Hi all....
I have a bit of an ordering issue that I need your expertise with. I ordered my S Coupe on 1/9/13 after several months and dozens of builds until I reached Coupe-fection. I ordered the JCW Exterior Package, which included sport stripes. My MA had trouble putting the sport stripes into MINI's system the night I ordered it and said that they couldn't figure out why, but they'd email MINI and it would all be good. I got my order sheet the next day as promised (sans stripes), but was told not to worry about it. The car WOULD come as I ordered it.
Today I received the email below from my MA and below that is my reply. Though it hasn't escalated to a nightmare yet, I'm concerned that it may become one. Has anyone had any issues like this? Or, better yet..do any of you own a reef blue with sport stripes?
Thanks in advance. I appreciate any input!
Kim

From my MA:
Hi Kim,
I finally found out why the stripes aren’t on your order. MINI’s ordering system won’t let us order the Sport stripe on a Reef Blue Coupe. They do have some ordering restrictions on some of the options. I’m trying to get the restriction removed. If I can’t get the restriction removed I can install the Sport Stripes when the MINI arrives here. The only problem is there will be an extra charge because we have to pay for the stripes and the labor to install them. Hopefully I can get them done by the factory. I’ll keep you posted

My reply:
Thanks for the info. I appreciate you going to bat for me. However, if you come up on the short end, I will argue personally with the powers that be at MINI if I have to pay for the installation and/or the sport stripes since they come with the JCW exterior package that I'm already paying $2,750.00 extra for. They should not allow you to build the car with options that they don't offer. If it comes down to it, they can reduce the price of the 'package' they are not honoring to pay Crevier for the product and its installation. This is taken directly from my order sheet:
Exterior Package $2,750.00
17" Challenge Spoke
John Cooper Works Aero Kit
John Cooper Works Door Sills
Silver Sport Stripes
White Turn Signals
I hope this issue does not delay production. I know this is not your fault and my ire is not directed toward you, but toward MINI. I look forward to hearing back from you.

 

Sounds like you handled it in a calm professional manner. Now just wait and see. I do feel the dealer should honor it and install them for you at no charge since they are included in the package on other colors. Plus they will make it up on you with other services. But that is just my opinion.

 

Thanks Braminator. I really like my MA and developed a good relationship with him (had been stalking the dealership for months as I sat on the Coupe fence), and I didn't want to blame him. I will put up my dukes with MINI though if it comes to it. I'm paying a lot for the JCW Ext. package and chose the $1,000 paint job to boot.
Hope it works in my favor and doesn't delay prodution.
Appreciate your reply!
Kim

 

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

There's no way they'll make you pay extra for the stripes IMO. That's beyond reason. They can't make you pay for them twice. Sounds like a nice car you've got ordered. How much was that build if I may ask?

 

Thank you BigNewt! I'm really excited to see how it will turn out, since I've seen hardly any of the Reef Blue ones out there. It cost me about $32,800 before TTL. Though now I wish I'd thrown in heated seats...

Yeah, I was pretty pissed when I read the line from my MA, "The only problem is there will be an extra charge because we have to pay for the stripes and the labor to install them. Hopefully I can get them done by the factory." Uh, yeah. Not so much. This girl won't be paying another dime for what was already configured in the origninal build. I pretty much told him in another reply that I'd be happy to put up my dukes on this one.
I haven't hear back from him since, but plan to call MINI today to see if I've got a production date yet. Hopefully I'm still on the schedule.

I'll keep you posted.
Thanks,
Kim