I ordered my MCS in July with an estimated delivery date of mid-September. It was just loaded on the boat today. When working out financing with the dealer, I noticed that the price was $1250 higher than it should have been. After looking over everything, we determined that Mini (not the dealer) substituted Leather for Leatherette at the factory. Now my dealer doesn't want to eat the cost (Mini has already told the dealer they won't cover it-"subject to change" terms on all their paperwork).

The sales manager from the dealer is supposed to be calling me to explain why they won't cover this mistake. If I can't get them to do what's right, I will have to re-order the car and get it in October. This really sucks because my wife and I had planned to take a vacation to Colorado with the new car. Re-ordering the car ruins everything.

Has anyone else had a similar experience, and how did the dealer deal with it? Any help would be appreciated. I will re-post and let everyone know how things turn out. I will also post which dealer it was at that time (they may get things right).

Aaron Geiger

One good thing: if I do have to re-order the car; they are throwing in floor mats, trunk mat, and valve caps for free.

 

>>I ordered my MCS in July with an estimated delivery date of mid-September. It was just loaded on the boat today. When working out financing with the dealer, I noticed that the price was $1250 higher than it should have been. After looking over everything, we determined that Mini (not the dealer) substituted Leather for Leatherette at the factory. Now my dealer doesn't want to eat the cost (Mini has already told the dealer they won't cover it-"subject to change" terms on all their paperwork).
>>
>>The sales manager from the dealer is supposed to be calling me to explain why they won't cover this mistake. If I can't get them to do what's right, I will have to re-order the car and get it in October. This really sucks because my wife and I had planned to take a vacation to Colorado with the new car. Re-ordering the car ruins everything.
>>
>>Has anyone else had a similar experience, and how did the dealer deal with it? Any help would be appreciated. I will re-post and let everyone know how things turn out. I will also post which dealer it was at that time (they may get things right).



The mats and stuff will cost them all of $40.
>>
>>Aaron Geiger
>>
>>One good thing: if I do have to re-order the car; they are throwing in floor mats, trunk mat, and valve caps for free.

 

I know it's not much, but retail for me that would be around $250.

 

Try offering a one-third split- you, the dealer and MINI. That way no one pays much and you don't have your trip fouled up. By the way, the leather is nice.

 

ya, why not just choke out the extra grand? it might be worth it considering your plans.

 

Hey, I think you should just spend the extra cash. I think you will be pleased with the leather in the long run. If you don't smoke in your car,(which I hope to god you don't!) the smell alone is worth a thousand spread over five years. If you have the money to go for the S to begin with, you shouldnt be worrying. By the way I do have to say, Autohaus is being a ***** about alot of stuff, but they just think, if you don't want it, I'm sure there are 40 people out there who would enjoy the car much more than you would. Don't be vain, and just get the damn leather. I know its a tough move from a honda to a real euro car, but you will learn why Americans have been held out of the loop for so long. Your bad news is what is concidered to be standard for most.

 

a

 

Thanks for the advise guys. I am going to offer to pay 1/3 of the leather price and see if they will do that. I'll let you know how it comes out. Thanks!

BTW, the dealer is Roadshow in Memphis.

Aaron

 

Since you obviously don't have anything against leather (since you're problem just seems to be who's going to pay for it), I would just pay for it! Otherwise you may have to wait 3-6 months (or more) for your car. :smile:

 

Good luck and give it your best shot but, you really have no leverage. they'll just sell the car to someone else. By the way, what they offered you was zip. The mats are retail about $98 and the valve caps are $13.95. Their cost must be half that as these are usually throw away items but, with the popularity of the MINI, nothing is free. Also the leather is very nice although the leatherette is just fine.Another way to look at it is that they really could have made mistakes that were MUCH worse, if that's any solace. Also, for what it's worth, I paid about 2k over MSRP to get a car immediately and not be on a wait list. They had the exact car I wanted and I didn't have to buy LOJACK and other BS options. I've had the car since May and when I look at the gas money, insurance, etc. that I've saved and the fun I've had over the past three months and with the 2k spread over 5years financing, it was worth the money not having to wait. I'd take the leather rather than wait but, at least see what the dealer says first on your offer to compromise.

 

It's not so bad, I would just get the leather. It will wear better than the leatherette, and why mess up your vacation?! That is just cutting off your nose to spite your face. It is only $1250! :smile:

 

I disagree with almost all of you - and the situation makes me nervous because I ordered from Roadshow, too...

What ever happened to customer service!!!

 

To be honest, this is not that unusual of a "mistake" to be made when ordering a car. I have had many friends order vehicles with some slight to major differences on the car actually delivered. If I were you, I would negotiate with the dealer the best I could but keep the car and forget about it. Life is too short to make this too big of a deal! The leather is great and enjoy the car and your vacation.

 

zwoman:
I think it's pretty rediculous to ask them to pay for the leather. In a perfect world that would happen, but there's this little thing in the real world called supply and demand. If you were BMW, I doubt you'd cover these "mistakes" when there's 25 people in line to buy the car if the customer isn't satisfied.

 

>>zwoman:
>>I think it's pretty rediculous to ask them to pay for the leather. In a perfect world that would happen, but there's this little thing in the real world called supply and demand. If you were BMW, I doubt you'd cover these "mistakes" when there's 25 people in line to buy the car if the customer isn't satisfied.

Yeah, but that's what separates BMW from Ford; ENRON vs. ...guess there aren't any GOOD examples of companies any more. :smile:

 

If MINI won't make good (and I think they should), you might see if they can get your dealer an extra allocation slot for the very next build. At least you can minimize the extra wait time that way.

Still think MINI sould eat the cost, after all, they screwed up, not you.

-Dale

 

Motor On!!

 

Just thought I'd add to my post seeing the other responses and many of the comments I've seen regarding the price of this car, sales tactics etc.and this gentleman's particular problem. First, I think people need to consider that the MSRP on this car is artifically low and this is typical of what BMW does to stir up interest in its cars. MSRP is just meaningless as it pertains BMW products and especially with the MINI. Accordingly, I can't imagine they are going to eat any cost/loss. The profit margin at MSRP for this car has to be a joke. Most car dealers make next to nothing on cars in this price range. Money is made in the service dept and on finance charges and with the car being brand new, there is no money to be made in service, yet. This is why all the addons etc. being forced on people while the car is popular, that's where the money is being made. In this instance, this gentleman is lucky that leather is all they "mistakenly" added. You also need to consider that BMW forced their dealers to make separate showrooms, service areas etc to carry this line at enormous cost. If BMW would have just allowed dealers to put MINIs on their lots with the rest of their inventory, you wouldn't see all of this insanity, just some of it But quite seriously and please note that I paid over MSRP so I'm no dealer "fan" I just know, from representing dealerships that the BMW group has stuck alot of expense to their dealers and dealers are making up for it every way they can. They are not looking to be good guys. They'd rather be making gobbs of money on a Z8 or M3, BMW service, etc. then messing with the 20k MINIS. I'm sure that some dealers are making sweeter deals because they just see MINIS as a loss leader or they are in an area where BMW sales are not strong. BMW has simply made a disaster of the dealer network and distribution of the MINI thus far and as consumers we've paid for it and will continue to pay for it until supply increases ( if ever ) and dealers recoup their start up costs for remodling their dealerships, etc. I'm sure you've seen in your area that many BMW dealers don't carry the MINI line. In Los Angeles, two of the biggest dealers (Santa Monica and Beverly Hills) don't carry MINIs if for no other reason than they had no place to expand and comply with BMW's BS marketing of trying to pretend this is a separate brand. Bottom line of all this ranting, is to not have high expectations, no dealer is looking to roll out the red carpet for (what is for them) the low end of their clientle and the MINI is 'economics wise' simply the low end (by far) of the BMW line. If you/we were Z8 or 7series BMW customers you'd be getting different treatment. On a 20k car Mini customers are not worth the hassle to many BMW dealers.Many posts state the dealer acted like they're doing me a favor. That is exactly what dealers think. Most would rather not be selling this car under the circumstances BMW has created for them. The MINI is a great car, just don't be looking for a break or a dealer's gratitude for buying one. One dealer I went to tried to convince me to buy a 325 instead. BMW makes great cars and they know it. In all respects, they are completely arrogant about it. That's what you're dealing with.

 

I would offer the 1/3 to start, assuming that mini will absorb some of the difference. Although it sounds like the contract gave mini discretion to make changes that may leave the dealer and you 'holding the (leather) bag'. If the dealer said that they couldn't recoup any of the difference between the leatherette and the leather, I would ask that they sell it to me at their cost. Maybe let them know that you would much prefer to let people in town and on the web, what a good job they did of turning an awkward situation into a win/win.
I agree that over time, you are likely to enjoy, if not prefer the leather, and you would be able to get part of the cost back on resale. Personally, I wouldn't reorder if I could get the leather at cost. There's no guarantee that mini won't do leather again on the next one, and perhaps a different color....

thats my 2 cents (with the Dow today, maybe worth 1.2 cents...)

 

a

 

>>I would offer the 1/3 to start, assuming that mini will absorb some of the difference. Although it sounds like the contract gave mini discretion to make changes that may leave the dealer and you 'holding the (leather) bag'. If the dealer said that they couldn't recoup any of the difference between the leatherette and the leather, I would ask that they sell it to me at their cost.
>>
>>

I definitely agree here. You should only pay the dealer's cost which may be more like $1050 or 1100. Still, not great, I know, but you really don't have a leg to stand on here. If MINI denies responsibility, well, it's not the dealer's fault either. And technically, just putting money down doesn't make that car yours. The car isn't yours until you sign all the papers, pay all of the money and drive it off of the lot. So I wouldn't expect more than paying dealer cost for leather but you definitely shouldn't have to pay 100% price.

 

All in all, it could be MUCH worse...They could forget to add something you DID order. What if you ordered the Leather and got the leatherette! How awful would THAT be. Or forgetting the SUNROOF!!!! Having only bought new cars off of the lot before, I don't think I'd ever be upset if they added EXTRA items. I usually look on the lot for a car in a color I like with all of the options I want. If it has MORE than I'm looking for, fine, but as long as it has the stuff I want. But forgetting an important option...Now THAT would be REALLY BAD NEWS!!! :???:

 

Bottom line - I don't care who you are or what you're selling, but give it to me my way because I'm paying for it. Yes, mistakes happen, so let's work together to fix them - I like DrStevenJ's answer of selling at cost...didn't think about that one. But SO WHAT if BMW can act like big brother and has to recoup all these costs, blah, blah, blah...we're the CUSTOMERS man. You know, once upon a time, employees were fired for standing up for their rights because someone else would take the job and not cry about it...so Labor unions came into play to protect people. Now, I'm not saying this situation (or the many other horrors) are on the same scale as the labor movement, but can you see the relation? Wal-mart...they give customers what they want and now THEY command what they get from retailers as the customer...that's what I'm talking about!!! :smile:

_________________
Liquid Yellow w/Black Roof Cooper S now on order - I want my MINI!

 

Cheers!
Clover

 

I say try to split the cost... It 'might' have been an honest mistake by MINI, and I suppose the dealer could/should be able to verify the proper build, and last but not least, you put a downpayment on one thing, and were delivered and expected to pay for another thing.

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To the person who said that if you can afford a MCS, you should not be a cheapskate and just buy the leather, not ALL of us are rolling in dough... As a matter of fact, i'm sure there's quite a few people for which the MCS is right at the top of their safe spending limit...

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I'll definatally agree that the MSRP is way low... I doubt that we'll see prices like these on a MC or MCS in the next 5 years or so...

Rocketboy_X