Tate MINI is dead... Long Live MINI of Annapolis!
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,435
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in time
I ordered my first MINI, a Clubman S, from Will Barfield at MINI of Annapolis on May 26. I was hesitant to deal with them due to the bad rap they have here, but it seems like the new management is very aware of the bad reputation Tate had and they are working hard to change it. So far they have been great to deal with. The sales manager was even able to slide my order into an allocation spot for a lot car. So my build started a few days later and was completed on June 3rd. Pretty quick!
While talking to them, I was told that they had purchased both the BMW and the MINI dealerships along with the Chevy Showroom. Tate is moving the Chevy dealership to the Dodge dealer on West Street and Annapolis Dodge is being merged into their Glen Burnie operation. The new owners were originally looking to renovate the old Chevy showroom and use it for the MINI's but it looks like they intend to tear it down and build a new facility (it is very old and dated).
I will take delivery on my new MINI in the next few weeks (it's on a ship about 500 miles off the east coast right now!) and will let everyone know how it goes. I am very excited about the changeover since I live just a few miles from the showroom and would like to have a good dealership nearby for service.
Rich
While talking to them, I was told that they had purchased both the BMW and the MINI dealerships along with the Chevy Showroom. Tate is moving the Chevy dealership to the Dodge dealer on West Street and Annapolis Dodge is being merged into their Glen Burnie operation. The new owners were originally looking to renovate the old Chevy showroom and use it for the MINI's but it looks like they intend to tear it down and build a new facility (it is very old and dated).
I will take delivery on my new MINI in the next few weeks (it's on a ship about 500 miles off the east coast right now!) and will let everyone know how it goes. I am very excited about the changeover since I live just a few miles from the showroom and would like to have a good dealership nearby for service.
Rich
500 miles off the coast.....hmmmm....lets check the weather......oh.....waves of 40-50 feet and wind gale at over 100 mph.......don't they start dropping cargo when it gets that bad ?.........Clubman S models first ?
Congrats on your new friend ! Glad to hear MOA is looking to shape things up for all of us locals !
Cheers,
Mike
5th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
That's not funny, Spitfire! 
In addition to coping with my newly diagnosed condition of MINIocd, (see OCD thread in 1st gear) I keep visualizing my MINI floating on a mahogany door a la "Titanic". Only three more days til landfall at NY VDC.
In addition to coping with my newly diagnosed condition of MINIocd, (see OCD thread in 1st gear) I keep visualizing my MINI floating on a mahogany door a la "Titanic". Only three more days til landfall at NY VDC.
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,435
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in time
Oh dear.......Hope your MINI wasn't on the "New Flame"
I had those nightmares too, waiting on Wensleydale, she took 8 weeks to the day. She was worth every moment waiting
I had those nightmares too, waiting on Wensleydale, she took 8 weeks to the day. She was worth every moment waiting
Last edited by SpitfireMkI; Jun 12, 2008 at 05:31 AM.
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,435
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in time
Maybe MrMellowYellow could do something for you, he's great at "shoppin" How about it Glenn ?
That'll make a few people happy...
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,435
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in time
Nope, I just thought he was cute, great smile 
If I had intended to call you a Jacka55, I would post this guy-
I apoligize for the misphotoconfusionrepresentation
So relax, turn off the defensive mode, we're on the same side,and
WE BOTH LIKE LEWIS HAMILTON !
If I had intended to call you a Jacka55, I would post this guy-
I apoligize for the misphotoconfusionrepresentation
So relax, turn off the defensive mode, we're on the same side,and
WE BOTH LIKE LEWIS HAMILTON !
Last edited by SpitfireMkI; Jun 12, 2008 at 08:37 AM.
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Annapolis, MD
Tate by any other name
Hi!
I'm not sure how to jump in here, but it looks like at some point it was a thread about the new MINI of Annapolis. And then various animals with distinctive and cute features entered the scene. And now here comes DancinInk without a single cute four-legged animal image in my collection. . . (well, there's Mick, my 110-pound Doberman co-pilot, but thinking about him in the back of my MINI cheers me up and I came here to vent, to wit) :
I do have a tale to tell about my first experience with the new service department. In a word: blecch.
I'll skip the whole part about how it took me the better part of a day trying to schedule an oil change via Internet and phone and phone and Internet. Such glitches are perfectly understandable during a change in administration. But then, cut to about a month later, the day of my scheduled appointment.
I showed up at 7 am, and the service area was packed with totally groovy MINIs patiently parked and awaiting their turn in the service bay. Gosh, thought I, how will they ever get to all of these in one day? And then (after other annoying details), another patron and I found our way into the BMW service department, where six people were already being helped. The line formed behind us. And we waited. And waited. It seemed to me that perhaps at least some of these folks were drop-ins. Couldn't there be an express line or something for those who'd already explained what we needed done?
The shuttle ride to work was nice. Pretty much the high point of the experience.
After I'd scheduled the appointment, my windshield wipers had developed a mind of their own and I called last week to ask to have that added to my service. I was worried that if it was something complicated, they might not be able to finish before the 4 p.m. end of shuttle service, so I waited anxiously all day to hear word. A co-worker offered me a ride back to MoA on her way home, but she, too, was leaving at 4, so at 3, I called to ask if they'd had a chance to get to my car.
Truly, I'd have understood if there was a horrible backlog and an unusually busy Monday morning and they wouldn't get to Ms Jake until tomorrow. Anything. Just please tell me! First, I was put on hold for close to 10 minutes before I was disconnected. Then after several calls back, I finally told the nice guy who answered that I was trying to reach the service department and was not getting through, that I just wanted to know if they'd had a chance to get to my car because I needed to make arrangements to get home. He took my info and told me he would walk it over to them and have them call me back.
At 5 p.m., they called to cheerfully announce that my car was ready. And that they close at 6. I'd already found a way home and was in the middle of making dinner. I assume that the shuttle service had ended at 4, so I'm not sure how they thought I'd get there.
The customer service aspect of the new service department is seriously lacking.
And now I'm going to go pet Mick and become a nicer version of myself.
Cheers!
I'm not sure how to jump in here, but it looks like at some point it was a thread about the new MINI of Annapolis. And then various animals with distinctive and cute features entered the scene. And now here comes DancinInk without a single cute four-legged animal image in my collection. . . (well, there's Mick, my 110-pound Doberman co-pilot, but thinking about him in the back of my MINI cheers me up and I came here to vent, to wit) :
I do have a tale to tell about my first experience with the new service department. In a word: blecch.
I'll skip the whole part about how it took me the better part of a day trying to schedule an oil change via Internet and phone and phone and Internet. Such glitches are perfectly understandable during a change in administration. But then, cut to about a month later, the day of my scheduled appointment.
I showed up at 7 am, and the service area was packed with totally groovy MINIs patiently parked and awaiting their turn in the service bay. Gosh, thought I, how will they ever get to all of these in one day? And then (after other annoying details), another patron and I found our way into the BMW service department, where six people were already being helped. The line formed behind us. And we waited. And waited. It seemed to me that perhaps at least some of these folks were drop-ins. Couldn't there be an express line or something for those who'd already explained what we needed done?
The shuttle ride to work was nice. Pretty much the high point of the experience.
After I'd scheduled the appointment, my windshield wipers had developed a mind of their own and I called last week to ask to have that added to my service. I was worried that if it was something complicated, they might not be able to finish before the 4 p.m. end of shuttle service, so I waited anxiously all day to hear word. A co-worker offered me a ride back to MoA on her way home, but she, too, was leaving at 4, so at 3, I called to ask if they'd had a chance to get to my car.
Truly, I'd have understood if there was a horrible backlog and an unusually busy Monday morning and they wouldn't get to Ms Jake until tomorrow. Anything. Just please tell me! First, I was put on hold for close to 10 minutes before I was disconnected. Then after several calls back, I finally told the nice guy who answered that I was trying to reach the service department and was not getting through, that I just wanted to know if they'd had a chance to get to my car because I needed to make arrangements to get home. He took my info and told me he would walk it over to them and have them call me back.
At 5 p.m., they called to cheerfully announce that my car was ready. And that they close at 6. I'd already found a way home and was in the middle of making dinner. I assume that the shuttle service had ended at 4, so I'm not sure how they thought I'd get there.
The customer service aspect of the new service department is seriously lacking.
And now I'm going to go pet Mick and become a nicer version of myself.
Cheers!
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 3
From: Edgewater, MD
Welcome aboard!
Sorry your recent experience with the 'new' MoA was less than stellar. Seems like most of the players are the same as before, except for the service manager. Add new owners with a new layer of administration, a new computer system, too many cars that need to be serviced and too few technicians, and the old system (which was barely able to handle the load) obviously broke down.
Your post is amazingly well written and without the anger that we all would feel in your shoes... excellent job! Especially considering your treatment. At some point in the future, you may receive a phone call from the dealership, and perhaps also from MINI USA (or Pakistan, wherever) and you may have the chance to share your experience. Please be encouraged to be honest in your responses. While nobody likes to give (or get) a less than perfect review, in the long run it does much more damage to reward unacceptable performance with a dishonest review. And has been pointed out lots of times, it's always better to try to resolve the issue with the folks at the dealership if you can.
So, have you joined DCMM yet? We've got a bunch of great folks and lots of neat activities to help you enjoy your MINI
Here's the link to our website: DCMM
We'll look forward to meeting you (and Mick)!
Sorry your recent experience with the 'new' MoA was less than stellar. Seems like most of the players are the same as before, except for the service manager. Add new owners with a new layer of administration, a new computer system, too many cars that need to be serviced and too few technicians, and the old system (which was barely able to handle the load) obviously broke down.
Your post is amazingly well written and without the anger that we all would feel in your shoes... excellent job! Especially considering your treatment. At some point in the future, you may receive a phone call from the dealership, and perhaps also from MINI USA (or Pakistan, wherever) and you may have the chance to share your experience. Please be encouraged to be honest in your responses. While nobody likes to give (or get) a less than perfect review, in the long run it does much more damage to reward unacceptable performance with a dishonest review. And has been pointed out lots of times, it's always better to try to resolve the issue with the folks at the dealership if you can.
So, have you joined DCMM yet? We've got a bunch of great folks and lots of neat activities to help you enjoy your MINI
Here's the link to our website: DCMM
We'll look forward to meeting you (and Mick)!
Last edited by R56 Ed; Jun 17, 2008 at 05:31 AM. Reason: Clarification and outside input...thanks!
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,435
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in time
Hi!
I'm not sure how to jump in here, but it looks like at some point it was a thread about the new MINI of Annapolis. And then various animals with distinctive and cute features entered the scene. And now here comes DancinInk without a single cute four-legged animal image in my collection. . .
I'm not sure how to jump in here, but it looks like at some point it was a thread about the new MINI of Annapolis. And then various animals with distinctive and cute features entered the scene. And now here comes DancinInk without a single cute four-legged animal image in my collection. . .
Welcome to the fun
sorry to hear about MOA (I've experienced the delays myself) but my hopes are still up that they will shape up into competition for MOT.Cheers,
Mike
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Hi all,
I ordered my Clubman on 6/14 from Mini of Annapolis and was given production week #28. I didn't realize there were some issues with this dealership before it changed hands.
MoS was closer to where I live (Hagerstown, MD) but their customer service was not all it could be and then they ran out of allotments.
I'll keep you updated on my mini experience with Annapolis...
I ordered my Clubman on 6/14 from Mini of Annapolis and was given production week #28. I didn't realize there were some issues with this dealership before it changed hands.
MoS was closer to where I live (Hagerstown, MD) but their customer service was not all it could be and then they ran out of allotments.
I'll keep you updated on my mini experience with Annapolis...
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Annapolis Mini was OK at best for me.
I had to have the MCCS towed there after engine light came on. It took them 1 1/2 days to finally get back to me with some information - although incomplete at best. Carlos was OK when I finally got through - the lines ring and ring and ring after you get past the press "1". It took them 7-8 days to fix the problem (High Pressure Fuel Pump). I never met Carlos, got my service report and the "pay window" and they pulled the cleaned MCCS around.
Improvements - COMMUNICATION - call back with information - after leaving messages (not very timely - got better after I got testie!). Phone system SUCKS - after you press "1" it takes a L O N G time to get anyone on the other end.
I had to have the MCCS towed there after engine light came on. It took them 1 1/2 days to finally get back to me with some information - although incomplete at best. Carlos was OK when I finally got through - the lines ring and ring and ring after you get past the press "1". It took them 7-8 days to fix the problem (High Pressure Fuel Pump). I never met Carlos, got my service report and the "pay window" and they pulled the cleaned MCCS around.
Improvements - COMMUNICATION - call back with information - after leaving messages (not very timely - got better after I got testie!). Phone system SUCKS - after you press "1" it takes a L O N G time to get anyone on the other end.
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 609
Likes: 1
From: Woodbridge VA
What are you talking about? MINI of sterling would never run out of allotments..
My wife's good friend test drove MINI's over the weekend at MOS and she put in her order yesterday. Expected delivery is late August.
Who told you they didnt have allotments?
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
MINIspud,
Your wife's good friend must know someone in MOS. I put my deposit and order in on June 11 and am being told that they have no allotments. They even told me that they can't even get in touch with Mini to get anything scheduled. Earliest projected delivery would be sometime in October! I am becoming a little concerned about MOS. I guess with the current transition situation at MOA and poor response from MOS the only viable option in the immediate DC area would be to get my deposit back and try MOT?
Your wife's good friend must know someone in MOS. I put my deposit and order in on June 11 and am being told that they have no allotments. They even told me that they can't even get in touch with Mini to get anything scheduled. Earliest projected delivery would be sometime in October! I am becoming a little concerned about MOS. I guess with the current transition situation at MOA and poor response from MOS the only viable option in the immediate DC area would be to get my deposit back and try MOT?
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 609
Likes: 1
From: Woodbridge VA
what you need to do is call MINI of Sterling and ask for Jeff. He is my MA as well as my wife's friends MA. Tell him Alex told you to call him. If he is not there, leave a message that says Alex told you to call him and you want to put in an order.
He should call you back pretty quick. No way they got that many orders between yesterday and today.
if he doesnt call you back today, let me know.
He has always been truthfull about when to expect delivery.
He should call you back pretty quick. No way they got that many orders between yesterday and today.
if he doesnt call you back today, let me know.
He has always been truthfull about when to expect delivery.
