94 replies to this topic

[miniman44]

Not illegel,just questionable.Blame the Japanese,they invented a system that allows you not to have to carry too much stock.It saves them money.

[Big_Adam]

Not illegel,just questionable.Blame the Japanese,they invented a system that allows you not to have to carry too much stock.It saves them money.

No, they invented the "just in time" method of working, where on a job parts and items would be ordered to arrive at the correct time rather than needing storage for said items.

It works being for one the Japanise can stick to these things (and having tried the public transport can say they do that damn well too). We in the UK can't do it due to the sloppiness in ways of working and delivery.

Instead UK and other parts of the world use a buffer of stock so when they get down to say 3 or so units of stock it is reorder, if there is a rush of orders for that item then the system is screwed as the stock runs dry then orders start to back up.

What MiniSport do is have bugger all stock then not tell you.

[coopdog]

yeah theve done it too me a couple of times

[HARBER07]

Same here. First and only time I will ever use their service. Never again.

[Kerrin]

Frankly this sort of thread has continued to stop me from buying anything from Mini Sport.

I have used them once and pre ordered the goods and collected them while I was over on holiday. And no problems at all.

Unfortunately my car has quite a few Mini Sport parts which I have inherited, I need some new adjustaride ball joints, but just can't be bothered to order, I would rather swap to hi lo's and deal with mini spares.

Is it just the on line shopping is poor or are the phone sales as bad?

[aston19uk]

one word: minispares

[crazycoleman118]

ive never had a problem..... when somethings been out of stock ive had an email saying so... an had canceled that item no problems everything else ive ordered.. coils rear light lense bushes etc has all come ok...

[somecrapname]

+1

I usually phone them up and get a 'live' stock check before driving over, if I need an item asap, else if I need a mail order item I'd check elsewhere first.

[stevede]

Can't comment on the on line or phone ordering because I have never used that service.

The one time I emailed them to see if an item was in stock I got a very prompt and courteous reply.

I do agree 100% that they should notify you if something is out of stock when you order. I hit the roof with our customer service team if they don't notify my customers of items on back order.

In Mini Sports defence, every time I have visited the showroom, I have found all the guys in there extremely helpful and have never had an issue, even when I have taken some parts back to exchange.

[panelbeaterpeter]

I always have avoided them, but recently my radiator went, and theirs was the best price I could find, so I thought I'd risk it. It arrived the next day, well packed, no problems. So it can happen!

[DannyTip]

I've bought loads of stuff from show's from them no problems at all ive even had my car RR'ed there.

But i had to cancel an order last week because after waiting 5 days phoned and it was out of stock. They really need to get their website in order with proper stock levels. Even an email after placing your order telling you its out of stock would be nice!

[minisilverbullet]

I had a wee issue once - in the summer, i drove home to scotland, we stopped in london and i dropped the car of at minimedics there.

I had ordered a camber it, tie rods etc to be delivered there a week before but they never arrived, after explaining this to minisport, they promptly sent teh items next day delivery!

I also actually stopped there (at minisport) on the the way home, they fitted a stage 1 kit, i got other bits an bobs.

Once in Scotland the car was stalling at junctions every time!

And i tried to find a garage with a code reader at home, An ex rover garage merely raised the idle to fix it, but this made the car drive itself sometimes.

Anyway i contacted minisport and said i was driving back through padiham on the return route and they said to stop by. they had the car about 2 hours, fixed the idle and the original issue, and didnt charge a penny!

I think the fact they have a shiny nice webpage and take 2 -4 page ads in the mini mags that we think they are a huge company- when in reality they are relatively small physically!

I use them now and haven't had any issues!!!

[samsfern]

ive found them pretty good whenever i use them, but my orders are normally over 100 quids, maybe ive ust been lucky.

[Jacko-lah]

I thought it was illegal to charge for something that you don't actually have available for sale? I have heard this about Minisport in the past.

No under the mail order selling act they have just 28 days to deliver, unless they state a lower time in the contract. This would allow them time to get some materials and tools and make the parts.

[Kaj]

I've bought loads of Mini stuff from just about all the main players and recently bought stuff for my engine rebuild from Minisport.

1) 1:3 roller rockers, which were on order as out of stock but they were reasonably priced and look to be a decent piece of kit. No fitting instructions supplied. I had to dismantle them and shim them up, reduce one of the solid spacers to get them all sitting properly with the necessary clearance. They did not mention fitting shims under the posts and I don't even see them advertising them, but of course these are required when your head/block has been skimmed. Some decent fitting instructions should be supplied (as per the many articles Minispares have freely available).

2) 4-pin diff. When I built this up using my other output shaft and diff it was locked solid and would not rotate. I was pretty ******* off at having to return it. I phoned them up and the usual reply of 'never had that problem' was given. However, they agreed to refund my return postage which was around the £20 mark and I shipped it back. I phoned them up a few days later and they advised that the wrong thickness of shims were fitted so this was corrected and they supplied new bolts and locking tabs so I accepted this inconvenience.

They will also haggle their price if you see a similar item cheaper elsewhere.

I have found the guys in the shop a bit dry but maybe their just doing their job and are not actually Mini enthusiasts! I have visited their shop a few times which is pretty good (and better than Minispares) and I've also had my car set up on their rolling road which was very reasonable cost and the big fella certainly knew his stuff.

I do think these major suppliers could do better as I'm sure they are making a fortune on which is still a very bouyant market place.

I think if you want the right bits and good quality it has to be Minispares (although their shipping fees seem to have crept up). It does pay to shop around, try Min-its for some excellent prices, especially Maniflow exhausts and inlet manifolds.

Edited by Kaj, 07 October 2010 - 09:34 AM.