Mini backlash starts here. Dont pay MSRP!

[tomskilv]

Something is not right. People post they REFUSE to pay over MSRP, but are happy to pay exactly MSRP. And they are able to find many available at MSRP. That means the true market value is less than MSRP. So all new buyers should band together and REFUSE to pay MSRP. Let's start with "$500 UNDER MSRP or we walk!" and if enough of us do that, then the greedy dealers easily cave in. One posted reported now that he got $900 off of MSRP on his cooper S. Also, in the Bloomberg story of all the poor quality issues with the Mini, a mini spokesman even said they were intentially limiting production to try and keep the prices high! ie "We are gouging you suckers who buy or cars for $1800 over invoice" What a nice way to treat your customers. Surely, a dealer would still be elated to make $1300 per car ($500 under MSRP).
Notice that Long Beach Mini in LA, says they have cars shipped in for $750 extra from other dealers in the USA that are having trouble selling them. ie Demand is not as high as Mini has conned you into believing.
So stick to your principles and say "$500 under MSRP or I walk".

[chughes163]

Really i dont think there is a big profit margin on the car. I am more than happy with the level of service i have received from my dealer and genuinely feel that for £10,300 the car is exceptional value still.

[Spy Car]

I live in the MINI price gouging capitol of the world. Here in Southern California all the dealers--except Long Beach MINI--are charging way over sticker, especially for the S. Some people have paid as much as 8 thousand dollars over and most dealers are getting from 2 to 6 thousand over MSRP still.

At Long Beach the waiting list for an S is now about a year long. They only charge over MSRP for cars that have to be transported from other states.

Maybe you could try paying under sticker elsewhere, but here there is so much demand any dealer would let you walk if you offered them $500 under for an S. Here MSRP is a "great deal".

[LuckyRVA]

Until demant goes down, everyone is SOL!


Jason

[dco43054]

Demand > Supply = MSRP or above.

I think the car if a fine value at MSRP, and had no problems paying that price for mine.

If you are in a price gouging area, shop elsewhere for one that suits your price appetite.

[EBMCS03]

Ya if "EVERYONE" is willing to do that then sure we can get it under MSRP but guess what? there will always be someone thats willing to pay more just to have it, so... if one person does it then another person will then the dealer will just laugh in your face and sell the cars to someone else, then you're out of luck.

[cristo]

I agree that the car is actually worth >=MSRP (at least
to me and most). It's also nice to be rid of the
haggling if the dealers aren't gouging above that
and you're happy enough with the base price.

[eltel]

The purchase price of cars is just one part of the equation of car ownership. If dealers start allowing discounts of MSRP then discount wars eventually set in and everyone loses, especially the current owners of cars who lose at trade-in time.

I for one prefer a slightly high entry point of ownership as it does provide a degree of uniqueness, and maintains the value of my investment.

This is a prestige car and I hope the MINI dealers stick to their guns. They have other ways of providing sweeteners, such as servicing discounts, accessory discounts, etc.

[ratnick]

I just bought my MC from Mini of Manhattan (in New York City). I got them to agree to $500 under MSRP and to waive the $125 in labor they wanted to charge me to switch the wheels from silver to white.

[minidriverUSA]

My dealer was offering me 18,000 for my trade in and I told them I wanted no less than 19,000....I don't care how you come up with the thousand dollars, but that's what I want and I think that's more than reasonable. She said she would give me 18,500 for my car and took 500.00 off the MSRP. This really turns out to be more because of the money I save on taxes between the two. I'm only paying taxes on 1,400.00.

[scooterboy]

I hate haggling and I didn't walk into the dealership thinking "I have to get under MSRP". I already knew they were charging MSRP+$125. I researched the car, drove it, and decided whether the car was worth what they were asking.

If I had thought the price was too high, I wouldn't have bought it. Simple as that.

[Mike Clarke]

tomskilv, you got very little support in your first thread on this topic and I suspect you will get no more in this thread.

If you don't like the price, buy something else, leave the MINI for those who value and appreciate it.

[BRGreenie]

Quote:

Originally posted by tomskilv
Something is not right.

Hey Tomskilv - I agree and sympathise with you - but I want my MINI - not a VW or a Honda - if you threaten to walk you've gotta be prepared to walk - and I don't want to. In London there is swtill a 4 month wait for MCS - the dealer knows he can sell it to loads of people if I don't bite.

Until the day dawns when a dealer has 3 or 4 cars in stock - I will have to pay.

[Yank]

tomskilv, I would agree with Mike Clarke. You're looking at the wrong car at the wrong time if you want all of the perks that the other car companies are throwing out there.

If you can achieve your objective, then more power to you and congrats in advance.

I waited 377 days from deposit to delivery. My deposit was placed 6 months before I even saw and touched my first MINI and it was a regional rep's car and one of a handful in the country. It was 8 months prior to the dealership openings and my first test drive. I then waited another 4 months until purchase...

I was damn glad that I paid MSRP on a customer-spec MCS!

[grafiksguy]

The premise of this whole discussion kind of reminds me of folks who insist that professional athletes get paid too much (which, of course they do). However, like these athletes, the Mini's value is ultimately determined by what someone is willing to pay. Wishful thinking about having the global community of potential owners band together is simply naive. I would suggest doing what one of the other posts recommends and looking around for the car elsewhere.