Joined
·
49 Posts
The following is my email to MINI USA and their response regarding interest lists and placing an order. I hope it's helpful to others who are waiting or unclear of the overall situation.
(Original email to MINI USA)
To Whom It May Concern:
After receiving the official US Cooper S pricing, I made an inquiry on Tuesday 1/8/02 to my local dealer asking where my position was on the interest list for a Cooper S. I was told that they would not be releasing to ANYONE where they aare in line so to speak and that they were 30-60 days from moving forward. This information seems contrary to other MINI enthusiasts around the country who know exactly where they stand and a lot of them have already made deposits. After months of research, observing the car at the LA Auto Show and frequent visits to this website along with the MINI2.com website - my concern is that if I expressed interest way back in June , 2001 and now that pricing is available - I want some sort of confirmation. Please let me know if this type of response is consistent with other MINI dealerships. I am an avid car enthusiast or probably
more of an avid car MAGAZINE enthusiast but I certainly am a QUALIFIED buyer and have been putting off purchasing a new car. The last thing I want to do is make a big deal out of this situation, but I do insist that my interest has some chronological merit to it. I have kept the emails as documentation.
I'm sure BMW must be thrilled that people are fighting to get in line to give them money - from what I've read it still seems to be true. Thanks - Really looking forward to buying my Cooper S.
(Response from MINI USA)
Thank you for your tremendous interest in MINI passenger cars. MINI Division is counting upon the support of MINI enthusiasts such as yourself to make the reintroduction of MINI passenger cars into the United States an unqualified
success.
At MINI Division, we are very concerned about making certain that the distribution of MINI passenger cars in the spring of 2002 proceeds as smoothly as possible. Currently, we are working diligently to create a dealer network for
MINI passenger cars and have identified prospective dealer candidates throughout the country with whom we intend to enter into franchise agreements. However, this process is not complete and therefore at the present time there are no
authorized, franchised MINI passenger car dealers at all in the United States.
As you know there is a tremendous outpouring of affection for the new MINI. Accordingly, we have authorized prospective MINI dealer candidates to take the names of those individuals interested in obtaining additional information or eventually acquiring a MINI passenger car.
However, please keep in mind that our MINI dealer candidates are independently owned and operated. They determine the details of their own sales transactions,
including selling price and waiting lists.
While dealers are keeping lists, some dealers (in the best interest of their customers) are not confirming exact positions on this list until their dealership, and the all other MINI dealers, are fully authorized and franchised.
It's great that your emails document your actions in June 2001. When contacting your dealer, please reference any dealer email replies confirming you were added to a wait list. Also note the representative who added you to a wait list when you called, visited, or emailed in June.
We apologize for any frustration you have experienced in your efforts to try to be among the first to acquire a MINI passenger car in the United States.
Thank you again for your inquiry, and we know that the MINI you eventually acquire will provide you with years of motoring enjoyment.
MINI USA
Customer Relations
(Original email to MINI USA)
To Whom It May Concern:
After receiving the official US Cooper S pricing, I made an inquiry on Tuesday 1/8/02 to my local dealer asking where my position was on the interest list for a Cooper S. I was told that they would not be releasing to ANYONE where they aare in line so to speak and that they were 30-60 days from moving forward. This information seems contrary to other MINI enthusiasts around the country who know exactly where they stand and a lot of them have already made deposits. After months of research, observing the car at the LA Auto Show and frequent visits to this website along with the MINI2.com website - my concern is that if I expressed interest way back in June , 2001 and now that pricing is available - I want some sort of confirmation. Please let me know if this type of response is consistent with other MINI dealerships. I am an avid car enthusiast or probably
more of an avid car MAGAZINE enthusiast but I certainly am a QUALIFIED buyer and have been putting off purchasing a new car. The last thing I want to do is make a big deal out of this situation, but I do insist that my interest has some chronological merit to it. I have kept the emails as documentation.
I'm sure BMW must be thrilled that people are fighting to get in line to give them money - from what I've read it still seems to be true. Thanks - Really looking forward to buying my Cooper S.
(Response from MINI USA)
Thank you for your tremendous interest in MINI passenger cars. MINI Division is counting upon the support of MINI enthusiasts such as yourself to make the reintroduction of MINI passenger cars into the United States an unqualified
success.
At MINI Division, we are very concerned about making certain that the distribution of MINI passenger cars in the spring of 2002 proceeds as smoothly as possible. Currently, we are working diligently to create a dealer network for
MINI passenger cars and have identified prospective dealer candidates throughout the country with whom we intend to enter into franchise agreements. However, this process is not complete and therefore at the present time there are no
authorized, franchised MINI passenger car dealers at all in the United States.
As you know there is a tremendous outpouring of affection for the new MINI. Accordingly, we have authorized prospective MINI dealer candidates to take the names of those individuals interested in obtaining additional information or eventually acquiring a MINI passenger car.
However, please keep in mind that our MINI dealer candidates are independently owned and operated. They determine the details of their own sales transactions,
including selling price and waiting lists.
While dealers are keeping lists, some dealers (in the best interest of their customers) are not confirming exact positions on this list until their dealership, and the all other MINI dealers, are fully authorized and franchised.
It's great that your emails document your actions in June 2001. When contacting your dealer, please reference any dealer email replies confirming you were added to a wait list. Also note the representative who added you to a wait list when you called, visited, or emailed in June.
We apologize for any frustration you have experienced in your efforts to try to be among the first to acquire a MINI passenger car in the United States.
Thank you again for your inquiry, and we know that the MINI you eventually acquire will provide you with years of motoring enjoyment.
MINI USA
Customer Relations