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From MINIUSA PR:
MINI USA reported continued demand for MINI automobiles but low inventories following an earlier-than-normal factory shutdown to produce the 2005 model year MINIs. As a result, August sales of MINI automobiles were 2,334, down 17 percent from the 2,811 sold in July of 2003. Year-to-date, sales of MINI automobiles were down slightly, with 22,753 cars compared to 23,425 sold a year ago, a dip of 3 percent.
<p>That's because all of the dealers keep screwing folks over with the over MSRP markups (at least over in the U.S.A. – and especially in So. Cal). My wife and I nearly walked away from our MINI purchase when every dealer we went to had 2k to 6k markups on their cars.</p>
<p>Also, as mentioned by the above article, the fact that there are long waits to get a MINI (i.e. none of the dealers seem have them in stock) doesn't help either.</p>
<p>Maybe it will take a profit loss for MINIUSA to finally step in and do something about it.</p>
<p>Actually Mike there many dealers out there that sell for MSRP and have very little waiting time. In fact one of them has a banner at the top of this page!</p>
<p>The main reason why sales are down is simply the lack of inventory due to the '04/'05 switch over. Sales will be back on target for September I'm sure.</p>
<p>I found the same thing in LA. The worst thing is that the dealers here wouldn't go to $1500 over MSRP to get in line with what a NorCal could get me for a production date in 3 weeks or what Classic Mini was offering. Add this to the fact that my dad is purchasing one also.</p>
<p>Nothing mad me madder than an experience at one of the SoCal dealers where I was quoted one price over the phone, drove down to look at the car and given one several thousand over what I was quoted.</p>
<p>Quite frankly MININA needs to clean the dealer network up.</p>
<p>east bay MINI in pleasanton CA has been great throughout the process and charges msrp if u dont' mind the wait … after deposit and wait period, picked up all black S there monday 🙂 it's great. (also, kudos to the guys responsible for this website … it's also great).</p>
<p>I'm a MA at Westchester MINI and we have mid to late October deliveries built to order for Cooper Convertibles. We sell at MSRP and even if you ship to CA you will probably save money.
Regards… Steve</p>
<p>can anyone comment on canadian figures? i'd like to know before i go into the dealership</p>
<p>Gabe,</p>
<p>(This is a different Mike from above.) Doubtless, though, despite the <em>availability</em> of MSRP dealers, many in places where the dealers are charging well over MSRP (like CA) are probably not savvy enough nor care enough to go online and find other dealers out of state, so I can guarantee there is some loss of sales due to this phenomenon. I'm sure there are plenty of folks who walk into the 1 or 2 closest MINI dealers, find the outrageous markups, and while they like the cars, decide to go elsewhere thinking this is the 'going rate' for the cars, or don't even open their mind to the possibility of ordering out of state.</p>
<p>this may hurt the number of potential owners, but they are still selling every mini that is produced so any customer that walks out will be replaced by the next guy walking in. THey are selling all of their units. the only constraint is their production capacity.</p>
<p>Mini of Manhattan my friends is the WORST bunch of scheisters I have ever been to!!!</p>
<p>Everybody was down in August – Toyota and Honda actually lost market share, an unusual occurance. Money is tight, not enough MINIs in the pipeline, so it kinda goes along with the general trend, prolly the only time you will find MINI doing that! :-)</p>
<pre><code> BCNU,
Rob in Dago
</code></pre>
<p>I agree with Mike above. Not everyone is computer savvy enough to research every dealership online. MINIUSA should try to curb the rediculous sales tactics of some of the MINI dealerships. But what do I know I'm not a marketing major, maybe on some level unknown to me it actually spurs interest in the brand.</p>
<p>Good thought Mike.</p>
<p>Patrick MINI in Schaumburg was outstanding to deal with. The MA was honest on the phone and stuck to his word through the whole process. I got my '05 MCS in 8 weeks and 3 days. They ship out of state all the time. Gabe eluded to these guys as well with the banner on the top of the page comment. I highly recommend. Ask for John G. :o)</p>
<p>Forgive me for adding to a potential festival of complaints, but….</p>
<p>My wife and I tried to buy a 2005 Mini, eventually giving them documents we'd downloaded here as evidence of colors and so forth (!! — thanks, Gabe) before agreeing on a car and price. Alas, when it came time to sign the dotted line, the price had gone up — a classic bait-and-switch.</p>
<p>The sales manager's attitude was simple: “We sell every one we get. Take it or leave it.”</p>
<p>So, instead of replacing her Jetta with a sweet Mini, we bought another Jetta. And you can bet that next year, when I replace my Passat, we won't be stopping by a Mini dealership. Shame; there was a MCS in my future.</p>
<p>P.S. It's been mentioned that I should buy from an another dealer — but the Mini in Tampa Bay (Ferman) will only give you same-day appointments, loaners, and/or the time of day, apparently, if you buy there.</p>
<p>So says the sales manager, at least.</p>
<p>When I read these stories It makes me so glad that I bought from the Straight Shooters at MINI of Peabody, MA!</p>
<p>I was also treated well by MINI of Orlando, FL as a traveling MINI owner and they did my oil change with no appointment just a call the day before… and did a nice detail job on the car at no extra cost.</p>
<p>Downtown MINI in Orlando has a great service team. Giles, you should consider coming up to Orlando for your MCS instead of penalizing yourself for Ferman's mistake by buying something else.</p>
<p>That's a three hour drive one way, James — and the whole episode left me with a really bitter aftertaste. Sorry; I'm reduced to an interested observer.</p>
<p>As an aside, this is the first time I've been back to MotoringFile since we got the VW. Funny that this is the first story I should read….</p>
<p>Giles- it is unfortunate that a MINI dealer ruined your MINI experience. I've been having a blast. I would seek out a dealer that will take care of you, even if it is long distance as there are services that will deliver your car to you. Biggest issue of course is service, but with such a reliable car, how often would the MINI really be in the shop? :o) Okay, so I am a bit of an optimist.</p>
<p>G.</p>
<p>I had a $900 markup on my Mini in Sacto, Cali.. I want to see Mini succeed and thrive, but 'sharking' never works well. It leaves a bad taste and an unsettling feeling of being 'used'. I was most frustrated the my MA was a little too busy to deal with me.</p>
<p>So if anyone wants to order MINI from East Coast Chicago Area, for April/May 2005 delivery, and have it carefully run in and driven to LA area, please consider me to provide a very personal and careful service, It'll be nicely run in by a 'expert' too :-)</p>
<p>Stuart</p>
<p>Add MINI of the Main Line in Philly to the list of great dealers. The dealer here in Pittsburgh (also really nice guys) had a two month wait list – on top of the production time and I needed the car before they could give it to me. I ended up going to Philly and had an awesome experience. MSRP and by far the best treatment at a car dealer. When my wife gets her MCS next year, we're going to be making another drive out there.</p>
<p>As Steve Stein stated above; I paid MSRP for my Mini from Westchester Mini. Very easy folks to work with too. Hopefully I'll take delivery within the next few weeks. Hey Steve, say hi to Mercedes and Bill H. for me.</p>
<p>MSRP from MINI of Towson in Maryland. I had an excellent experience with them, probably due in large part to my MA, who has now gone to the BMW store next door. Still a good group of MAs at Towson though. Wait for an MCS was a little less than two months–took delivery on Memorial Day weekend.</p>
<p>I'm curious what everyone else who paid MSRP also paid in things like “dealer prep” fees. I'm not talking about things that are required like registration and taxes. How variable is this? I'm not ordering any dealer accessories like bonnet stripes or roof decals.</p>
<p>With the exception of the MSRP and the $550 destination and handling, you should not have to buy nor pay for anything else you don't want. The beauty of MINI is the way you can configure the car. If you want the sunroof you are not locked into taking 5 different things just to get that.</p>
<p>Motorwerks Mini in Minneapolis, MN is another excellent dealer that sells at MSRP. Not over…not under. Give Amy M. over there a call. She'll hook you up right! She got ours to us in 3.5 months (keep in mind we ordered a 2005 on May 1st). She's great and does everything to make sure her customers are happy.</p>
<p>come on guys, did we get off the training wheels yesterday? miniusa can't do anything about a dealer marking a car up. these guys are all independent except for mini of manhattan. they charge what the market will bear. if you owned these stores you would too. have you forgotten where we live, the market sets the price. find a dealer out of state who will gladly take your cash and do it with a smile. i live in sf and will be getting my mcs cab next week from out of state. my second purchase with this dealer. have fun guys, keep this stuff in perspective, we don't want everything regulated do we? paul</p>
<p>I bought my 2004 Cooper 7 months back at Patrick Mini in Schaumburg. As someone stated earlier, they are top notch! I've never had a better car buying experience! No markup above MSRP and I got my Mini in 6.5 weeks!</p>