Okay, I posted this question over in 1st Gear, but didn't get any answers, so I thought I'd ask my homies here.

I read a lot about the MINI survey that new owners get after delivery. I had some things that I wanted to "discuss," so I didn't answer the email, but waited for the call. Couldn't take the call, so I called them back. It only involved three questions:
1) How would you classify your overall buying experience at **** MINI?
2) Describe your Clubman in one word.
3) How would you classify your satisfaction with the car?

That was it! My question is this: Since a lot of people talk about giving their MA "all fives," and I even got a letter from the dealership asking me to call them if I couldn't give him all fives, is that all there is to the survey? What's the deal?

 

The "all fives" survey is from service, not sales.

 

If you don't give your MA a 5 he will eat an angel's wings for dinner or something like that. Something about bells or something.

True story. A friend of my cousin's RA at college gave an MA a 3 after she bought her Cooper, the dealership is now closed.

 

I got mine the week after I bought specifically asking those questions about the "sales experience".

Hard to send out a survey about service when I won't know for the first year of ownership.

 

How many questions did you get asked?

True, dat!

 

I think 3 questions. The ones you listed. My MA gave me a $100 and all I did was circle the 5's.

 

Good

Move.

 

I filled out my survey the day I took delivery at the dealership. He handed it to me and said that he would appreciate all 5's as that is how they get paid or something.

 

They gave me one of those too; I thought it was a little rude to give it to me with the MA right there. Kind of like the waiter looking over your shoulder while you figure the tip.

 

Agreed.

I would have given him all 5's anyway, but it was a little awkward. My MA is the one that gave it to me, too.

 

My MA asked for all 5's and he deserved them. However, the survey was emailed to me and I took it and submitted it electronically.

 

Did you only have the three questions? Nothing in the survey I took had anything to do with my MA.

 

I got it via email as well as at the dealership when I took delivery. Interesting.

 

I took delivery 8/4/08, and they called me today and asked me those questions.

 

How many places have I heard service people try to "fix" the survey?

Holiday Inn Hotels
Marriott Hotels (I think.)
My Mini dealer

There have been others. I can't remember them now.

I gave my dealer 5's although they did not do much to help me -- I configured my car online bought it over the phone. They did not do anything bad, but there was no work involved in the sale. They have me from "hello". It's sort of like the fast food people putting out a tip jar. What exactly did you do to deserve any sort of praise?

It's insulting. I sent emails to the hotel chains to tell them that their surveys are of dubious value.

When MiniUSA called, I just complained about the roof rack shenanigans. I forgot about the survey nonsense. I made the poor kid sorry he came to work that day. I think I'm on their Do Not Call list now. We'll see if I get a Welcome Package!

 

I think its for sales, too. I got a telephone call from "MINI Central" a few weeks after my delivery and the rating system was "1 to 5".

HA! All you got was $100? In return for my 5's I got a MINI track suit, a MINI dog bowl, a ZUG antenna ball, and my MA made my first car payment. Sucka!

(Just kidding...... )

 

Many dealerships base bonus compensation on the stinking surveys.
I know that my employer does the same and I'm white collar.

 

My MA (aka match maker) told me I would be getting a call about my experience at Mini Dealership and that even though the survey said it was about the dealership as a whole, it was really only about him. He too asked for fives which is NO problem cuz he was awesome through the entire process. Amy and I even had dinner with him and his partner last weekend! Three minis in the parking lot, one with driver right side, one clubman and one cabrio! We were asked if it was a car convention!! Anyway, I still have not received the phone call. .............

Surveys------

This is even in the health care industry. Both Medicaid and Medicare are moving to the system where hospitals, clinics, providers will receive more or less compensation based on national surveys and these surveys will be posted on websites and/or available to the public. Surveys are here to stay and are not going anywhere anytime soon.

 

Well all I could tell you about is the $100.

 

I don't remember the exact amount of questions, although I'd say it was 5 or less. The questions were specifically about my sales experience.

 

Puh.

I want a second at-bat on the survey.