Sooo...I go to pick up my previously ordered CMS next Tuesday. I'm attending an event Saturday. If they start giving me hell about accepting my certificate and $750 off, do I call MiniUSA right there and then?

 

 

I would certainly say so. The only thing is you need to have the certificate in hand (Mini emails it to you after the event) and I'm hearing at least sometimes it takes several days after the event befroe it arrives.

 

I think you need to understand the dealer's perspective to protect yourself. If i were a dealer, the last thing I would want is for you to visit another dealer. If the other dealer hears you have a car on order from dealer #1, they might offer you an extra $1000 off to entice you to switch dealers, and there's enough margin in these cars to offer that price incentive. And it's not like there's a shortage of cars.

 

I don't understand what you mean by "protect yourself" protect myself from what?
My car is already ordered and will be in Friday, if that were to happen wouldn't you have to cancel and start a new order and possibly lose your deposit? I'm just wanting to pick it up ASAP I'm not looking for a new dealer

 

Sorry, I should have been more clear...I meant to address my post in a general sense to everyone reading the thread...not just you and/or your specific situation.

 

This exact thing happened (in fact I picked up my CMS tonight) My dealer event was a week ago and they immediately told me I could not use the certificate because I had already ordered my car. I argued the fine print and that other dealers were granting discounts on previously ordered cars and they still wouldn't budge. So, I told them that I wanted to cancel my order then and take my business elsewhere. The owner of the dealership then came over and told me she would "work something out" and granted me the discount.

But, interestingly I never received the certificate in my email. I confirmed with my dealer that I could use it and he said, "sure, just bring in the certificate and we'll apply the discount". Luckily, Shark posted the dealer's FAQ's so I gave him instructions on how to look up my lost certificate number. When I got to the dealer today, everything was in order and the discount was already applied to my previously negotiated price.

Hopefully, things will go smoother for you, but don't give up. All of the info on this thread is super valuable and will get you what you want. I know it was the only way I got what I wanted.

 

Glad to hear it worked out. It was just pure luck that I was able to get a copy of the Dealer Bulletin.

 

Man I love the Internet!

 

I'll pay $25 for a certificate

anyone want to sell me one of those ??

PM me

I am in florida they dont have this takedown challange in my state .... but my dealer will take that certificate

 

Two thoughts:
1. Looks like there were Take Down events but they were last month.
2. Your dealer is playing you....he can't use the certificate because they are numbered and logged to a name and email address.

 

says May

http://www.miniusa.com/lease_loan_pr...es#/takedown-m

can i tell my dealer my... "cousin" did the testdrive ? as long as the certificate isnt used I should be able to use it

 

Certificate has name and address.
"Offer valid to recipient whose name is on the email/letter/certificate or any family member residing within the same household..."

Good luck with your maneuvering...

 

Registered at a Take Down event on Saturday the 5th, received my certificate (in my spam folder) this morning. They left off 7 of the 9 letters of my last name and spelled "street" as "ztreet" . This best not be an issue when I go to pick up my car this afternoon. Rawr.

 

let us know what happens...good luck!

 

any luck or stories to report? my dealer said the coupon didn't work because it was a previously ordered car. not sure what to do here. was shown the dealer bulletin, spoke to MINI USA and everything. Nada...

 

Wow, I'm not going to bother going to my dealer's event, if they're not honoring the certificates. Unless there's some free stuff to be had!

 

This playing hardball obviously varies from dealer to dealer. When my (earlier) promotion came by, I had ordered and was waiting for arrival. The certificate was applied after price negotiations were complete - on the day I took delivery. The rules haven't changed, and I suspect the variance in dealer support hasn't either.

 

When I collected my ordered ALL4, I handed over a TDTD certificate and it was accepted without question. The car was ordered before the TDTD event.

My suggestion - walk in the the dealership and give them the certificate. If they will not accept it, tell them this is not how other dealers have treated buyers.

If you still have no luck (and you have to buy the car because you may have paid a deposit), tell them they will get all zeroes on your customer satisfaction survey.

If that does not bring them to the table, then call 800 ASK MINI merchandising department right there and tell them you know of other buyers who have had the certificate accepted in similar circumstances and why is this different. Whilst you might be preaching to the choir, make it known that the TDTD event was instigated to provide good will and bring in customers and not alienate people like you. With any luck you will get someone on the phone to approve it. Be the squeaky wheel. It's all the leverage you have and for $750 you should kick up a stink. YMMV!

 

You were still able to negotiate on price, on an ordered car after it's been delivered?

 

I got the same story up here in Massachusetts Tuesday when I picked up my car. It was me and another guy in the dealership at the same time. the sales manager said he had been fighting to get the certificate for a friend of his as well but that "his rep" wouldn't honor it.

 

There's the price and then there's the PRICE. On delivery day the finance department like to have their turn at you to get you to add to the PRICE. The certificate is applied to the bottom line, as I recall, last part of the transaction.

 

Joe, as you and I ordered from the same dealer I thought you would want to know that our MA emailed us this afternoon to remind us to attend the event and get the certificate.

 

Hopefully you did not back down. You responded to Mini's ad (make sure you keep a copy of it) and accepted their terms by attending the event, and I assume you received the certificate that mentions nothing about it not be valid for vehicles already on order. Tell them you are not taking delivery of the car until the price is adjusted, tell them you know they are not being truthful (show them the Dealer Bulletin), and then tell you will call Mini directly to resolve the problem. It's as black and white as black and white can be...

 

They showed me the bulletin when telling me I couldn't use the certificate. You/your dealer/their rep may interpret it differently. But, even when I read the one you posted it seemed pretty clear to me that they didn't want it used on previously ordered cars. Nothing in the bulletin says otherwise as far as I interpret.