During the 4 month wait for my Cooper S, I've greatly enjoyed reading all the posts about my future car. I've gotten so addicted to Mini2, that I have been more excited about this car than ever before when purchasing a new car.

I must say however, my experience has been dampened by the customer service I have received from the BMW dealership that I ordered from. )

First, I chose this dealership because of the rather short delivery I was promised of Jan/Feb. As you see, this was not true and I now believe it was only to entice me to buy.

Secondly, Ive had to call my dealership more than 150 times during my wait. Not because I needed to make 150 changes, but because 75% of the time, I was told my salesperson was busy, not there, in a meeting, etc. and he would return my call. He never did and I'd end up calling 4-5 times to finally get through. Very frustrating for me, and the receptionist I'm sure. For the record, my dealer called me less than 10 times during my wait. Me: 150 Dealer:-10

Last, but not least, in addition to the false delivery date, my dealer has given me incorrect information several times. Now some of those mistakes, are costing me more money than the original quoted price. Not a big difference, but enough to upset me.

Needless to say, I have been very bothered by this treatment and did not expect this from BMW. I'm not sure if it's isolated to my salesperson, my dealer, or BMW dealerships in general, but they have made this one of the worse experiences I've had in when buying a car. If it wasn't for my excitement over the Mini, I would have told them to shove it a long time ago. I have no intentions of dealing with in the future, not even for warranty, but I can't help feel that I should take more actions.

What do you think? Am I overacting? Is this similar to your experiences? What would you have done different?

Any advice, information, comfort would be appreciated.

I'm sure I'll perk up once I pick the car up this week, but for now, I'm feeling pretty bummed out.

:???:

 

my mom says "if you don't have anything nice to say, then say nothing at all"
so i have nothing to say about the dealership

 

JBOO, I see that you are in the Netherlands. Here in the states, for the most part the dealerships have been pretty good. I got mine when I was still living in California and the service was great, straightforward and honest and always responsive. I now live in Colorado and the service by the salespeople is mediocre.

I have also been visiting other dealerships as I travel. For the most part most understand the excitement and customer relationship. If you look at the dealer rating system here on the site they have some reviews of the dealerships. Not a lot of people contribute to them which is too bad.

Sorry to hear about your experience and be happy that you have your MINI and didn't get it from San Francisco MINI. I hear they are the Pre-Madonna’s of bad service.

 

I got my MINI MCS about month earlier than Niello had predicted. Needless to say I was very satisfied with this. From the time I ordered to the time it arrived I made 2 phone calls to the dealership. I can't figure out why anyone would call 150 times unless they were one of those cell phone people. Chill out. The wait is worth it.
I would, however, check out the Dealer Rating site before ordering. I didn't want to shop too far from home and were lucky to get a dealership that was great to work with. Good luck

 

Can't speak for the Netherlands, but Rasmussen MINI in Portland has been spot-on to date.

 

I didn't think this type of treatment would occur often in the states, as I think customer service is a higher priority. Seems like I I would have not made 150 calls, if my dealer would have returned my call as promised. I probably only really needed to talk to him 15-20 times at the most, however, I'd have to make 4-5 calls each time. Next time maybe I'll cehck the dealer rating site, but I doubt it'll do me much good at my current location.

 

Gosh, I was somehow under the impression that only we Americans would tolerate dishonest and crappy service from car dealers. It's sort of a national past-time over here. We make movies about it and enshrine it as a cultural icon.

It's somehow refreshing to know that such things happen in Western Europe.

Car dealers are probably no more or less awful than any business. The difference is that car dealers take A LOT more of our money (frankly who cares if you get bad service when you're buying $2 worth of produce). So the stakes are a bit higher.

 

JBOO,
Sorry to hear about your experience, mine was very different. I ordered my car from a dealer about 300 miles from me because they could deliver the car two months earlier than my local dealer. I spoke with the salesman two or three times, traded a few emails and then placed my order.

Over the course of next few months we traded emails each week but I didn't speak to him on the phone until the car was ready for delivery. The car arrived in Houston, Texas less then two months after I orderd the car.

I hope your situations improves, but even if you're not happy with your dealer, you're going to LOVE your MINI. :smile:

Wings

 

This isMINICOOPERONLINE the "BEST MINI" site.....J-Boo Mini2

 

If you were not making changes, why would you call the dealer at all? What wasa the problem/issue?

I called once, when the boat hit the dock, just to get an ETA. I figure when it comes they would call me.