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skessel · Jun 4th, 2002, 06:30 PM

To follow-up on my saga and to answer my some of the questions that were asked:

I placed my deposit back in March before the dealership was open and before they were accepting orders. The money was strictly to get on the list and to show that I was serious. There was no contract requested by either party but to protect myself I documented our verbal agreement in the cover letter I sent with the check. The letter stated that "my understanding is that this deposit is fully refundable for any or no reason at any time prior to purchase of the car. If this is not the case, please destroy the check and remove my name from your waiting list". The check was promptly deposited.

A month or so later I test drove a MC and MCS at Princeton and decided on a MCS as was told that my order date was probably going to be late summer. A month or so later (5/9) the dealership called me and asked me to fax them the specs for the car that I wanted so they could have it for my file. I sent it to them and specifically and adamantly told them not to order the car based on those specs because I was still expecting to order the car late summer when other colors/options would be available and I was still unsure about some of the options. They agreed and promised to note it in the file and call me to confirm options prior to ordering the car. There is still no signed contract requested.

My next contact with them is requesting my deposit back (5/30) and them refusing because the car was through production and will be delivered in a few weeks (see my earlier message).

Since my earlier message, I spoke with the sales manager at Princeton again (after he didn't return two of my calls, I finally got him on the third try). He was immediately adverserial and unprofessional. When I asked him to provide me a copy of my signed contract agreeing to purchase the car (knowing he didn't have one), he asked when I would like to stop by. I told him I would prefer it if he would mail it to me and his reply was "why should I make it easy on you". At this point I reminded him that he was in customer service. At this point he went into a rant saying he would be happy to agree to refund my money if "I would agree to never show up in his showroom again". He said he never want to see me at the showroom and that "hopefully you never brake down in this area because I never want to see you or your car at this dealership". Then he hung up. I assume the check is in the mail.

I think at some point between our conversations he must have went back and looked at my file and/or talked to his boss and realized that he was completely in the wrong and decided he had to give me my $ back. I still do not understand the confrontational approach he had to the whole issue.

I want to point out that at no point during these conversations did I become confrontational (perhaps a bit of sarcasm in pointing out that he was supposed to be in customer service) or try to start an argument. I am not sure how this guy ever got his position but I can't see it lasting.

I am in the process of drafting a letter summarizing my experience with this guy and sending it to the general manager at the dealership and copying MINIUSA as well.

An important point is that I don't have any complaints with my sales rep (Debbie) at Princeton, only the sales manager.

Jun 4th, 2002, 06:30 PM	#8
skessel MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2002 Local Time: 01:29 AM Posts: 12 Offline	Princeton Follow-up (long) To follow-up on my saga and to answer my some of the questions that were asked: I placed my deposit back in March before the dealership was open and before they were accepting orders. The money was strictly to get on the list and to show that I was serious. There was no contract requested by either party but to protect myself I documented our verbal agreement in the cover letter I sent with the check. The letter stated that "my understanding is that this deposit is fully refundable for any or no reason at any time prior to purchase of the car. If this is not the case, please destroy the check and remove my name from your waiting list". The check was promptly deposited. A month or so later I test drove a MC and MCS at Princeton and decided on a MCS as was told that my order date was probably going to be late summer. A month or so later (5/9) the dealership called me and asked me to fax them the specs for the car that I wanted so they could have it for my file. I sent it to them and specifically and adamantly told them not to order the car based on those specs because I was still expecting to order the car late summer when other colors/options would be available and I was still unsure about some of the options. They agreed and promised to note it in the file and call me to confirm options prior to ordering the car. There is still no signed contract requested. My next contact with them is requesting my deposit back (5/30) and them refusing because the car was through production and will be delivered in a few weeks (see my earlier message). Since my earlier message, I spoke with the sales manager at Princeton again (after he didn't return two of my calls, I finally got him on the third try). He was immediately adverserial and unprofessional. When I asked him to provide me a copy of my signed contract agreeing to purchase the car (knowing he didn't have one), he asked when I would like to stop by. I told him I would prefer it if he would mail it to me and his reply was "why should I make it easy on you". At this point I reminded him that he was in customer service. At this point he went into a rant saying he would be happy to agree to refund my money if "I would agree to never show up in his showroom again". He said he never want to see me at the showroom and that "hopefully you never brake down in this area because I never want to see you or your car at this dealership". Then he hung up. I assume the check is in the mail. I think at some point between our conversations he must have went back and looked at my file and/or talked to his boss and realized that he was completely in the wrong and decided he had to give me my $ back. I still do not understand the confrontational approach he had to the whole issue. I want to point out that at no point during these conversations did I become confrontational (perhaps a bit of sarcasm in pointing out that he was supposed to be in customer service) or try to start an argument. I am not sure how this guy ever got his position but I can't see it lasting. I am in the process of drafting a letter summarizing my experience with this guy and sending it to the general manager at the dealership and copying MINIUSA as well. An important point is that I don't have any complaints with my sales rep (Debbie) at Princeton, only the sales manager.