[Mini Beemer]

Okay,

First of all many thanks to all that have posted comments on Glasgow dealers: Henry Bros and Harry Fairbairn.

I visited Henry Bros this morning to discuss new Cooper/trade in etc... Total cost is £15,325 which as many of you have said is non negotiable. If I tell them to order it they will have it by July. I would like it on 1st September, due to holidays and business commitments, which is not a problem for them. They quoted a value for my trade-in, which is what they estimated will be worth at the end of August. This is where things become a bit vague. If I ask them to order the car, and obviously sign for it to be built, suppose in August they say my trade-in is worth a lot less than what they are saying now. I don’t see anything to stop this, since we would not be sorting out the finance till August. I also need to pay a deposit of £250 now (originally salesperson said £200, but suddenly it was £250). They said they would put on the order “subject to trade-in price”, and assured me that if I wasn’t happy with trade-in price then I could cancel and get deposit back. The salesperson had to fly back and forward several times to talk to his manager on this, but assured me this was the case.

Can anyone verify this… to summarise: I order a car now for delivery in September, subject to trade-in price. I pay a deposit of £250 now. If I don’t like the trade-in price when I am due to collect Mini discuss finance, I can cancel the order and get my deposit back??

I felt the salesman was a touch eager to do business, and get me to place the order there and then. I told him I would think about it, over the next week, try and hack into my Online Egg account, add an extra digit to the balance and get back to him.

[kbgnat]

DO NOT GET YOUR MINI FROM HENRY BROS!!!!

I know this is a really bad thing to say on this newsgroup, but I can't help myself and watch another person fall victim to them.

I got my mini from them, they are very keen to sell you the car as soon as, but once you get it, they are the worst. They're service department is rude and un-welcoming, and to be honest, I don't think they give me enough respect. (maybe its because I'm a 19 year old 'kid'!?!?)

There was one time I took my car in to get something sorted (a rear light that was letting in water). So I took the car in at 10 o'clock and they told me it would be ready by 2 o'clock. I went beack a 2, and saw nothing had been done to my car! So I asked the guy how long it would take, and he said only another half an hour or so, (sounding as if they have been working at it all day). So in the end, I had to wait one hour! for them to come to me and say that they didn't have the part and that they would need to order it in. You could imagine how furious I was

Funny that, 'cause the other day mini customer service rung me up and asked me how my experience has been with my dealers and I told them how dissapointed I was. But whats most ironic is that the last question I was asked was 'if I would recommend them to anyone?' well you can guess what my answer to that was.

Anyway, thats only my experience with them, I am now considering changing dealers when it comes to service time. I don't know about Fairbarns or Parks of Hamilton, but anywhere must be better than H.B.

P.S. They have a crap carpark anyway, there are never any spaces and one time they threatend to tow my car away cause I refused to move it until some work was done to my car!

Trust me go elsewhere!

[Mini Beemer]

kbgnat,

Thanks for reply mate. I don't think it's a bad thing at all to say... if you had to buy all over again, you obviously wouldn't buy from HB - which I appreciate.

IIRC Douglas Park of Hamilton is boasting BMW dealer of the year (this year /last year, I'm not sure) - so maybe they are worth a visit. Other point about HB is they don't open on Sundays.... Harry Fairbairn (Giffnock) does, so I'll pay them a visit first.

I did overhear a salesperson say that Henry Bros was a family business, so you should put your comments in a letter to the MD... and also tell them you've posted them to a web forum and influenced potential buyers!

I know what you mean about the car park - I was asked by 3 different people if I drove a black Ford Focus, which was obviously causing them some problems!

But my question still stands: if I place an order with a dealer to build a car to my spec, and pay a deposit... when it's near to arrive, and time to sort out finance, can I cancel the order and get deposit back if they are taking the mick with the trade-in value of my current car?

Answers please!!!

Quote:

Originally posted by kbgnat
DO NOT GET YOUR MINI FROM HENRY BROS!!!!

I know this is a really bad thing to say on this newsgroup, but I can't help myself and watch another person fall victim to them.

I got my mini from them, they are very keen to sell you the car as soon as, but once you get it, they are the worst. They're service department is rude and un-welcoming, and to be honest, I don't think they give me enough respect. (maybe its because I'm a 19 year old 'kid'!?!?)

There was one time I took my car in to get something sorted (a rear light that was letting in water). So I took the car in at 10 o'clock and they told me it would be ready by 2 o'clock. I went beack a 2, and saw nothing had been done to my car! So I asked the guy how long it would take, and he said only another half an hour or so, (sounding as if they have been working at it all day). So in the end, I had to wait one hour! for them to come to me and say that they didn't have the part and that they would need to order it in. You could imagine how furious I was

Funny that, 'cause the other day mini customer service rung me up and asked me how my experience has been with my dealers and I told them how dissapointed I was. But whats most ironic is that the last question I was asked was 'if I would recommend them to anyone?' well you can guess what my answer to that was.

Anyway, thats only my experience with them, I am now considering changing dealers when it comes to service time. I don't know about Fairbarns or Parks of Hamilton, but anywhere must be better than H.B.

P.S. They have a crap carpark anyway, there are never any spaces and one time they threatend to tow my car away cause I refused to move it until some work was done to my car!

Trust me go elsewhere!

[Ruff]

In theory what you are saying happens.

You should be able to back out of the deal at anytime until it is in build.

You may find they will try and hang on to your money if they can. I have heard of one merc garage saying to my parents in law that they should leave the deposit for the salesman due to the hard work he had put in.

oh how we laughed. Why not wait a while then just go back for your september deal. they will always have to allow for the fact that your car may depreciate over the order period. In 3 months you could put on many thousands of miles or scratch every panel etc. Its not unusual it what I am saying.

[alexcroft]

Kbgnat,

I had similar experiances with Milcars in Borehamwood. They couldn't get hold of my money quick enough, but any problems with the car they don't seem at all bothered with.

They asked me how I knew so much about all the problems and other sh*te that has gone wrong with the car and customer service. I just tell them MINI2.com!!

More dealers should visit this site, just so BMW can finally realise that although a brilliantly developed car, IT HAS LOADS OF PROBLEMS AND THEY AND BMW ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!

ahhhh...much better now.

anyone agree?

[ELISEBOY]

have to add the same with Stephen James of North London.

I bought from them after initial problems elsewhere.

Seemed fine.

Got the car which was damaged before i drove it out of the showroom, had nightmares getting that booked in and been told things that have not bee accurate

After 6 weeks of speaking to them it is finally going in tomorrow after MINI Customer Services have got involved.

See what happens now

[groovy_jr]

you are all worrying me now!

[ELISEBOY]

well i have just got the car back with most of the bits sorted
still a few issues to resolve though

left pull still there, requires indivdual new struts, stitching still coming out of chair, new chair needed

[IgorTheHunchback]

Igor got car at Milcars (Borehamwood Nr London)
No trade in
£500 deposit.

Dealer could not get car and Igor spent time & money changing insurance and advertising current car.

Mini came with one dent and two scratchs. They fixed it VERY quickly.

Not happy with bonnet strips - glue over paint. Will not go anything about it.

Week later found other (very small dent) - dealer won't do anything about it.

Igor like saleman (now left) didn't like company

[KenL]

I've ordered my Mini from Eastern Mini in Edinburgh. They are offering a trade in for my car with the price fixed for when I get my mini.

The trade in they are offering is well below what I think it is worth basically because what they do is sell on the car to other dealers. I therefore intend to sell my car privately.

[Mini Beemer]

Quote:

Originally posted by KenL



I've ordered my Mini from Eastern Mini in Edinburgh. They are offering a trade in for my car with the price fixed for when I get my mini.









The trade in they are offering is well below what I think it is worth basically because what they do is sell on the car to other dealers. I therefore intend to sell my car privately.

KenL,







See my other thread:



http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...&threadid=7558


which basically says that Harry Fairbairn (Giffnock) have fixed a price for September. I would agree with what you say on trade-in price being slightly disappointing. I have loads of time to decide whether to sell privately or not. But I'm just happy the Mini is finally ordered!

[dietcokeplease]

Mini Beemer,

Whichever dealer you go to, get them to write on the invoice what you want. This is the only way to avoid any ambiguity.

If you want to a refund of your deposit if the trade-in price is poor get the salesman to put it in print:

DEPOSIT IMMEDIATELY REFUNDABLE IF CUSTOMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH PART-EXCHANGE VALUATION OR FINANCE QUOTATIONS.

Get the saleman and his manager to sign the statement. Under no circumstance accept anything less. If you have to appear before a judge to retrieve your deposit, you're on shaky grounds if you've only got a verbal commitment.
Most dealers are honourable but you have to expect Sods Law.

I lived in Glasgow many years ago and I found the "family business" of Henry Brothers to be utter pants. I had £25k burning a hole in my pocket and ended up buying a Honda from Hyndland Honda.

[Mini Beemer]

Quote:

Originally posted by dietcokeplease



Mini Beemer,









Whichever dealer you go to, get them to write on the invoice what you want. This is the only way to avoid any ambiguity.









If you want to a refund of your deposit if the trade-in price is poor get the salesman to put it in print:









DEPOSIT IMMEDIATELY REFUNDABLE IF CUSTOMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH PART-EXCHANGE VALUATION OR FINANCE QUOTATIONS.









Get the saleman and his manager to sign the statement. Under no circumstance accept anything less. If you have to appear before a judge to retrieve your deposit, you're on shaky grounds if you've only got a verbal commitment.




Most dealers are honourable but you have to expect Sods Law.









I lived in Glasgow many years ago and I found the "family business" of Henry Brothers to be utter pants. I had £25k burning a hole in my pocket and ended up buying a Honda from Hyndland Honda.

No worries - it's all sorted now - Henry Bros (the family business ) as you say, were sticky with this... which put me right off them. I found Harry Fairbairn (Giffnock) completely different and much more obliging and helpful The part exchange details are on the order from the dealer, so it's in black and white. The car is ordered from Fairbairns - Glasgow's number 1 dealer

[NeoTheOne]

Sorry to open up such an old thread but I have had a bad experience with Fairnbarns. My car recently ha to go in for a new gearbox after 9000 miles and since it happened right on their doorstep i parked the car up at around 10.30 at night and got my dad to come pick me up. The next day I got a phonecall from them asking what was wrong and I explained there was a horrible noise coming from the engine bay that would reverberate through the clutch. They checked it over and decided I needed a new gearbox and needed new front tyres. Warranty covered the cost of the gearbox and it was dealt with quickly. However I was offered no courtesy car, unlike Henry Bros who gave me one when it went in for its first oil change and unlike my friend who is also 18 who was given a cooper convertible for the weekend. I also felt I was treated like a second class customer simply because I am 18 and that any knowledge about the noise was dismissed. When the car was handed back to me, I got it back unwashed (HB gave it back sparkling with a bottle of wine) and without any explaination to the gearbox giving up after 9000 miles. Needless to say i won't be using Fairbarns when I get my aerokit fitted.

[Lawrothegreat]

Neotheone, new front tyres after 9000 miles? - i hope mine go a little further!

The problem with trade-ins, is that the dealer isn't necessarily buying the car from you - it is a price a trader is willing to give the dealer at point of delivery. If I was a trader, it would make business sense to offer the absolute least for the car.

I recently took delivery of my mini and decided not to trade in my outgoing car - since I would get a lot more privately (something I've yet to start selling!)

When dealers offer a minimum part-exchange value of £1000 (although i don't know of any mini dealers that do!), they're not giving you £1000 for your car, they're giving you £100, and the other £900 is a discount you could have negotiated anyway.

For the record, I only got a free tank of petrol for my mini!

[Mini Beemer]

Hi mate, you are right... this is quite an old thread!

I traded my Cooper in (bought from Harry Fairbairns in Sept 2002) last September for a Z4, and again I visited Henry Bros and Fairbairns. It was a tough decision as both dealers wanted and offered a good price on the Cooper because of the high spec, great condition and mileage but I stuck with Fairbairns as I had no problems with them in the past. To be honest I only had one experience of the service department at Fairbairns with the MINI and the treatment was overall satisfactory. I find the sales side of Fairbairns to be first class, very organised and helpful. They go into every detail and are pretty much spot on!

If you are really not happy with your recent treatment, write a letter to the MD at Fairbairns, and state everything clearly that you are unhappy with - include some references to Henry Bros You will certainly get a response, and I'm sure they won't want to lose you as a customer.

MB

[JWF]

for those living in edinburgh i recomed dunedin being young 21 they treat me with the same respect as anyone and some dealerships dont offer cusrtosy cars to under 21s beacuse of their insurance only covers those over some will

[Minimatty04]

I have to say that reading this thread worries me slightly. Coming from a family that runs a family business i've grown up putting a high priority on customer service, knowing that the better you treat your customers the better your business will do. This seems obvious but so many businesses I have contact with nowdays dont seem to have caught on to the idea.

When buying my mini, however, throughout every step of the process I was treated like some kind of VIP. The salesman was very friendly and extremely helpful. Not at all pushy.

Aftersales service has been impeccible. Everyone at both the Mini and BMW side of the dealership has been awesome. I think I may be an exception, being so well known around the dealership because of the number of times i went in there to change my spec!!!

So yeah, I'd definately recommend my dealership: Altwood, Taplow (near Maidenhead, Berkshire)

My *only* negative point is, as many other people have experienced, I was offered a stupidly low price for a trade in on my old car, but i sold it privately and made more than twice their offer, so i cant really complain.

[NeoTheOne]

Trust me a spirited letter has been written accompanied with the customer evalutation form they sent out.

And yeh i hope the second set of tyres last longer too!

[NeoTheOne]

MINIMatty, when buying the car I felt like a VIP at Henry Bros, could be mainly due to the fact my dad has given them so much business with his car and my big brothers too. But HF made me feel small and second class. My little sister now wants a Mini too so when its her turn I'm sure I can guess which side of Glasgow the money will be going to.