Hey all,

I just stopped in a talked to the folks at Sandia BMW in Albuquerque yesterday. The building is going up and should have cars in it on November first. They will not be listed until the sign gets turned on on the first. Some odd contract requirement with BMW. They will not officially be a dealer until then. However, the interesting part is that they are order and taking delivery of cars NOW. They will even have some stock Cabrio's coming in for the store opening. They will be selling everything at MSRP plus a $1000 dollars in mandatory extras , floor mat, ivisi-shield ect... So now I guess I don't have an excuse to put it off any longer...

Except that pesky divorce. Maybe my next wife should be a MINI... OK maybe not

 

Why are you willing to shell out $1000 for mandatory extras? They are readily available at MSRP elsewhere.

 

Have you checked out the inventory online? I believe Mini of the Hamptons
can ship out a new one at a very economical price.... $500 or something?

If I was to get another mini (which has been crossing my mind lately..)
Id probably do that. :smile:

 

Yep I agree, the $1000 in extras is still a MARK UP!!!! There are other dealers around that sell for MSRP. If you pay the $1000 just to have your MINI you are nuts IMO, but it's your money

 

Unless of couarse you want some extras. I have my eye on the $600 driving lights...boot box...rubber boot mat...

 

Well my opinion is that when I go to order, if I would have ordered those anyway, it makes no difference. Otherwise, I go to Scottsdale and then use them for service. The issue for me has generally always been the 6 hr each way drive to get any service.

There are lots of dealer options. Portland has no sales tax, as long as bought by an Oregon resident, so that is pretty much like a DISCOUNT over every other dealer in the country.

Here is the real question. How many of you have less than $1000 in options on your MINI? Whether it be trim, floor mats and the like, or one of the packages, almost anything costs that much. But as has been pointed out, there are always alternatives. I don't understand the people who choose to pay significant markups to the base price. But now I'm dangerously close to rambling...

 

It sounds like there might be a misunderstanding. You can have your Mini serviced at any authorized dealer. You don't have to buy it there to qualify for the "free" service.

And the $1000 is not going for true options like the sunroof -- it's going for high profit margin fluff which you can easily buy elsewhere for much less money if you really really want it.

 

I meant I
d get the deal I want and use the Albuquerque dealer for service. Besides. Nothing is mandatory if the sale walks out the door to go to another dealer. Only to return for service and waranty work that isn't as beneficial as selling new stock. Right now they are still working out of the BMW side of the business. I am assuming they will come around. The average MINI consumer will not foot any options they don't want. Like I said before, I don't know what they are pushing, and when I do make a deal, it will be the one I want, or it will be at a dealer that will play by the right rules. The dealer in Baton Rouge is very accomodating, and that is a nice train ride from here...

 

If a new dealer is opening up, there will be a certain pent-up demand in that area for cars. Those people may be willing to pay extra to get a car because they either fear or loathe going out of town for service. The dealer is going to milk this for all it is worth until that demand ebbs. Its just the business of selling cars - an outgrowth of the original dealers, who were horse traders.


Unless people demonstrate that they are not going to stand for it, it will continue.

 

We have decided to drop the manditory 1000.00 accessories per car. Only MSRP now. But I'm the friendly parts guy, so come say hi and I can help you with any accessories you do want.


Andrew
Sandia MINI

 

Yes, but remember that Sandia MINI will be only the 4th Mini dealer in the entire Mountain Time Zone, and that one reason it was franchised was to lessen the demand on the Denver dealership, which estimated that 20% of its sales went to NM. Yet if Sandia starts "mandatory" add-ons, NM's will still flock to Denver, where there's no such thing--and NO prep/doc charges. Jimbo.

"Wow, there's a New Mexico?" --Homer Simpson

 

Good move, Andrew. Don't want to **** off the locals before you've even opened :smile: So do buyers get free green chile with every purchase? Jimbo

 

Andrew;

The building is not even a shell, I see iron beams, part of a couple of brick walls, a floor for sure --- Are you going to make it by November?

And, when will the Mini service department be in operations?

Ron

 

We were held up a little because there's a shortage of steel. But we're back on track now. We really can't plan on doing anything till we sign the dealer agreement, hopefully that will happen in a few weeks. Then we will be able to better determine exaclty when we will open, and when we will be able to start servicing cars. Part of the problem is I can't bring parts in till the building is in a state where its lockable. I don't want my parts walking off. The contractor said once the roof was on, the project will move fast. So we'll see. Belive me I'm as excited as anyone.

 

I've been holding off in buying a Mini for almost 2-yrs until there was an actual dealer here in ABQ. As a BMW-CCA member that has attended many of the Sandia BMW Rio Grande Redline Tech meetings, I always pulsed the dealership to check on when and if the Mini dealership was going to happen. When I was told that there was going to be a Mini dealership and that the plan was to sell at retail, I just needed a opening date before placing an order. After two phone conversations and a couple of failed face to face meetings with the future Mini sales folks, I learned about the retail plus $1K in accessories. After a few other 'issues' I've had with Sandia in the past, this just pushed me over the edge. It's a freemarket economy and Sandia can have a sales policy to reflect what the market will bear. However, IMHO, Sandia's decision to sell at over retail is an unfortunate way to start selling Minis to their initial seed customers. Especially true in one of the economically poorest states in the US.
As a result, I opted to order a MCS from the Oklahoma City, OK dealer that was selling for plain 'ol retail w/o any other requirements or markup.
As a matter of fact, I checked and could have bought from Denver, Phoenix, or San Antonio without paying over retail. Oklahoma had the shortest wait and I went with them. I buy a Southwest airline ticket, fill the tank a couple of times and still come out over $800 ahead.
And then I read my future Parts Department Manager's posting [Andrew] and learn that Sandia has recently dropped the $1K of accessories sale requirement. Oh well. Getting off to a bad start with sales, but hoping for a good relationship with Parts and Service. Pretty cool that the future Parts Manager is posting to a user group and if their Service Dept. is half a good as the BMW side that Jim Johnson run, things should be great...
-Barry

 

Just put an order in for a Cooper S through Sandia, no $1000 in required accessories. Will be built in early March - much better than the long wait at Ralph Schomp...

Call Mike Barazza down there - great guy to work with