Dealer installed decals and ruined roof

[DaFlake]

You are right, but you are stuck in a sense so getting really mad will do nothing to "help" the situation except drive your blood pressure up. The dealer has said they will respray the roof to remove the scratches and as I mentioned, I would be VERY picky to make sure that it is done correctly. Once resprayed, it should look like new.

I would also haggle a bit and see if you can get some freebies from them. You should not have to pay for that decal job at all.

[MINXYMOO]

Quote: Originally Posted by wiggis (original)

I think you're stronging it a bit. The guy who applied the decals more than likely didn't set out to deceive anyone - he might not have done a good job, but that's different entirely. Fact is that it is an imperfect world we live in, and most people have two arms and two legs and are capable of making mistakes like everyone else. Someone with the care and accuracy with a knife of a brain surgeon is unlikely to be applying decals to the roof of a MINI, so it's not too surprising that the paint got a little scratched. The fact that it didn't rust means that it can't have been too bad of a botch job, just a little clumsy by the sounds of it.

What counts is doing the right thing to put right mistakes - the dealership has offered to do that without really kicking back. I think that would be fair enough - especially with a simple colour and a well defined panel (i.e. no blending with other panels required) like the roof of a MINI and white paint.

If we all ran around demanding compensation for everything in life which didn't go perfectly, then no one would bother manufacturing or selling anything unless the compensation was baked into the original selling price. And then hardly anyone would be able to buy anything in the first place, but those who could would have perfection, and brain surgeons would apply decals for us, and Formula 1 mechanics would do all our servicing.

My advice - let them paint it, say thank you, and get on with driving and enjoying the thing

If you go to a main dealer you pay top prices to expect a top job... IMO he has every right to be annoyed that all he's being offered is a respray. What about them keeping their customer happy? I agree that a respray is unfortunately, probably the best he's going to get and I too would inspect it very carefully to make sure it is perfect THIS time.

As for stanley knife marks on the roof being "just a little clumsy", I think incompetent is more like it, and I personally wouldn't expect "incompetent" from a BMW dealership.

His car, like most of us, is his pride and joy, why should he just put up and shut up? If he can get some freebies out of it, why not???

[captint]

Get a respray done and get someone who has a paint experience to validate the job. Other than that I cannot see what else you would get, there is no further requirement for compensation

[sony]

The responses so far amaze me!! Baring in mind he has paid top money for an expensive car, I'd want it to be perfect in the first place.
No respray is as good as good as when it was done at the factory. I would be livid, the dealer buggered it in the first place, of course he should be offered some form of compensation.
It makes me laugh when some of you say it's a good result!! I mean what should they say? Sorry, and clear off?????

[dakini]

well, the car's somewhere near 2 years old ... it's an 06 plate ... so ... what are his options?

a) get a full refund for a car he bought ages ago.

b) ignore the problem, get a decal to cover the job.

c) get a new roof. (i don't think this is even possible really ...)

d) get a respray.

of those options, i have to agree with people that d) is a good and fair and generous offer from the dealer, and like daFlake said, make sure it's acceptable when you pick it up (pick it up in daylight so you can look carefully).

[NeuroBeaker]

Yes, the dealer messed up. Yes, it's upsetting that this all came to be in the first place. However, the dealership is doing what they can do rectify the situation. It's a non-metallic paint colour so this should come up rather nicely. In the end, the car will be restored to as near as 'pristine' condition as is humanly possible.

For those of you who think a respray isn't a good result, what exactly do you have in mind as 'acceptable compensation'? Cash too? A replacement car even? What exactly do you expect out of life? Baldrick here actually seems to have found someone at the dealership who is sympathetic to his case and is empowered to try to rectify the situation in a very reasonable way - and yet some of you are trying to push Baldrick to seek further compensation... not going to happen, not necessary in this instance, and by continuing to press for it you're only going to make Baldrick dissatisfied with whatever the outcome is. Even worse, by encouraging him to respond unreasonably to a reasonable offer - the dealer could very well withdraw it! Frankly, some of you should stop trying to get someone else to grind your own axe for you if you've got some sort of a problem with dealerships in general.

To those people, I say you should have a listen to The Eagles:

YouTube - Eagles - Get Over It: From Hell Freezes...

Quote: Originally Posted by The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over - 'Get Over It'

I turn on the tube and what do I see
A whole lotta people cryin' "Don't blame me"
They point their crooked little fingers ar everybody else
Spend all their time feelin' sorry for themselves
Victim of this, victim of that
Your momma's too thin; your daddy's too fat

Get over it
Get over it
All this whinin' and cryin' and pitchin' a fit
Get over it, get over it

You say you haven't been the same since you had your little crash
But you might feel better if I gave you some cash
The more I think about it, Old Billy was right
Let's kill all the lawyers, kill 'em tonight
You don't want to work, you want to live like a king
But the big, bad world doesn't owe you a thing
Get over it
Get over it
If you don't want to play, then you might as well split
Get over it, Get over it

It's like going to confession every time I hear you speak
You're makin' the most of your losin' streak
Some call it sick, but I call it weak

You drag it around like a ball and chain
You wallow in the guilt; you wallow in the pain
You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown
Got your mind in the gutter, bringin' everybody down
Complain about the present and blame it on the past
I'd like to find your inner child and kick its little ass

Get over it
Get over it
All this *****in' and moanin' and pitchin' a fit
Get over it, get over it

Get over it
Get over it
It's gotta stop sometime, so why don't you quit
Get over it, get over it

It's not your fault that this happened in the first place, Baldrick. However, I feel the dealership has been quite reasonable in offering a respray. It will look fabulous, get past the incident, and move on to continue enjoying your MINI ownership experience.

All the best,
Andrew.

[sony]

I think they should do the respray, yes. And offer £500 compensation. But we all know this won't happen. Maybe if people complained more, the dealers would be more careful in the 1st place...

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by sony (original)

I think they should do the respray, yes. And offer £500 compensation. But we all know this won't happen. Maybe if people complained more, the dealers would be more careful in the 1st place...

Curious, where did you get the 500 pound figure?

[Mini-Trainer]

I feel now that we're all going round in circles you (Baldrick1001) ask our advice on this matter and with all the replies it's clear that you should take the re-spray option and cut your loses.

Of course YOU are the person who makes the ultimate decision but if they're going to fix the damage caused and I'm assuming they are going to replace the decal what difference does it make?

For example I bought my R56 and after expressly telling them not to fit the number plate holder, they did and left two dirty great holes in the front aerokit bumper.
Now the dealer assured me that the damage would be filled in and painted over, but after getting the car back the paint started to peel off

I had to then take the car back this time to be refitted with a new bumper factory painted.

Now the inconvenience to me was that this dealer wasn't local (35 miles away) and I had to take time out of my day to deliver the car twice over.
I could claim the petrol, the time and the money wasted on re-decaling the front bumper, this could have being something that could have been prevented.
Also this remember was a brand new JCW MCS, worth a good number of gold pieces.

The upshot is sometimes it's worth a battle to get what you are entitled to, because of the inconvenience, but to be honest is it worth arguing with them to MAYBE get a little more in the way of perks.

Is £50 of vouchers, worth the hassle of letters and phone calls and winding yourself up about it?

I feel the ultimate outcome is they could potentially refuse to do certain warranty work due to mods you may want to do in the future.

You've had many more responses than usual from decent experienced members on here and you should be thank full for that.
If you feel the advice is harsh and don't want an honest, unbiased opinion then don't ask for the advice.
Whereas your friends and family may empathise with your situation we here on M2 will offer fact, which is worth it's weight in gold.

Rams

[Mini-Trainer]

Quote: Originally Posted by ARCrawford (original)

Rams,

I'm pretty handy with sutures, would you like me to come over there an take care of that hole for you?

So... what'd'ya say Rams?

All the best,
Andrew.

PMSL Just fill me in with GUN GUM
Until I have a curry and the putty gets too hot and hard so then begins to fragment!!!! (Toilet humour don't you just love it!)

Rams

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mini-Trainer (original)

PMSL Just fill me in with GUN GUM
Until I have a curry and the putty gets too hot and hard so then begins to fragment!!!! (Toilet humour don't you just love it!)

Rams

Oooh - wouldn't like to be around when the curry finally breaks through!

(And, of course. )

All the best,
Andrew.

[Buz999]

I would agree that a roof respray is a good offer after owning the car for two years and as long as its done well you and everyone else will never know. However it never hurts to push a little so cheeky me would ask for some freebies that add up to the amount that it cost you extra to have the decal fitted in the first place, circa £200 at a guess. Dont get all shirty and demand as you will get no where as others have said.

All the best.


MINXYMOO you're always livid

[Electric Sheep]

They're offering to put right the damage they caused - what more do you want? At least they're admitting they were at fault and they aren't trying to play hardball. Given the amount of time that's elapsed, that's the most you'll get. If you'd noticed within a more reasonable time, you'd have a better claim for compensation.

Of course, you don't have to go back once the respray is done, but it's worth trying to be civil to them, as until the work is complete, you need them more than they need you. Who else is going to do it for free?

You could try asking for a freebie (try and be reasonable in your demands) as a token gesture. Perhaps a free MOT for when your car turns three year old?

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by sony (original)

The responses so far amaze me!! Baring in mind he has paid top money for an expensive car, I'd want it to be perfect in the first place.
No respray is as good as good as when it was done at the factory. I would be livid, the dealer buggered it in the first place, of course he should be offered some form of compensation.
It makes me laugh when some of you say it's a good result!! I mean what should they say? Sorry, and clear off?????

The roof of my old MINI ONE was resprayed White by the dealers bodyshop, looked just like it had come from the factory like it

[MINXYMOO]

Quote: Originally Posted by Buz999 (original)

I would agree that a roof respray is a good offer after owning the car for two years and as long as its done well you and everyone else will never know. However it never hurts to push a little so cheeky me would ask for some freebies that add up to the amount that it cost you extra to have the decal fitted in the first place, circa £200 at a guess. Dont get all shirty and demand as you will get no where as others have said.

All the best.


MINXYMOO you're always livid

Buz, I've sent you a PM...... mister!!!!

Baldrick asked for opinions and he's got them, with mixed responses, it's up to him what he decides to do. I'm sure he's big enough to make up his own mind...

I haven't read anything to suggest anyone who's replied has an "axe to grind" or a "problem with dealerships in general"... merely giving personal opinions in response to his initial thread. Isn't that the whole point of a forum? ?