Done!

 

I don't mind my dealer being 130 miles away, though. I'm actually very happy that there are so few dealers around. I really don't want the MINI to become the next PT Cruiser. I see at least 5 of those things on every block.

 

+1

 

Keep sending those links. Got a response. Maybe if they get 200 more, they'll pay attention.

Hi James,

Thanks for writing MINI. I apologize to hear of your dissatisfaction.

MINI is a small vehicle manufacturing corporation with a correspondingly set network of servicing dealerships. I apologize for the lack of MINI dealers in your area. Unfortunately, we do not have any set plans of expanding our dealer network in the near future.

If there are further questions I can assist with, please feel free to drop me an e-mail. I would be happy to lend a hand.

LET'S MOTOR.
(name deleted for respect)
MINI Customer Relations and Services
Representative
866.ASK.MINI (866.275.6464)

 

I bet I'm the only person on here to say WOOOHOOOOO!!! to that response from MINI. Keep it small, keep it unique!

 

That is the exact same response I received (except it said Hi Caren)!!

 

I look forward to your complaints about the location of Fiat dealers/sellers as they are going to like MINI and building from the ground up if they decide to relaunch the brand here.

 

Depends on whether or not they go solo, or with a more established car as a partner. (Wouldn't it be funny if it were to be Ferrari?)

Got the same canned answer, BTW. I responded that they were "missing the point." That they needed to have some services available through BMW dealers, too, even if they don't sell them there. I pointed out that in a recent cross country trip I passed exactly one (1) MINI dealer.

 

i'm sure this comes up alot, so they probably have a response saved on their computers and just insert your name before they send it.

 

We tried a letter-writing campaign here in Alabama a few years ago since we do not have a dealership in the entire state. Our local BWM Dealership has been awaiting permission to open a MINI dealership & the BWM manager was willing to train a tech or 2 to service MINIS but MINI USA sent us all nice fluffy letters saying

 

Im only about 140 miles from my dealer, but it takes 4 days to get there, a round trip plane ticket, and a reservation on an auto transport barge (which i have to pay one way). I've only done it once and that was to get my cabrio top replaced.

 

In his driveway, a Rolls, couple of Jags and a Mini


Wonder which dealer is the closest...

 

Just an update:

When I told MINI that they were "missing the point," here is the answer I got today:

Hi Deborah,

Thanks for writing MINI. I'm sorry if I missed your point in forwarding the link to the forum.

Unfortunately, at this time BMW and MINI have no plans to train BMW technicians to perform service or maintenance work on MINIs. MINI adheres to a policy of supporting our national network of authorized MINI dealers. Our vehicles are the product of patented engineering and require authorized care to maintain their peak performance, and our MINI technicians are trained and certified to service our vehicles. Right now, we are not able to offer this training to BMW technicians. I apologize for any disappointment this causes.

If there are further questions I can assist with, please feel free to drop me an e-mail. I will be happy to lend a hand.

LET’S MOTOR.
Meg Brown
MINI Customer Relations and Services
Representative
866.ASK.MINI (275-6464)

Boo.

 

Just spent 40 minutes on the phone with ASK-MINI and expressed my concerns. Apparently they pay a lot more attention to calls than to emails. So if you have the time call 866-275-6464 and tell them what you think.

They will act as advocates for us customers, an together we may be able to get something done. Make sure to reiterate that you may not be looking for more selling dealerships, but a way to avoid having to make a long trip for basic maintenance and diagnostic issues. BMW execs have their heads in the sand and really don't understand that providing simple services will go a long way to improve the brand (particularly in light of the fact that sales are down >7% from last year).

While you're at it tell them you want MINI D's in the US.

Help make MINI better. Make the call!

 

I don't think MINI really UNDERSTANDS the distances in the U.S., just like they don't fully understand the heat we have in the south, no matter how many executives they have in this country. I'm just glad I'm not in the southwestern states, where I'd have the worst of both worlds.

 

Where do you get this from?

The latest data that I have from Automotive News is thru September, but it shows:

YTD 2006: 29770
YTD 2007: 31936

It's actually UP 7% year to date thru September sales, and sales this year were off to a slow start due to the late launch of the R56.

 

October sales (from Motoringfile and the guy I spoke to at ASK-MINI):

http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/11/...5-for-october/

Guess lots of people got them when they were released, but are now waiting for 08's...

 

Yes, October was a soft month this year for MINI, but looking at that link it still says YTD sales (a more meaningful comparison IMO) are up about 5.7%.

Right now dealer inventories are at a pretty low level, when this time last year MINI was building alot of '06's during the last few months of production and dealers ended up with lots of '06's right through the end of the year.

 

More like the usual onset of the cold weather. I brought my 05 in October and got a sweet deal because they were worried about having a "summer car" (mine was aero kitted and on 17's) on the lot.

As mentioned, this is the more important data
"Year-to-date, the division reported sales of 35,306 automobiles, an increase of 5.7 percent, compared to the 33,412 cars reported in the first ten months of 2006."

 

How on earth did you get ASK-MINI to "reveal" lower sales figures?

 

I wasn't talking to a BMW exec. I was talking to a customer service guy that shared my same concerns. When the subject came up that I wasn't looking for BMW to open more MINI selling dealerships or take any sales business away from existing dealers, he mentioned that sales figures were down recently. The 7.5% number came from Motoringfile (who seems to be able to get them to reveal a lot).

But sales figures are public knowledge anyway. They're not a secret.

 

Oh, I know they're not a secret. Just surprised that someone from MINI would reveal a dip.

 

My nearest dealer is 150 miles. People laugh that I drive that far for an oil change a couple times a year. I laugh back that I only change my oil a couple times a year. Sarcasm lost again.

 

My Mini Dealer is 15 miles away.

 

Brecht MINI of Escondido is 29 miles from our front door.