[macncheese]

Anyone have anything to say? They offered me and the misses a beverage while we waited for our test drive turn!? Anyone else on the list here?


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Cheese
Passing the time for another 2 months

[macncheese]

I changed my mind. They dont return my calls ever.


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Cheese

[macncheese]

***


--
Cheese

[skessel]

To summarize:

I had put down deposits at several NY Metro area dealerships to get on the waiting lists for an S back in March. I told them what I was planning to order when my name came up (in case any similar pre-spec'ed cars came in and were available). I never filled out an order form or signed anything.

My number comes up at Morristown, and I place my order. I contact Weschester and Prestige, and both agree to return my deposit, as promised, no questions asked. Princeton, on the other hand, tells me that the car has been ordered and is in production and that I will not be refunded my deposit.

The sales rep, Debbie Franks, very firmly but very politely stated their position. When I disagreed, I was transferred to the sales manager, Alex Hilgethe, who was extremely hot headed and unprofessional.

I am currently looking into my options and will likely file a suit in small claims court. I am confident that I am in the right and will eventually get my $ back but it is still a pain.

[PghArch]

for behavior like that. How can they claim to have ordered your car if you haven't even told them what spec you want??

I wonder if some of the dealers are watching in dismay as their wait lists evaporate. After all, to avoid creating disgruntled customers (and stimulate ideas of exclusivity) they are all talking about the 12+ month wait lists. They may be starting to worry that they all have people who are on two other lists and four months from now they'll be needing to actually do their work to sell the cars.

Personally my experience here in Pittsburgh has been pretty good so far. Very accomodating about test drives, took my deposit and noted everything we mentioned. Then, when I called about finding out about getting the deposit back I was even more pleasantly surprised. Just a five minute phone call and within two days I got a check in the mail.

Hopefully the dealer in NJ will realize it is cheaper for them to pay out now than to waste their time fighting you about it.

[Jos986]

skessel-

Sorry for your difficulties. Most dealers seem to be calling to confirm your order and ask if there are any changes before they 'officially order' your car. That way you know your car is being ordered. You can at that time make changes or back out. It sounds as though this step was missing.
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Macncheese--were you called to confirm your order with Princeton right before they officially ordered it?
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skessel-

Was your deposit $1000?

My deposit of $1000 with Princeton (Since January) has just been refunded at my request. It took about two weeks.

Another dealer has my deposit of $500.

[Apial]

May I ask what the point of a deposit is? In England it is a necessary part of a contract to purchase that is legally binding. The terms of the contract may state specific or general decription of goods to purchase. The onus is on both parties to complete the Contract.

If the deposit is refundable should the purchaser change their mind then that should be stated in the contract. Contracts need not be written and can be verbal.

Ultimately the Law Courts will sort out any dispute. Therefore it is best for both parties to have a written form of the contract. A deposit is strong evidence that there was an agreement to purchase. Was it specifically stated that the deposit was refundable?

If you find that the dealer has a legally enforceable contract, would it be better to forfeit the $1000 or take the car and resell it? With the demand for the Cooper S, I think you might be able to actually make a profit.

I am surprised that the dealer is not willing to refund the deposit. Is he not confident that the MINI will remain in demand, or has he a target to hit that at the moment is falling short?

[skessel]

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.

[skessel]

Jos986,

I don't know how you could have had a deposit at Princeton since January and your number not come up. I didn't get on their list for an MCS until March and they are now saying my car is built.

I specifically requested a VIN and Production number and was not given one. It wouldn't surprise me if they were just trying to intimidate me in to giving up my deposit or staying on their list. Who knows, regardless, I think you made the right choice is going with the other dealership, whoever it is.

As I said before my dealing with Morristown, Prestige, and Weschester were all very good.

[skessel]

Just to close the subject, Princeton did return my deposit after the very unpleasant phone conversations previously mentioned and an e-mail to the owner of the dealership.