I get on this site every now and then (maybe not as much as I would like due to my schedule) but I read a lot about mistakes that MAs make and lies that they tell. It is usually followed by a generalization of MAs in that regard. Being a MA (and proud of it) I just bite my lip and read on. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you run into those types anywhere you go but not all MAs are bad. I for one am the President of our local club, Events coordinator for our dealership, and a proud owner. I try my best to serve my customers and keep a club going. Let's think before we generalize. There, it's off my chest. Thanks for reading.

 

Well said..... But.... there's always going to be a bad apple. For someone like your self that has a passion for the product and enthusiasm is the best thing to have. I wish you the best with you MA-ship and your club.

 

I'm a MA as well.

Joined this site in 07/2002 when purchased my 1st 2002 MCS.

I later became part of the Core Moderation Team here... as well.

I sold my MCS in 2004 to get a M Coupe.... but still remained interested in MINI's.
(Once it's in your blood... it's there for life )

It was decided that I should resign my Core Team Moderator position when I took the position as a MA.
I have been working as a MA for about 6 months now & have delivered over 70 new MINI's.
I will deliver my own new 2006 MCS tomorrow...
How kool is that !!!!!

I recommend to ALL MY MINI customers to visit this site... !!!!!
There is a perspectivethat this site gives that is IHMO....unrivaled in it's scope and presentation.....of relevant ...timely.... factual...fun.... entertaining ...INFO.
I've never really left...

I know some MA's that should not be MA's and know many more that ... truly believe in the car and the position.
I love the job... and look forward to goin to work every day.

You can't sell something that you don't believe in.


I believe in the MINI.... and it shows

and my last name is MINI-ero

Peace,
D

 

Agreed. I always thought there should be one thing that all car dealers had to disclose and that is what car they drive. I took a test drive in a WRX and was talking to the guy and he said he drives a Linclon LS? What the heck is someone who drives a LS doing selling WRX's? If more people sold what they drove I think the car sales business would be a lot better off, how can you really know a car that you have never owned?

If only all MA's could be like you Mr. Monk (I am a bit partial beacuse my dog's name is Monk so anyone with Monk in thier name is OK in my book

 

I am VERY proud to be both a MINI owner (2 times) and an MA. I bought my first MINI in July of 04, and became a Motoring Advisor in March of 05.
I am proud of my dealership and the profession that allows me to make a living selling a product that I am believe in to a customer that is often MORE knowledgeable about the product than I am.
My thanks and best wishes to ALL MINI owners, YOU are a special kind of person.
Happy Motoring

 

I bet your dog is a lot more cute though.

If it weren't for John Monk, my second MCS would have been purchased elsewhere. He knows the MINI in and out and loves the cars unlike some that are there just to make a living. That's what it takes to be a good MA and I'm glad I bought from him. I've spent several times up there for service and there is no way I could keep up with the amount of work he does.

Great job, John.

Now what do I get for free?

 

Glad to see all of the possitive replies. I do think that it would be nice if all MAs were enthusiests and drove MINIs. I bought an 04 S in Sept. of 03 I ordered it a few days after I started working there. I just sold it and am ordering an 06. I also bought an 05 Cooper for my wife last year.

 

Nice to see an advisor that actually likes MINI...

 

Would be nice if more MA's showed there support around here Makes us MINI owners feel special

 

Thanks buddy, that means a lot. Glad your not mad at me for lying to you about BRG being discontinued! Just kidding. I bet your right about the dog.

 

I have had the pleasure to deal with the very best MA's in Florida: Crystal Neagle & Mark Holstberg @ Lauderdale MINI. Every member of the sales team there not only loves the MINI but they breath, speak and think MINI 24 hours a day. They are passionate about the product they sell and it shows

 

I'd just like to put in a good word for a sensational MA at MINI of Fairfield County, Connecticut. His name is Peter Braun and he is definitely a MA that is several steps above the average MA.

He has owned more Minis than you can shake a stick at and currently owns an '02 MCS that he has done a nice job modding. He has been racing Minis for years. His knowledge of the history of the Mini/MINI is extensive. His knowledge of the new MINI is equally impressive.

I have bought both my '02 MCS DS/W and my '06 MCS SB/S from him and recommended him to many others. He is one of the truely nice guys.

 

Monk I dealt with one of your cohorts at MON but I see your old MINI quite often, just saw it at the theater today. These pics are right after it moved to town.

 

Oh my goodness, my throat just lumped up looking at that picture. I really miss it, can't wait to get another one. (I'll just have to borrow the wifes every now and then). Thanks for sharing the picture. KM, who was your MA?

 

Somebody needs a hug.





Not being specific here, just generalizing.

 

Very funny.

 

Jeremy

 

I'm sorry. :impatient Just kidding.

 

I'd be happy if the dealership I use would just keep the same MA's for a while.
I ordered my MINI in Aug. of 03', (over the phone). By the time it arrived on Sept 21st my MA had left the dealership. The person who took his place had been at the dealership a few years and said he wasn't going anywhere. A few months later he quit. They don't seem to last very long.

 

Here! Here! Prior to us adopting Gromit, we had visited two MINI dealerships. We weren't impressed with the first one, so on a trip to visit family, we stopped at another MINI dealer. We really liked the MA we spoke with, and decided when we were ready to buy, she was who we would call.

Skip forward a couple of months, and we found Gromit on the lot of another dealer. We called the other dealer to inquire about wait time to order a MINI, and found out our MA had quit! We called the dealer who had Gromit, and spoke with an MA, and made arrangements to visit the dealer several days later.

When we drove to the dealer, we found out the MA we had talked to on the phone had quit the day after she talked to us. Kind of made us wonder if someone was trying to tell us not to buy a MINI!

We ended up adopting Gromit that day, and I have to give a big to our MA's David and Carl, for the excellent job they did.

 

We love our MA (Julie at Classic)

 

Well I dont know what he thinks BUT.... I think my MA is the coolest. Service advisor is a bit different but my MA rules. Can always call him and hes there, Likes Minis in general and loves to see what you do to personalize them. Always trys his best even if it doesn't work out. I can't complain about my MA. Plus giving 5s on his review was never an issue.

oh yea his name was John Monk too

-Josh

 

The very fact that you would start a thread like this, and the manner that you responded to my (admittedly flippant) post has lead me to sit back and rethink my (admittedly flippant) post. "Someone needs a hug".

I think you need to realize that there are a couple of types of people that will buy, or even consider, buying a MINI. The first group will be what I fall into. The old "car guys" that grew up with small European sports cars. We are the kind of guys that will fix the dash rattle with the radio volume ****, until it gets to the point where that doesn't fix it anymore. We will then complain. I, for one, rejoice that the British have finally figured how to make a convertible that won't leave you wetter inside the car than you would be if you were standing outside the car during a thunderstorm. (Which I always thought strange since I believe it rains about 9 days out of 10 on the island anyway.)

Then you have the type of person that is attracted to the "cute factor" of the MINI. Sometimes their MINI is their first car. These people are either budding or veteran "car guys". But they ARE "car guys". I think the MINI attracts the "car guy" kind of person. These are the people that will hear that same dash rattle and "want-it-fixed-right-now". And they will complain. After all, they just paid $25k to $30k for a car (almost TWICE what I paid for my first house) and it should be RIGHT. These are the people that will write into a MINI forum and bi*ch, and bi*ch.

Now. Do you see what I just did? I just lumped every MINI driver out there into two groups. Was I right in doing that? Because I am a Democrat, does that mean that I think we need to take better care of some in our society that can't take care of themselves? Because I am a Republican, does that mean that I think the government is too big and intrusive, and if the lazy bums would get off of their rear, they could take care of themselves? It's an easy and understandable human trait to lump people into groups. It's easier to understand them.

Your apparent consciousness about your job as a MA has to be commended. How many times have we gone into a store and got the impression that the sales clerk's Mom made them go to work that day? But I digress.

Because it's not fair that I lumped all MINI owners into just two groups, it's also unfair that some will lump all MAs into one. Steve, my MA at Hendrick MINI in Charlotte, NC is a car guy. Very knowledgeable about MINIs - for gawd's sake, he has pictures of the cars he has had in the past and will proudly show them to you like a grandfather will proudly show you pictures of his grandson. Are all MAs like Steve? No. He knows his product, though, and will answer any question you may have. BUT, that's the way it should be. A few years ago, I was interested in the new Honda Element. My wife and I were at a local dealer when I overheard the salesman tell a young couple that the rear seats didn't come out. They would fold against the side, he said, but wouldn't come out. They eventually wandered off, and I caught up with them. I took them aside and showed them how the seats can be removed. The salesman didn't know his product, and he lost a sale because of it.

I think that is why it's rare that people will write into a MINI board and brag on their MAs if they know their product. MAs are SUPPOSE to know their product. People WILL write in and complain, however. Most of us are "car guys", and we appreciate what BMW/MINI has done - or we wouldn't have bought the car in the first place. But, if it isn't right, it needs to be fixed. I think you need to take the complaints people have with their MAs with a grain of salt. Don't take it to heart. You are not included in that group of MAs.

It's easy to lump all MAs into one group, but it's also not fair.

And I also apologize for my lame attempt at humor with my previous post.

 

I can understand people venting frustrations....rightly or wrongly....and am also glad we have a chance to give a well-deserved to all the great MAs out there. Frankly...from my own experience w/ MINIs...I have never, ever met an MA that wasn't top notch and knew their stuff. Same for SAs. In fact, I've never seen better service, before and after sale, than at a MINI dealer. I can deal w/ the fact that the car is so freakin' great....what shocks me still is the level of friendliness and service I continue to experience after three years of MINI ownership.

 

That's the bad thing about typing instead of talking. I thought your remark was funny and even sounded like something I would say. My "very funny" was light hearted but I guess could be taken either way.