What is it With MINI Dealers

[jallen4]

I took delivery on my ordered S Conv. August 8, from Ferman Tampa Bay MINI. All was fine except the checker board rear view mirror cover was missing. They assured me it would be in the mail the following week for me to install.

It is now Sept. 9 and no mirror cover and no explanation. I have repeatedly contacted them about the missing part and they repeatedly have told me it was being sent. I eventually escalated the problem to management who promised to call me back the next day with an answer to the problem. Two weeks have gone by and still no answer.

Reading this Forum and hearing about multiple dealers who look for reasons not to warranty the product, whats up with that? These folks are basically able to demand sticker price most of the year, have a propensity to charge ridiculous documentary fees on top of the price, and then become unresponsive to the needs of the customer.

Great fun car that most all of us love. But, in time the market changes and other cars become stylish as well. Wouldn't you want to protect that enthusiast base of people who you sold to for future sources of goodwill? Or, am I being overly sensitive and everything is just fine with all the other dealers?

[pilotart]

I have visited Ferman MINI exactly one time and since they happened to have just received the exact MINI I wanted, I never needed to go back.

They discounted a little more than their excessive Dealer Prep and surprised me with Nice MINI Floor Mats and a Full Tank of gas.

There was also a several hundred dollar Tag fee, because I was keeping the car I drove up and they had to issue a 'Temporary Tag'.

I returned home and De-Registered that auto and informed them of that and they promptly sent me a refund check for the Tag Fee.

Only other MINI Dealer I have been to was Orlando MINI to buy Oil, Filters and Paint Touch-Up. (My Flights had me within a couple miles of that Dealership.) I noticed that Orlando MINI's Dealer Prep Fee was a little more than half of Ferman's but the Florida East Coast Dealers charge similar to Ferman.

Since I have not returned for any Warranty Issues, I can't comment on that. From the reports on NAM, the quality of Warranty Support varies between Dealers.

You just need to keep on their case for your Checkered Mirror Covers, I agree that it is a shame to lose your goodwill over an issue they could so easily satisfy. Even the slowest ship from Germany should have it to you sooner than August to October.

[Porthos]

I have never had a problem with a MINI dealership yet. The one in Hawaii and the one here in Jacksonville, Fl. It might just be your luck it might be them. Instead of calling all irate cause that really isn't going to solve anything go into the dealership and talk to them. Tell them that you were suppose to have the checker mirror cover. You never know they might just happen to have one there. If not, then tell them you want something else of equal value and a lil more for compensation and not to worry about the cover just so that you don't have to worry about it anymore and then go get it off the interwebs. You'll have some extra parts and you'll have your mirror cover.

[ronnie948]

The depot that supplys that item may be out of stock. They won't have one until the factory that manufactures them has a production run. They will then send to Mini and the Depot which will send to your dealer. It is just the way things work now-a-days. It is called "BACK-ORDER" and I'm sure you will recieve the mirror cover when available.
I sold Harley Davidson aftermarket and original parts and accessories for over 27 years and the "BACK-ORDER" was always a very serious problem.
Ronnie948

[jallen4]

[quote=ronnie948;2910415]The depot that supplys that item may be out of stock. They won't have one until the factory that manufactures them has a production run. They will then send to Mini and the Depot which will send to your dealer. It is just the way things work now-a-days. It is called "BACK-ORDER" and I'm sure you will recieve the mirror cover when available.
I sold Harley Davidson aftermarket and original parts and accessories for over 27 years and the "BACK-ORDER" was always a very serious problem.
Ronnie948[/

I also am in the business and well could understand a "backorder" situation. Unfortunately this was never the case. The mirror cap was always in stock and it was simply a matter of dropping the ball on the dealer's part. After inundating them with complaints to several organizations, I had the part the next day overnight delivery. Gaining the trust of the auto buying public is hard enough without folks like these failing to take care of their business.

[ngweibing]

sorry abt yr mess... hope it get cleared up... kep us pOSTED