Hi all,

I have just begun the process of investigating the Clubman for my new car so I made contact with NW MINI down in Tacoma, WA and found out they add a $595 dealer processing fee to MSRP. I was told this is for prepping the vehicle, full tank of gas, paperwork processing, etc. So it seems like just a friendly term for dealer markup. Is this pretty typical with other dealers?

By the way, great board here. There's lots of enthusiasm for MINI's.

 

some dealers (of all car brands) like to tack these kind of fees on.

the one I bought from only had about a $60 dealer fee.
shop around if possible!

and WELCOME!

 

I know we'd all like to do business with the local dealer and support local businesses, but I think it's unreasonable and I'd look around. Maybe if enough people didn't buy there because of their charge they'd change their business practice. With car sales in the toilet - even MINI sales are down in Sept - dealers are going to have to start paying attention to their customers again.

 

Mini of S.Antonio... doesn't have this type of fee.... try to contact the 'nearest' dealer and see what they say, u might even get a better 'wait' time.....

 

It is a rip off fee. Better to call it processing than mark up but it is the same thing.

 

I'm assuming you were at NW Mini since it's the only dealership in Washington. They are so busy and business is so good for them right now that they don't have to amp up the customer service, give deals, or lower their price AT ALL. I am buying from them and I'm not one that needs a lot of attention as a customer. But, they definetely aren't as good as other dealers when it comes to keeping in touch and customer service. If I want information or updates, I have to e-mail them when they told me that they would keep me updated every step of the way. I thought it was funny that the ClubmanS models have a $595 dealership processing fee while the Clubman has a $395 processing fee. I hope the rest of my process goes well with them. I am not dissapointed so far (other than what I mentioned which isn't that big of a deal for me) I hope that they don't mysteriously tack on another thousand dollars or something when I go to pick up the car.

They are such small cars and it's hard to believe that it takes $595 of man hours/supplies to process! Kinda makes you wonder........

 

More on this topic here....
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=75827

 

$182 (I think) at MINI of Peabody

 

Call Rasmussen in Portland and check on their costs. Jarid Perry is a good guy there.

 

Zero fee here in S Florida.

 

Thanks Rick! We do have a 295 fee..BUT..it is a value of sorts..You get all the mats (front, rear, and boot mat), a set of MINI wheel locks, a full tank of supreme fuel, and the car's first detal and hand wax of the year!!

 

Our local BMW/Mini dealer charges $300, always has...probably always will. I used to be able to get them to waive it, but they changed GMs and that perk kinda went away. However, they gave me a sizable discount off sticker so I could live with it.

 

At least you guys are adding value for the money. Even if the cost of the items do not add up to the 295 totally at least you are giving the customer something.

It sounds like NW Mini is just stealing money from their customers.

 

Which dealer in S Florida?

 

I was e-mailing their internet sales person to get info and he told me the price I build it at is the price I pay; no other charges, then when I talked to the sales guy he mentioned, in kind of a muttering quick add-on kind of way, that there is (I think) a $195 dealer prep charge.

 

I'll take a look at my paperwork to let you know the exact amount I paid. I might be buying another Clubman, so I plan on asking how much the doc fees are at Herb Chambers and Inskip MINI as well, and perhaps see if I can get them to throw in some freebies.

 

schatzy, can you tell me how much you paid at Herb Chambers and if they threw in any freebies?

 

MINI of Dallas has a $595 dealer prep fee, too. I assumed it was standard. They certainly have not offered me any mats or anything else for that matter.

 

Jenanhill, You typically get the mats when you custom order the car. I visited a few dealerships before I ordered and everyone was the same (in April 2008). None of the dealers I visited had a dealer prep fee at that time. The dealers were in the NE area.

Hope this helps.

 

Jenanhill, I have a Clubman S on order from Mini of Dallas. Ask them to throw in the mats. They will.

 

Walk away! He's stealing your money.

 

Another Clubman?
I'll look for your update on Herb Chambers and I'm guessing Inskip is the one in R.I.?
I've read some comments that make it sound like Herb Chambers is not as good to deal with as Peabody.

 

Oops it doesnt add up sorry..heres the breakdown...

carpet mats.........105
boot mat...............54
wheel locks............50
tank of supreme.....50ish
detail/ hand wax......75ish
------------------------------
$334!!!

 

I'm feeling a little ripped off now. Because my MA made it sound like he wasn't supposed to throw in rear rubber floor mats (I bought the boot mat and the front mats), like he was giving me some sort of deal. But what can a person do in this situation (my car arrived on US shores this morning)? They are popular cars and are very high in demand as far as I know.

 

Very interesting math.

I got the all weather mats, a full tank of gas and a detail/hand wax included for gratis.

What is in the nice sac of goodies? Just curious.