I got a decent deal from them 2 weeks ago when they offered me 28K for my trade. Yesterday, I asked the sales manager David after looking at the value on my truck, wholesale in NADA wwhich was almost 32K to give me 28,826.42, as I had to have new tires installed as I couldn't wait the 6 weeks for delivery with the driving I do. He made an anti-semetic remark calling me a typical Jew, and cancelling my order.

I of course then called him a ****, which he clearly is based on his remarks. I would recommend not buying from presyige, and go to Keeler. even though they are further away, you will get an honest & pleasant deal, and then you can use Prestige for service.

I plan on posting adds all throughout Bergen county about prestige mini.

 

Sorry about your experience...it's hard to buy from a place when they make racist remarks. Have you thought about trying Morristown MINI or Princeton MINI?

 

You don't understand. Prestige offered me the most on my trade in writing, over $1k more than any other dealer, but still not enough. I cannot and will not just walk away without a fight.

 

Might be worth a call to corporate headquarters. People like that should not be dealing with customers - or have a job there.

 

I would definitely call MINI USA about that. I had a similar experience when buying my wife's Beetle in 2000. I was so mad I just walked out. I called him later and told him to cancel my order and why. Then I called his manager and then I called VW Customer Care.

 

ASSUMING you heard those exact words you said, then ditto on calling corporate. successful businesses that i've worked at have a ZERO tolerance policy on racial slurs. i'm sure MINI USA is a business of successful stature as well.

after looking at their employee listing, http://www.prestigemini.com/MeetOurDepartments ,
it seems rather the person would say something like that when there are at least 2 people of jewish heritage working there. and isn't this place in new jersey? that like saying something bad about MLK in detroit.

 

As someone who works at a dealership, I realize that most dealerships will do ANYTHING to look good for their company rep and avoid ALL negative publicity to the maker of the car (MINI in this case)... Call MINI USA, the owner, and the BBB... I can nearly guarantee next time you go in the dealership, he WON'T be there. You might even want to see if they have an HR department at the dealership! Who knows... maybe you'll get a free MINI out of the deal!! haha

Stupid biggots...

 

sorry to hear about this but it doesn't surprise me after having a bad experience (not like yours but enough for me to walk away from my order) there.

after that point i've heard nothing but bad things about prestige MINI and prestige auto group as whole. hope this situation as a positive ending. the one time so far I've gone to MINI USA for help w/ something regarding my car, they've defaulted to the line that all dealerships are owned and operated independently. your mileage may vary.

 

I've never been to Prestige MINI, but my mother has purchased several vehicles from Prestige Lexus, Prestige Mercedes and Prestige BMW. We've always been satisfied. They've also been very professional and courteous and given us great deals. What this guy at Prestige MINI said to the OP is unacceptable and he needs to be fired, but I'd disagree that the prestige auto group as a whole is like this.

 

Astonishing.

If this uncorroborated accusation is true, I'm bewildered at how someone with such an attitude, and the willingness to express it with clientele, is able to make a living in this day and age.

Unbelievable.

 

I sent an email to Mini USA customer service. They responded that the situation is being forwarded to their executive offices, and I'll here back shortly.

 

Just to let everyone know, I got a threatening email from Sam Carr

Your thread has been returned to the MINIs in general/1stgear.

It is strongly suggested that members air their vendor grievences one time. After the intial post all other post on the subject are considered harrassment. We feel that you should work this out with the dealership and not here on NAM.

Thanks for your cooperation

Sam

Samuel Carr
Vendor Liaison
North American Motoring

To me this sounds like Sam was asked by Prestige Mini to shut me up. Anti Semitism is only preached by *****, and I'm sorry if it offends anyone, but I am the victim here and my rights have been violated.

 

I doubt it. I think he's probably saying what he means. He doesn't want this to be the place where such disputes are settled... and that's the board's prerogative.

What rights have been violated? Yes, if your allegations are true, you were treated like crap by a major league a-hole... but what rights exactly have been violated?

I wish I had the right to never be treated like crap by an a-hole, but unfortunately that one's not in the Constitution, and it happens from time to time.

 

Actually, anti-semitism has been around far longer than the *****. I feel strongly for you that he used a racial slur, but that remark is incorrect.

Take the high ground and just call him a racist. Everyone will know what you mean. Be patient and let Mini deal with it internally now. They may even surprise you and offer you a deal again before the 6 weeks is up.

 

OUR FELLOW MINI COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

IT HAS OBVIOUSLY COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL OUT THERE POSTING UNTRUE AND DEROGATORY COMMENTS. THESE ARE SLANDEROUS IN NATURE AND UNFOUNDED. HERE AT PRESTIGE MINI WE STRIVE TO BE THE BEST THAT WE CAN BE AT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. OUR PAST RECORD PROVES THAT, AS WE ARE RANKED ONE OF THE TOP TEN DEALERS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THE NATION BY MINI USA. SO PLEASE LET OUR PROVEN RECORD GUIDE YOU WITH YOUR MINI EXPERIENCE AND IGNORE ANY UNPROVEN SLANDER.

Sincerely,

DAVID BIRKENSTOCK
General Sales Manager
Prestige MINI
201-684-0700

 

But that's the nature of the beast isn't it? If it can't be proven, say by a third person who heard the exchange, then it can legally be called slander, whether it's true or not.

 

If they were ranked one of the top ten dealers for customer satisfaction, they wouldn't have let the deal go for $826. Instead, they made a racial comment to scare me away, due to their greed.

 

Not that I have a dog in this fight , but does this thread seem to have more to do with $826 than it does with an alleged comment from a dealer?

If I had a beef with a dealership of this nature , the last thing I'd do is try to fight it out on a message board.

Just my opinion , but reminds me of my motto back when I made a living in sales. " The customer is always right... except when he's wrong , or thinks he can get something for nothing."

 

The sales manager made an anti Semitic comment, calling me a typical Jew when I asked for another $826 to cover the tire's I had put on my truck due to his not wanting to locate a wehicle for me now. He knew I couldn't wait the 6 weeks, and he knew I needed tires. The general manager refused to call me back after numerous attempts, but instructed his sales manager to cancel the deal.

 

Some of my observations on this issue:

- in another thread you said " This was the sales manager David Birkenstock who made this comment. Its not over yet" . In yet another thread you said " I will love to see this dealership rot in hell, and when I get through with them they & Mini will be sorry." These statements tell me that because of the situation and you inability to close the deal with Prestige that you are now planning to take them to task at every opportunity. Given that over 50% of your posts to NAM is about this very subject it indicates that you now have an agenda on NAM. Not one to make people aware of the issue but to attempt to damage the dealership and David Birkenstock.

- Typically a dealership when setting a trade-in price is based on the condition, at that time, of the trade-in vehicle. If you put in a new stereo would you expect to be reimbursed fully for that expense if you traded the vehicle in? Keep in mind that dealerships work with a large number of vendors and have better buying power on any items that may be required to refurbish the vehicle to a level that they need to put in on their used lot. That said in many cases they wholesale it out to a third party anyway and those people deal with the refurbishing of things like tires, tune, etc. and you will never recoup any "upgrades" you made to the vehicle.

I don't know if the statement you refer to was made or not. What I do know is that David has come onto the site to state that he did not. You are continuing to use NAM as your personal battleground to damage someone and no one here has the ability to verify or deny your claim. I look to all people that would happen to visit Prestige to make their own decision on whether to deal with them.

I'm open to someone airing their experiences after they have exhausted all other avenues to rectify it. That said they can air it once and then they need to move on. Using Google or our search tools will reveal this thread for others wishing to do research on Prestige and your experiences. Any additional posting just emphasizes the fact that you want to use the site not for the benefit of educating others but to damage someone. Continuing along this path will result in post moderation and/or a cooling off period being enforced.

Mark