Of course my BS meter is always ringing its arss off on anything a car salesmen says but maybe someone more knowledgeable then I has a answer for this:

I bought the Fit a week ago and they spewed all kinds of crazy stuff about having a VIN "its on the truck" type stuff. "It will be in a few days to a few weeks". So I figured it would just take a while. I dont actually have a problem with it, I don

 

It's on a truck and will be here in a few days or few weeks! haha

When I shipped my car I could get on the intertubes and see exactly where it was. I'm sure if it was really on a truck Honda could figure out where it was! What a bunch of losers.

 

When I ordered my S2000, my salesman gave me several updates, but I bought it from a dealership in Lousiana. I would think it wouldn't take too long from port to dealer on the west coast. He told me when it was being manufactured, when it arrived in port in Long Beach, and when it was on the train headed East. Then he called and said it should be there in less than a week since it was off the train in Memphis and was headed to the dealer on a truck. Then he called me that next week and said he had the car. None of his dates were exact, but he generally had a good idea where it was. I can't imagine it taking two weeks to get from socal up to Portland though when that's about what it took to get to Louisiana.

 

What do you think of this? I just got this in email 1 minute ago:

"am still looking out for the Fit. Sorry for the inconvience, but please bare with me. I also thank you for allowing me to earn your business. I wish I could speed the process up for you both, but I can only wait. The good news is that I do have a stock number so now I am just waiting for the Fit to arrive. If any questions please don't hesitate to give me a call directly on my cell. "

 

Actually...my Honda dealership told me when the car was shipped from Japan to the US and then also told me when it hit the Cali docks. They couldn't tell me that it was on a truck, but knew within a few days of when it would arrive.

 

I worked at a Mazda dealership for a while, and we would get VINs before the car was even built...

 

and a "Stock number" could just mean that the dealership "assigned the car a stock number" (aka a number the dealership gives the vehicle to keep track of keys, inventory, etc) ...after working at a dealership, my outlook on car salespeople has risen to an all-time high... They say random crap that makes no sense and has no bearing such as "good news! they just sent us the VINs" or "Great news, it should be here any day, we just got the "stock numbers" when they really don't know crap...

At the Mazda dealership, we've had cars arrive 2-3 months before planned and vice-versa... you never know, but will do anything possible to keep customers with you. sad

 

First the dealer gets a build date. This is an approximation (within one day generally) of when the vehicle will come down the line. The VIN number then allows the dealer to follow the progress of the vehicle to the dealership.

VIN number's are released to the dealer right after the vehicle is built.

Depending on where it is built, it is next 'in transit', which could be 'at port' 'on sea' or 'on rail.' This information also is followed with a ETA time as to when it will arrive. And ETA means exactly that, estimated time of arrival. The date given is usually accurate within a couple of days.

Once the vehicle lands in the manufacturers compound, it is then put on a transport to be driven and dropped at the dealership. It shows up on their vehicle status list then as 'at compound.'

Once it is placed on a truck it is 'in transport'

Every dealership is aware by the vehicle status reports of when the vehicle will arrive within a couple of days from the moment it is built, barring any unforseen situations. Such as storms at sea, rail disruptions etc.
In the meantime, once it has been scheduled for production, it can also be traded at any time to another vehicle for one which is being built quicker or for one on the ground.

Hope this helps.

 

Since the sales guy is being proactive, I would'nt think he's BSing you, at least on purpose. He may not be getting good info from the manager.

 

Or the vehicle is further away than you were first told and they are trying to buy time.......
Hate to tell you this but Honda vehicles are not assigned a stock number by anyone other than the dealer.