OK, no biggie here. Just a rant...

I went into the dealership yesterday to sign a waiver in order to ensure that the dealer does NOT drill holes into my front bumper in order to install a front license plate (Colorado is a 2 plate state). When I was there I found out that my MINI was supposed to arrive at the dealership yesterday, but the dealership does not take deliveries on Saturdays, so it'll be delivered tomorrow and should be ready before next weekend.

I had to deal w/ the 1st irritating MA I've ever met as my MA was not working. He asked if I had "finalized my accessories" with my MA -- as if a buyer is required to buy accessories at jacked-up retail prices from the dealer. I told him that I wasn't getting any accessories. Then he looked at me as if I was from another planet and asked, "Not even clearbra, tint and floormats?". I reply by saying, "No, and I've heard rumors that some dealers give floormats free to new buyers....". And before I can complete that thought he cuts me off and says, "Not this dealer!". So now I'm a bit pissed off as this guy isn't even my MA and that he's trying to sell me stuff I don't need at inflated retail prices for a car I've waited 9 weeks for and paid retail for. So.... I basically quipped back that "there was no way I was going to buy accessories at retail prices from a dealer that can't even throw-in floor mats for a new car purchase...". So this ignoramus keeps going by saying about how they don't charge a premium or additional prep fees or paperwork fees, as if they have a RIGHT to charge these premiums and fees and that I should be grateful that they're not gouging me and my wallet. So, I just tell him that the only time I'll need anything from the dealer is when it's time for scheduled maintenance. Then he interupts me again saying, "and that (scheduled maintenance) is free" --- as if I don't already know about the free scheduled maintenance and he and the dealership are doing me some great favor of honoring the free scheduled maintenance. So does he actually think that by arguing his point with me that I'm suddenly going to start dropping hundreds of dollars on overpriced dealer installed accessories that I never wanted/ordered in the 1st place? :impatient (although I will later find a reputable clearbra installer on my own). The only thing I want for now is my new car delivered to me in pristine condition.

Anyway, I'm away this week for work and should be picking up my BRG next Saturday.

 

Congrats, I talked to three different MA's at three differrent dealerships before I could find one I was eager to work with.

 

Celtic Frost -

I think that all the problems that you are having is that the altitude is to high and it is cold there. Maybe if you were in a lower altitude and a place that is not as cold (read PHX) you would get better service.
By the way good luck next Saturday and post those picture.
Have a great week. I love my BRG/W

- KP

 

^ LOL!! That so terrible!!

 

When he snipped at you,"Not this dealer!" You should have said.."You're right, I shouldn't have bought from this dealer with MA's like you hanging around." THEN go to the big guy in charge and inform him of the jerk's lame-oooo attitude. I really dislike dealing with self-involved people like this guy.

 

Yep, perhpas the last few days of waiting are just a way to test my patience (or perhaps impatience).

Cold, schmold --- it was 55 and sunny each day this weekend. Not too shabby for December. And Denver has introduced me to the "mile high club", can't complain about that. PHX??!! Last time I was there (Sep. 2000) it was 105, but cooled down to a chilly 90 by 8pm.

Can't wait for next weekend.

 

Dude you should totally get free floor mats. Even if that dealer does not typically give them away you should ***** and moan till they give them to you. This kind of service is not acceptable. My local dealer was fine to buy from, but when I take my car in for service I always want to run over people afterwards.

 

I basically just wanted to say, that "this dealer" wasn't going to get another penny from me. I think I'll have a better experience w/ my MA when I pick the car up, as the guy I dealt with yesterday was way more of a (stereotypicical) salesmen, instead of an MA.

 

That was EXACTLY what I was thinking too.

Wow, do we go to the same dealer?

 

Well next time you're in just inform the negitive MA, your MA and their supervisor as to exactly why they are going to recieve low scores on MINIUSA's survey about the experiance. Negativity from the person who is there to sell the car is something I'd consider unacceptable.

 

Wow. You must live in New Mexico. Can't be 2 dealers with such bad service, can there?
I swear, SAs must get paid by the denial.

 

Celtic Frost - I have never bought an after-market or add-on item from them. I've tried, but they will not budge on pricing. When I wanted a windscreen I asked them to match Morristown Mini pricing - wouldn't do that. Floor mats, back to Morristown. Having said that I know for a fact that their prices are not inflated compared to most MINI dealers.
In their defense however, the service is good, their support of our MINI club is exceptional and their support of the schools in the community is awesome. They will just not budge on the after-market or add ons pricing so buy elsewhere.

 

Make the trip to Pittsburgh and talk to Graham.

 

some dealers are like that. I shopped around before I picked long beach.

 

Yes, I've heard good things about Schomp service and their support of the MINI community. I'm aware that they're prices aren't inflated in relation to other dealerships, it's just that I think all MINI dealerships (and MINI as a whole) charge too much for accessories. So eBay, here I come.

Also, here's the email sent to my MA:

-------------------------------


Hello __________,

.....

I also dropped by late Saturday afternoon and signed the waiver form to ensure that the front license plate is not installed. I'm not sure of the name of the MA who I spoke with, but he asked me if I had "finalized my accessories" with you and I told him that I wasn't getting any accessories. He the looked at me as if I were from another planet and asked something like, "Not even clearbra, tint and floormats?". To make a point, I told him that if a dealership wasn't going to provide floormats wih a new car purchase, then there's really no desire on my part to spend any additional money at the dealer for higher priced accessories (i.e., clearbra and tint). If it's Schomp's policy to not give away freebies, then I'm absolutely fine with that, but at the same time Schomp shouldn't expect me to pay hundreds of dollars more after the sale. He then went on to say by saying about how Schomp doesn't charge a premium, additional prep fees, paperwork fees, etc. -- as if by not charging premiums and fees he and Schomp are doing me some kind of favor. I know for a fact that there are other MINI dealers besides Schomp that don't gouge customers, so I really don't know what his point was. So now (after signing the license plate waiver) I just want to leave so I tell him that the only time I'll need anything from the dealer is scheduled maintenance. He then tells me, "and that (scheduled maintenance) is free" --- as if he's enlightening me about something I don't already know and he and the dealership are doing me some great favor of honoring the free scheduled maintenance that is standard with ANY new MINI at ANY MINI dealership.

I realize that he may have been trying to make sure that I was getting what I needed, but I feel it wasn't his place to try and convince me to buy things that I don't need, especially considering he has no clue about me or my MINI purchase. I've been wanting and waiting for a MINI for nearly 5 years and when I configured the order with you I knew exactly what I wanted and needed. Also, instead of asking me if I would like any accessories (which would have been fine), he asked if "I had finalized my accessories" --- as if I'm obligated to buy them. And when I simply told him that I wasn't getting any accessories he began to imply that Schomp was going above and beyond by not charging premiums, fees, etc. and providing free scheduled maintenance.

I've heard from more than one MINI owner that Schomp provides great customer service and does a lot to support the MINI "community" and I'm pretty certain that most of my experiences with Schomp will be great but I think guy was acting more like a car salesman instead of an MA. End of rant : ).

Also, I apoligize if it sounds like I'm directing any of this at you or your performance as an MA, because I'm not! I would venture to guess that you're a great MA and you've done a great job with me and my purchase so far, but I would appreciate it if this email was forwarded to a sales manager.

Thank you,
___________

-----------------------------------------

 

It makes me sick to hear stories like this, because my experience with my MA (Simon Biggs, Checkered Flag MINI, Virginia Beach, Virginia) was so great.

When I ordered my car, we discussed all of the options I wanted, but somehow they didn't all make it onto the final order sheet (and I wasn't charged for them). When I picked up the car, I noticed the missing items. Free of charge, he added the carpeted floor mats, the rubber boot mat, and two black Union Jack license plate frames. He also gave me all of the parts they removed when they installed the accessories I had ordered (dash, mirror backs, grille slats, e-brake boot, shifter boot, hood scoop, and rear hatch handle).

This is the second loaded convertible 'S' I bought from him in a six-month span, but I genuinely feel he would have treated me the same regardless.

Scott

 

Well be sure that they don't charge you a dime for Dealer Prep or Document fees then since you have this guys word that they don't charge that because I was charged $350 for doc fee & my dealer tried to charge $500 for dealer prep fee. I negotiated the $500 away but was forced to pay the $350 for what amounted to 5 minutes of work for them as I brought my own financing & I had to do the tax/tag/registration myself since I purchased out of state.

The only thing I got for my $350 was a published interview I did with the Wall Street Journal for an article on the excessive fees auto dealers try to charge consumers

 

I bought my first MINI in late '02, took delivery in Feb. of '03. My dealership is about an hour and a half away, and my experience was excellent on all levels, especially the service over the next couple of years. Consequently, I'm now driving an '06 all-JCW MCS, and had 2 MA's. Had my experience not been so positive, I wouldn't have gone back for a second round. In Oregon, we only have one dealership, so that might explain why they try so hard to please. Having said that, I recommended them to a friend, who then bought an 05 convertible. Unfortunately, her MA (a new person) was NOT up to par, and she had several issues. She still loves the MINI, but not the person she dealt with. I told her to send scathing emails, letters, whatever to the management, because the MA not only hurt the dealership, I was made to feel a bit foolish for my strong recommendation. Referrals on big ticket items are everything, so any brain-dead behavior on the part of individual salespeople or management should come back to bite them where it hurts.

 

Actually there is nothing free when you buy something. It's all figured into the cost. That includes the "free maintenance".

Nothing irks me more than some advertiser on tv telling everyone that you'll get such and such free of charge if you buy this and that now. Come one folks, don't you think those "free" items are already figured into the cost. Or how about "free of charge. all you pay is $5.95 for shipping and handling" and you could ship the item for .75 through the post office.

One other thing...it isn't "for free"...it's just "free". :-)

 

I was given free floor mats vs I was given floor mats for free. Either way looks fine to me

 

I'm not as bothered by the whole "pseudo-free" thing, since like you said, the "free" items are built into the cost of whatever you're buying, and I think everyone knows that.

What irks me is the "please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery" B.S. And I'm not talking about some custom-made item that doesn't go into production until you actually order it - I'm talking about the CDs you order from the TV commercials and things like that. There is NO reason why it should take something almost two months to get to you. Even using the US Postal Service's "Media Mail" shipping, the longest I've ever had something spend in transit is three weeks, and Media Mail is by far the slowest option for Domestic mail.

 

As long as we're off the subject

How 'bout those dealers that say "If we can't beat your best deal, we'll GIVE YOU A THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!"

Like they're going to say "hmmm...we can't take another $50 off the price of the car so here's your check for a grand."

duh

 

Isn't it even funnier how a refund or rebate takes even longer, like 8-12 weeks to process

 

hi 3cocinas.
-----
I've heard stories like these ones before.
Mini is lucky we're all crazy about minis! or else I would not come back to my mini service department.
My person at Sandia Mini is nice but my boyfriend never gets calls back from them and I get calls back from the service department 2 days later.
By the way I didn't get anything free when I bought my mini. I don't remember If I bought the keychain or if I got it for free, but that would be it.
I don't think my boyfriend got anything free!!!
Brad heard from a lady here in town that people are starting to buy minis out of town becuase Sandia mini stinks.

 

Yep - my other two favourite car dealership radio ads are:

"All credit applications are accepted!"
(Sure, we'll accept the application - it doesn't mean we'll approve you for credit...)

and

"Everyone approved for credit, regardless of credit history! Bankruptcies okay!"
(Sure, as long as you don't mind putting down an 80% down payment and financing the rest at 36% interest...)