among new car buyers ... well, unless you drive a Macintosh.

I hadn't had my car three days when I received an email from MiniUSA inviting me to complete a survey on my sales experience.

I clicked the link and received an error message that aqsked me to try again later. Tried again over the next several days using different browsers. Same error message.

I sent a message to MiniUSA telling them of the problem. They wrote back promptly and asked whether, by chance, I was using a Macintosh. The web survey was built to accommodate Windows-based computers. Mac users generally don't see it as intended.

Hmmm, you know there's a problem for Mac users, but they're such a minority of Mini users that we're willing to **** them off. Now that's customer satisfaction.

Oh, but if you can't access the survey online, no matter. We'll call you later on the phone or mail you the survey if we don't hear from you.

 

Hope it works on Linux, if it doesn't I'll have to get my FreeBSD box out of the closet.

 

I drive a Macintosh. I'll bet a lot of MINI drivers do. They both have characteristics that would tend to attract the same people.

At least MINIUSA.com seems to be Mac compatible. However, Mac users should give them a hard time about the survey if they can't access it on a Mac. There isn't really any excuse for that, other than incompetence.

 

I did my survey on a mac, no problem. Used Safari.

 

I get sort of twisted up at how Mini runs their site. Java should not be a requirement to view and interact with a site. For security reasons, we have Java disabled at work. At home, i also have Java disabled. I had to do some jury-rigging to get the Mini site to work. And I really hate having to have Flash installed on any of my computers as it likes to dial home and report what has been going on. Of course, there is a registry entry which will allow you to disable the reporting of what you have been doing, but I am not sure how effective it is.

A survey should be straight forward HTML. No need to make it complex.

Besides, they should be spending all thier free time making sure MY CAR GETS DELIVERED!!!! ARRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

The obligatory whine has been recorded.

 

The MINI site still says my car is awaiting transport to the US. What do you expect???

 

I work in the web design field, and I remember when the MINI site debuted (2000 or 2001) it was passed around at work as a great example of how Flash could be used to build a FUNCTIONAL interface. Back in those days, you couldn't have done the configurator in anything but Flash and have it be visual and interactive the way it is. That said, I think there are lots of other parts of the site that shouldn't have been done in Flash - namely the OL and dealer information for starters.

The site definitely needs an update, but keep in mind that any time a company says 'lets build/redesign a website' they have to go through a process of determining which platform, operating systems and browsers they will build for and support. And there are many different variations - Windows NT, Windows XP, (now Windows Vista), any of them with IE (6.0 or 7.0), or Firefox (1.5 or 2.0). And that's only for Windows. Mac has even more variations when you add Opera and Safari browsers. Flash doesn't always behave differently across OS and browser, but it's another thing to consider which version of Flash users have.

All browsers are slightly different between platform and OS which means they often need slightly different code for each version. Which means a developer doing different versions of code that they have to test and maintain in the future. Unfortunately, it comes down to a purely business decision of what you are going to build for because it's going to cost more to support everything. You look at your site traffic reports, see what OS/browser your users are on and choose a combination that will support the greatest percentage of your users. Ideally, you support the most popular browsers in each OS, but since more than 80% of users are on Windows, some companies opt to not support Mac at all.

I don't mean this as an excuse - more of an explanation. If you're having trouble with a site, try another browser. Firefox is generally a good bet on Macs.
<off my soapbox now...>

 

We drive a Mac and I'll be a healthy portion of their customers do. They're flash has troubles detecting Mac stuff.

 

Your post woke me up for the first time to the realization that I now have a MINI *and* use a Mac mini at home. Maybe it's not a coincidence? I'm not 100% sure, but I seem to recall that I filled out the survey on the Mac, using the Camino browser.

 

Mac? are you guys into art or something? I am not into gaming but I have been a PC person since the early 90's. I just had a PowerBar performance energize step 1 vanilla crisp flavor and IT IS GOOD! Do any of you eat this stuff for breakfast? These are sold at Costco for $20/24bars. 230 calories. I love them. I also love their Triple Threat product line. Man, I wish my SWTS would make products like these..... then my pps would go thru the roof and I could afford another MCS in a different color!!! I can dream, right?

 

That's interesting. Safari is my default browser. I also tried to access it on Firefox and IE. No go on any of them.

 

I started with an Apple II. Then used the first IBM PC. In 1984 I got a Mac and started a software company. I've had Macs ever since. I also have a Sony VIO that sits idle -- #%#*& thing!

A lot of photographers use Macs. A lot of scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA) use Macs. A lot of anime fans use Macs. The user base is diverse.

 

We use Macs in our marketing business. Have to have a few PCs around, but the majority of our work is on Macs. Much easier to use and manage.

 

I'm also considering not participating in the survey. My MA told me that unless you give them an excellent rating it's considered a failing grade.

I object to a system where you are goaded into giving the best rating or the salesperson suffers. Or they tell you that and it really isn't true, just to inflate the ratings.

When I bought my Civic, my salesman told me that if I gave them excellent ratings in every category they would send me a gift. I downgraded them for that.

Here, I got great service, but I don't want to participate in a rigged survey. By refusing to cooperate, I figure I can voice an objection without it hurting my MA or the dealership.

 

I did the survey and honestly gave my dealership 5's to every question they asked. However if they had asked questions about the financial dept in a very specific way, I would have gone with 3 or 4's. I don't like the sales add-ons for products that I could get for half the price at any aftermarket shop. It's even worse when the want to "talk to the manager" to see if they can get you a better deal. My daughter used to hang out with a friend who worked at a dealership and she saw that they rarely "talked" about the deal at all, just made the visit for show.

On another note, I have a Mac at home and I prefer it to the alternatives, but to be honest, I use Windows much more through work and the company laptop at home.