[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by eastbaymini
Hey guys,
Here is a senario. You work at Walmart....Its almost Christmas time and Tickle me Elmos are out!! Boy are they a hit! Luckily you work at a store that sells them and before they go on the shelves the management lets employees get one or two. Same with any store that sold playstation 2 or any other hot selling item. Its just a perk of the job. One car doesnt make them sneaky or anything. At my dealership I ordered a car without a spot in line. One car out of 25 a month doesnt seem that bad. Now if they started taking five or six out of their allocation for store use I could see that as a problem. Just my two cents..

Jarid Perry

I see your point Jarid, but the situation here is a bit different. The car was posted as soon to be available. Essentially they advertised it. To use your "Elmo" analogy this was more akin to a customer reaching up to take the box off the shelf and having it grabbed away from them by one of those blue clad, grey haired Wal-Mart greeters who declares that he's got dibs on that one for his grandkid. You guys have a waiting list. I know I'll get my car and pretty much when. Customers don't have that assurance at Niello. When you ordered your car all you did to your customers was bump us one down the line. (Gee, thanks ) At Niello, where it is first come first served, you never know when you will be able to get a car because you not only have to wait for the right one to arrive, you then have to beat everyone else out and get there first. In that situation having employees get dibs on announced cars seems much more unfair to me. This is why you have my deposit.

[Daddu]

And WAL-MART doesn't inflate their prices either!!!!They lower them.

[lotatoys]

Lets face it, Niello Mini (and BMW, Audi, Porsche, etc...) will continue to do what ever they want to make a buck. They will never care to build customer loyalty by dealing fairly. It's just too easy for them to get the top dollar from people who aren't willing to shop elsewhere (i.e "There's one born every minute").
The only thing we as consumers can do is continue to voice our unhappiness to Niello directly to them as well Mini USA. Have you sent an e-mail to either of them yet?

[mixdman]

I have sent several e-mails to various parties at Niello and I received only one response from Rick Niello stating that they did not expect the response regarding the MINI. DUH! I am in contact with MINI USA and all I get are answers about dealer practices are beyond their control, comparing dealerships with lemonade stands, etc. I wish they would just own up and admit that Niello was NOT a good choice and at least step in to "advise" Niello to maybe try a different way or they will not have the allocation next year. I know there are contracts, etc. that have been signed between MINI and Niello, but contracts can be broken. It seems that MINI really does not care that a dealer is not representing MINI in a good way and that they are losing customers daily. But as mentioned before in this post, there are customers that don't give a damn how much a dealer gouges or how they sell their product, as long as they get that car. That's really too bad! MINI is really no different from any other car company.....the bottom line is $$$$$.

[MINI mama]

Attn all whiners: You think $995 is bad! check this out!
Cal West Fleet Sales, Inc. Greenback Lane, Orangevale Calif.
Chilli Red MINI:16"wheels, Fog lamps, $26,600
Blue MINI: American Flag, Fog lamps, 16"wheels, CD changer,
$27,100
Chilli Red MINI: Union Jack Flag, 16"wheels,CDChanger,Floor mats: $27,100
Liquid Yellow MINI: 16"wheels,Fog lamps $26,600
Jet Black: Checkerboard roof, 16"wheels, floor mats, fog lamps, CD Changer $27,200

And the list gose on.....

[Sealevel]

MINI mama--The list goes on? How far!!?? Even more interesting than the price gouging is the number of MINIs available from this non MINI dealer. An interesting point of speculation, and the probable reason you posted to this thread, is where did all these come from? Orangevale being right by Sacramento, I didn't have to strain my tiny brain too long reaching the obvious conclusion. Any wonder why Niello abandoned their waiting list? And the bottom feeding goes on & on...

[koopers]

Very interesting to see MINIs down the road from Niello.....especially since I've seen 4 MINIs disappear from Niello's website inventory in the past week without the cars showing in stock or sold.

[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by Sealevel
Orangevale being right by Sacramento, I didn't have to strain my tiny brain too long reaching the obvious conclusion. Any wonder why Niello abandoned their waiting list? And the bottom feeding goes on & on...

Very good point. Even if Niello isn't actively helping Cal West (and I can't imagine any legitimate reason why they would) their policy would easily allow Cal West to send a rep over early in the morning and buy up shipments. I guess they could be getting their vehicles elsewhere. It'd be interesting to compare VINs or vehicle descriptions with Niello's posted inventory list. Come to think of it there was a Blue MINI with a US flag on the roof at Niello's last weekend. How many of those can there be in Sac?

[lotatoys]

Has anyone figured out if any Niello VIN numbers match the ones at Cal West yet? If I lived in the area, I'd make the effort to check each car. Unfortunately, all I can do is alert Mini USA to the suspected problem, which I did just before posting this. I know there's no real proof at our end, but Mini USA should be able to find out where their vehicles went. Besides, it doesn't hurt to keep reminding them of the on going problems with Niello...

[mixdman]

Any news on the VIN numbers?

[lotatoys]

No posts yet, but here's the response I received from Mini USA. Once again, they sound sympathetic but don't seem to be able to do anything...
"Mr Xxx,
I hope you don't feel as if I'm beating a dead horse, but I do want to start this reply to you with an apology as well. It sounds like you have been through a very frustrating process, and I wish it hadn't tainted your perception of MINI Division.

Niello MINI was picked to be a MINI dealer based on its excellent customer service record. We hope that our dealers will treat our customers with the utmost respect and consideration. It is disheartening to hear from customers like you who have had such a disappointing experience.

I hope you don't feel like your complaints have fallen on deaf ears. But as I'm sure you've heard over and over, our dealers are independently owned and operated and solely responsible for their sales policies and procedures.

As a consumer, it seems you have made a wise decision by taking your business to a dealer who you feel deserves your business. I'm just sorry it had to come to that.

Mr. Xxx, I know this situation must be beyond frustrating for you. Please know that we are here for you, to help in any way we can. Even if you just need to vent.

Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns. We appreciate feedback from our customers.

Sincerely,
Emily Hatley
MINI Division
Customer Relations


--Original Message--

First name: X
Last name: Xxx

question/comment:
This is yet another e-mail regarding Niello Mini in Sacramento. I've contacted MINI USA several times before about Niello's abuse of the Mini franchise and now they seem to have sunk lower. It appears now that they sell cars to their employees before they even arrive at their dealership, a clear violation of their policy of first come, first served. How does a consumer have a fair chance when the cars are sold to insiders before they arrive?
Another (very believable) allegation is that Niello is selling cars to a non- Mini dealer in the Sacramento region. Cars that appear to have been on the Niello "incoming inventory list" posted on their website have mysteriously disappeared from the list and re-appeared at the other dealers lot with incredibly high mark-ups.
Is this the kind of "customer friendly" dealer you want representing the Mini? All you have to do is check the MINI2 website daily and you will likely find another disturbing insight into Niello's cut-throat business practices.
I'm looking forward to the response I receive to this e-mail. I expect the usual "we know the problems with Niello but can't do anything about it" form letter again but it sure would be nice know a fix is on the way...
Sincerely,
Mr. Xxx
p.s. Thanks to Niello, I have to purchase my car from Mini of Murray, a dealer where my business is appreciated and I'm treated fairly. It's too bad you don't reward dealerships such as theirs, but I'm sure that legally you are "unable to give them a kind word".

[mixdman]

Hey ALL,
Just wanted you to know that I removed my previous posts and that it was not done by a moderator. I received an e-mail threatening a possible lawsuit if I continued to post comments regarding a certain dealership or any posts including a certain salesperson's name without their knowledge. I have not posted any defamatory comments, lewd or vulgar language, hate speech, etc.

[olddad]

lotatoys, based on all the posts ' bout the $700 wax jobs and the general price gouging stories here in California, I also took the plunge with Mini of Murray. They (spelled Debbie) are upfront and obviously trying to be fair with everyone. I'll have to wait for 12 months, but the thought of blasting home across Nevada in my new Mini is not entirely a bad thought. My question for you is have you found anything out about our tax liability?? Are we to pay the 5.75% Utah sales tax as well as the 6% CA use tax? Maybe our unwillingness to bend over will cost a little, but I'll stick with the Murray dealer out of sheer crustiness.

[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by mixdman
Hey ALL,
Just wanted you to know that I removed my previous posts and that it was not done by a moderator. I received an e-mail threatening a possible lawsuit if I continued to post comments regarding a certain dealership or any posts including a certain salesperson's name without their knowledge. I have not posted any defamatory comments, lewd or vulgar language, hate speech, etc.

I really have quite a few things I'd like to vent about this (I know, big surprise), but I don't want to complicate things any further for mixdman. Let's just leave it at I think we've all gotten a real clear sense of at least one salesperson's attitude towards customer service out of this.

[koopers]

Quote:

Originally posted by MINI mama
Attn all whiners: You think $995 is bad! check this out!
Cal West Fleet Sales, Inc. Greenback Lane, Orangevale Calif.
Chilli Red MINI:16"wheels, Fog lamps, $26,600
Blue MINI: American Flag, Fog lamps, 16"wheels, CD changer,
$27,100
Chilli Red MINI: Union Jack Flag, 16"wheels,CDChanger,Floor mats: $27,100
Liquid Yellow MINI: 16"wheels,Fog lamps $26,600
Jet Black: Checkerboard roof, 16"wheels, floor mats, fog lamps, CD Changer $27,200

And the list gose on.....

Interestingly enough a Indi Blue MINI with American Flag, CD Changer, fog lamps has suddenly appeared in stock in Niello's inventory. Do you think..no that's too far a stretch... but Niello dealerships are in abundance in the Sacramento area.

[lotatoys]

OLDDAD: I haven't thought that far ahead yet. I would assume that you could buy in Utah, exempt from their sales tax due to having a California address, but Cal will hit you for it when you register.
As for MIXDMAN removing his posts due to a threat, well, I hope everyone else sees what NIELLO really is. CASEY nailed it on the head regarding customer satisfaction and how NIELLO was selected. Just go back to my first post that started this thread and you'll see that NIELLO BMW only cares about paying customers, not customer satisfaction. I won't say that every employee there is bad or even to blame. Their service and parts department is great.It's company policy that tells the sales people what to do. I've had good dealings with them in the past and all it took to sour the relationship was DEMI LeMARQUAND's eye opening rudeness. He should never have been selected to handle the Mini because he knew he wouldn't have to lower himself to sell them. His arrogance and the fact that he (prophetically) promised NIELLO would find a way to get more than sticker for Mini's opened my eyes to their cut-throat tactics. Just take a look at the additional mark up they extort for M3's! And back when they had a Z8 that stickered for $120k they were asking close to $300k.
So I'm sorry to hear that MIXDMAN felt that he had to remove his posts. It just goes to show how badly free speech is hurting NIELLO BMW...

[koopers]

Happy to hear of another No. Calif. refugee going to Utah. We researched the sales tax issue--my hubby is an accountant and no he never was with Arthur Andersen. Our understanding is that the out of state dealer will ask you to sign a waiver to exempt them from collecting sales tax. You will need proof of California residence (CDL or DMV issued photo ID). Then upon registration at your local DMV office, Gov. Davis will greet you warmly and ask for your Calif. sales tax. This could range from 7 1/4% to 8 1/2% depending on where you live.

[olddad]

Thanks folks. That's a relief. Now if enough people drop off the list....

[lotatoys]

Hey Olddad...
Are you saying you're that close to Oregon and you DON'T have an address (P.O. Box) there to use for registering your car? I'm not suggesting that Governor Davis doesn't deserve your money, but...
Also, if you or anyone else have good feedback for Debbie Horton, please post it on the thread titled Mini of Murray. I don't think Debbie is the type who wants the press but it doesn't hurt to let everyone else (potential Murray customers)know how you were treated! Happy Motoring...

[olddad]

The Oregon plates won't work in these little border towns due to the very tuned in cops, otherwise we might as well be part of Oregon as everyone would do it. Many cars here are from Medford or Grants Pass. Also discovered the DMV requires both the California emmissions certificate, which should be provided by Mini at no charge, and a smog station check in California before registration. At least we are exempt from the periodic checks here in the boonies. Buying about anything else from a California firm and having it delivered to friends in Oregon still works. Well worth the $140 savings on a $2000 item.