Just for kicks, I checked Edmunds.com. My dealer will make $2,505 plus their "documentation fee" when they sell me my Clubman.

MSRP: $25,700
Invoice: $23,195

Now I don't have any problem with that, except for one thing: they added a piano black interior for an extra $250 by mistake, and it was too late to change it once I pointed it out to them. So, I do plan on fussing about that. I'll pay the full price, but it'd be nice if they'd throw in some accessories to make up for their mistake. I'm planning on getting stripes, which are $300 installed. Maybe they'll let me have them for $50.

 

They might just do it if they feel the deal is going to fall through without it.

 

I don't think the dealer will worry about loosing the deal with all the people who want Clubmen. I do feel that they should accept your generous offer to correct an error.

More power to anyone who can make a good profit.

 

It certainly seems to me that since you didn't order the piano black you should not have to pay for it.

 

A while back I ordered an MCS that came with a bunch of things that I didn't place on the order...when i brought this to the MA's attention, he told me I had two choices....either pay for all the extras or pass on the car and place a new order (with another 3 month wait) They're fairly sure that they will be able to sell it to someone else since the demand is so high.....so "losing the sale" isn't a fear for them. (I passed and put in an order for a clubman at a different dealer)

I would mention it to them and see if they will be nice enough to discount you or atleast throw in some freebies..... It's worth a shot.

 

If a dealer told me "take it or leave it", I'd leave it, and demand my deposit back. I don't mind paying MSRP if that's the current price, but paying for items never ordered would be out of the question. It would also be an indication as to how a dealer's going to treat me in future if they try to have me pay for their mistaken order. A dealer with integrity wouldn't do it, a customer just shouldn't accept it.

 

That was my reasoning as well...they gladly gave me my deposit back, and when it was time to order another MINI, I was sure to not go back to them.

 

Well, they certainly won't have any trouble selling this to the next person who walks in the door. And if they gave me a hard time about correcting the mistake, I could cancel my order and go somewhere else out of principal. But I'd still end up going to this original dealership for service.

I might be making a big deal out of nothing. We'll see what they say when the car actually arrives. Maybe they'll make me feel like they value my business, since I am a loyal customer.

 

That's messed up. In any other business, you are not responsible to pay for things you did not order. Why should it be any different in this situation. I guess it all comes down to how hard you want to push.

Good luck!

 

Talk to the General Manager. He wants to receive a good CSI rating from you when Mini calls. Tell him this will make you happy and he will be glad to add the bonnet stripes.

 

If the dealer or MA is not willing to spring for the extra $200 on a dashboard trim you did not order, then don't take delivery. The whole point of ordering a new MINI and putting up with a 8-9 week wait, is to get exactly what you want. Otherwise shop and buy from dealer stock and be done with it. All my 4 MINIs have been custom factory orders and all of them have been delivered to me the exact way I ordered them. Your situation should not be any different.

 

BTW, what co;or dash did you want? It's funny, because I chose the piano black.

 

I'm sure I'll like the color. I ordered whatever was standard, because a color change isn't worth $250 to me. So, it's not the color that bothers me, it's the fact that I have to pay for it when that money could have gone to something else. Who knows, maybe I'll be so impressed with the way it looks that I will forget about this whole thing.

 

I have black piano and I really like it, I'm sure you will too but I agree, you shouldn't have to pay if you didn't order it. It's like going to McDonald's and ordering a Big Mac then getting 2 Big Macs and them wanting you to pay for the second one. It was their mistake not yours...

 

I hate "doc fees". They should be more honest and call it what it is, "dealer profit enhancement fee". I have had different dealers tell me different things about what this is for them, but it is really just a fee they add to boost profits.

 

Piano black does look nice, but I hear you about choosing what it was that you might have wanted to spend the extra $ on.

A wise dealership who cares about their clientele should give you this unordered option gratis.

 

thulchatt--

I argued/negotiated the 'doc fees'--my state does not cap them so they are $399 which includes title registration and inspection , and a healthy profit for the dealer. I said it was frankly just way too much, especially considering MSRP is non-negotiable on current year cars. Dealer said they couldn't change the fee but would give me $100 free accessory. Countered with $200 and they agreed. If I remember correctly they still profit $60 with fee (less about $30 if there is a full tank of gas). The $30 is worth not having to go to DMV and inspection station--but not more than that.

 

Well I'm buying the car in Massachusetts, financing it through a New Hampshire bank, and titling/registering/inspecting it in Maine. So they shouldn't have to worry about a whole lot of documentation at the dealer.

 

Tim--
I think(read somewhere) they can still do the title and registration out of state--use internet links to DMVs; not positive but think so. Probably not the inspection though. Mini of Peabody was positively rude when I brought up prices and negotiating; acted like they were doing me a favor to take my $24K. Herb Chambers Mini, while still going with MSRP was much more pleasant in discussions, so I went with them.

 

Wow, that's the first positive thing I've heard about Herb Chambers.

 

Well the salesman Bryan at Peabody had a very rude reply to my suggestion of a price between invoice and MSRP; it was 'this is not distressed merchandise. There is a waiting list for these cars.' Then a week later emails me to ask if I've made a decision. I said yes, I'd ordered it from Herb Chambers because they'd been so much more polite and professional in discussions; had been very helpful with information and conveyed a sense that they'd value my business.
To be fair his boss Dan was very apologetic and also said there was no waiting list, he wished.
I too had heard negatives about HC, but then re-searched on them and noticed that many of the complaints were dated and seemed to be from the first few years of MINIs. They got a new manager Kerry who changed the attitude there. My MA Robbie has been very helpful answering a steady stream of questions and re-configuring my order.

 

I buy out of state in CT at MINI of Fairfield County, and they register it for me in NY.

Also - just another vote for "piano black" if you're getting that leatherette.

 

Sounds like you're in my neighborhood. I'm around Portsmouth, NH. Where are you and which dealer are we talking about?

 

Okay, folks. I'm happy. I'm picking up the car on Tuesday. My MA offered to take the cost of the piano black off price of the car, and I said how about just throwing in the sport stripes instead. No problem, he said!

This is going to be a long three days!

 

Excellent news! I'm so happy for you Tim and can't wait to see those stripes!