[markholthoff]

That's what I was quoted by Bob Smith Mini in Calabasas, CA, for ordering a 2005 Cooper (base).

I'd love to hear if others are getting them quicker and/or cheaper (especially now that the convertible is getting all the attention).

From reading a number of posts, it seems like a good trade off -- pretty quick delivery, pretty low mark up.

Thanks for sharing!

Mark

[lshill]

Dude, bend over and grab your ankles........cuz you're about to get porked..........

Are things that crazy out there? Come to NJ, I ordered my MCS exactly they way I wanted, got it in less than 8 weeks and paid sticker.

Prestige Mini, Mahwah, NJ 201.684.0700 ask for Augie

[BlueCS]

From NJ, it'll end up running about $1000 for shipping and take another 2 weeks to get to him. Not to mention the car will be filthy and no one will show him how to use it.

[lshill]

I wasn't suggesting that he buy it in NJ when he lives in CA, just giving him info and a tel # to check it out and verify what I was telling him, and maybe he will be able to find a better deal closer, or use the info with his dealer to get a decent deal.

Are all of you salesman out there screwing everyone by charging and extra grand just cuz you feel like it? Nice..... very nice....HAPPY MOTORING !

And hey you know what, I'd rather spend the 1,000 funding my own cross country road trip in my new car than hand it over to some swarmy-greedy ass dealer looking to rip me off.

[Andromcs]

Only $1000!? Bob Smith quoted me a $3000 premium!!! And I've seen it on their window stickers. How did you negotiate the reduction?! Which MA were you speaking with.

If you don't mind the trip, call Julie Saxa at Classic Mini in Cleveland, Ohio. She and Mike Kost there are very helpful and you can get a MCS at sticker in a releatively short time. Julie's number is 440.266.6700. Shipping to CA will be $1200 or you can fly out and drive the 2500 miles back. No problems registering in CA as all Minis are CA Emmissions certified.

At a $1000 premium, you are going to spend less than the shipping....makes it seem like a choice except that the premium in my estimation is a bit like stealing! Especially when there are dealers in the area that will sell at MSRP, but since they are far and few inbetween their order times are much longer due to the demand.

Tell us more about your negotiation there and what you decide! Thanks!

[lshill]

It is STEALING....you poor :west coast guys ( they bleeped the original words ) are really getting ripped off. A friend of mine just ordered a MCS Convertible from my dealer, it is already in production, and he is paying Sticker price, and I know my dealer he always throws something in like matts or boot box.

I feel your pain

And I also don't wanna hear anymore self serving BS from a "Factory Trained (Sales) Professional". These mark-up generate more bad well than extra profit, not really a great business plan.

Unless of course it was part of your "factory training" ...LMFAO

[markholthoff]

Didn't have to negotiate -- $1000 over MSRP is their standard deal for a base Cooper.

I did notice that they have a new convertible on the floor marked up $3000, so I guess it depends on the model....

[Eric B]

I paid MSRP from Portland OR for my 2004 Cooper S ... granted I had an 8 month wait but it was only 4 for the cooper

[BlueCS]

Quote: Originally Posted by lshill

It is STEALING....you poor :west coast guys ( they bleeped the original words ) are really getting ripped off. A friend of mine just ordered a MCS Convertible from my dealer, it is already in production, and he is paying Sticker price, and I know my dealer he always throws something in like matts or boot box.

I feel your pain

And I also don't wanna hear anymore self serving BS from a "Factory Trained (Sales) Professional". These mark-up generate more bad well than extra profit, not really a great business plan.

Unless of course it was part of your "factory training" ...LMFAO

Ishill,

I don't set the pricing at the dealership here. And in case you haven't noticed on the forums, I have in no way supported dealer premiums, advocated spending more. In this case, he may not realize the cost of shipping, etc.

Factory doesn't like the fact that the dealerships sell over sticker. However, from the owner's perspective, he's selling a commodity that is in high demand. Factory sends very few cars to us (relative to other brands), so the cost of operating a dealership is proportionally much higher, and the combination of those things create the opportunity for him to make more money. That combined with the huge number of people that actually pay it.

Put it this way, if everyone checked the mini2 boards, and everyone went to dealerships that sell for MSRP, we wouldn't sell any cars unless we reduced the pricing to MSRP to match. There are dealerships that sell for MSRP in California, however they have waitlists that are sometimes more than a year long, so they obviously cannot accomodate the number of people that want the car.

The "factory training" in my signature is there merely to let people know that I know the car, that I'm familiar with the options, the changes, and I'm connected to factory bulletins, etc. Factory advocates, and I follow this idea, no pressure sales and basically being an advisor, telling people about the car.

Dealer premiums are basically capitalism at its best. That's the system we live in, and as long as people keep maintaining the demand, I'm sure the owner will try to make as much money as he can.

So Ishill, and other frustrated shoppers, I'm used to being the front man to the frustration and aggravation, it comes with working here, but to the extent possible, please try to understand there's not much I can do about it - so in the meantime, I'll be on the boards, helping people understand the cars, options, history, changes, etc.

[Andromcs]

BlueCS,

Thanks for your input and explanations.

What can you tell us about ordering a Jan. production MCS with LSD, etc., do dealers have production numbers now? I have much faith in the dealer and MA I am working with but have gotten conflicting information. My MA says she can't really order until Dec. and other MAs have said the order can go in now even though certain pricing is not available.

One other question, can we option an MCS with the R91 wheels that come on the convertibles?

Many thanks.

AndroMCS

[BlueCS]

Here's the way ordering works, cause it should help you understand why you're getting conflicting information.

Dealers get allocation once a month toward the end of each month for production 2 months ahead. So, the end of August, we were given x no. of MINIs to be produced in November. We can then configure those cars to match customer orders, or the manager will arrange what he thinks will sell the best/fastest, etc.

Your MA telling you he can't order it until December is a tad late, but basically true. That's when he's actually able to put it into the factory system and official order. If you order it with someone else ahead of that allocation, they're simply taking your order on paper and entering it as soon as the allocation for that month's production comes in. Each dealer works differently, we prefer the former for example, as it's much easier to ensure everything flows smoothly and nothing is forgotten about.

With pricing, we often don't get it until just before it's available in production, so they may even be able to order the car before they know what it will cost.

As far as the wheels on the Cooper S, you're allowed to configure the car with the same details you find online. The wheels available in the 17" size are the 8-spoke S-lite style. The 5-spoke bullet wheel is only on the Convertible S. If you want other than standard factory wheels, you'll have to arrange it with your dealership.

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by BlueCS

Dealers get allocation once a month toward the end of each month for production 2 months ahead. So, the end of August, we were given x no. of MINIs to be produced in November.

I thought allocations were received about 5 or 6 weeks prior to build month. The order for my June 2002 build was placed on April 26, 2002 ... the same day the dealer received their allocations

[BlueCS]

Just looked at our availability, you're right... it's only about 5 weeks ahead.

The earliest January order placement would be late November.

My manager already seems to know how many cars we're getting in November though (so I misunderstood that). But knowing how many doesn't let us configure them...

My mistake... thanks for pointing that out MINIAC

[MINIAC]

It's having a production number in the ordering system to modify that counts

[lshill]

You know I'm just a little shocked that here in NJ, my dealer ordered my MCS spec'd by me with the exact equipment I wanted and the car arrived 2 weeks early, I paid msrp and he was nice enough to throw in a few little extras.

The process was so simple and painless that just a few weeks ago I ordered another Mini for my business partner ( his second MCS ), this one is a MCS Convertible, which is already scheduled for production. Again msrp, no BS.

I feel really bad for these people that cannot order exactly what they want and have to pay over msrp for the privilege.

So Bluecs I appreciate you clarifying your personal position, your earlier posts seemed much more arrogant. I got the impression that you felt good about the overcharging.

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by lshill

You know I'm just a little shocked that here in NJ, my dealer ordered my MCS spec'd by me with the exact equipment I wanted and the car arrived 2 weeks early, I paid msrp and he was nice enough to throw in a few little extras.

The process was so simple and painless that just a few weeks ago I ordered another Mini for my business partner ( his second MCS ), this one is a MCS Convertible, which is already scheduled for production. Again msrp, no BS.

I feel really bad for these people that cannot order exactly what they want and have to pay over msrp for the privilege.

So Bluecs I appreciate you clarifying your personal position, your earlier posts seemed much more arrogant. I got the impression that you felt good about the overcharging.

It's quite simple ...

Demand for MINIs is higher on the West Coast than on the East Coast. As long as people are willing to pay over sticker, dealers will keep charging over sticker. People are buying out of state but not enough of them to effect mark-ups.

It's nice to have Motoring Advisors like BlueCS answering questions on this site.

[BlueCS]

Quote: Originally Posted by lshill

So Bluecs I appreciate you clarifying your personal position, your earlier posts seemed much more arrogant. I got the impression that you felt good about the overcharging.

Ishill,

I'm glad you understand my position.

Put it this way, I initially came into this dealership as a prospective Cooper buyer. When I asked about pricing I was really thrown off by the mark-up too. At this point, I'd just graduated from UC Berkeley and still had to find a job. I told the salesperson here that I still needed a job and he told me they had a spot. I asked him what kind of pricing they got. Two weeks later, I still hadn't found anything, so I put in the application and got hired the same day. I already knew quite about the car, so it was a nice opportunity to get the inside scoop.

Anyway, a few months later the I ordered myself a car, having at this point decided to move up to the S . Even though I could get any BMW for $500 over invoice, the MINI was calling my name and they still charged me MSRP. I can't really complain though cause they gave me a huge break on the financing and found someone to buy my 89 Honda Accord for a fair amount.

I apologize if things seem arrogant in my posts. The inevitable problem with text is that there is no tone of voice, so while my posts should seem confident, as I know what I'm talking about (after having been here for almost 19 months), I don't mean to sound stuck up or convey any arrogance.

MINIAC, thanks for the support. I've actually learned quite a bit on these forums and I'm glad that MINI owners and prospective buyers have such a great resource available.

[silver bullit]

I am with the guy from NJ, this thing of 10wks to a year, thousands over MSRP, seem a little foreign to me.

I would never pay above MSRP, however look at it from a different perspective. USA Today had a article which rated Mini has having the highest value after three years at 62% of MSPR. Even paying a $1000 over, you are better off than buying a vehicle with a value in the 35-40% range.

Another perspective would be that this is not going to be the most affordable vehicle to own, based upon service cost out of warranty, so paying above MSRP is not the end.

Dealers which choose to sell above MSRP are not building long term good will. Mini probably is not happy, cannot do anything about it, but will not look favorably on these dealers when supply catches up with demand.

Order the car, forget about the $1000, drive the wheels off of it!

[MyWiniCooper]

I feel your pain!
Us california people just have to bite the bullet. theres not many ways to get around it. its a bit of a trade off, either not pay and wait a long time, or pay and not wait as long. At one point, the dealers here who werent charging the markup had a waiting list of 8 months! and then to production... so nearly a year to get a mini! reeeeeeediculous!

but its not only for mini's. i hear the prius has a mark-up of $3000+!
If you're interested in getting a not-so-custom mini, i've seen a few here and there on dealer lots in the bay area.

[Cooper76]

Are you sure MINI will look down on the dealerships charging massive mark-ups once supply catchs up with demand???