Wow is that a bad example since there are still NEW 05 Elises on dealers lots. Lotus won't sell 07s until ALL 06s are sold ... and current used 05s can be had in the low 30s.

MINI better hope it doesn't go the way of the Elise or they will have a real dud on their hands.

 

but the fact that at introductions, relatively rare models will command a premium, whether or not the cars will hold thier value. Really, I thought the relavence of the comparison was valid. You could use the new Thunderbird, way hyped, but dropped in value after massive early markups and the like.

And I'm also somewhat baffled, the high premium for the new Shelby is because there are more that want it than will be produced. The premium for the GP seems to be exactly the same thing, independant of why the people want it, they still do enough that dealers can charge large markups!

The market is speaking.....

Good luck with the sale.... Miniwildcat

Matt

 

It does concern us as a community....and the community is saying that they don't like profiteers on THIS forum.

I have no problem with you or anyone else selling a production slot....and I think nobody here really does either.....But that is what ebay is for! I personally hope that you do sell it for as much as possible. Cause I agree that the slot has a MARKET VALUE....and that is defined as what a willing buyer is willing to pay a willing seller! BUT I and other knowledgeable enthusiasts will not let someone come here to this online community and make suckers out of the newbies who come here looking for information and a fair deal.

You make your deal known .....and the market gets to speak back here....If it is worth it to someone, then our opinions matter not, you find your buyer....but the voice of the community does matter to those who are un-informed and need the straight talk. That if you want a GP they CAN be had for less than your deal. IF and WHEN your deal is best then so be it

 

He's not trying to sucker or con anyone, and I believe that's abundantly clear.

On the flip side, it is nice that people here "check & balance" each other, for the benefit of the community.

 

It is NOT a car that is being sold, it is a "future" car, that's speculation and is supposed to be "akin" to gambling. I just hate to see the MINI Dealer supporting this gambler and insuring there is no risk involved in her taking a very healthy profit. A reputable Dealer would allow her to excercise her "option to buy", refund her deposit if she does not buy the car and then call the next person in line, and would FLAT refuse to allow her to profiteer from their laziness in finding another buyer.

 

Im did not mean to say he was....I meant that someone who makes a purchase without evaluating all options is a sucker. The forum is doing its job by calling this a bad deal for the purchaser, if someone really wants a GP and is fine with a 4k markup then fine....but last I heard there were a couple dealers who still had order slots available

 

He's not asking for the money before the dealer even has it. The car ships this month. It exists. How is that "gambling"? Seems to me that would appeal to someone who wants to be driving a GP in the very near future and didn't get himself/herself on a waiting list back when they should've. For a "fee" they get to step right into the (relative) front of the line.

 

Are you kidding, you're talking about reputable. They must be one of the most reputable dealerships out there if they're already selling the GP below the others dealeerships, then to NOT take the easy route and just say, "Next". They're allowing him to choose who the car goes to, and if he's going to make a buck off of it. Then so be it. Remember when tickle me Elmo's were sold out? People were paying over a thousand dollars for one. It's not like the stores were saying, "are you REALLY going to tickle this Elmo, or are you going to sell it? No??? NEXT!!!"

This is WAAAAAAY too much drama. Let him try and sell it, and if it's cheaper than most any other GP out there.......why fight it????!!!!!

It's a win win.

 

I dont see that. Dealers mark them up but no one buys them.

MINI claims its sold out. BS. Its "sold out" to the dealers.

This is how it works ... MC40s did NOT sell. Everyone knows that. However, the MC40s were "sold out". To who? To the dealers. When I bought my car, the "dealer" had bought the car in November several months before I bought it.

Is types. With Shelby's EVERYONE wants one. Its a steal at $42K for all the baby boomers who would love one. So, it sells for $20K more today.

There are two GPs on Cars.com for $46K. You got to be kidding. You can get an 06 Elise for that money and the fact is, they just sit there week after week ... individual sellers trying to profit.

Take a look at just NAMs marketplace at some of the ridiculous prices ppl try to sell for. They think they are really going to get $15k back in aftermarket stereos and the like.:impatient

 

 

This is in no way gambling. It isn't, if the dealer gets the car, this is a gaurenteed vehicle delivery, it has been build and is waiting to be put on a boat as we speak. This is no different than the dealer taking a deposit for a car that hasn't been delivered yet, which I do believe is legal.

 

You're exactly right. Why would someone pay $45,000 when they could get one for $31,150 + $4000. If someone finds one cheaper, all the more power to them, no different than someone selling some wheels or stock parts here on NAM.

 

There's a huge difference. I would bet that not a single seller or wheels or stock parts bought them and then resold them for any kind of significant profit.

You have made a deposit. Deposit should be returnable. Now your trying to make money on it as a speculative investment. I think you may but I seriously doubt here. I think that it was ppl are trying to say.

Try cars.com MSN, or any of the other places. They will have less knowleagable ppl.

 

That's not the same. He's essentially selling his place in line, not the MINI itself (as explicitly stated in post #1).

 

I saw this thread earlier when only post #1 existed... I immediately wrote 'go back and check the GP sales thread on NAM' on my to-do list! This is hilarious! I was wondering what would come of it! A great read!

My take: The seller has explained him/herself about the buy and sounds genuine. The seller realizes that there is value in what is beiing held... as does the buyer. If two parties make an agreement that they both are happy with (buyer gets a GP and seller gets out of committment and makes a few $) and NAM helps these two parties get to this 'happy state', then why should anyone be upset?

 

This is the "Market Place" form. He has something he wants to sell at a profit..last time I checked we are living in the US...so whats the big deal??

I would rather the GP go to an enthusiast on NAM who would actually drive it rather than a collector on EBAY who might stick in the garage expecting it to go up in value. God Bless America!



By the way Lucky Owner of GP0134 Your car is here! It turns out this is the car that was won in a raffle during the Monterey Launch.

 

Thats the same as buying futures. I buy 10K barrels of Oil for December delivery hoping a war breaks out Or a cold winter in the NE

Same thing, IMO

Agranger. Correct. If you got a willing buyer and a willing seller, thats cool, What isn't cool is taking advantage of a shortage .... like Superbowl tickets ... buying the tickets to sell them at profit. Price Gouging. THAT is NOT this case. I agree this is different.

 

Speculators make money on futures by taking risks today. By selling their "place in line" here, when they already are guaranteed a 100% refundable deposit, then without ANY risk at all, this futures dealer is supposed to garner a 400% return on investment and it only happens through the complicity of the dealer. At least the dealer has to stock the car when he inflates the price, this person doesn't bear any costs, that's not capitalism, even a ticket scalper could get stuck holding the tickets or sell them at a loss. This isn't even "Tickle-me Elmo" those folks actually had to buy a thing and resell a thing.

This is speculation without risk and the Dealer is complicit in the outcome. All our prices go up when these sort of dirty deals go on. it's not like there was an open bidding process for this slot, one person bid and held it, it's actually very close to price "fixing" when there is nothing but a "place in line" that someone wishes to make a 400% profit on in 6 months, risk-free.

What happens to the market if we all can take a $1000 and hold and re-sell a slot for a new MINI? Everyone wanting to buy a new car has to come buy the slot from the speculator!! Speculator doesn't take the car and Dealer gives him his money back, no risk investments. That's exactly what's wrong here and may even be illegal. We ALL aren't allowed to buy "slots" and re-sell them, if we could we could quite quickly destroy a MINI dealer's business.

 

I told all yall. It's ARBITRAGE!!

 

I've got no problem with selling Superbowl tickets at a high price, either. The buyer has something of value. The seller want's that something. As long as there are no threats, violence or weapons involved in the negotiations, the parties either walk away or come to a mutually agreeable trade. If both parties weren't happy about it, the deal wouldn't happen.

I would think that the point of the NAM forum would be to help buyers find sellers, sellers find buyers and give them the opportunity to see if they can make a trade that satisfies both. The price of any object is whatever the market will bear.

I may think that it's silly/outrageous/price gouging for someone to sell a baseball card for $10,000, but if the NAM marketplace forum can help a buyer find a seller and they agree on a price, who am I to determine what the 'fair' price is.

 

You know... I thought he was just being funny, but I didn't know what arbitrage was, so I went to dictionary.com to look it up.

It turns out that he's RIGHT!!!

Aribtrage = The purchase of securities on one market for immediate resale on another market in order to profit from a price discrepancy.

 

FYI it's currently on ebay

 

So lets all go down and put a $500 or $1000 refundable deposit down on a MINI of our choice. Then tell the dealer/salesman,

"Hey, I am not really sure I want this car after all, but if anyone comes into your shop that you pay for, and your car salesman spends time showing and driving a car with them and then the guy is interested in this particular MINI, then ask them to call ME and for a cool couple of thousand dollars over your asking price I'll allow you to sell it (MY order #) to him."

Let's see how many dealers go along with this risk-free speculation then. The Dealer is the one who is being short-sighted here and the unethical/illegal part of this is that we all would not be allowed to do what this one speculator is trying to do and the Dealer is so lazy for a 32K sale they are letting him.

 

"Dealer will only sell the car when I have given the ok which will be once I have received payment." Straight from the E-Bay Ad.

I think we all should go down to MINI tomorrow and get an order # on any MINI we can, the Dealer will then assist us in increasing the sales prices of all their cars all across the board. FREE Money/ No Risks.

 

But how would it be funny if it weren't right?