I have an '06 MCS on order (March production slot), but I might need to cancel the order due to business issues. Before I sheepieshly approach my Mini dealer, I was wondering what the standard policy is regarding refund of the deposit?
-Gary

 

at my dealer, if your car has not gone into production yet, you can get your full refund. once the car is in production, your money is spent. your dealer may be different.

 

With Classic at least, i believe the deposit is non-refundable.

 

When I ordered and put my deposit down they told me (Sterling, VA) that the deposit is refundable AFTER the car sells off the lot.

 

At RASMUSSEN MINI in Portland Oregon where I have mine on order, my deposit is fully refundable all the way up until the car comes in. If it comes in and I dont like. I get my deposit back. Sounds like each dealer is a bit different when it comes to the deposit. My MA and I went over all of this even prior to me placing my order. I would check with your MA or someone at your dealer

 

Our dealer in South Bay California said the same thing. Fully refundable at any time.

 

If the dealers out there that do not refund deposits for one reason or another...or do so only after the car sells off the lot, I would imagine they would have to provide these terms to you in writing at the time of your order, as well as having your signature in agreement and acknowledgment of these terms.

I sure as hell would want to know ahead of time if they weren't going to give me my money back if/until the car sells to another party off the lot.

 

South Bay said that my deposit was refundable no mater what.

 

That's what my dealer told me.

I even traded in my previous car right after I placed my order. My MA said I can get my deposit and the amount they gave me on the trade-in as cash.

 

$1000 deposit is refundable until accessories are added to the car. At that point they will subtract those costs from the deposit. I think this is a pretty generous policy.

 

Each dealer's refund policy is directly proportional to the greed index. Like they'd have trouble selling a rejected MINI

 

I'm pretty sure the deposit is always fully refundable at any dealer at any time. It's just that you night have to press the issue at some dealers more than others.

 

RASMUSSEN MINI in Portland Oregon did refund my deposit without any problems. I would still be waiting if I had purchased my car in Portland, I bought my car from Baron Mini in Kansas City, they don't have a waiting list or didn't last fall.

 

Lauderdale MINI in Ft Lauderdale FL, requests a $500 FULLY refundable deposit for new MINI orders. Should you change your mind, even if the car is sitting at the showroom ready for delivery, they will refund it to you, no questions asked.

 

I asked my dealer (Motor City Mini) before I ordered and it was fully refundable, anytime. So, I went ahead with the order and they were saying it'd be 3-4 months. However I got it in 7 weeks.

The dealers should have no problem selling your car on the lot no doubt. I think they had like 4 cars on the lot in July when I got mine and none were MCS.

 

The deposit is a sales deposit. If you don't buy the car, this means there was no sale, no deposit (unless the laws in your state are different)....

 

This raises the question, "has anyone ever lost their deposit to a MINI dealer, and, if so, was it legal for the dealership to keep the deposit?"

 

I gave my MA my credit card, but it turns out he forgot to charge the $1000... when time came to take delivery of the car, I asked because I hadn't seen it show up on my card, and he said "Oh, whoops, I forgot!".

Didn't hurt them anyway since I still bought the car.