I Called Mini-Madness today, looking for a part number for a specific part that i was looking for (NGK Plugs) However when i called his exact words were and i quote "No, Because then you will go out and buy them your self instead of buying them from us" Every single MINI Tuner i have ever worked with ALTA, Webb, M7, Has always been over accommodating. Some times its not always about the sale at that moment. I was planning on purchasing over $2000.00 worth of parts from them, i mean he lost well over $2000.00 over $60.00 spark plugs. I now will NOT EVER be using any of their services. unbelievable

 

I have no experience with Minimadness. But everyone has bad days, especially when you deal directly with the public... No I am in no way sticking up for the guy what he did was totally unprofessional. Helping some one for a few minutes even if they don't buy anything at the time will help you out further down the road with future purchases and referrals.

 

That's what I'm saying. If I was a owner of a company especially during the current economic climate I would make customer service my #1. They need to understand the people are hurting right now, and are going to try to save money where ever they can. I personally don't want to pay shipping on something I know I can find in town. But I would have purchased the parts I wanted from him later down the road.

 

Chalk it up to him being a jerk. Work with someone else. If it really erks you that much call him back tell him how you feel he may realize how he was acting and be will to try and make it up to you (if you delete this thread. lol)

 

Maybe if you showed up at their offices in your tux you'd have better luck.

 

Oh i called MINI-Mania and they were awesome! he gave me the part number that i was looking for and was really cool about every thing. I dont feel like they need to make it up. It was a simple question that didn't hurt a thing. If i was them i would have figured that the customer is going to find the answer to their question regardless if i help them out or not. With that said its much more beneficial to help the customer when they talk to you instead of pushing them away. Customers are the way business keep their doors open.

FYI (if you are running a reduced S/C pulley and are looking to upgrade you spark plugs, and are wanting to go with the NGK Iridium the part number is NME3011)

HAHA ive seen that before....I now hate my name...

 

Thanks for the warning as I was planning on ordering a set of KW V3 coilovers today for my incoming R57. If that's their attitude towards their customers I'll spend my $2600 elsewhere.

 

Hey check out this link. This place has them for almost 1K cheaper any ways.

http://www.esetuning.com/category-s/5243.htm

its about halfway down on the page, and the price they have is $1,827.99

 

i also find this pretty funny, MINI-Madness said that i wouldnt be able to find them in town and that they were a special order from NGK. I called my local parts store he has them at 7.00 a pop. im saving almost 30.00 by buying them in town.

 

Thanks already running them.

 

Thanks a bunch!

 

Heads up, those are "off the self" parts. TSW worked with KW for months to get just the right spring rates and value setting for each MINI based on use.

KW Variant 3 Coil-over System for MINI R56 (12/06+). This system is custom made for TSW and was track tested with the help of the KW support team. It comes complete with 60mm springs and perches selected specifically for the MINI and also mates up perfectly with TSW 60mm camber plates. Like all KW coil-over systems the strut bodies are all stainless steel with stunning eye appeal.
The Variant 3 coil-over system includes ride height adjustment with dual dampening and rebound adjustment for those MINI enthusiasts who want to lower their ride and dramatically increase handling performance for hard core auto-cross and track.

Feel free to email Dustin at info@AutoXCooper.com for more details and great pricing too.

 

On the other hand, I can't think of any good reason why Mini-Madness should spend his time acting as a part-number reference library for you, when you could easily have got the information on NAM without wasting his time. You would not have been asking if you weren't shopping for them elsewhere.

So if you are trying to shave a few bucks on spark plugs, how likely are you to spend money with him on the expensive parts? I'd have treated you the same way.

 

Honestly, I like to know the business im about to spend thousands of dollars with. Also every customer counts, wether its as small as a question or a $2500.00 order, we should be treated with respect.

 

Funny. I had this same reply almost word for word two years ago. Different product, same conclusion. I now research all parts and prices before I order anything! I do understand their reasons and respect their buisness decisions, however, I also have a choice who gets my money.

 

Vendors are due respect too, and their time is worth at least as much as yours - when someone sells an item, it would be Extremely Poor Manners to ask them for help in finding it cheaper elsewhere. If you don't get that, I wouldn't want to deal with you either.

Further, if you are trying to cut them out of making a minor profit on the nickel-and-dime items while wasting their time doing it, it's a good bet that you would behave exactly the same way on the big-ticket stuff.

Some folks are just not people one would want as customers, and you seem to have acted like one of those. Car sales guys call them "tire-kickers", and get them off the lot as quickly as possible.

 

This may sound harsh but venders aren't really due anything. They are trying to sell a product they should be doing anything to make the buyer happy. Even if the op was fully intending to buy elsewhere he wil not buy them there with a response like that. No they are not a parts reference but if they know their prices are on par with other places then they shouldn't be worried handing out this information.

I am working on ordering a front brake setup. Until I contacted Way I did not really get that much useful information. Now that he is working with me he will absolutely get my sale and I will be a happy customer in the end promoting his shop and providing free advertising. That is the only thing vendors are due and only after a positive experience.

 

After skimming through the thread all I can say is "poor execution". I don't fault any retailer for not wanting to give out that kind of info, Mini Madness just needs a better, non-offensive company line, such as "I'm sorry, we're not allowed to give that information out over the phone".

I'm the worst comparison shopper! (or best depending on your perspective) and I get that line often. Stated in that manner, I don't take offense. Then again, I worked in retail for 11 years too. As many of the responses above allude to, its about treating the customer with respect- even when you're telling them no. Then they don't take it personally such as the OP has. (which, in a way, I understand as well).

 

Maybe is you go to Madness more "casual" and give him your seductive look.

 

I completely agree. They are not required to give out information, but they should do it in a less middle school manner.

 

1. While I do not know the details of the conversation. In principal, I don't blame Madness, most vendors would do likewise.
2. My personal experience with Madness has been nothing but top notch. I would buy from Madness again.

 

I have worked in retail for close to 15 years and I never had a problem giving out that information. Yeah, they might go buy it somewhere else, but then again they might not. The big problem here was that the guy was rude, and obviously offended the OP, and I don't blame him for not wanting to go back.

 

Aren't moderators supposed to watch this type of thread on NAM, I thought Madness was a paying vendor?

 

I am a mod, and a paying customer. We are here to make sure that users are following site guidlines, and are respecting other users. Just because I'm a mod doesent mean that I'm not like every one else. I buy from vendors just like everyone else. Mods are not here to protect vendors, I'm a customer and this is my thoughts and experiance.

 

The title of this thread, however, is quite misleading and overstates the issue considerably, as it has nothing whatsoever to do with "service", but with your unhappiness at not being spoon-fed information which you could have found easily on NAM (as a moderator).

I'd say that the title is defamatory...

Perhaps a better thread title would be "I'm not happy because Mini-Madness refused to waste time giving me part numbers so I could buy parts elsewhere"...