[sifl_n_ollie]

Now that the long wait for my MCS is over I thought I would share my experience dealing with Ralph Schomp mini.

When I heard that Ralph Schomp was going to be the dealer in Colorado (and the only dealer for 4 surrounding states) I know very little about them. Other people I talked to mentioned that they generally have a good reputation. I was glad to hear that.

I sent an email to the address they had listed on thier site to get my name on the interest list for a MCS. A couple months later I recieved an email that they had finalized thier dealer agreement and were now taking deposits so I promptly called them and charged $500 on my credit card. I was told that they would let everyone know where they were on the list in the next week and that they would send me a receipt for the deposit. Two weeks went by and I heard nothing. I called to inquire about my spot and was given a number. I mentioned that my card had not yet been charged for the deposit and wanted to be sure that my spot was not in jeopardy because if this. It took nearly two more weeks before I was charged for the deposit and recieved a receipt (not that big of a deal but was a sign of things to come).

After they recieved thier initail shipments of cars they started scheduling test drives (only in coopers). I made an appointment to drive a cooper even though I was on the list for an S because I was so excited to just see the cars in person at this point. When we were on the test drive one of the sales guys came along ( I think it was arron heggen). We had explained to Aaron that we were on the list for an S. My wife asked him about the list and when we might be able to order. I was surprised by his reply when he said we could probably order in the next 3 months and take delivery no later than december 2002. We were really excited as this seemed to be much sooner than they origially were telling those on the S list (up to 2 years). Too good to be true.

After the next couple of months passed and I did not hear anything from RalphSchomp I decided to email Aaron to see where I was on the list. I emailed him both from the form on thier website and from my own email client program. Both messages got bounced. I though OK maybee thier email is down and tried again later the next week. Same problem. I had tried calling Aaron but he was not available. After another week went by I contacted John Angel thier sales manager. I explained that I was less than pleased that I had given them $500 and I could not even get an update on where I was on the list. I mentioned what Aaron had told me the time table would be like and John informed me that the information was totally false. My order date would not be until feb or march 2003. So did aaron assume I wanted a regular cooper even after I told him we were on the list for and S and this could account for the misinformation? I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt.

October of 2002 - I had not heard anything agian for months from RalphSchomp. I had decided that I was not likely to get any information from them without pressing them. Why they could not have just sent out periodic emails to all those people on the list that use email or post thier list status on thier website is beyond me. But I decied I did not want to be an overanxious pain in the ***** so I just let it go. I happed to be in the neighborhood one afternoon and stopped by mostly just to see the car I had been waiting 9 months for and would still need to wait probably 6 months to get. While we were there I asked about the list status again and to my surprise this time John told me that they had thier allocation upped and that I would be able to order in the month. Sweeeeet. Why they could have not told people on the list about this allocation change I dont know but I am still trying not be a pain in the *****. So John says "expect a phone call in the next couple of weeks".

Three weeks go by and I dont hear from RalphSchomp. I call and am referred to Mohammed. Mohammed says he will be contacting me next week (probably mon or teusday) to setup a time to order. I will find out later that Mohammed likes to say he will call probably early next week but rarely does. Monday and Teusday pass and its friday now. I call Mohammed to see what the deal is. "Oh yeah I thougth I had called you - sorry - when would you like to come down and order?" I set up a time and ask Mohammed very clearly "What can I do to make ordering the car as easy as possible for you guys to be sure there is no mix ups?" - my exact words. I though it would be wise after reading all the mistakes other mini2ers where having with thier orders. Mohammed replies "go to miniusa.com and configure a car exactly how you want it. Then print it out an bring that down." So I did just that.

When we are at the dealership everyone is cordial. The salsemen seem to wear copious amounts of cologne but otherwise I cant complain. I put another $500 down and I order the car with Mohammed. Once the order is clear to both of us I ask him about financing. "So when should we talk about financing? Now or when we pick up the car"? Mohammed replies "Um - Oh - Ok yeah we can talk about that now". We discuss financing the car throught our credit union to get a better rate. Mohammed tells me that they do credit direct from many credit unions including ours and we fill out the paperwork. Finally Mohammed says " I will call you early next week to let you know I put the order in".

Next monday and teusday comes and goes. My wife calls and leaves a message for Mohammed. Mohommed does not call back. Now I am starting to worry that my build date will be pushed back a month. Finally the order goes in - appearntly they take thier orders a month in advance - something I was not told.

I am traking the car throught the production process on miniusa and I start to wonder if RalphShcomp is going to call and ask me about any dealer installed accesories since the delivery date is quickly aproaching. I figure they are trying not to be pushy about it so I call them to order my accesories. When I call Mohammed is not in. I leave him a voice mail. He does not call back. A couple of days later I call agian and talk with Melanie (I think thats her name). Melanie is very nice and helpfull. She takes my list of accesories and tells me that Mohammed will call me back to confirm. She also tells me its good to have the list sooner because they can put some of them on at the Distribution Center. Something I was never told. Mohammed never calls. The car is off the boat. I call to setup an apointment for delivery. Over the next couple weeks I play phone tag with Mohammed. I gave them daytime and evening phone numbers on 3 occations but Mohammed is determined to call my house during the day and my work on the weekends. He also mentions in one of his messages that he wants to confirm my accessories so they can be put on the car in time. I return his call. Mohammed is not in today so I mentioned that I needed to confirm the accessories and that I had been playing phone tag. Melanie takes my confirmation. Then the next day I get another phone message from Mohammed trying to confirm the accessories yet agian. I am starting to think that the accessories are going to be screwed up.

After a week of phone tag I get an appointment made to pick up the car. I had to finally just tell them when I would be there since I was unable to talk with my sales rep Mohammed.

We start to go throught the paperwork. I get a little shafted on my trade-ins but get at least I was wanting. Then the financing paperwork comes out. Mohammed starts to tell me how we discuessed this rate previously but it looks like its probably going to be more like this ( a much higher number). Mohammed says "its not that big of a difference - like only a few dollars a month". My wife and I are totally perplexed because we know what our credit union is offering and what we qualify for. I mention to Mohammed that we are supposed to be doind "credit direct" via our credit union. "Oh yeah I forgot - thanks for reminding me" he says. I turns out that I get a rate from my credit union that is nearly 3 points lower. But I guess he just forgot.

As we start to go throught the paperwork on the sale of the car I have yet to see the car. I asked Mohammed if we could actually see the car before I sign anything. He, seemingly surprised, agrees. The car was in the showroom under a car cover. The first thing I notice is it does not have the bonnet stripes I ordered as part of the sports package. Mohammed acts suprised again as though I am certaily mistaken. He returns a few minuets later and admits they made a mistake. He assures me that they will get it taken car of right way. They cannot put the stripes on that day because the stripe guys are not in on the weekend. If you have read this far - remember the part where I asked them about making the ordering as easy as possible so there would not be any mistakes - yeah so do I.

We finish the paperwork and Mohammed asks me when I would like to bring the car back for the stripes - "it only takes about 45 mins" he says. We agree that I would return the next friday a 6pm. He says "I will call you early next week teusday or wednesday to confirm".

Next thursday rolls around and you guessed it - mohammed never called. I call the service department to make an apointment only to find out that they can only do the stripes mon - friday 9am to 2pm. And on top of that they need to have the car dropped off for the day. So the time that Mohammed said would be OK to bring the car in was totally false. By this time I am completely fed up with RalphShcomp mini Sales. My wife calls and sets up an appointment with the service department. She had called and left a mesage for John Angel the sales manager - he did not call back. We got one more phone message from Mohammed at home on a weekday after my Wife left 2 messages. I just had the stripes installed yesterday - a week after they where supposed to be done.

The service department was very helpfull. They accomodated us by letting me bring the car in and wait while they put the stripes on. The service department covered the ***** of sales for screwing up the order in the first place. I look forward to bringing my car in with the superior service they offered.

I understand that mini dealers are not making huge margins on these cars. On the otherhand I think its been pointed out here before that people are literally ligning up to get these cars - so I dont have much sympathy for bad dealers. The car I bought was well over $25,000. I had over a $1000 worth of dealer accessories. My guess is the percentage of cars that RaphSchomp mini sells that are over even $24,000 is pretty low. They did not even throw in a pair of floor mats. I had to buy them. When we picked up the car my wife wanted a mini t-shirt for her dad. They could not even throw in a $35 t-shirt. I would expect that they at least look over the order before I pick the car up to be sure everything is correct.

My experience certainly is not the worst I have read here but it was much worse than the good dealer reviews I have read. I hope miniusa considers a competing dealership in the Colorado area. I now understand why so many people in Colorado have gone out of state for thier cars.