Since I know people are just insane with curiosity, I thought I'd post another update about my Mini Cooper, or as I call it, S*** on Wheels. I don't think I've been that strong in my posts before, but I'm really getting ticked now.
About six weeks ago, a reader met up with a Mini USA representative at a BMW Motorcycle rally. This reader (thank you by the way!) told the rep my story, and the rep gave him his phone number.
I called the rep and told him the sad story, and basically said that I'd like my money back, but I've given up any and all hope. He promised to look into it and get back to me.
Fast forward about three weeks. I called the rep back, and of course, he had no idea who I was, so he had to look up my case again. He promised to look into it and asked me to call back in 2 days if I didn't hear back.
I didn't hear back. Anyone surprised? So I call him a few days ago and he said he had called Brian Harris BMW and had not gotten a response.
Now wait - it gets better. Yesterday I get a call from Brian Harris. There was a very nice and polite woman on the phone asking why Mini USA had called them.
-sigh-
So I gave her the two minute review (for what must have been the 100th time) and she said what I had heard before, that they can't help me so she would call Mini USA back.
All I want is the car I used to love and trust and drive for fun. But I guess that is too much to ask for. We are going to put an ad in the paper and sell this thing off. (And yes, we will share the service history with any potential buyer.)
Archived Comments
Dude, it's time to call the Better Business Bureau, the regional and national directors of MiniUSA, and take out a full ad in the paper stating your story and the parties involved.
Oh, better yet - YouTube video!
I'll second the BBB suggestion, stongly! I had to contact them several years when I bought a new computer from a company called Nutrend (they got assimilated a few years later), and when I informed Nutrend of that they finally got their act in order.
In my cases, they had left me on hold for 3-4 hours on several occasions after delivering me a computer that did not meet my order specs and a video card/monitor combination that constantly flickered (which later they informed me was a "known issue" to them...WHAT?). When I threatened to report them, they finally made the return/refund happen. However, their accounting dept must have missed the memo, and they went on to refund my money (approx. $2000 back then) in a series of electronic deposits and electronic deductions (which after about 10 of them finally evened out to the amount of my refund).
After that crap, I did report them. It may not seem like much, but it's as much of a red mark on them as a missed payment on a credit report. Once they pile up, the company would be in big trouble.
I'm doing the BBB route. I just sent my local office an email to see if I file with them, or Baton Route. I'm in Lafayette, Brian Harris is in BR.
I think MikeD's suggestion to do a YouTube video is a great idea.
And if you run out of ideas, why not have a lemon lawyer draft up something and send it to Brian Harris and then if still nothing to Mini USA.
I bought a 98 Honda Civic last year. The most reliable car in the world, right? Granted it had 100K on it. Not sure what the previous owner did to it over the 7 years of ownership. But let me just say 1. it is refered to as "the damn car" and 2. I get nervous cranking up the old lawnmower
@Ray,
In the blog post that you just did, put a link to all the previous posts about the trouble that you are haven't with the Mini.
On Monday, post the link to the blog post on Digg.com.
@Everyone in the CF community
Between now and Monday, sign up for a digg.com account. Once Ray posts the story to Digg, everyone go and digg it. Let's try to get the story to the front page. That will get them to listen to you.
On Monday I plan on partying. But I'll do it Tuesday.
The lawyer called today - he is definitely interested in this case. I won't be putting it on the market just yet.
On Tuesday I will digg it and post back here for your guys help.