I would not want to pay over MSRP but it is supply and demand. I believe on the West Coast and Northwest they pay a markup on MSRP... If they don't now they certainly did... At that point though I definitely would look around and would easly drive a few hours to save a few thousand dollars. An extreme example - I had a friend in California buy her car from an East Coast dealer and drive it back. At the end of the day she probably paid the same amount with airfare, hotels etc but certainly enjoyed the use of those extra thousand $$ vs. handing over to a dealer. That would be one heck of a ride home!!!

 

regarding the comments above regarding MSRP, i have bought two MINI's and not paid over MSRP. there is no reason to do this, forget all that supply/demand nonsense. in 2002, at the height of demand, MINI of Fairfield County (Connecticut) did not add on any surplus. my MA remarked that BMW had recommended that dealers NOT do this, but, of course, they don't all follow this admonition. buy somewhere else. i'd rather pay to have my vehicle freighted to me, rather than get ripped...

 

not true.

If you get a pretty loaded MINI then it may break 2k profit.

a base model cooper has considerably less.

 

I did not pay over MSRP (Mini of Peabody--a northern suburb of Boston). I also got free rubber floor mats for the front and a nifty little key chain.

 

I had my MINI shipped from Long Island to where I live because of added dealer costs,I saved 500 dollars doing this.

 

Okay, my problem is solved.
I have decided to drop the dealership/MA that I had ordered my MINI from. I wrote to the MA telling him I was unhappy and why and that I would take a few days to decide whether my displeasure was enough to make me feel uncomfortable about going through with the purchase at that dealership.
I recieved a 2 line email back apologizing if he didn't make me feel 'warm and fuzzy' (his words). He also added that if I wouldn't be picking the car up in the next week or so he'd need to order me another and sell this one to someone else. Ooooookay, fine!
A little patronizing in my eyes and no real attempt at fixing the relationship. No calls or emails since.
So...Bub bye.

Last night I visited another dealership explaining my buying experience to-date to that MA before I got there. When I got there 2 MAs showed me around the dealership and showed me what cars they had in stock. The Sales Advisor sat down and asked me what he could do to help me, I was introduced to the GM, the Service Manager, and the Parts Manager had just left or else he would have been on the meet and greet list. Each one took the time to speak to me, giving me the impression that they cared that I was having a good experience in their dealership.
I was shown the car closest to my order. Majesticaly sitting there all shiny on the sales floor. One of the MAs was always there to answer questions and even make me feel fine with just groping around the car on my own -- which I wanted to do also.
I asked them to give me a quote on my trade-in and right off the bat they were 500 more than the previous dealership and when I told him the minimum I would accept -- the MA did not laugh in my face (again, unlike the other dealership) and went to his SA to check. They raised their quote another 500. We were still 1000 apart but I appreciated the effort on their part and the lack of attitude about it. I sat down put a deposit down had the SA came over when I had questions about any part of the forms. I was not laughed at ONCE! Not one person rolled their eyes at something I asked or sighed with bordom while I spoke. Can you imagine that!
The floor model does not have everything I ordered but does have some things I didnt order and it's a fine trade off. At this point 4 wheels, a milk crate, a rubberband and a MINI badge might have sold me.
I didn't get every consolation I asked for and I didn't expect to but it was professional and I was not expecting everything under the sun. I did need to be treated with respect.
Now all of this sounds simple enough but it really went a long way for me. It also seemed to me that each person working there enjoyed this pretty painless and stress-free way of doing business. The other dealership felt like I had been intruding into a club (or frat house) that I was not really a part of and they were sort-of putting up with me for as short a time as was necessary.
While in the showroom someone called my cell phone that wanted to buy my current Accord. He lives in the next town as the dealership. This is strange because I live about 120 miles from the area that the dealership is located and he happened to be searching craigsist in my home area and saw the ad. He liked the c-list ad and wanted to meet me and give me my asking price in cash for it once he saw it in person. He meet me today halfway between his town and mine and gave me a deposit and will meet me at the dealership on Monday with the remained 10k cash and I'll add that to my down payment, pick up my new MINI and go home.
Now I guess fate was on my side. It's made me feel I was on the right path.
I have NOT asked about freebies or floor mats and I could care less. I expect that the straw that broke the camel's back on the last deal has absolutely no effect on this deal because the real issues had nothing to do with the floor mats, keychains, stuffed animals or hats and had everything to do with all the other FREE stuff I wasn't offered at the other dealership -- like common courtesty, respect and all the little things that everyone should get FREE.
I'm a satisfied customer.
I need a cigarette now!

 

designer:
Glad to read you are a happy camper. Would you or do you mind telling us the name of the new dealership?

 

Okay, my problem is solved.
I have decided to drop the dealership/MA that I had ordered my MINI from. I wrote to the MA telling him I was unhappy and why and that I would take a few days to decide whether my displeasure was enough to make me feel uncomfortable about going through with the purchase at that dealership.
I recieved a 2 line email back apologizing if he didn't make me feel 'warm and fuzzy' (his words). He also added that if I wouldn't be picking the car up in the next week or so he'd need to order me another and sell this one to someone else. Ooooookay, fine!
A little patronizing in my eyes and no real attempt at fixing the relationship. No calls or emails since.
So...Bub bye.



WOW! That sound familiar. Glad ya dropped him, maybe his boss will too.

 

Yay!


that is how you should be treated at a mini dealership =)


I'm happy for you.

 

well, we had our launch party today... boring - -except for driving theR56

They had mexican food, free coffee, beer (we are in germany), But not one free little token to take home. Not even a 2007 brochure. I had a small chat with my MA about an hr after I had been there looking at the 56's. I always feel like he is avoiding me. 'bout hr later.. he waked by and said 'you still here' then stepped back a bit and said 'oh, i was just kidding'

Yeah the tail light thing was a bump for me too. It was 0.00 on my purchase agreement, but when I questioned it this week as we got the sales contract finished and the check to the dealer I questioned it. Oh, how it must be to just bold face lie. My response was that the prices were not final (umm we have a contact that we both signed 12.21.06), he also stated that he contacted everyone about the is issue, but forgot and knew he had 'someone else' to contact - aka me. but just couldnt remember...I don't see how he forgot about me. I was sendhing him little funny things via e-mail that I would see on utube or something. I was probably a freaking pest. ( but, not having a car you have some much time on your hands ha ha ha)

Anyway, we will see if he keeps his word and give me mats for free when I pick it up in 2 weeks.

OK, my rant is over ( i feel better - thats been burning for a week now!)

Motor on...

 

I loaded mine with every standard package except the XM/Sirius, plus the driving lights. The dealer in Princeton had all sorts of t-shirts and hats for my family and to top it off gave my 4 year old a remote control convertible MCS that he absolutely cherishes and keeps where he can see it every day. Other than that I got free floor mats, free chrome gas cap, and free mud flaps.

 

Sorry to hear about everyone's bad experiences.

When I bought my first MINI, i drove about 200 miles to a dealership in my hometown because the local dealership was charging a $2000 markup at the time. I paid MSRP and received quite a few free extras totaling $300-400.

When I totaled my car recently, my first impulse was to call the same dealer, but my wife asked me to shop around. I called all the local dealers (within 200 miles) and even a few as far as 1000 miles away. My previous dealer again offered me the best deal, and seemed genuinely concerned my my situation. They have truly earned my business and should I ever need another car, they will be the first people I call.

 

We got two key chains, floor mats, rear fogs, and two Mini polo shirts.

 

Which dealer did you go through?

 

Mini of the Woodlands. They thru in rear fogs and floor mats when I ordered, then keys and shirts when we picked Percy up.
Great dealership. Great MA (Aka).

 

I had a great experience at South Bay Mini with Amanda! They are sending me my rubber mats, (Parts was closed when we left), I got a bunch of mini stuff (youification stuff) and a cool mini picnic set backpack. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. There were no mysteries, no last minute changes in price and everyone seemed to go out of their way to make it a good experience!

 

I got a $30 voucher to their gift store, my choice of front and rear floormats (carpet is more expensive but I opted for rubber) and free black bonnet stripes with installation. I'd have pushed for more but they'd already given me $750 off MSRP which was a hell of a deal.

 

I've always got free goodies from the dealerships I've bought cars from.

The Range Rover dealership sent us some cookies and a American Express gift card when I bought the Rover Sport Supercharged

The BMW people sent us some BMW Lifestyle Accessories, such as a tshirt, a watch, and a coupon for a free dealership premium detail when we got the M6.

Lexus sent my mother flowers when she bought her SC430

And MINI sent me a coupon for a free detail, a MINI Pen, mousepad, a hat, and a tshirt when I bought the mini.

 

I am lucky, I got mats front and back & a keychain. But the best part is that the dealer will wash my car for the life of the car.

 

after reading some of the horror stories and some of the goodies received, i realize how lucky we are with Mini of Pittsburgh. we got 2 bulldog keychains, 2 caps, a union jack license plate frame and 2 sets of floor mats free (we wanted the pinstripe - they didn't have them at the time so they put the rubber ones in and when the pinstripes came they shipped them).

 

I picked up my R56 MCS on Nov. 10 2007, When I ordered the car I told my MA at Assael MINI, that Irvine MINI, was giving $500 off MSRP & Free floor mats, and he said that he wouldn't promise anything but that we would try.

I ordered the car with him anyways, didn't have to put any deposit down either.

Well, when I got there, He not only gave me $500 off, he gave me the free mats and he even threw in the cargo net, which is something i was hoping to get. I didn't even have to talk price with him. I am very satisfied with my purchase.

 

Yea, I forgot I got the cargo nets as well.

 

Same here. I actually thought the MINI came with them standard as both of my MINI's came with them installed without even the slightest mention from me or my MA...