[pezhead]

I've been following some threads this week (Hudson Leader, Fidelio, etc.) and not finding as much info regarding the Don Juan as I'd like. So I figured I'd start a thread for those whose MINIs arrived anytime last week at port but are still waiting to get them. Maybe this way, we can estimate our own deliveries better than MINI can.

My MINI arrived at port from the Don Juan on the 13th of this month, and is still waiting to go to the VPC. I believe the Hudson Leader arrived only shortly before. The reason that there's a delay, from what I've read and from what I've heard from ASK MINI, is that over 4,000 cars (MINIs and BMWs) came in last week (3 times the regular amount). I understand that it's an increase workload, but still have a little frustration in the fact that they knew these boats were coming in and didn't accommodate for it (thus the 'bottleneck' I keep hearing about) - of course I don't know the dealings from port to VPC, but I have to assume that something could have been worked out to get these cars out faster. If I'm being unfair to the workers, I do apologize. I woldn't be so concerned if I did not have a road trip set for Labor Day weekend based upon my estimated delivery date of 8/24.

So, if anyone whose MINI got off the boat last week wants to give a little info, I'd greatly appreciate it. I have read that many people from the H. Leader have their cars already - a very good thing -congrats to them!

We can make this simple to reply to:
boat - Don Juan - arrived in port 8/13
status - waiting to get to VPC.

Thanks, all - I hope everyone finds themselves with a speedier delivery than they estimate.

[Daft]

Pezhead—

My car arrived on 8/12 via the Hudson Leader. MINI.USA kept telling me that it was at the port. Yesterday I e-mailed my dealer and said I thought this was unacceptable and that I expected an explanation. She contacted the Chicago Field Office
and they responded with the story of the massive delivery of 4000 cars. They said that my car was actually finished at the VPC and would arrive at
the dealer in Cincinnati on Monday or Tuesday.
I’m not holding my breath, but she better hope it
arrives by Tuesday. I’m not cutting her any slack at this point.

[swimmer]

Came in on the Don Juan. Everytime I call miniusa they tell me that it is still at port. ALthough this morning they a guy told me that it is scheduled to be released to transport today. Which ofcourse makes sense if you follow the estimated delivery date of 24th. However he couldn't tell me that it had been through VPC s I am not putting much faith in the info I receive form them.

I think two things are happening. One is that they got a ton of cars in which naturally will slow things up. And two, there system for updating and keeping track of people's cars sucks. So I think some people's cars may actually be further along than they think but still behind schedule.

I am going to email my dealer as I have to fly across country to pick mine up and need a little lead time to make my plans. One of my plans being to incorporate the holiday weekend as part of my drive home doesn't look like it's going to happen.

[stanMINI]

Build Date 7/12
Depart Hudson Leader 8/12
Arrive VPC, 1 mile away - 8/21
Cleared for shipping to dealer - 8/23
Deliver - ?????

[Terrence]

Well let me throw my car into the mix also. My car was ordered 6/24 finished production 7/24 set up to be shipped 7/26 on the AIDA then the ISOLDE then the HUDSON LEADER then finally made the DON JUAN on 8/3 arrived in port on 8/13 and there I sit on the doc ,day 10 in NJ .My estimated delivery date was 7/21 . My thinking now is two more weeks of waiting .

[swimmer]

Well, I have some progress to report. Called mini this evening (3rd time today) and I finally had a change in my status. My car was now reported as being in transit to the VPC. It was supposed to be in transit to the dealer by now but hey, atleast it's moving. So I will keep my fingers crossed that it gets put on a truck by Monday.
Hopefully everyone else is having some progress.

[Pamlico]

Quote:

Originally posted by swimmer
Well, I have some progress to report. Called mini this evening (3rd time today) and I finally had a change in my status. My car was now reported as being in transit to the VPC. It was supposed to be in transit to the dealer by now but hey, atleast it's moving. So I will keep my fingers crossed that it gets put on a truck by Monday.
Hopefully everyone else is having some progress.

Swimmer - I hate to be the bearer of bad news but 2 things: 1) I don't think there is an offical status of "in transit to the VPC", and 2) I was told the same thing 6 days ago and my car is sitting on the dock. By the way, I was given the "in transit" line this evening again.

I hope I'm wrong about the status thing.

[Terrence]

I too was given the in-transit line Tuesday this week, then on Wednesday I was sitting on the dock

PAMLICO <<< YOU ROCK !!
Thank You , This is just getting toooo funny

[Pamlico]

Actually, I remembered that there IS a status of "En route to the VPC" as that's what been coming up in the Owner's Lounge for an interminable time. Obviously though, once the car's off the boat, it's just another way of saying "It's sitting on the dock". When MiniUSA tells us our cars are "en route" it's just to placate the teeming masses.


Terrence, you're right. This is becoming a farce.

[RedCooperS]

It is very nice to see this thread, my cooper S was also on the Don Juan and I have not been able to ascertain its status from anyone that seems to know what is going on. The owners lounge shows en route and my salesman has been away. I too am going out of town next week for an extended weekend and had planned (or I should say was hoping) that I would have the car by then. I really don't think it will happen at this point. It does seem rather incompetent to know that all these cars are showing up at the same time and not to have made some arrangements to handle them in a more timely manner. I placed my order in June of 2001 and am starting to loose patience.

[pezhead]

Hello all.

I knew when I started this thread that the posts would all echo the same info. I was told last Monday that I was 'en route to the VPC'. In fact, I was told it would be through the VPC in 48 hours and on the truck Wednesday. I can honestly say that in the 8 calls I made this week, I heard 7 unique responses. Not just regarding what was taking so long, but for what would happen next. "Expect a very short delay - it's a slight snag", "It says it left for the VPC, but I can't confirm", and my favorite was a break down of the whole process in which the worst case scenario was "another 10-12 days" from my 8/24 delivery date.

I placed my order May 16, by the way. And the whole time I informed my dealer that I needed it by Labor Day weekend. I can't believe it came down to being delivered to me 5 days before then and now this happens...

[pezhead]

still at port.... 14 days.

not surprised.

considering that most cars are at port for only 5 days before being processed, I still wouldn't think that 3 times the cars would mean 3 times the delay. I'll NEVER do this again.

[rl54]

Mine came in on the Hudson Leader on the 12th.

The workorder was cut at the VPC on the 15th. It was scheduled for shipping on the 2oth and to arrive at the dealer on the 21st.

As of today, the only news i can find out is that the workorder was cut on the 15th and it should be released to the carrier any day now. I've been hearing the same story since the 15th. My salesman told me that they are not suppose to call the VPC but he would do what he could. That was last Thursday and again today. No word back from him yet.

Any suggestions on how to get more info?

[pezhead]

I wish there was - as far as I know, there isn't.

What makes it worse in my mind is that if it's taken this long just to get to the VPC (in my case, it still isn't even there), then how long will it take to get on a truck? Won't they need 3 times the trucks to accommodate 3 times the cars? It's a joke.

[RedCooperS]

Car arrived in NJ on the DonJuan on 13. Scheduled to be released to dealer on 24th. Can't get salesman to return my calls. Called miniusa this morning and was told that the car was in the VPC and should be released today or tomorrow at the latest and possibly had already been released but they hadn't updated the computer. I was told to call back this afternoon to get a more accurate status.
Called back this afternoon and got the most unprofessional, b****, I have ever spoken with on the phone in my entire life. She told me that the car was in port, NOT in the VPC and had no idea when it would be processed and no idea where the information I was given this morning came from. I wonder if the dealer will complain if I leave it on his lot for 4 to 6 weeks before I sign the contract and pick it up?? Since I travel alot that might be the case!!! I am 54 years old on Friday and have owned in excess of 40 cars in my life and this is by far the WORST experience I have ever had. Normally I would just walk away but I really want the car!! But waiting to buy a works version may be a better idea anyway!!

[Terrence]

I called MINIUSA this morning expecting to here " still at the port", but the young lady said it is showing your car is at the VDC I was so happy finally made it off the doc but I was also not 100% sure. I waited a few hours and called back the next woman I spoke with said it shows your car arrived at the VDC on the 24th.
I do believe WE am finally making progress .
Thank you Lord !

[pezhead]

That's great, Terrence!

It's nice to see someone on the Don Juan finally moving through - it gives me a little bit of hope.

[pezhead]

Alright.

Called up MINI this morning for my dose of frustration.

They said the work order was cut and it arrived at the VPC this morning.

Okay. Not sure how exactly to feel. I read a post yesterday that said MINI informed him that his car was at the VPC, and when he called back in the afternoon, they said the info was incorrect.

So, I guess I'll do what Terrence did and call back this afternoon to confirm. Man, I can't wait for this afternoon.

I was also told that I should expect maybe 10 days more from today to get it. That would make it 2 weeks after the original delivery date and 2 weeks from port to the VPC. Not the best, but it will do.

[RedCooperS]

Dealer finally called back and confirmed that the car was at the port, NOT at the VPC, and NO idea when it would make it through. The only thing he said he knew was that once the car makes it to the VPC it is usually released to a shipper within one or two days unless the car has problems. He said their showroom and lot was completely empty and they were calling the port every morning to get the most recent information. I probably won't call miniusa back again since they gave me such contradictory and eroneous information. As of today my car has been sitting at the port in NJ for TWO WEEKS with no idea when it will be here. It's really hard to believe that BMW has screwed this up sooooo badly, it seems its just one thing after another, when will it end??

[RedCooperS]

Just got a call from dealer stating that according to the port and VPC it will be at least two and possibly three weeks from today before my mini makes it here. That means it will have sat at the port in NJ for FOUR to FIVE weeks. Talk about poor planning!! I guess from what I've read on here, Charleston didn't get near as many cars and isn't experienceing any delays at all. I don't understand why they couldn't have sent some of the cars to Charleston rather than sending them all to NJ. Actually Charleston isn't that much further from my dealer, (Richmond VA)than NJ!! It certainly wouldn't have taken two to three weeks additional to truck it the additional distance. Unfortunately that would have required some planning, and forethought, something I'm beginning to believe is way beyond the realm of Mini or BMW.