[Ibb]

Hmm I wonder if I can get the tints free, and possibly have the chrome wings for free, or is that just pushing it? I mean 18k straight to hand, they should be able to do that right?
Fingers crossed.

Oh BTW, what do you guys think of an all black MCS with Aero Kit (keeping the S spoiler tho), and will probably be getting some Allysseo 18s ( you can see them in my gallery on a Silver show MCS)

Thanks again for your generosity in giving me info on the situation.

[Ibb]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiniDoug

Heathrow BMW would let me pay for my Mini on my Visa card but were going to charge me a 1.5% surcharge. They did let me pay £1500 deposit for free...

I needed to put £5000 on my card so I did it the sneaky way! EGG let you do balance transfers to your Current Account, so I transferred the remaining £3500 from my EGG card to my bank account and paid the dealer with my debit card.

I then transferred the whole £5000 to my Smile card which had six months interest free credit. I'm going to transfer it back to the EGG card soon as they are offering another six months o% on the card! Play your cards right and pay no interest!!!!

Thats very clever

[MiniDoug]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ibb

Thats very clever

Thank you! I'm flattered And I thought so as well..... was able to do it all on line

[Ibb]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiniDoug

Thank you! I'm flattered And I thought so as well..... was able to do it all on line

Gosh now thats what I call a BRAINIAC! LoL, nah nifty job, good job

[ALD0]

Working the 0% shuffle each months effects your credit rating after a bit

[andyupnorth]

18K cash to hand isn't that great to a dealer - they would prefer it if you took finance through them - they make money off the finance and would then be prepared to offer a few freebies perhaps. Cash to hand/debit card- it's all the same to them.

[dietcokeplease]

I agree with Andy on this. Finance earns a dealer commission and may help in obtaining a discount.

To be honest a lot will depend on your dealer - how many cars they have in stock, how many they've sold, if they have hit their targets, their allocation of cars from MINI UK etc. At some dealers you may even struggle to get free TLC (which at least should be given as a token gesture if no discount is obtainable). It is easier to negotiate on the dealer fitted items than on factory options.

With most Merchant Companies, when someone spends on a credit or debit card, the money is in the retailers account 3 days later. Back in the '80's and early '90's Amex routinely took 60-90 days to credit my dads retail account and charged 6% commission. They've improved since then commission wise and on payment, but I still have every sympathy for any retailer that refuses to accept Amex.

[Ibb]

Quote: Originally Posted by andyupnorth

18K cash to hand isn't that great to a dealer - they would prefer it if you took finance through them - they make money off the finance and would then be prepared to offer a few freebies perhaps. Cash to hand/debit card- it's all the same to them.

Oh man! Finance is good for them but wot about us, but if I never inherited any money I wouldn't be in this situation, otherwise I would be taking the finance route for sure.

Looks like I'm in a no win situation, I either pay out right - no freebies, finance - get freebies.

But the freebies aren't really freebies cos at the end of the day the interest you pay for would've paid for them. The money saved from paying straight way looks like the better option to me, cos the freebies themselves wouldn't be enough to cover the interest, probably get a max of £100 taken off.

I think I'm right, after pondering, but plz correct me if I'm wrong.
Forget what the dealers want, I want my MCS!
Thx again for the feedback

[dietcokeplease]

lbb,

You're thinking too much!

At the end of the day, ask if they will take Amex. If they won't then pay cash. Ask about a discount or freebies - if you don't ask, you don't get. Just haggle and try your best. Then enjoy. At the end of the day, be grateful that you are in a better position than most in being able to afford a car outright. Umm, then you gotta suffer the wait..........

[moorlockx]

As Interceptor said, constantly switching cards will affect your overall credit rating. You may not care much now, but sometime in the future it may come back to bite you.

When I asked my dealer for any discounts on a cash payment, he chuckled and said that most people pay cash now. It's so common a lot of dealer's won't discount for it like they used to, especially on a high demand item like the MINI.

AMEX sucks! They don't make interest fees on their regular card because it's paid off every month. They make their money by charging exorbidant yearly fees to the customer (between $60 and $90 a year) and screwing the merchants. I quit taking them a couple years ago and haven't lost a moments sleep over it.

[Ibb]

Quote: Originally Posted by dietcokeplease

lbb,

You're thinking too much!

At the end of the day, ask if they will take Amex. If they won't then pay cash. Ask about a discount or freebies - if you don't ask, you don't get. Just haggle and try your best. Then enjoy. At the end of the day, be grateful that you are in a better position than most in being able to afford a car outright. Umm, then you gotta suffer the wait..........

I know my head is hurting already!

[andyupnorth]

The moment you drive off from your dealer's with a huge grin on your face all this will be forgotten and seem totally irrelevant.

[Jones]

Quote: Originally Posted by interceptor

Working the 0% shuffle each months effects your credit rating after a bit

Well yes and no....if you are simply moving money every few months then yes but as long as you are making lump sum payments here and there than you should be fine. Providing the overall debt is decreasing then it is fine. I have been doing it since I was 18 (now 22) and never had a problem. If anything, it has improved my rating as all of my cards including my bank account are now platinum status. So depends how ya play it!

Jones

[MiniDoug]

I think if you keep applying for new cards your credit rating would be affected. I have just been lucky and two of the cards I already had have offered me second interest free balance transfers. (EGG and Smile). This is of course reliant on you paying the balance off (or transferring) before the end of the period and not using the cards for purchases.