Another NWMINI disappointment

I had an appointment yesterday (take note of the word "appointment") to get an alignment done. Showed up at 11:00, the time of my "appointment," to be told that my car won't be done until around 3:00 because BMW was using the alignment machine that NWMINI shares with them. Granted, he gave me a loaner car but still I had to drive back and forth from NWMINI several times which took a couple hours out of my day! My car was not ready to be picked up until 4:30! When I asked about the fact that I had an appointment but my car wasn't going to be done then, the implication was that they don't coordinate scheduling with BMW so did not know that they were going to be using the machine that morning. I said it would have been nice to know this and I would have just brought my car in later! He brought up the fact that he gave me a loaner like that was supposed to make it okay. NOT! So if you make an "appointment" with NWMINI don't expect your car to be done then! (I tried to get an appointment with Seattle MINI but they were booked up.)

Last year went to the tech session at Mini NW they went over all kinds of information they even had the guy from the company where they get the alignment equipment from.  He talked about how important it was for our cars to have a proper alignment.  He also said that Firestone shops use the same alignment equipment as Mini.  So when I needed to get aligned I called Mini and yes it is difficult to get in and the price was up there so I called Firestone and they were about half the price and for the same price as the dealer I could get a lifetime alignment.  I called on Saturday and had and appointment on Monday it did take some time in the shop my guess it they don’t do that many Minis but the car is driving down the road straight and any time I feel something is out or if I just want to have it checked all I have to do is take it in.  Oh as of four months ago East Hill Kent had newer equipment than NW Mini. 

I stopped by there a week ago to find out how to replace a fuse on my two month old Countryman (cigarette lighter fuse had blown).  Not only did I have to wait 40 minutes to have someone help me (no, I did not have an appointment, but REALLY???), but they were going to charge me over $4.00 for the fuse & I had to self-install.  I ended up at O'Reiley's and got 5 for less than the cost of 1!!!!!

Edited by Vader - July/19/11 at 1:24pm

This is sad to hear. Maybe someone should kindly clue in the owner before NW MINI's reputation becomes irreversible.

Vader wrote:   (I need to find a way to get Brad, Motoring Advisor at NW MINI, to transfer to Seattle MINI.  Then it would be perfect.  I've had great experiences with the salesmen at Seattle MINI, but Brad is THE BEST!)

I have had both experiences, good & bad, there at NW Mini and would rate them as being just like any other Dealership, MINI, GM, Honda, etc.

You definitely have a right to be upset with them. My only concern is that some folks might condemn the the whole service department based on a few bad experiences. I work in a service industry and I'd like to say that I am on my game all the time, but I occasionally have off days, and sometimes it's due to circumstances beyond my control. I try to keep that in mind when I have a bad experience.

garumph wrote: Vader wrote:   (I need to find a way to get Brad, Motoring Advisor at NW MINI, to transfer to Seattle MINI.  Then it would be perfect.  I've had great experiences with the salesmen at Seattle MINI, but Brad is THE BEST!) Not until we finish up our coupe with Brad. Then you can have him I guess.