Yesterday marked the official takeover in ownership of the Annapolis MINI dealership by Group One. The new name is MINI of Annapolis, and while there are some start up challenges (including switching to a new software program), there is every reason to believe that this will be a terrific improvement for MINI owners and buyers in the area.

I stopped by today to pick up a windshield sunscreen and was told of the changes, and also that the previous MINI service manager had moved on and is being replaced. That change, combined with the future move of MINI sales and service to the BMW building with its larger showroom and service area should offer the opportunity for tremendous improvements in retention of technicians, dramatically reduced wait times for service appointments, and improved morale of the staff.

Please join me in wishing all of the folks at the new dealership well, and let's give them a chance to prove that their changes will lead to an even better relationship between DCMM and the dealership!

 

This is an awesome news.

 

NICE!!!!

 

very glad to hear this! the more choices us MINI owners have for competent service departments the better.

 

Are they going to have Panera's Bagels, good coffees, comfy sofas with big screen TV, free internet access and lots of nice smiley faces?

 

Only time will tell!

 

That is good news, when we met there last month I was treated by the

East German Police guard that met me in the parking lot as if I had just

come out of the jungles of Burma after 10 years with some horrible

ailment that he might get if he was "nice". Any improvement is a plus.

 

Sounds good, I have always hated the darned MINI Showroom. Seems like too much was crammed into too small of space. I can't wait to see what happens.

-Chase

 

"MINI of Annapolis" just sounds better too....

Donna

 

Our first breakfast meet at "MINI of Annapolis" will be on July 19th.

Can't wait, can't wait.

 

I believe they are also moving to the Chevy building, or at least BMW is.

 

here's hoping things get better there. Heck, they couldn't get any worse...

 

Will they still take care of Tate buyers ? This word of MOT not giving out loaners to non MOT buyers sucks, I can't swing driving all that way and then have to pay for a ride.

 

This is really good news for the the MINI community in eastern and southern MD. A quality operation here will save them hours and dollars!

I hope the new management understands the differential in levels of customer service provided by the DC/Balt area dealers and makes a decision to compete in that area. Katie puts it well, "they couldn't get any worse".

A big turnout at the DCMM breakfast might be a good way to let the new management know that DCMM is not only one of the largest MINI clubs in the country, but also has influence in the purchasing and service decisions of area MINI owners and buyers.

Best wishes to the new dealership AND the people who use it!

 

Now if only we could get a facility in MoCo....

 

I was talking to the manager at MINI of Honolulu about that last week and he explained it to me why that would probably never happen...

It would immediately kill the market for all three of the other dealers. If you were to draw (on a map) a circle around each of the others representing the area from which they geographically (figure population density as well) draw sales, then think about what would happen to those dealers' sales if they plopped a new one down in the north burbs... If MINI's sold in the same numbers a Honda's or Toyota's, then it could happen.... but they don't

 

I'd be happy with just a service facility.

 

Being a person who bought my 03 MC at Tate, I think it would be nice if MINI of Annapolis considers us as a customer who purchased from them.

 

In addition to the real estate and buildings, Group One actually bought the MINI franchise from Tate, so they also inherited all of the dealership's previous customers and obligations. No worries about that, folks.

After they work out the kinks, I bet we can look forward to being treated even better than when it was Tate!

 

Let me clarify MOT's "new" policy ............ They will not give loaner cars to NEW service customers who have not bought their car there ............ They will still give a loaner car to customers who have had their cars worked on before UNLESS they have given a "BAD" phone rating !!

 

Ed, do you know when the actual transfer of ownership takes place? I'd like to chat up the new management and show them the error of Tate's ways.

 

According to the folks I spoke with on Wednesday it was on the 6th of this month (Tuesday of this week). I haven't seen any new faces yet, but a lot of the infrastructure is still being worked out. I'm sure they'd appreciate your constructive comments, especially considering the clout you wield as the prez of DCMM! My best guess is that the new folks will be hidden in back offices (at least for a while), and it might take an appointment to get some face time. And no, I don't know any of the new names. Yet. Good luck!

 

Wensley is coming up on her check up and oil change.....maybe I'll give them a whirl.

Wensley seems to attract scratches and dings when she goes to MOT, I don't know why, maybe I shouldn't be so vocal about being careful with her ? I'm always nice about it, certainly not an ***. However, the last time I was there I got a ding in the boot lid, that's three times I've come home with damage. The problem with the ding is, I didn't find it till the following day when I washed the dust off (down side to not having them wash), so I really can't say without a doubt it happened there. It had to have because I went straight from there to home and home is a driveway with no other cars. I still like the staff and the treatment but I just seem to draw problems. Frustrating to say the least.

Mike

 

No one new yet at MINI of Annapolis with the exception of BMW Sales GM -and the departure of Tom ( ex service mgr ) I won't miss him a bit !!
Zein (sp?) is still there managing BMW and MINI ... I am glad they kept him around..
To avoid backlog MINI service will have day/night shift. in the near future.

Nobody new in sales but an exciting marketing campaing coming up.

 

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