In a fight with my dealer now to get something for my EPA delay trouble. I still have not received my car and I fell like I am one of the last to get mine from the hold and so I am SOL.


Supposedly Mini corp was sending money to the dealers to help with this issue. Not sure if my dealer is just being lazy and does not want to fight for me with Corp, but I really don't care. I am expecting something for having to wait so freaking long. I have heard rumors that some have received something and I am just curious what that has been. Had is been money off the car??? Money towards accessories or warranties???


Thanks!!

 

Not one red cent here. Not even a "We regret this mess."

 

i recieved the portable navigation system, but i had asked for that in august while my car was still in jail and it wasnt until a few weeks later that my dealer agreed. not too sure what anyone else has recieved

 

No dog in this fight but why should Mini be expected to somehow financially compensate owners for a car which was not even available at the time folks ordered it? Did anyone here pay 100% of the car up front and then have a contract stating, "We agree to deliver said car by date such-and-such"? I don't know about anyone else but our deposit on the 2014 was a whopping $500 and,"It should be here in 3-4 months".

I understand folks get impatient but Mini doesn't get paid until YOU pay THEM. Don't you think they want to get the car to you as quickly as possible? So that they are not holding the note on everyone's behalf? Sure, it might be nice if they slung me some free schwag for the wait but cash off? Come on....

 

I happen to agree with this comment, but also know that MINI, NA (Corporate US) has set aside $$ to empower MINI Dealers in the US to help Motorers for ANY reason. The EPA delay is one VERY GOOD REASON. MINI, NA cannot force the individually owned dealers to actually do this (it requires a written repair order, special coding and submission to corporate through the Warranty Administrator), but it certainly is in their best interest for customer loyalty. The amount allotted to each dealer is dependent on certain factors and has a maximum cap per VIN. The amount is distributed monthly and has no end date. If the money is not used, it goes away, meaning that the dealer does not get to keep it if they decide not to dispense it to Motorers. Maybe some dealers are being lazy or feel that the extra paperwork is not worth the long term benefits. You got me.

Let me give you an example. I have friends at MINI of San Francisco. A long time Motorer purchased a new F56 from them and within days, the vehicle was broken into and a guitar was stolen. Extremely unfortunate and having NOTHING to do with the MINI, MINI NA or MINI of SF, but through this program the dealer repaired the MINI and REPLACED the stolen guitar free of charge as a kind gesture to this living and breathing billboard and advertisement. Think about the long term benefits there, right? It is completely at the discretion of the dealer and within reason.

While you are "owed" nothing for the delay, most folks have received something as a "thank you for hanging in there". And I don't believe that anyone demanded anything. As I have said in the past, a polite "how can you help me out because of the delay" to the sales manager wouldn't hurt - and be prepared with an answer if they ask you what you want. And by all means, BE REASONABLE. Free swag, extra floor mats, a car cover, portable Nav, a car payment, etc. are all acceptable. (one, not all of course).

Happy Motoring!

PS: Karbair, I hope you see your new MINI soon!

 

George2014, couldn't disagree more. First, some buyers HAVE received $500-600 off for their aggravation and unexpected delays. Others have received equivalent amounts in swag. Why shouldn't the rest of us expect the same? Second, it appears MINI screwed up the EPA requirements making 2015 buyers wait at least two months longer than normal. THEY should pay the price for mismanagement. Third, most of us had a verbal understanding of when our cars would arrive. Now we're long past those dates. No, it's not a written contract, but there is a meeting of the minds of what's expected. In my case, the dealer also dropped the ball on my 2014 order so I was forced into a 2015 and then caught up in the EPA fiasco.

To my mind, $500 is a small price for dealers to foster good will and have their customers not drive away pissed and go to another dealer when they buy their next MINI. Let's face it, some dealers have consciences, others don't. I think it's incumbent on every car buyer to squeeze back as much as they squeeze us. My salesman has already told me they will make some form of compensation - I just don't know yet what it is.

I hardly think we should be sympathizing with them.

 

And remember folks that there was also a price increase of $250.00 that MINI, NA is not passing on to anyone who pre-ordered a vehicle. This may have been for the Cooper only, I am having a brain lapse. But still a $250 savings right there! WOOHOO.

I agree with both sides, I guess, but the long and short of it is that no one is owed anything. Things happen all the time to delay product. MINI did not plan for this to happen, and despite what everyone wants to conjure in their minds, they did not "cause" this to happen either. They have empowered their dealers to make right with anyone affected by this delay. It is up to the dealer to do something right for their customer.

Ultimately, the buyer has the power. If you are not happy with the delay and you feel you are owed something and don't receive what you want, you have the power to walk away and buy a Ford Fiesta ST, or Fiat 500 Abarth or VW Golf GTI. Then see how you are treated when something happens.

Not sure tit for tat is a good way of thinking here. Mistakes happen. A short delay, a $250 extra discount and some free stuff or a loan payment are icing on the cake of owning such an amazing product backed by a customer-focused company that, in the end, cares.

 

My dealer gave me $600 but I had to spend it the day I picked her up.

 

I was compensated for the delay, on top of other discounts. All I did was send an email to my MA explaining my frustrations and they offered me the compensation.

 

Well happy to report that after I posted this message, I recieved a call from the sales manager and they have made me a nice offer to which I have accepted.

To George, I would not have expected anything for the delay if it was not promised in the beginning. When my MA told me of the delay back in July (after my car had already hit port and was due to be delivered ) he said I would be "taken care of". When I asked what that meant, he told me about mini corp giving dealers discretionary funds. My gripe is my MA kept putting off finalizing my deal til my car came in. Which was supposed to be last week, and is supposed to be today! So yesterday when I called him to finalize, there was huge back peddling and it pissed me off. I was told the money had run out and I was SOL. That was not acceptable to me. You can't put something on the table and then take it off. That is not right at all in any circumstance. If the offer had never been made I probably would not have expected anything. Thankfully my dealer has stepped up and made it right.

 

THAT, I agree with.

If the dealership made a promise or committment on the front end, then "Yeah", they absolutely should make good on it.

 

I am super happy you have your F56 and even happier that the dealer made good on their promise. However, that was pretty crappy of them to even suggest that the "money ran out" and that is completely unacceptable. Thankfully they saw the error of their ways.

Congrats!