Name and Shame

[mountainshak]

Well, a few weeks ago I posted my first thread on this website, since then i have been waiting for the delivery of my cooper.

I have had an interesting wait... and I felt that I needed to let you all know how some dealers have the balls to rip a few of us Cooper owners.

I have ordered a mini cooper (pepper white) with the aero kit included.

First problem: The aero kit costs 975 pounds, but labour is costing me 425 quid, grand total of aero 1400 quid. In fact I have been told to wait an extra 2 weeks.. while they fit the kit. I thought it could be done in 48 hours???? does this justify 425 quid??

Second Problem: 2 extra spots. 300 quid. 145 pound for the spots and 155 for the fitting.

Third problem: I also ordered the Harmon Karmon system. The salesperson forgot to put this on the order form. Hence my car now arrives without the system. Its factory fitted, therefore it cant be added after.... (in fact he forgot to order any sound system.. would have had no cd player or anything)

I phoned up Park Lane and they were incredibly rude... their answer 'well its not my fault the car doesn't have the system in, sort it out with you salesperson.

I phoned the saleman and well he dodged the whole conversation for a full 15 minutes. None of these problems have been rectified in any manner whatsoever.

Infact to add salt to the wound, I am entitled to a tax free car since I am in the forces in germany. I also ordered the 'stripes sports seats', everyone knows how good they are.. the leather with two white stripes in them.... well i was told they aren't made anymore..

So I throw it all open to the floor... your comments and advice would be very much appreciated.

Apologies to Park Lane (london) and the Naafi Salesman in Germany, but I am one unhappy customer, who hasn't even received his car yet.

550 quid labour??? jeeezzuz

[Rakey]

average price for an aero kit fitted is about £1100, so yes sounds expensive

[Sooperlids]

mini.co.uk quotes 2 hours fitting time for the Aero kit, £212.50 p/h labour seems VERY steep!!

I was quoted the price Rakey mentions £1100 supplied & fitted. That is in Bedfordshire maybe their labour prices are a bit less than London? still looks like they are trying to rip you off!

Not sure how it would take 2 weeks either??

[Haggi]

tell them to sort it out (i know easier said than done) but mention mini2 and whatch how quickly they change the attitude

[fred3]

on your side of the lake, but in the States you have grounds to just trash the contract. That is what I'd do and then if I still wanted one I'd order from some place else and let that place know what happened the first time. I would tell it all very nicely though.

[pocketrocketowner]

I would not find it unreasonable to have labor charges of 100 quid an hour in central London.
Here in Paris as an example, the Bimmer dealer closest to my work (Paris La Defense) charges 128 euros/hour, the one out in the burbs (Poissy) charges 89 and the one I go to now (Mantes) charges 60 euros......Of course the savings mean I have to go a little further and can't do whatever I need doing by just taking it there on my way to work and pick it up later.

[RVW]

Sounds like your are being taken for a ride
Send a copy of your complaints and problems to MINI UK customer services( Customer.Information@mini.co.uk or info@mini.co.uk ) and a copy to your dealer Principle.Send these via e-mail and written copies. Also incude the comment that you are contacting Trading Standards as you feel your order has been completely mishandled through NO fault of your own.

Also consider cancelling your order with this dealer and reorder with some one else who knows what they are doing.
As a customer you have more rights than you think

Hope this is of help

[craigy3]

Refuse to take delivery of the car as it isnt what you asked for

tell them to stick it and go else where for the car "YOU" want and not something the sales guy made up

in the end you may well have to wait a little longer but you will get what you want and at a decent price

point out to the dealership that you will be going else where and see if they might offer a discount on the new one your ordering

but defo dont accept the pile if rubbish that isnt what you orderd

[spur]

I can imagine how desperate you are to get your car but i would also suggest you reject the car and WAIT for the car you want, these crap dealers do not deserve YOUR money. GO ELSEWHERE and get the spec YOU want. Imagine getting into a car every day that you did not really want?

[andyupnorth]

Alternatively, do what everyone else seems to do on these forces tax free deals: keep the car for a short while and then sell it on at a nice profit!

[spur]

Could you explain please, i have no idea?

[ben__allen]

Quote: Originally Posted by RVW

Sounds like your are being taken for a ride
Send a copy of your complaints and problems to MINI UK customer services( Customer.Information@mini.co.uk or info@mini.co.uk ) and a copy to your dealer Principle.Send these via e-mail and written copies. Also incude the comment that you are contacting Trading Standards as you feel your order has been completely mishandled through NO fault of your own.

Also consider cancelling your order with this dealer and reorder with some one else who knows what they are doing.
As a customer you have more rights than you think

Hope this is of help

Mention that you are a member of mini2 too, have heard - not saying off who!! - that this 'might' help your case!

[TastsLikeChicken]

Just for reference, in the US, the aero-kit costs an extra $1250 USD / 662 GBP and the cost to install is an extra $1250 USD / 662 GBP. So a total of $2500 USD / 1325 GDP. The cost to install includes paint as the aero-kit comes without paint. My MINI shop out-sources all this to a body shop - hence the added costs and also why it takes a minimum of one week minimum to get this done.

Quote:

Second Problem: 2 extra spots. 300 quid. 145 pound for the spots and 155 for the fitting.

What is a spot? Sorry, is that slang for something?

With the exception of the stereo I think you can work all this out. I'm not sure what the wait list or if you had to pay a deposit but my wait was 6 months and my deposit was $1,000. My guess is that I would not get my deposit back without a legal battle and then I would need to pay attorneys fees which would be much greater than my deposit.

A lot of people are buying MINI's out of California and then driving them there to sell at a premium. I've heard that you can get up to $10,000 USD / 5,303 GBP for a "used" MINI in California. If you are truly that un-satisfied with the car, maybe you can do the same in Europe. Sell it in Norway as I don't think the MINI is in that market yet.

[Tazminia]

Quote: Originally Posted by TastsLikeChicken

Just for reference, in the US, the aero-kit costs an extra $1250 USD / 662 GBP and the cost to install is an extra $1250 USD / 662 GBP. So a total of $2500 USD / 1325 GDP. The cost to install includes paint as the aero-kit comes without paint. My MINI shop out-sources all this to a body shop - hence the added costs and also why it takes a minimum of one week minimum to get this done.


What is a spot? Sorry, is that slang for something?

With the exception of the stereo I think you can work all this out. I'm not sure what the wait list or if you had to pay a deposit but my wait was 6 months and my deposit was $1,000. My guess is that I would not get my deposit back without a legal battle and then I would need to pay attorneys fees which would be much greater than my deposit.

A lot of people are buying MINI's out of California and then driving them there to sell at a premium. I've heard that you can get up to $10,000 USD / 5,303 GBP for a "used" MINI in California. If you are truly that un-satisfied with the car, maybe you can do the same in Europe. Sell it in Norway as I don't think the MINI is in that market yet.

Technically speaking..you (and I think him) could get your deposit back. Remember a contract works both ways. It is valid only if BOTH parties do what is agreed to. You must pay X-dollars and they must deliver what you ordered, not a facsimile thereof. (how hard would they ***** if you gave them just a facsimile of what you owed them?) Not a court in the world (ok, safely the US) would consider the other end of the binding contract valid if it were just "close" to what he wanted. Then again..threatening legal action works wonders when they know you are in the right.
Time and hassles are another consideration altogether though
Good luck mountainshak, either way you have a battle on your hands. The previous posts are correct though...legally you have a better case for action!

p.s.- at least in our civil courts, the legal fees can be considered a valid expense to recoup.

[Olly.]

Quote: Originally Posted by mountainshak

Third problem: I also ordered the Harmon Karmon system. The salesperson forgot to put this on the order form. Hence my car now arrives without the system. Its factory fitted, therefore it cant be added after.... (in fact he forgot to order any sound system.. would have had no cd player or anything)

I was told Harmon Kardon can be retro fitted at the dealership.

I had a quote done for my old Cooper about 18 months ago, £900 springs to mind Maybe thats why they don't want to do it