I planned my diary to release Bumble for an oil change service. The last one on his TLC XL. 9.00 suggested 90 minutes. Took Domino with me and took him off for a walk. At 12 I was getting agitated as I had to take Domino for a haircut. Simon the fast lane guy had kept nodding at me whilst I ate 4 packs of biscuits and got a headache from drinking too much hot chocolate. Domino is well liked there and was taken off for a tour!?

Bumble appeared and over Simon came. He explained they has been 3 hours trying to undo the "plug" to drain the oil but the thread had gone. The new sump now on order should have been chargeable but they waived it as I only go to them. Bumble is booked in again for next friday. More loss of earnings. Never mind.

On my services they cannot replace the pollen filter because of the fitting of the dual controls.

Good for them to take the hit of the sump but surely if they have been the only one's to have worked on Bumble I would think they have over tighten the plug at sometime to put excess pressure on the threads

Davyboy wrote:

Good for them to take the hit of the sump but surely if they have been the only one's to have worked on Bumble I would think they have over tighten the plug at sometime to put excess pressure on the threads

Ditto -it would be interesting to see the how much damage they did to the plug. Most probably did not want to argue too much as they want you back as a business customer and at some stage buy a new Mini!

So they should have waived the charge as you have only every used them to do work on Bumble. I think that they should have spoken to you about the reason for the delay while it was happening too, rather than keeping you waiting in the dark.

millbrookmini wrote:

Most probably did not want to argue too much as they want you back as a business customer and at some stage buy a new Mini!

Or another car! What Rita didn't mention is that she came home with a Z4 brochure. I assume she would want that for private use rather than teaching people to drive in.

Any views of what there sales team are like or any recommendation of who to speak for for the the best deals :p
I have my eye on a FJCW there that's a bit out my price range!!

I went in to Cooper Croydon recently and tried to talk about prices and discounts and was told that they did not discount new cars! I waked out!! They only wanted to talk about Mini Select.

Not impressed .

.........you could make them an offer , nothing ventured nothing gained!

Going to ring them 2morrow & see. Was hoping a friends contacts within this group cold help but no joy

Just hoping having cash sale may help me swing it

Yeh phoned mine local place today & only go flogged the 50/50 scheme!!

I think you can only pay £5,000 in cash?

Bumble-Bee wrote:

I think you can only pay £5,000 in cash?

Ok not literally cash but finance & px free

Bumble-Bee wrote:

I think you can only pay £5,000 in cash?

yer thats true,we went to buy rich's bike and they wouldn't take cash,so same would go for cars,i would say

Bumble-Bee wrote:

I think you can only pay £5,000 in cash?

I thought it was £3K

money laundering legislation is to blame but any amount can be sent electronically from your bank account to the dealers bank.

If you are not px ing and no finance you should be in a good bargining position.

Dealers often prefer you to go down the finance route because I am sure they get a margin on that which is better than the cash deal - perverse I know. Good luck.

1) Thy are RUBBISH. Avoid.

2) Speak to Emma at Cooper Tadworth and say I gave you her name - she can nab a car from them and give you a much better deal than they would - it's group stock so they are entitled to request it. That is how I got Scuzzy.

3) Phil is spot on - cash is no longer a useful bargaining tool - they WANt you to finance as they get a kickback. So go with finance then pay it off immediately before interest hits if you have the money

Elphaba wrote:

1) Thy are RUBBISH. Avoid.

2) Speak to Emma at Cooper Tadworth and say I gave you her name - she can nab a car from them and give you a much better deal than they would - it's group stock so they are entitled to request it. That is how I got Scuzzy.

3) Phil is spot on - cash is no longer a useful bargaining tool - they WANt you to finance as they get a kickback. So go with finance then pay it off immediately before interest hits if you have the money

Cooper tadworth seconded From what I have seen they have a good after sales as well

It's very hard to get discount for cash now due to money laundering as stated 
When I work in SA I was told buy a mate who worked in the bank not to transfer more than £4200 or it would be flagged up and also tax and vat man gets notified this amount has most probably changed as it was 2001  I was in SA 

The big problem with the shops and garages it costs them to bank the money as well. so it costs them to take the cash, also there are a lot of fake notes around now.
If they sell something to you on finance they get the full amount straight away at no cost to them and also they get a commission from the finance company so there quids in 
This is one of the reasons supermarkets offer cash back and dont except cheques less cash/cheques to bank which costs them. they also get commission for every cash back transaction so I have been informed 
I think the only way to get a deal now is to push for free extras ect 

I'm sure they are all much of a muchness and to be honest I can't see why one Cooper will give a worse deal than another unless they think they can get away with it.

Dawn can always negotiate with Croydon and then see what Tadworth can do and probably isn't too concerned about after sales due to her location.

Scuzzy 2010

Cooper Croydon
Me on email - can you tell me how much it will be per month with a £7k deposit on the R57 S you have on pre-registered stock?
Sales - no we don't give prices on phone or email, you need to come in and sit down
Me - that's ok I work in sales I know why you want me in face to face, but I already know I want the car, I just want an idea on finance figures.
Sales - sorry, you have to make an appointment and come in
Me - bit difficult this week and I don't want to lose the car, can't you just give me a rough idea?
Sales - No, sorry
Me - Fine, can you do Tuesday at 10am as I am home that morning
Sales - Sure, see you then

Tuesdy comes - I arrive at Cooper Croydon and get ignored till I go up to two chatting salesmen
Me - Hi, I have an appointment with sales at 10
Other sales - oh he's off sick today
Me - ok can I speak to someone else to get a quote instead?
Other sales - sorry we are all booked up - call sales tomorrow
Me - ok bye

Later that morning on phone to Cooper Tadworth

Me - Hi, I am interested in an R57 S at Cooper Croydon but they blew me out - do you have anything similar?
Emma - If you like that one we can get it for you, do you need a test drive?
Me - Yes, but really I need to know monthly finance figures
Emma - What's your deposit, I can find out for you within 20 mins and call you back

20 mins later
Emma - It's £*** per month with that deposit.
Me - er that's outside my budget
Emma - what;s your budget?
Me - £***
Emma - so if i culd get it down to that would you be happy?
Me - yes

20 mins later
Emma - I can get it down to £***
Me - still too high
Emma - what about £***
Me - Go on then

2 days later
Cooper Croydon Sales Manager calls me
Him - What do you think you are doing starting a sale with us then taking it to another dealers? How dare you? You need to explain yourself!
Me - DO ONE

So not all dealers are not much of a muchness - some are idiots and some do their jobs well.

I can fully understand why you say to avoid.

We use Croydon for service as they are convenient but have never tried to buy a car from them.

I can only endorse what's been said about Cooper Tadworth here, I bought my Cooper there (from Emma too) and I found them superb, both the sales and after sales depts.

The car had to go back for several minor warranty issues (I did tell them when I bought it I worked in the motor trade and I would find things wrong with it!) and each time they were nothing less than professional and nothing seemed to be too much trouble for them.

The only issues I had were one wheel had been over torqued (too much 'buzz gun' and not enough torque wrench!) and some dirty finger prints on the interior 'A' panel trim when the windscreen was replaced, although to be fair the 'screen was more than likely not replaced 'in house' by them.

My only dealings with the Croydon branch has been with their after sales dept. and that was quite painful, the guy I spoke to being very abrupt and rude and on that basis alone I wouldn't choose to use the branch again.

Recommend Cooper Tadworth every single time - great after-sales service

Have to agree with Paul here. I had a mixed experience with Vines in Guildford and a much better experience, and a better price with Sytner Sunningdale.

Having been to Vines first I did, out of courtesy, say that they would get the sale if the price was right or there abouts and so could they please give me their best price.

Their response was to say they would do that and then say, but if you get a better price please call back and we'll try and match it. Doh!

I did get a better price and I didn't call them back.

Others may of course fair better.

Never dealt with them myself........

As some know my history with Barons so I won't bore you but did contact via email when I was looking for my JCW Clubbie but got no response!!!!!

Also went into Vines Guildford and had told them what I wanted, bearing in mind I work nearly next door - long & short, nothing from them.

Then saw a demo for sale at Berry, Heathrow, the car had gone by then but they bent over backwards to sort a deal! The sales team, led by Andy, went the extra mile in fact went several 100 miles to secure my business and at all times very friendly but professional

Did you know that banks charge businesses to bank cash? From memory it's something like .55p for every £100.00 banked, so there is a cost attached to taking payment in cash, but only 1 transaction fee for accepting a chaps, or bank to bank payment. It's also much easier for accountants to trace bank to bank transactions and is safer for both parties, especially the dealers, with counterfeit notes in circulation.

They do indeed and the reason large shops offer "cash back" so as to get rid of the cash