commitment, you're not obligated to either vehicle.
The dealership wants to sell cars, and they won't have a problem selling the 2020 when it comes.
And if they want your loyalty and business, they shouldn't bind you to another order commitment.
Both cars arrived within a week in late November.
I'm sorry that an order prior to our second one hasn't been fulfilled yet, and that you're going through what we did.
I expect you're past the commitment with the dealership for delivery, so there's no harm in ordering a 2021.
As long as you don't sign another commitment, you're not obligated to either vehicle.
The dealership wants to sell cars, and they won't have a problem selling the 2020 when it comes.
And if they want your loyalty and business, they shouldn't bind you to another order commitment.
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AMG E43
Antigeek,
Don't hate me. I worked in the tech industry
. Thank you for responding to my post. I hope you are enjoying your GLE 450. I've waited so long for this car, that I suppose I will accept it whenever it arrives at the dealership. However, I find myself doubting my decision all the time. Stay healthy, be well. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
Don't hate me. I worked in the tech industry
. Thank you for responding to my post. I hope you are enjoying your GLE 450. I've waited so long for this car, that I suppose I will accept it whenever it arrives at the dealership. However, I find myself doubting my decision all the time. Stay healthy, be well. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 95
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From: Plano, TX
2017 C300 Coupe (C205)
Antigeek,
Don't hate me. I worked in the tech industry. Thank you for responding to my post. I hope you are enjoying your GLE 450. I've waited so long for this car, that I suppose I will accept it whenever it arrives at the dealership. However, I find myself doubting my decision all the time. Stay healthy, be well. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
Don't hate me. I worked in the tech industry
. Thank you for responding to my post. I hope you are enjoying your GLE 450. I've waited so long for this car, that I suppose I will accept it whenever it arrives at the dealership. However, I find myself doubting my decision all the time. Stay healthy, be well. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.The wife loves her GLE, and we weren't stuck waiting for it: it was the only choice she wanted, so we waited...and were thankful when it arrived.
Use your doubts, and work with your salesman to see what outside-the-box options you have.
The dealership has no control over delivery, but they know the system.
Our salesman is awesome, and while he couldn't help us, he gave us great feedback on our ideas and supported our option to order again (with no penalty).
Best wishes to you as well, and I hope the nightmare ride we spent a year (minus 13 days) on ends soon.
Sucks when you want what you've set your heart on and can't get it. #firstworldproblems #thankfuleveryday
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Vancouver
CLK320
I ordered 450 on 2018/Dec/08, reorder 53 on 2019/Aug/11. Took delivery of 53 on 2020/Fbe/28.
I feel you pain, Till today I do not understand how a company this size can be so bad at forecasting and securing part source. Whatever the reason they had. My GLE53 has many small problems also. And noisy front suspension. If you let me pick again, I would go with e53 wagon or just simply pick another brand. Not worth the troubles.
I feel you pain, Till today I do not understand how a company this size can be so bad at forecasting and securing part source. Whatever the reason they had. My GLE53 has many small problems also. And noisy front suspension. If you let me pick again, I would go with e53 wagon or just simply pick another brand. Not worth the troubles.
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Thanks for your suggestions. I'd give you the PO# if I had it. I'm lucky if I can get any information from this dealer or my salesperson. His usual answer to any of my questions about the status of my order is "I don't know" or "I can't get any information from StarNet" or "I'll have to check with our Mercedes rep" and then I never hear back from him. The last I heard was that my car was scheduled to be built in early April. Of course, then the factory shut down due to Covid19 and I haven't heard anything since. Sometimes I wonder if they just took my $1000 deposit and never even ordered a car. So many excuses and still no car! This is a low volume dealer with no clout. I used them instead of the dealer I normally use to save some dollars on sales tax. My mistake.
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From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Production status
Thanks for your suggestions. I'd give you the PO# if I had it. I'm lucky if I can get any information from this dealer or my salesperson. His usual answer to any of my questions about the status of my order is "I don't know" or "I can't get any information from StarNet" or "I'll have to check with our Mercedes rep" and then I never hear back from him. The last I heard was that my car was scheduled to be built in early April. Of course, then the factory shut down due to Covid19 and I haven't heard anything since. Sometimes I wonder if they just took my $1000 deposit and never even ordered a car. So many excuses and still no car! This is a low volume dealer with no clout. I used them instead of the dealer I normally use to save some dollars on sales tax. My mistake.
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AMG E43
Huge warning signs there! If you can't even get a PO number that is very poor service. They should be able to extract a complete transaction date log from NetStar. You have been too patient. I would get your deposit back and go elsewhere. fabbrisd1 who posted above is a dealer that is a straight shooter - I would follow his advice.
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From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Production status
Thanks for your reply. I will call and demand that information. I'd go elsewhere, but after waiting for 11 months, if I blow up this order for a custom GLE450 with the color and options I want and order again from another dealer, I'm afraid I'll be waiting for another six months. The car is for my wife. She loves her current Mercedes ML. It has been a very reliable car. I just hope the new GLE450 lives up to expectations when it finally arrives. Thanks again for weighing in.
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Thank you Greg. This is very helpful. I will request this information from the dealer in Yakima. If they won't or can't provide it, I will go elsewhere even if it costs me more money. I'm so "done" with these guys. The communication has been so poor and so sporadic (even when I ask for updates). I wonder why Mercedes even allows this dealership to sell its automobiles. I've bought more than a dozen Mercedes vehicles over the years and I have never experienced such poor service from a Mercedes dealer.
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From: Central Coast, CA
2020 X7 xDrive40i, 2016 X3 sDrive28i
I feel your pain. I ordered two GLS450 in October 2019. Both were supposed to have been delivered by December 2019 but kept getting pushed back. One of them went into B4 status on 2/4/2020. Got the VIN# and got excited. It never made it out of B4 status. The 2nd one hasn't even started production yet.
I've contacted MBUSA a couple of times, they have no idea why it's being held up. Dealers also don't have any info.
I've contacted MBUSA a couple of times, they have no idea why it's being held up. Dealers also don't have any info.
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From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
I feel your pain. I ordered two GLS450 in October 2019. Both were supposed to have been delivered by December 2019 but kept getting pushed back. One of them went into B4 status on 2/4/2020. Got the VIN# and got excited. It never made it out of B4 status. The 2nd one hasn't even started production yet.
I've contacted MBUSA a couple of times, they have no idea why it's being held up. Dealers also don't have any info.
I've contacted MBUSA a couple of times, they have no idea why it's being held up. Dealers also don't have any info.
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From: Central Coast, CA
2020 X7 xDrive40i, 2016 X3 sDrive28i
The general manager from the bigger dealer contacted Regional Distribution as well as the factory itself. Nobody can tell him why my car has been stuck in B4 status since 2/4/2020 or when it will be out of that status.
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2022 Mercedes EQS 580
Thank you Greg. This is very helpful. I will request this information from the dealer in Yakima. If they won't or can't provide it, I will go elsewhere even if it costs me more money. I'm so "done" with these guys. The communication has been so poor and so sporadic (even when I ask for updates). I wonder why Mercedes even allows this dealership to sell its automobiles. I've bought more than a dozen Mercedes vehicles over the years and I have never experienced such poor service from a Mercedes dealer.
There are really two solutions to this problem:
1) Find another dealer (a larger dealer) with actual production slots and then you will have a confirmed delivery.
2) Send a letter to the CEO of Mercedes Benz USA and complain about the overall experience you are having and demand they provide a car given that a deposit was paid almost a year ago. This method is very effective - I have done it before in this exact same situation. Mercedes can help broker an allocation swap to get your dealer a car.
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AMG E43
Hey I think what happened with you is that the dealer took an order for a car for which they have no allocations (and they hoped that after taking a booked order, Mercedes will assign them a production slot allocation for this car).
There are really two solutions to this problem:
1) Find another dealer (a larger dealer) with actual production slots and then you will have a confirmed delivery.
2) Send a letter to the CEO of Mercedes Benz USA and complain about the overall experience you are having and demand they provide a car given that a deposit was paid almost a year ago. This method is very effective - I have done it before in this exact same situation. Mercedes can help broker an allocation swap to get your dealer a car.
There are really two solutions to this problem:
1) Find another dealer (a larger dealer) with actual production slots and then you will have a confirmed delivery.
2) Send a letter to the CEO of Mercedes Benz USA and complain about the overall experience you are having and demand they provide a car given that a deposit was paid almost a year ago. This method is very effective - I have done it before in this exact same situation. Mercedes can help broker an allocation swap to get your dealer a car.
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AMG E43
Yesterday, I sent an email to MBUSA customer support to see if they might be able to help me regarding status on the 2020 GLE450 I ordered last June. I also drew attention to the very poor communication I've receive from the dealer in Yakima, WA, where I placed my order (with a $1000 deposit) Almost a year later, still no car and silence from the dealer who has my money. I was hoping for some better customer service from MBUSA. Here is their response regarding my issue.
Dear Bill:
Thank you for your email to Mercedes-Benz USA.
Customer feedback is paramount to ensuring that we are providing an unsurpassed ownership experience and we appreciate your contact. Not being directly involved with the circumstances you have described, we trust you understand why we are not in the position to speculate or comment with specifics. Despite these obvious limitations, we do take your concerns very seriously, and are sorry that you have been left with a negative impression.
Since authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers are independently owned, they are responsible for their own business operations, including sales transactions. Accordingly, we have forwarded your letter to the dealerships' management team, for their review.
We thank you for the opportunity to review your concerns.
Kind Regards,
Dana B.
Obviously something is broken here. I guess Mercedes (the best or nothing) is no longer the company that earned my business decades ago, leading me to purchase more than a dozen of their vehicles over the years.
Dear Bill:
Thank you for your email to Mercedes-Benz USA.
Customer feedback is paramount to ensuring that we are providing an unsurpassed ownership experience and we appreciate your contact. Not being directly involved with the circumstances you have described, we trust you understand why we are not in the position to speculate or comment with specifics. Despite these obvious limitations, we do take your concerns very seriously, and are sorry that you have been left with a negative impression.
Since authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers are independently owned, they are responsible for their own business operations, including sales transactions. Accordingly, we have forwarded your letter to the dealerships' management team, for their review.
We thank you for the opportunity to review your concerns.
Kind Regards,
Dana B.
Obviously something is broken here. I guess Mercedes (the best or nothing) is no longer the company that earned my business decades ago, leading me to purchase more than a dozen of their vehicles over the years.
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From: Boise
2024 GMC Canyon Denali..... 2018 Audi SQ5
Yesterday, I sent an email to MBUSA customer support to see if they might be able to help me regarding status on the 2020 GLE450 I ordered last June. I also drew attention to the very poor communication I've receive from the dealer in Yakima, WA, where I placed my order (with a $1000 deposit) Almost a year later, still no car and silence from the dealer who has my money. I was hoping for some better customer service from MBUSA. Here is their response regarding my issue.
Dear Bill:
Thank you for your email to Mercedes-Benz USA.
Customer feedback is paramount to ensuring that we are providing an unsurpassed ownership experience and we appreciate your contact. Not being directly involved with the circumstances you have described, we trust you understand why we are not in the position to speculate or comment with specifics. Despite these obvious limitations, we do take your concerns very seriously, and are sorry that you have been left with a negative impression.
Since authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers are independently owned, they are responsible for their own business operations, including sales transactions. Accordingly, we have forwarded your letter to the dealerships' management team, for their review.
We thank you for the opportunity to review your concerns.
Kind Regards,
Dana B.
Obviously something is broken here. I guess Mercedes (the best or nothing) is no longer the company that earned my business decades ago, leading me to purchase more than a dozen of their vehicles over the years.
Dear Bill:
Thank you for your email to Mercedes-Benz USA.
Customer feedback is paramount to ensuring that we are providing an unsurpassed ownership experience and we appreciate your contact. Not being directly involved with the circumstances you have described, we trust you understand why we are not in the position to speculate or comment with specifics. Despite these obvious limitations, we do take your concerns very seriously, and are sorry that you have been left with a negative impression.
Since authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers are independently owned, they are responsible for their own business operations, including sales transactions. Accordingly, we have forwarded your letter to the dealerships' management team, for their review.
We thank you for the opportunity to review your concerns.
Kind Regards,
Dana B.
Obviously something is broken here. I guess Mercedes (the best or nothing) is no longer the company that earned my business decades ago, leading me to purchase more than a dozen of their vehicles over the years.
‘Another thing you could do is Google or Facebook/Linked In the Staff to find out the chain of command. The Mercedes Dealer is part of the Steve Hahn Auto Group...Kia & VW also. You might even get lucky and get Steve if you call the right number. At some level of Management your experience would not be acceptable.
Good Luck!
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From: Boise
2024 GMC Canyon Denali..... 2018 Audi SQ5
I wasn’t quite done, had company. I think another possibility is that they gave your allocation to another customer. I had a GM Dealer many years ago switch my “invoice order” to another customer and moved mine to a later order. I would not have found out but they messed up the color and had already given me a print out of my order showing the right options.
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Ron,
I truly appreciate your comments on my post. In fact, I really appreciate all the comments and support I've received here on MBWorld. Knowing that the factory has notified dealers about 2020 GLE450 orders they cannot fulfill, I will press my dealership to either let me know when my car will be delivered or cancel my order (expecting a return of my deposit). I believe the dealership lied to me when they said it made no difference that they are a low-volume Mercedes dealer regarding their ability to process my order. Clearly that isn't the case. Having placed my order in late June of 2019 I surely should have received a car by now. I haven't come across anyone here on MBWorld who has waited that long for a car to be delivered. I plan to track down the dealership owner and point-blank ask him to find out if I will get my order before the factory shuts down to prepare for 2021 models. Either I get the car I ordered, or I want my deposit back. I shall share the ultimate outcome here on MBWorld. Thanks again for your comments and suggestions.
I truly appreciate your comments on my post. In fact, I really appreciate all the comments and support I've received here on MBWorld. Knowing that the factory has notified dealers about 2020 GLE450 orders they cannot fulfill, I will press my dealership to either let me know when my car will be delivered or cancel my order (expecting a return of my deposit). I believe the dealership lied to me when they said it made no difference that they are a low-volume Mercedes dealer regarding their ability to process my order. Clearly that isn't the case. Having placed my order in late June of 2019 I surely should have received a car by now. I haven't come across anyone here on MBWorld who has waited that long for a car to be delivered. I plan to track down the dealership owner and point-blank ask him to find out if I will get my order before the factory shuts down to prepare for 2021 models. Either I get the car I ordered, or I want my deposit back. I shall share the ultimate outcome here on MBWorld. Thanks again for your comments and suggestions.
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Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Montreal, QC
2020 GLE450 4Matic AMG-Line
I am certain the dealership also earned interest on your $1,000 for a whole year too. You might want to seek that compensation. It can't hurt to ask them for it.
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Fabbrisd1,
I finally got through to someone who could help regarding the long delayed order I placed for a 2020 GLE450 (ordered mid-June of 2019). The PO # is 0071564498. If you would be so kind, let me know what you think. Am I likely to get this car? The dealer has offered to refund my deposit and give me first right of refusal when the car arrives at their dealership. My concern now is that I am essentially buying an end-of-year model. Perhaps you could provide some guidance on what kind of "discount" would be reasonable should I still decide to purchase this car? I know there will be significant depreciation the minute I drive it off the lot, even more so as an end of year model. Thank you again for your advice to date and any further help you might offer.
I finally got through to someone who could help regarding the long delayed order I placed for a 2020 GLE450 (ordered mid-June of 2019). The PO # is 0071564498. If you would be so kind, let me know what you think. Am I likely to get this car? The dealer has offered to refund my deposit and give me first right of refusal when the car arrives at their dealership. My concern now is that I am essentially buying an end-of-year model. Perhaps you could provide some guidance on what kind of "discount" would be reasonable should I still decide to purchase this car? I know there will be significant depreciation the minute I drive it off the lot, even more so as an end of year model. Thank you again for your advice to date and any further help you might offer.
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AMG E43
Tery, thanks for your comment. I did arrange to get my deposit back and first right of refusal if the car gets delivered to the dealer. I'm not too worried about collecting $10 to $20 interest on my deposit. If I get the car, fine. If not, I'll move on and at least I won't have to argue with them to get back my deposit.
