Does anyone have any opinions as to whether Hassel Mini in Freeport or Habberstad Mini in Huntington is the better dealership in terms of customer support and service? Or, maybe someone can suggest another dealership nearby. Thanks a bunch.

 

I went to Maureen at Habberstad - actually got money off MSRP and some freebies. Great experience. Tell her I sent you.

Jeff Einhorn

 

I bought my car from Maureen when she was at Hassel. When she went to Habberstad I visited her (early '07) and thought I would have my car serviced there. Unfortunately, the couple of times I called Habb service to ask about a problem and set up an appointment, the people on the other end of the phone sounded like they couldn't give a crap.

Hassel is closer to me, and their phone 'manners' are acceptable to me, so it was gonna take at least on-par customer service from Habb to get me to switch. The phone, which is often the first contact with a business, was not promising with Habberstad MINI.

Since that time, I have come to depend on Jason at Hassel for my service needs. Every service team needs a Jason, or better yet, more than one.

If I had it to do again right now, I'd buy my car from Maureen, wherever she is, and have it serviced at Hassel.

As always, these are only my opinions, and should be treated as such. YMMV.

Zip

 

yea while overall my experience with habberstad was good, they did take a bit long to get back to me on more then one occasion when I had important questions about about the transaction.

 

Well, I bought one from both. I'm a good one to ask. I had a lousy experience with Hassel. The sales team was very inexperienced. They promised me the world and tried to scam my 03 works for a song. As far as the service dept is concerned, Jason was very nice while they had my car for 5 weeks this summer to fix a rattle. It turned out to be a hose clamp was missing. They are incompetent. On the other hand, while Maureen could not match Hassels trade in value, her price was so much less it didn't matter. My dealing with Maureen was very professional. She is very knowledgeable about the product. I'm very happy I drove the extra 15 minutes to go to Habberstat. Good luck

 

I just had my first experience with Hassel's service department and I was very impressed. Fast, friendly service.. no waiting around.. BMW loaner and my car was ready the following day. I'm happy.

 

I have never been to Hassel for service so I can't speak to that. I can sya that for the past five years the service at Habberstad has been exemplary for the MINI and I would recommend them highly.

One observation I have is that some folks treat the SAs like garbage and expect to get great service, my advice is to treat the SA the way you would like to be treated and you will receive great service at most dealers, that said there are incompetent technicians at all dealers so beware.

 

MINI of Fairfield County in Stamford was perfect for the order, pickup ,and service. The best new car purchasing experience I've ever had. Mark Smith was our MA.

 

Go to Morristown (NJ) Mini. They're incredible. Great dealer. Great people.

 

this is why i wanna getting out of the service dept of the dealerships. people have to understand that the SA nor the dealership made your car and you take it out on them like they did.

 

I have heard only good things about Habberstad MINI. My friend and I were in there last Monday, looking for a new MINI for him. Maureen was quite helpful and patient with us, as we test drove several models, and sat in quite a few. We also visited Hassel MINI this week just to have a look.

It seems like Habb is a bigger operation, and they had a bigger selection of new and previously owned as well.

We will be back Monday to meet with Maureen again, and will likely be ordering one.

 

I can attest that Maureen was quite patient with me... I vacillated on every color, option, everything. But I made the correct choice!

 

Hassel has lame sales department, full of nitwits.

Habberstead was great to deal with, but from my past m3 experience their service department is mighty lame...

 

So add my friend and I to the list of people who have ordered a MINI from Maureen at Habberstad MINI in Huntington Station. We placed the order this afternoon, looking at an early April Delivery.

Maureen was great to work with.

 

NO CONTEST!!!! Habberstad is the worst dealership I have ever done business with in my life!

HASSEL is amazing!!!!! There you have it folks!

 

sounds like a huge hassle to me

 

Hassel is great. Angelina is very helpfull. And great to deal with.

 

I've dealt with both, regarding sales and service. I think Hassel's sales suck, Habberstad's is much better (Maureen is great). As for service, I have serviced in both places and I would say the experience with both would be equally good.

 

I have had a relationship with Hassel for about 10 years now. I live nearby and I would lease a new 5 series BMW every 2 years because I drive quite bit. Partly because of this I ultimately ordered/purchased my Clubman S from them.

I have to say that everyone I've dealt with in the Sales location has been very nice and responsive to my needs. Steve, the Sales Mgr., was especially helpful when I recently had a small problem. Resolving this problem provided my first experience with the Service Dept. as a MINI owner and I have to say I was more than a little disappointed.

As I said, I've been a BMW customer of theirs for a number of years and have always received very good treatment by a pleasant and competent staff. BTW, the BMW and MINI service is performed together at a Service location that is separate from both Sales operations.

I was surprised by my experience this time, unlike prior (BMW) service visits to this same location, I didn't get that warm and fuzzy feeling. Wow, suffice it to say... I guess I'm not a BMW owner anymore. I'll go so far as to say I was a bit Put-Off by the experience. I was actually a little angry about the whole experience and I even placed a call to Steve and told him how things went.

I do want to add that when I was originally looking at the MINI I visited the Habberstad location to see a JCW Clubman they had. I was very impressed with the whole "MINI theme" of the facility and I had the pleasure of meeting Maureen. I've said this to others and I say it here again, Maureen was one of the most professional and competent sales people I have ever dealt with. If all else was equal, I would have liked to have purchased my car from her. Even if all else wasn't quite equal, I would have liked to have purchased my car from her. I almost bought that '09 JCW Clubman.

But there were too many "other factors" and the people at Hassel MINI are very nice. I just hope they catch a clue about the service issues.

 

I bought two MINIs from Maureen at Habberstad but got screwed on the trade-in both times, including the one MINI I personally purchased from her when I went to trade that MINI in for another. Maureen was pleasant enough, but the dealership keeps the salespeople hands tied. None of this was Maureen's fault as she was very professional and knew her product.The service department sucked. I had a surging problem with my wife's 2007 automatic and they refused to acknowledge the problem so it never actually got fixed. Then in summer of 2010, I got the itch to buy a 2007 certified preowned MINI. Their prices I found were very high and found no incentive to buy again from them, so purchased my current MIN from a luxury car dealer with 1.5 years left on the warranty. I plan to have my own mechanic fix whatever problems I encounter. You would think after 3 MINIs, they would have gained my confidence and respect and trust. One would only hope that service will catch on. Plus their financing best was 7%. (I am sure they made on the financing too !!!) I got my 2.9% 60 mo from NEFCU (National Educators Federal Credit Union.

 

I don't know about either of them, but HOW can you call your dealership service center "Hassle?!?!"

 

picking up my CM tmrw. Lets see if I get Hassel'd. So far, the financial games they been playing are quite irritating. (trying to reneg.) after I've ordered. shifty I tell ya, damm shifty.

 

Recently purchased at Hassel & worked with Steve Jawarski. He's a good guy. Do your model research. He & Dennis MINIero(finance) will take care of you. Communication could have been a bit more clear but in the end everything worked out great.

 

Lets bring this thread back from the dead!!! Looks like it's time for a refresh.

Hassle pissed me off. I went there with a written quote from Habberstad, they looked at it and said, "they're lying to you. This is impossible." I found it rude to bad talk other people like that.

I tried to get out of a car last year, and worked with Jarred. Great dude. Now I want to order a car and be there for when I get home... It's hard to get a hold of anyone. Normally, I would just walk in...but I'm a little far away at the moment. In their defense, I have only emailed once, like a week ago and the the time difference is ridiculous.

What's new in the Mini dealership world on LI now? where should I go, who should I speak with...