Caulyne -- Your post really proves you are in management. Do you want to call and pretend to be me? You said [wrote] that so well!

I am planning to talk to someone. My husband just texted me that we are going to go to the dealer Friday afternoon [together] to ask some questions. Then I will talk to the GM or someone about this whole thing.

I just read a post in the thread about the VDC and the various reasons a car could be held up there. Anything from a software upgrade to seat mechanisms replacement to a new engine.

And Gavin is a doll! He's so sweet!

 

LOL... Well, just call the dealership, and ask the receptionist for the sales manager's email address, or the GM's email addy. Might try the SM first. That's what I did. No questions asked.

Title your email something like "Customer Concern" or "Customer Problem".

Be polite. But assertive. They are in a service industry. We wouldn't tolerate the wait staff at a restaurant not knowing where our food was or when it was going to come to the table once we had ordered it. And that's just food! This is a car! That you put a deposit down on!

Write something like this:

As my MINI sits at the VDC at Port Hueneme, and as I work out the final details before delivery, I am a little concerned about the lack of information and the complete disinformation that I have received from your dealership.

I originally placed my order with MINI DEALERSHIP NAME HERE because your dealership was closer to home than others. I have come to regret this choice. I had heard some negative comments about the service at your dealership, but was originally pleased with the care I received from INSERT MA's name here. I was excited about the whole process, but I've found myself growing more and more frustrated.

Explain your whole problem here. Not being able to get an answer, etc.

I do not believe asking for an estimated delivery date is unreasonable. As I'm sure you're aware, the ordering process with MINI cultivates an obsessive need to track progress, to gain the latest information, etc. After 6-8 long weeks, and participating in online forums filled with positive experiences about delivery, I find my "MINI experience" sorely lacking.

This is upsetting and not the customer service I expect from MINI/BMW. I would like to have this resolved before delivery day, so that that can be the enjoyable motoring experience it should be. I want to have a positive experience to share, not the negative one this has become.

My time is valuable, as is yours. What can you do to assist me in this matter?

I look forward to your reply.

 

LOL... I just posted something on the total wrong thread.. Must remember not to have like 7 windows open at once! hehehheheheh

 

That is classic, I love it. Should I reference you? I will definitely be using this email if they don't clear things up on Friday. Everything is halted until Friday. I promised my hubby.

Friday afternoon can't come quick enough!

 

Might email before you show up. Who knows. They may work it so you can take delivery on Friday! hehehe.

Otherwise, the managers won't do anything until Monday. Just a thought.

Good luck!! Keep us posted!

 

+1 Caulyne!!! I'd have you on MY Team anytime!!!

I certainly missed a lot going from work to home.!

Ok...so now I've FINALLY have figured how to upload pics. of MOLLY into my Sig...so take a L@@K!!!

 

Yah, I'm going to talk to my hubby about emailing beforehand, see what he thinks, and then I'll do whatever I want. I'm sure I'll be sending out the email tomorrow when I get home.

RJK - Molly is so cute, I really like the color. You get her Saturday, right?

 

And I found this in the VDC thread... Just more reasons why it could still be there. But, it still makes me nervous. Now I have to ask [demand] to get a disclosure of anything that happened at the VDC.


Your MINI could have had a longer than desired stay at the VDC for any number of reasons.

For one, the center finishes 400 cars per day, but it can store 3000 cars on the VDC property. So there is a week's worth of cars right there. Then there are all the cars down at the dock that haven't been brought up to the VDC yet. That's the most palletable answer.

The next most desireable delay (if there is such a thing) would be that there was a campaign (BMW's word) for your MINI when it got to the VDC. Basically that means that in the time it took for your car to leave Oxford and reach the Port Hueneme VDC, MINI made an upgrade to your car. The campaign cars are set in a special area of the VDC to get brought up to the most curent revision (whether that's software - v. 36, or hardware: seat mechanisms for example). Your car will not be released until the campaign is completed. Therefore if it's a hardware issue and they run out of parts, the VDC has to wait until parts get shipped by BMW/MINI to the BMW parts warehouse in Ontario, CA, and then wait some more for the parts (usually a day) for them to go from the warehouse to the VDC.

To elevate things a little sometimes they may need to replace parts. This could be anything from broken interior trim to engines. There was a 760Li at the VDC getting an entirely new engine. Our guide did not know what the reason was for the replacement. Since all these parts are being replaced with BMW parts and assembled to BMW specs, even the engine swap wouldn't have to be reported, as the VDC is part of the manufacturing chain and the parts are installed to BMW's satisfaction.

Minor bodywork: replaceable body panels (bumper covers, hoods, quarter panels, trunks) are sometimes repainted or new parts need to be installed due to "shipping damage." As it was characterized to me, this type of work would not qualify as going toward the 3% limit for disclosure because new replacement parts are used and it can all be repaired by BMW to BMW spec.

Major bodywork: this would be things like frame damage and that MINI with the roof that they were trying to repair. If the frame is too far out, the car is destroyed/recycled. That MINI with the roof being fixed may or may not reach a customer. The repair isn't completed and it would still need to pass inspection. To my knowledge only this type of damage would count toward that 3% disclosure.

So you can see in the vast majority of cases, there really isn't any need to worry about what happened at the VDC. That said, you can be sure that from now on, when I buy a new car, I'll be asking the dealership if any disclosures were made to them about damage at the VDC.

Hope that sheds some additional light on things.

 

YEPPERS Ivygirl!! I'm very sorry that you won't be celebrating as well...or maybe you will? I hope everything works out on Friday and you get the answers you so deserve.

 

Congrats on your MINIs, caulyne and RJKimbrell, fellow week 10'ers! Thanks for posting pictures and I'm happy for you that you finally got your MINIs.

Gavin looks like one happy future motorer!

 

Molly looks great!


Ivy-- hope you get some answers. That's the whole thing-- you just want information!

 

I talked to my hubby last night after class. We will be sending out the email to the GM today. I'll keep everyone updated!

And thanks to all of you for your support!

 

We went in today to meet with the sales manager and as we were walking in, our MA came up to us and said he was just about to call us!!

LUCY IS HERE!!!

We had to come home to get some stuff and drop off a car, so I had to post to let everyone know!! I'll put pictures up as soon as we get home from showing everyone here!!

 

Make sure you express your displeasure about how it all went up to this point.

 

I will, thank you everyone for all of your support and help!! I would have never made it through this without all of you!!

 

....and find out what took so long...really, really, really inspect Lucy before taking delivery, you both deserve it! Congrats..

 

Well, folks, as we wait for the story on Lucy, I have to say, I put my driver's edge stripes on today. SO glad I didn't pay someone to do it! It was a snap. I have a few small air bubbles, but I bet the AZ sun will work those out for me. Maybe half an hour? I'll take pics tomorrow and post them.

 

WOW!!!! See what I MISS when I'm at work and then going out to dinner w/Hubby (Friday Night Date Night).
Ivygirl...FINALLY!!! I'll bet you've been jumping up and donw ALL Day!!! (I woiuld be)
I'm so happy for you...I got tearey eyed...just reading your post.
THANK heavens Lucy has been found and you can now enjoy YOUR MINI!!!

Motor On!!!

 

BTW...MOLLY is only 14Hrs. AWAY!!! I'm JUMPING UP AND DOWN!!!

 

Well, I posted one picture in my gallery. We didn't get home until about 30 mintues ago [drove off the lot about 5:30 or so]. I'm sure I will take a ton of pictures tomorrow, so I will put more up later.

I had a great experience at the dealer, our MA went over every single aspect of Lucy with us. Unfortunately, I was so excited about finally sitting behind the wheel, I wasn't really paying attention! Then took us over to the service/parts area to let us run amok and pick out whatever we wanted.

It seems that the wait was due to Lucy being one of the last cars... But, the wait was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay worth it. I really couldn't stop grinning. And, I have gone outside about 6 times just to look at her. With a full moon here, it's a gorgeous sight. *sigh*

RJK -- Make sure you tell us all about driving Molly home.

 

Will do Ivygirl!!
CONGRATULATIONS on Lucy she is BEAUTIFUL!!!

 

RJK -- When today are you getting Molly?

 

When Today we GOT Molly?? @ 9:45AM!!!
Other than her being dirty inside, dirt on door panels. Delivery went Great, but our MA did NOT go over ALL the intriquette pieces of Molly, so I've been trying to set up her computer. Hubby has been assigned Universal Garage Door Opener Detail!!
Only pics. I could get in was her in her cosy Garage, it began to HAIL shortly after we got home, so she's not be out to play since!! Hubby will be taking her out tomorrow, weather permitting, to get acquainted with her for Monday Morning Carpool!!

 

Yeah! So is everyone home now??

I put Fitz's stripes on last night. I LLLOOOVVVEE them. Only thing left to do is put my badge holder on.

We took him to the OK Corral today. (Okay, well, he stayed down the street while we went and had lunch in Tombstone. But he got a little dirty with all of the dust...) But, here are some pics of the stripes:

 

LOVE the Stripes!!
Since you and I are the only ones up can I ask a ?
I'm up to my @y@***** in MINI Manual...I cannot figure out how to set-up the computer. I get a total of 3 Displays (Auto-Wiper, Check Info, & Clock)and then it goes back to home, what's the secret??