Hi,
I'm new to the world of Mini. I fell in love with the countryman and after dealing with a few terrible dealers, I finally found one that seemed serious, so I went with them (dealer2) and in mid-October I placed an order for my 2013 countryman.

My problem is that a couple of weeks earlier, when I was still dealing with the previous dealer (dealer 1), they had their motor-tober event. Dealer 1 knew I couldn't make it in to their store that day so they emailed me and asked for my home address to make sure they register me for the rebate. I have yet to receive anything via email or otherwise. I have contacted them on a number of occasions and contacted mini corp once without any success. Dealer 2 says its out of their hands, dealer 1 says the problem is affecting many people, not just me but they'd help me if I order through them. I feel like they are just messing with me and holding the rebate hostage so I buy from them. I really don't know what to do!

Mersedeh

 

I don't know what the terms are this year but last year the whole event was about being there in person the day of the event. The term are fairly clear that No show = no rebate.
If I also follow the post you expect dealer 1 to help you obtain the rebate so you can order from another dealer? They're not going to do anything for you until you sign an order. On top of that the clock is running out for delivery before the rebate expires (assuming it ends on December 31 like last year.)
Why didn't you just go there in person?

 

I had visited them before but was out of town the date of the event so I could not make it in. They went really out of their way by calling and emailing me multiple times until they got a hold of me and took down my information. As I understand the rebate is from the manufacturer and applicable to any dealership, not limited to the one that signs you up. The issue is that most everyone who signs up receives a direct email from mini with a code and these guys are somehow side stepping that to retain the code until you buy from them. I guess I have to try mini customer service again.

As for the expiration, I have until Jan 3rd or 4th. Although at this point, despite having had a production number for over 2 weeks, I still can't register onto minis owners lounge and the car has not entered production. And to top it all office my mini rep will not give me an official sales breakdown on mini letterhead, so god only knows what they might do once the car does arrive if they don't want to commit to a precise deal/numbers now!

Ughhhhh!!!

 

Last year's Motor-tober included an in-person registration process. Once your information was entered, it took a few weeks to receive a "certificate number". This number then appeared on the certificate that was mailed to the registrant.

So, if Dealer1 DID register you, chances are that you have been or will soon be assigned a certificate number. It may take up to several more weeks to get the actual paper certificate. However, all is not lost. With your name and address and Dealer1's dealer number, Dealer2 should be able to see the certificate number in MINI's system. I ordered my CMS BEFORE I got the certificate and they just looked-up the certificate number in the MINI system...I never actually needed the certificate itself.

Now in your case there are two complicating factors: (1) you didn't actually attend the event so you don't know whether the dealer actually registered you and (2), you are working with a second dealer which does complicate things. This presents a very "iffy" situation but have Dealer2 check to see if Dealer1 registered you and, if so, what your certificate number is.

Good luck!

 

Just curious, how much is the rebate this year? $750?

 

Yes

 

Thanks for your response. The truth is that I am a first time buyer and new to the whole car-buying/negotiating process and as a woman going in there alone, I do feel like I have some type of sign on my head that reads "rip-me-off-please." I am hearing from dealer #2 that yes, he thinks the first dealer is just playing games with me and that he (dealer 2) will look into it, and then next time I check with him he ignores it.

Also, when I went in and met with him to go over the options, build the car and order it, he did pull up the new 2013 pricing and package options, etc... We built the car accordingly and I gave him a $1000 deposit. Since then I have emailed him to ask that he give me an official write out of the financial breakdown on mini letterhead and he now claims that he doesn't have the 2013 pricing yet, so i need to wait. There are just so many ways these dealers can play with you it is really hard to navigate. I don't want the car to show up and then have him give me a different price or some other surprise. Although looking at what people seem to be paying on this site, I should not complain I guess. In any event, I appreciate any advice anyone can send my way.
thanks again,
Mersedeh

 

Mersedeh,
I'd ask for my deposit back. The car isn't in production yet and it is unclear about the $750 voucher and unclear on what the actual price of the car is. I'm thinking the car isn't going to make it till after the voucher deadline of 1/2/13, especially if you're on the west coast. (Although when I picked up my car, my MA told me that MINI extended the deadline date).
There's another recent thread on this site with advice on negotiating. The guy didn't even go to a dealership, he did everything through email with three or four dealers. You basically need a starting point for leverage. I'm a USAA member and they have a car buying service. I told the MA the USAA price and he matched it. There are other car buying sites out there, so you can start with those. The other thing is, don't get to attached to the car. My MA tried to invalidate the voucher with a phony memo from MINI. I told him I wanted my deposit back and I'll be going to my backup plan. He "talked" to the finance guy and came back and accepted my offer.
I'm not sure about 2013, but on a 2012 priced around $30K, you should be able to get $1700 off and then add the voucher to that.
Good luck.
P.S. After you ask for your deposit back, you will experience the power you have.

 

You make some really good points. Despite the fact that I've ordered my ideal little mini, if I see the MA giving me any BS, I will definitely walk away with my deposit, which here in CA, he is obligated to return. As for 2013 models, the mini USA website even states that they are accepting orders and I've read elsewhere that production will start in Nov. if I can get the car by end of Dec and get the rebate sorted, then I should be ok, otherwise I'd lose out on the rebate. The MSRP of my build is $34,500 and I'm paying $1150 over invoice, so $32000. This is before the $750, so I do hope I can get that coupon!!!!

 

FYI - it's not a rebate, but an additional discount; that's better as you save sales tax on the discount ($50+). You should get an email with the certificate number whether you order the car there or not. My dealer was very clear that I had to be there in person on the day (had to drive 200+ miles R/T).

 

So, I went to the dealer where my sales rep was busy sticking it to someone else and handed me off to a rather angry/pouty guy to go over finance issues. His job was to make me look like a fool for wanting a sales contract on a car that has not yet arrived. He said they do not have the 2013 finance packages for the countrymans so they can only give me a guesstimate until further notice. As for the rebate, my rep and the angry guy said its out of their hands but there was a third sales guy there who took my info and promised to resolve the issue for me. It's like a soap opera here!!!

 

And that was the "good" dealer?

 

Mercedeh --

You might consider posting the state/nearest city to you and see if someone can suggest a good dealer near you. If I were you, I wouldn't go back to either of these dealers. Also, you need to get recommendations for MINI dealer's service departments. That is equally (if not more) important for the long-term ownership of your vehicle. Just read the posts from folks who had the coolant temperature sensor upgrade done without the service tech refilling the coolant after draining it!!

Don't make a mistake just because you are eager to get your new baby! Get your money back now, take a deep breath, do some more research into dealers and the performance of their service departments. Make sure you ask for regional recommendations for the folks here. Remember, you're spending $30,000...be wise, be prepared.

HTH,

 

Yes, this is the "good" dealer. I spent well over an hour and a half this morning talking to Mini customer service, who basically expressed how they understand my frustration but can't do anything to help me. As for the financing, they were really hesitant regarding the mini finance and were basically telling me that I have to wait until they receive the 2013 finance packages and that it is unheard of to finalize a contract on a car that has not yet arrived, etc... however they were very enthusiastic and willing to "lock me in" on the same rate for a 60 month regular financing schedule. At this point, I'm thinking of going to a credit union and seeing if I can get a better deal for financing through them and I'm also starting to think that maybe I should just skip the countryman and go for a BMW X-1. I guess the one positive side to all this is that I am not locked in to anything and that I can cancel whenever I want and (hopefully) get my money back. Before I do anything, I want to see if this third sales rep can actually get me that motor-tober rebate email or not.

As for the other dealers, we only have 2 in San Diego, but there are quite a few in Southern California. I emailed a whole group of them without any response and the others that I have called and spoken to sales reps, they do not return my phone calls. It's really bizarre, it is as if they are so busy selling that it's the customer that has to chase them.

 

I know it's a long way from you in S.D., but I've had very good experience with Mini of Ontario. If you give them a call or visit, ask for Stormy - he's been my MA for several years now, and I've got no complaints. He's cool, not pushy, and is willing to take the time to make you comfortable with your purchase.

 

Miracle Alert! I finally got the damn rebate! No thanks to my MA, but thanks to the other Mini employee who overheard my complaints and took it upon himself to help, while my MA pretended that there was nothing he could do. I am really happy to have the rebate, but just worried and unsure about receiving my car in time! My MA had given me a production number when I gave him my deposit, but since that date we made a few changes to the car build. I assumed that the revisions on the build would not change the production number so I have been calling mini's automated line and checking status based on that production number. UNTIL TODAY! I emailed my MA asking why he has not provided me with any updates, etc... and he finally replies and gives me a new production number and vin number. I don't understand why my number was changed since the old number I had states that it is now completed production while the new number says it will finish production on November 16th. God only knows when it will really finish and ship out and get here!

 

Mersedeh --

Ours completed production after the first week in November (2011), was shipped to the port and sat for two weeks before being loaded aboard the Glorious Leader. It arrived at the NJ port and was delivered to my dealer (CT) by the second week in December. Of course, I'm on the right-coast but we made it in plenty of time.

Keep hopeful!