Stopped by my local MINI dealer on Saturday to see the new convertible. My girlfriend asked for the new price sheet for 05'. She, and my folks, like my 04 S, and WERE interested in ordering 05s.

The dealer said that they were not marking the prices up like other dealers, but they do require that you purchase $3,000 in upgrades. I said you "require" the customer to buy $3,000 in upgrades. Yes he said. I left. I'm not sure he even meant options, as he was showing my girlfriend the dealer upgrade list when he said this (you all know the one, cargo boxes, stereos, wheels, etc.) but he could have.

Hey MINI USA, why advertise a base price that does not exist for the customers. If a cars base is $21,000, and your dealer network "requires" $3,000 in upgrades, what is the base price?????
I know nobody likes dealer mark ups, but now you have to buy add on stuff you may not even want.

MINI USA, you've built a fun car, and the people on this forum enjoy discussing these cars, but either your dealer network, or yourselves, continue to insult your customers with BS like requiring upgrades. The idea of my folks or my girlfriend buying 05s is off, not because of the car, but they just don't feel comfortable doing business with a company or dealer that acts like this. Maybe it is your dealer network, which you may have absolutely no control over. Is this the case MINI USA? Please clarify for us all. Thanks.

 

Shop around. Most MINI dealers do not require "upgrades". Prestige and Morristown MINIs in NJ do not and I also know that MINI of the Hamptons does not and they'll deliver anywhere (my brother purchased his MINI through them). So don't get discouraged. just make a few phone calls and you can soon have an '05 with no markup.

As much as marking up cars seems like a horrendous thing (and it is!), remember the MSRP is just that - Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price. Dealers are not required by law nor by their manufacturer to sell their cars at that price. You did the right thing by leaving though. Go to another MINI dealer. A number of dealers are really superb with their customer service. Prestige is one that treats their customers so good that I actually enjoy going up there for service.

 

I saw the car at Sterling on Saturday. Down here at Crown MINI of Richmond they are not charging anything over MSRP except for the usual $599 detailing/floor mats package but you can argue with them to drop it as I did.

- Mike

 

Dealerships are privately owned and may do what they please, unfortunately. It is up to the buyer to shop around. Many of the Midwest dealerships do not charge a markup.

Try contacting Classic MINI in Cleveland. I ordered mine from there.

 

ElonCooper-- If you want to order from your local dealer, go back and talk to them again. Calmy explain to them what you want to order, and how you will just order it from another dealer if they won't order the car the way you want it. Work your way up the pecking order. What have you got to loose? An hour or so of negotiation. What have you got to win? The car you want at the price you want to pay. Just a thought.

Godspeed.

 

They mat "require $3000 in accessorys" but you do not need to purchase it. Tell them in no uncertain terms that you can and will order and have it delivered. You don't need them. I'd bet if you are nice but stern they will drop that requirement.

Tell them "I like you guys and would much prefer to do business with you. But I don't want any accessoies and if that means that we cant do business then I will be forced to go elseware.

Unless you want some accessories of course. But I would not buy from them just because of their business practice.


We here at NAM need to gather our forces and stop these dealers from jacking the unknowing consumer.

Let form: :smile: Mini Union #1 :smile:

 

Since there exists other dealers that will take your order and charge you MSRP then you have options and bargaining power. Remember you have to pay them not the other way around.

Since it is supply and demand they will try to get the highest price. It reflects their attitude. If they don't want to play fair then take your business elsewhere and they will still have to service your MINI no matter where you buy it.

 

that is total BS... I'm very surprised they would offer that too you, Has the MINI management changed over there because they never pulled that crude on me.. but they did have a $300 dealer markup, so I went to mini up near Annapolis because md won't erroneous dealer markups.. I also did all my title and tags.. the extra 80 miles was worth saving 300 dollars at the time, (plus they could get me on an early build date 3 mos ahead of sterling) go check it out up there, I paid msrp nothing more nothing less (well save taxes and I think there is a delivery fee on ones you order, some dealers will wave that fee I think) anyway, good luck and don't let them dork you around like that. You should deffintly call MINI USA, they are responsive and will call you back if need be, and let them know what going on over there.

 

MINI USA can't/won't do anything about it. As already mentioned, dealers are independent entities that can basically do whatever they want and BMW/Mini uses that as an excuse whenever convenient.

The only reason dealers are able to get away with this kind of price gouging is that there are enough customers who are willing to be gouged. Hopefully, you'll shop around and buy somewhere else, denying them yet another victim.

fwiw, BMW/Mini could apply pressure to dealers who sell above MSRP or otherwise abuse their customers by reducing their allocations, but they choose not to. Remember, the only reason that BMW NA exists is to sell product.

 

There are plenty of dealers who are selling them at MSRP.

In Arizona, our dealers sells for MSRP only, unless you really want one and pay the extra premium that they paid to buy them from pther dealerships. I understand that. The only thing you have to do is wait.

A friend of mine wanted to buy a new S, but the wait time is still 6 months, and a Cooper is 4 months.

He lucked out and found a used 2004 Cooper S with 1500 miles of it. An older lady owned it, but hurt her back and couldn't get in or ot of it. So he really got a new MINI for a discount. This is the second instance I have heard of someone buying a MINI with 1500 miles on it for a discount.

Look around, or call the dealerships in Florida. The have many MINIs around waiting for a new home. Then ship it for about $1000. Heck of a lot cheaper than $3000!

 

Mini of Pittsburgh sells for MSRP and does not require any Options or special packages.

 

It's worth a shot going back and telling them you will buy, and buy today, but will not pay for the extra's... but being that all dealers have more people wanting to buy cars than they have allottments to sell, I doubt you'll have much luck unless you allready have a history of buying cars there.

Until supply exceeds demand this will just be a fact of life with our MINI's.

The best thing to do in my opinion is to just contact other dealerships, find out who doesn't do markup or addons, and then buy from them. You could have it shipped back, or you could fly and drive home.

MINI of Nashville is close to the airport and will come pick you up if you just let them know, but as of last week I think all their cars were presold for some time out. They have no markup and no mandatory addons, the only thing I considered a "gotcha" was the dealer prep and paperwork fee of about $300 or so.... that's a lot of money to have somebody run to the DMV to get your tags for you, but it's better than a $3000 can of scotchguard.

There's just too many dealers selling at MSRP with no addons to deal with sheisters like the one you talked with.

 

I would do exactly like ninjamini said. Be up front with the local dealer first, then look at your other options. Two years ago I had to fly 300 miles to pick up my car from my third choice dealer. I saved $3400. Who knows, maybe if I'd had a bit more backbone in the first place I wouldn't have had to fly out of town in the first place.

 

Exactly which dealer did you go to?

 

Too many salespeople get blinded by the $$$ in their eyes. Greed takes over. Remember, the sales management of the dealership is putting ~$1500.00 of that $3000.00 of accessories into the salepersons pocket. They may make a few hundred dollars on the sale of the car (unless they are salaried, many are), but the real pay is in the add-ons. Why do you think they push them on you? It is easy cash, especially when the sales manager says in sales meetings "use a line like "the dealership requires it", it'll be easy money in your paycheck. If the customer balks, bring them to me and I'll back you. It's not like they can go down the street and buy it elsewhere. We earned exclusive rights to sell these cars for this entire area. They will buy it."



note-this was not an actual quote from a sales manager, but you get the idea.

 

Sadly, I just spoke to the Sales Manager of the dealership in question. He confirmed that they are requiring the 3K in dealer add-ons on the CONVERTIBLE ONLY!

After that I told him about this thread in particular and advised him that it was making them look very bad. We also had a club member who was upset over this particular issue a few months ago as well. I also told him that in Richmond they are selling at MSRP with no add-ons, and they weren't they only ones.

His response... "Thanks".... Click. This policy isn't a particular sales person seeing dollar signs, it's an entire dealership.

After that, my opinion is go someplace else ANYPLACE else.

 

As long as they have people lining up willing to pay for the extra's, honestly, why wouldn't they? Sad for the consumer, but good for the dealership, and that's the free market. Luckilly, the free market is self correcting - hence other dealers more than willing to sell at MSRP with no addons.

This might make an interesting list - a table of dealers that have been verified as selling at MSRP with no addons. Anybody feel up to the challenge? I'll suggest it to the tech guy at MINICC.COM but I've allready flooded him with other "good ideas" to implement.... If anyone wants to take the concept and run with it, do so...

 

I agree that a required $3k in upgrades is poor form and you should avoid that dealer. Having said that - I'm working with an MSRP dealer - I can't keep my upgrades under $3000!

Peter

 

That's an impressive lack of customer service. Be sure to add his response to the Dealer Ratings when we get that tool back.

 

Funny. That's exactly how I pictured the sales manager of this dealership! He doesn't give two *****. He thinks we (the consumer) should feel priveledged to have him make available his cars. Putz. If I were the owner of the said dealership, and found out that was how a potential customer was treated...YOUR FIRED! When you are in a sales business, you have to understand that for every person that you **** off, they will tell at least ten others of their experience.

 

Ah, you guys shouldn't get so bent outta shape. Just take your business elsewhere. Sure, it's bad form to require $3,000 in upgrades, but when I was interested in buying my S at a local dealership, they wanted $3,000 and no upgrades so it could be worst. Bottom line is, they wouldn't be doing this if they knew nobody would buy these cars with this "policy". There will be people who don't know any better and will be happy to drop $3,000 on upgrades and motor away into the sunset with their new car, can't blame the dealership for taking advantage of them.

 

I'm always amazed at the pissing and moaning about dealers trying to get more than MSRP. The last time I checked we still live in a free market society. If you want to pay MSRP, then just find a dealer who sells at MSRP. There are many such dealers. Enough with the whining!

 

Order your new '05 MINI MC/MCS or Cabrio from Crystal Neagle at Lauderdale MINI (954)335-6464. Lauderdale sells at MSRP!

 

Unfortunately when it comes to MINI's, the opinion throughout the dealership is "well we're the only MINI dealership for miles and miles" a direct quote that I've heard several times from the receptionist to the service appointment taker to their last MINI service writer.

I've had discussions with the General Sales Manager (who used to be the MINI Sales Manager and handled a good chunk of my sale) over this attitude, and that it was pissing people off. Both of them know that I'm the President of the local club and that a good chunk of our members are (or were) customers of theirs. I've made it clear to them that many of our members who formerly were satisfied customers have up and gone somewhere else, in some cases willingly driving two hours to go to another dealer.

The trouble is they've been one of the top 5 in the nation in MINI sales volume by doing next to nothing, and it's gone to their head...

 

I thought Crystal left?