Pigs would have to fly, the cows would have to come home driving Miatas, Arny the president, and my HEMI getting 100 MPG for me to go back there for anything. Screw'em

 

Will, do you know about the Moss-Magnussen Act? Basically, it says that a car dealership has to prove beyond doubt that any modifications to a car caused damage. It is a law, so check it out via Google. It might prove to be helpful.

Marina..re:your "reprimand". I had asked members(as president) not to jump on the new SA, to let him prove himself one way or another. You ignored this request and ripped Will a new one. So your post is confusing to me...thanking me in one breath and being sarcastic in the next. You're starting to sound like Soundwave.

Given the troubles that not only our Will has had, but my husband, me, and other members have had, with no improvement or any attempt for improvement, I stated my opinion about the breakfasts. I agree with the notion of the breakfasts being a recruiting tool for the club and that they have been successful. However, given the continuing attitude Tate service dept. displays, I suggested that we rethink the breakfasts. I will abide by any decision that Jen makes.

 

Yup, nasty as this is I think we'd be cutting off our nose to spite ourselves to cancel all breakfasts at Tate. I'm pretty sure there's a similar story out there about Sterling too. We can't, or I think shouldn't cancel breakfasts at dealers except as a last resort. I've got one or two Sterling stories of my own, but not this bad and in the past. Personnel have changed since.

I'm infuriated by what they're doing to Will, and I will continue to tell anyone that will listen to stay away from Tate service. But if the club continues to take advantage of the recruiting possibilities etc I'll continue to come.

I'm going to just hope the revolving door continues and these folks who are so clueless about customer service that they finally get the boot. Alas when you have a product that sells itself staff will too often sink to the lowest possible level of service and ethics.

It takes a admirable person to try hard in a job when it's not necessary in order to succeed, or I should say when it's only necessary by ethics and the desire to excel. If a person succeeds wildly while being a a** or diva well... Too often they'll be just that.

Sorry, pontificate switch now off.

Anything we can do Will I'd be happy to do. How about a petition to MINI USA to take away the dealership from Tate and give it to another area BMW dealer? Not that they'd ever do it, not even close. But a large list of names asking might at least open some eyes...

 

Katie what are you talking about? If I wanted to name that person I will have done so.

and just to clarify since I took delivery of my Little One - Nov. 20, 2004 (now with <18,000) I had the following problems:

replacement of 2 tops (the 1st one took 3.5 weeks , when I went to pick the car piece of broken glasses were still in the back seat)
complained about boot not closing properly (3 x) finally one morning the MINI died. The boot had left a light on killing the battery. At the third visit - and after jump starting the car- it was fixed.
A/C leaking problem - Water was running inside the car and the sensors were not working properly took the car in 2 X.
Glovebox lock - Couldn't retrieve my garage door opener or my wallet-
Replaced entry key - did not work anymore and couldn't lock the car
Loose piece inside the dashboard. 2 visits to figure out the problem
Front and back brake pads.
Supercharger bypass adjustment -
Engine bracket replacement

Now I am waiting to take the car in again because another kind of bracket is loose and I have a funny noise ...oh and a piece of the NEW top fell on top of my head while I was driving. ( OK I should have been motoring topless!!!)

..and to top it off I had to beg a DC MPD officer not to take the loaner that Tate gave me with an expired license plate !!!

Not to mention that "Stella" is going in in two weeks (waiting for the past 2) to have the new top installed as FINALLY Tate agreed that .. "yes, there are some small holes"

It's not the SA or the dealership's fault if the car is delicate and has problems but it should not take 2 or 3 times to fix it... and honestly, the interaction between the dealership and me is a personal issue.

MD STREGA2

 

Katie, thats not going to happen. See https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...477#post823477
(that entire thread).

MDS ... every dealer can do whatever they want. MINIUSA pays for warranty work, the dealer bills MINIUSA. MINIUSA can deny warranty work. This, however, sounds like Tate doesn't want to do the work ... Can a dealer refuse to perform work on a car? I dont see why not, it like a resteraunt denying service (for a non-discriminatary reason). (no shoes, no socks, no service).

I dont get the point of supporting a dealership that seems to, at least for one year, provide inferior service ... just by showing up in numbers ... DCMM is, de facto, endorsing them. You may think the club is not but DCMM surely is just by its presence.

Its as simple of this. I found the first DCMM breakfast and showed up at Tate. Lots of DCMM people there. I knew nothing of their service issues. Seems to me that DCMM MUST endorse them (whether its said or not said is not relevant). Months go by and all kinds of service related issues pop up. Opinion changes.

Its seems for the Annaoplis group, Tate is just a convenient location. MOS for the No. Va. group, etc. I wouldn't let location dictate who an entire club endorses (de facto or not)

 

I delved into my Service & Warranty book that came with my owners manual, and found two bits of info which I think apply.

1. The warranty shall be null and void if the VIN has been altered or cannot be read, if the odometer has been replaced or altered and if the true mileage cannot be determined, if the vehicle has been declared a total loss or sold for salvage or if the vehicle has been used in any competitive event.

No competitive events here. Have never autocrossed, have never raced on the street, never raced on a track, and have never even gotten a speeding ticket in my Mini.

2. The warranty does not apply to the following: Modification of the vehicle or installation of any performance accessories or components attatched to the vehicle which alters the original engineering and/or operating specifications or which result in damage to the other original components , electrical interference, electrical short, radio static, water leaks, or wind noise.

"Alters the original engineering" is a very broad statement... But in taken into consideration with the Moss-Magnussen Act, says they need to proove the part cause the damage. Does an aftermarket intake void your warranty? No. Does it alter the engineering? That's debateable. Does air flow in and out of the same holes the way it's supposed to? Did it cause the problem? If so, the dealer would have to proove it, without trivialties.

Tates refusal to diagnose the problem and tell me that my warranty is void is wrong, just as their claims that I race my Mini, and just as their reasoning for working on my car before but not anymore are wrong.

And to think I went to them to buy a second Mini. Thank goodness all of their salespeople were too busy to talk to me.

 

I would strongly urge you to read https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=49580

PM Skiploader about MM

 

I have read the thread you already linked before.

And I am not going to debate you on why I disagree other than that I do.

 

And theres a SERIOUS difference between

A: "Gee I'm sorry, this is what's wrong with your car, but I'm afraid it won't be covered under warranty because x, y, and z sir"

vs.

B: "Take your car away we refuse to deal with you"

A: You could deal with and discuss,
B: which is what they're doing is just plain RUDE.

To my mind the "Go away and take your car with you, dont' come back" routine is a seperate issue from warranty vs. not warranty, and I'd say the attitude is the much larger problem.

 

On the topic of DCMM "endorsing" dealerships. We don't. We work will all three of them in the area. We have tried and I think we have managed not to play favorites or treat any dealership better/worse than any other.

We need to be clear that people buying new MINIs are our #1 source of new members. We want to reach out to these people and let them know about us. I know I found out about DCMM from a brochure at MINI of Sterling in 2002 when I bought my MINI. I never would have heard of it otherwise.

Hence, the monthly breakfasts and the DCMM brochures and things that are sitting out (I hope) on the dealership counters.

I don't believe that us being at Tate, or Sterling, or Towson inplies that we think they are anything other than an authorized MINI dealer where people who like MINIs and want to buy MINIs go. We are very open here and on other forums about how we individually feel about the dealerships and their service levels. Let's leave it at that -- service is dealership is between the MINI owner and the dealership. DCMM has nothing to do with it.

I would like us to keep having the monthly breakfasts.

 

Action should still be taken against Tate.....filing a report with BBB and any other consumer protection groups out there (plenty to chose from).

Service like that will not sell cars. Dealers often need to be reminded that they are in business because we buy cars from them and if we do not buy cars from them...no more dealer.

My hard earned money will be taken elsewhere and I highly doubt that I will go there for any other activities. No customer deserves to be treated like that so I will not give them the chance to treat me like that.

 

You guys are scaring me. We have not even taken delivery of our MINI and it seems everyone has had terrible problems with all of the local MINI dealers' Service Departments.

We just moved our order from MoS to Tate bacause of problems getting information from the Sales Department.

Is there any service after the sale?

 

Sales part of Tate is pretty good...just about the only thing that they do right.

 

I have never really heard any complaints about the Sales service at Tate. As you can tell, their Service Department has had some turmoil. However, there is good and bad at any dealership and some people have posted here that they have gotten good service from Tate. Don't be scared! Sterling is working very hard on their service side and MINI of Towson is pretty solid. You will be able to get service after your purchase.

 

Euro Parcel shelf..
http://outmotoring.com/euro_parcel_tray.html
about $79 + ship

Minimania.com has it for $10 more...nice addition and easy install!

 

This is going to be a matter of opinion but I wrote:

"just by showing up in numbers ... DCMM is, de facto, endorsing them. You may think the club is not but DCMM surely is just by its presence."

In other words, there may be nothing in writing but by hanging around there one Saturday a month ... and I would believe most cars are sold on Saturdays ... and a bunch of club members are there ... not there may be nothing in writting but is pretty obvious there is some kind of relationship there ... de facto.

I understand the point of trying to have club neutrality and that is a good thing

 

I would argue that the only relationship is that we like MINIs, they sell MINIs, and we are "using" their space to promote ourselves to possible new members.

Yes, it will be a matter of opinion. But if we were to stop going to Tate for monthly breakfasts (four times per year now) we would need to stop the whole program, because it would not be fair to contniue at Sterling and Towson.

Keep in mind, with the current rotation in place, we are at each dealership only four times per year. The next montly breakfast at Tate is in October. We are at Towson in August and Sterling in September.

 

does this mean that you've found others willing to "do" the breakfasts at Tow. and MoS? If so, excellent.
I see your point, Jen. I still believe in the car as a good product, and Tate sales have been nothing if not accomodating and kind.
I will continue to sponsor the breakfasts at Tate....I just hope people show up after this kerfuffle. I can't afford the extra calories of all the leftovers

 

What does this have to do with the topic?

 

Yep I think so!

 

I live 2 miles from TATE and pass it at least twice a day. But I've learned that the trip to Towson is worth the time, gas, and wear and tear.

 

I submitted a complaint about the service managers attitude, but I'm going to try some further steps at the lower level before submitting complaints to the BBB or legal avenues.

In the end I'm just a military guy with a modified Mini trying to work with a service department at a dealership who refuses to accept their own mistakes, lets their best employees quit, and generally operates under ignorance and poor customer service. Can one person make a difference in a situation like this? Of course. Just like it only took 1 person to deny fault and get this whole debacle going. I hope for a resolution which appeases the woes brought forth, but I doubt it. Only time will tell though.

 

Is this more information of ignorant people @ Tate or a misunderstanding?
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=75202

 

Its funny but BTW, the MINI RF rims ARE different. That doesn't mean you can change tires. However, if you go aftermarket rims with RFs, that may not work out right if the lip design isn't there. That is what I believe the technician might have meant.

 

While I'd like to give Tate the benifit of a doubt on this, I can't. I was told when I bought the car that you can not put regular tires on runflat rims. Thankfully, due to MINI2 and NAM, I found out otherwise!

-Paul!