Herb Chambers Mini of Boston

Herb Chambers Mini of Boston
1168 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, Massachusetts 02134
(617) 731-1700

Manufacturer: MINI

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Twenty-Four Month Rating: 4.4/5
32 Reviews
Herb Chambers Mini of Boston

Overall Score: 4.5 Star Rating4.4



About Herb Chambers Mini of Boston
Certified: Herb Chambers Mini of Boston
This dealership is a DealerRater.com Certified Dealer and is committed to providing quality customer service.

As a Certified Dealer, Herb Chambers Mini of Boston has the opportunity to contact reviewers that had unsatisfactory experiences at their dealership. Contact may be made privately, without giving out anyone's email address, through the DealerRater.com Message Panel with the goal to resolve any issues the reviewer experienced. Reviews will automatically post after the two week reconciliation period has ended.


This dealership is available to supply quotes for new vehicle inquiries.


DaveLiebmann
7/27/2010 12:03:31 PM

Overall Score: 5 Star Rating   5.0  

Reason for Visit: Service

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Scott Poirier

My Review of Herb Chambers Mini of Boston:
I moved to Boston last year and I was bumping up against the 36K mile, end of warranty period. With 35,851 miles on the odometer, I checked out the reviews for Herb Chamber, Mini of Peabody, and the Mini dealer in Rhode Island, as they're all equidistant. What I saw were lots of negative reviews for each, which was not confidence building. Hey, it's the web! Even so, I hate to choose from the least of three evils.

I decided to go to Herb Chambers Mini. It was a bit closer, and I figured they have volume, which suggested to me that any odd repairs might be easier there.

I had to wait about four days to get an appointment that allowed them to give me a loaner. I arrived first thing in the morning, and was greeted by Scott Poirier, Mini Service Advisor. He was great! He knew what I needed, reviewed the work plan with me, and gave me the option of a new Clubman or a Cooper convertible to use as the loaner. Summer? Convertible!

After a dash around town in the loaner, I was back at the shop in about 5 hours. That was oil, brake pads, rotors, and an exterior detail. The work was done quickly, the car was clean, and the price was right. The bill totaled $75, and that was for the wax. Everything else slipped in right under the warranty.

Here's what else I liked: I knew my tires were getting close, but instead of changing them and added hundreds to the bill, they examined them closely and told me I still had 5K left on them. Seems pretty honest to me.

All in all, a good initial visit.

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ciaran35
7/10/2010 1:27:09 PM

Overall Score: 5 Star Rating   5.0  

Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Richard Tran sales and Ian Miller manager

My Review of Herb Chambers Mini of Boston:
I recently leased my second Mini at Herb Chambers of Boston. Everything about the experience was positive. They honored the advertised special of 2K down and $199 a month for 39 months. The finance department got me an excellent rate. I paid less for the 2010 Mini than the 2007 Mini I leased three years ago. Salesman Rich Tran is enthusiastic and patient. He worked with me to find exactly what I wanted. With the help of sales manager Ian Miller I got my dream car under budget and with extra features. Over the past three years I have also received excellent treatment from the service department. Mini BMW has the best maintenance program for new or leased cars. Oil changes are included along with free roadside assistance. I Love my Car!!!!

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HappyClubmanDrivers
6/4/2010 3:50:03 PM

Overall Score: 5 Star Rating   4.8  

Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Rich Tran, Azi Parvez, Ian Miller, Kevin Barry, & "Tall Guy"

My Review of Herb Chambers Mini of Boston:
My husband and I went specifically to Herb Chambers MINI to meet with Rich Tran at the glowing recommendation of friends who have been loyal customers through 3 Mini leases. Rich made us feel at home from the beginning. He obviously is an expert in all things MINI. This made the whole process - from test drive to purchase - extremely easy. After I returned from a test drive on Comm Ave feeling unnerved by the hectic city traffic, Rich drove out to Belmont the next day so I could test drive a car in my familiar environs. Rich's care and attention impressed us. We found the "finance guys" helpful, too - especially Azi.

We are thankful to our friends for recommending Rich and MINI. We're delighted with our new MINI Cooper Clubman and will recommend the team at Herb Chambers MINI in Boston to our friends and colleagues!

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Jon P
6/1/2010 1:45:48 PM

Overall Score: 5 Star Rating   4.8  

Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Richard Tran, Ian Miller, Azi Parvez

My Review of Herb Chambers Mini of Boston:
From the start, our experience at Herb Chambers was very different from that at most dealerships. We came in late on a Saturday looking to test drive a Clubman without going through a lot of the typical car-salesman hassle. We were introduced to Rich Tran, and he was pleasant, knowledgeable and very accommodating. That alone sets him apart from 90% of the auto salespeople I've ever met.

Richard assisted me in getting a good deal on the car we wanted, and his manager Ian Miller was also accommodating in trying to get to my number. Then, when I had a question about the financing, Rich arranged for a business manager there explain it to me patiently until I was satisfied. Rich's calls to me were always to answer questions, never to pressure me on a decision.

On the day we went to pick up the car there was bad traffic and we were running late. Rich waited for us past the closing time to go through all the features of the car (which he knows inside and out), never once showing impatience at the fact that we were keeping him late. Rich is a man who loves what he sells and cares about his customers.

Kudos also to Azi Parvez who patiently explained all the financing details of the Select plan, and who made us feel like valued customers throughout the transaction.

After I purchased the car I received calls from both Rich and Marcel the next day to make sure everything was good and that all my questions had been answered.

Thank you for an overall great experience.

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Love my Mini, hate the dealer
5/24/2010 9:38:13 AM

Overall Score: 4 Star Rating   4.5  

Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Melissa Steffy

My Review of Herb Chambers Mini of Boston:
This is an updated review about a previous experience.

After numerous problems with sales over an option that was supposed to be installed in my car, but wasn't, then was installed without being hooked to the electrical system, then when it didn't work, brought back and uninstalled, and told it could NEVER have been retrofitted into a new car, I got a call call from General Manager, Melissa Steffy.
Between Melissa and the fabulous service manager, Mark, the initial experience with Herb Chambers has changed 180º. She listened to my concerns, checked back, compensated me for my trouble. Mark, in service, is the consummate professional, and I feel great about the service my MINI will get there. I heard this from other friends who have MINIs - that the Service Department at HC is excellent, and so far that is my experience.

My only wish is that Sales will move to the same level of professionalism as the rest of the team.

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joelswartz
5/21/2010 6:31:45 PM

Overall Score: 5 Star Rating   5.0  

Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Richard Tran

My Review of Herb Chambers Mini of Boston:
Richard Tran sold me , or I should say, assisted me in purchasing my 2010 Mini Cooper Clubman. I never felt or heard the standard sales lingo, only expert information from a man that has been selling Mini's since 202 and personally owns one.
If it were not for Rich and his friendly approach in helping me selct the right car for my needs I might not have purchased on the spot. Additionally, Rich followed up with me all the way throught the process and made sure I fully understood all the features the car has to offer.
After buying cars for 40 years, I must say Rich is the best car salesperson I can recall dealing with.
This is also the 4th car I have purchased form Herb Chambers and the dealerships have been great!

Joel Swartz

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Love my Mini, hate the dealer
5/18/2010 11:01:07 AM

Overall Score: 1 Star Rating   1.4  

Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: No

Employee(s) Dealt With: Ian Miller

My Review of Herb Chambers Mini of Boston:
I bought my Clubman and asked for an auto-dimming mirror to be installed. I picked up my car, got a 20 minute run-down of my car's features (including that the "info" feature navigated through the turn-signal handle on the steering column should be ignored, which I found through reading the manual contains all sorts of interesting features that I can customize), and it was not checked to make sure that the options I had paid for were installed.

After a few days I realized that the $285. auto-dimming mirror was not installed, no one had noticed. When I filled out a survey complaining about the cursory, and incompetent service, the salesman called me up within an hour to chew me out on my replies.

I arranged my schedule to go back another day and have the auto-dimming mirror installed.

Some time after I got my Mini back, the auto-dimming mirror seemed to not be working.

I called and arranged again for it be be fixed. At the dealership I was told by the service manager that it never could have been retro-fitted without costing $4,000, I should never have been told it could, and I had to have the manual mirror re-installed in my car. I was told I would get my $285 returned.

I received a check for only $250 yesterday.

Not only does this require yet another call from me, but I have lost about 8 hours of my time dealing with this.

Once you put a down payment down on a car at herb Chambers Mini, don't expect to be treated well.

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cchaffee
5/11/2010 2:02:08 AM

Overall Score: 5 Star Rating   5.0  

Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Rich Tran

My Review of Herb Chambers Mini of Boston:
I bought my first Mini Cooper, a 2005 red Coupe, from Rich Tran at Herb Chambers in the summer of 2004. When I recently decided to replace this car with a newer model, there was no question that I would return to work with Rich. I like that he is extremely knowledgeable about the product line, that he patiently reviews the options as many times as I need to hear about them, and offers helpful suggestions without pressuring me to make a decision. Whether visiting Herb Chambers for sales or service throughout the past six years, I have always found everyone to be very friendly, efficient, and accommodating, and that is why I am a very satisfied repeat customer.

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mc56
3/30/2010 10:21:19 PM

Overall Score: 5 Star Rating   5.0  

Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Rich Tran

My Review of Herb Chambers Mini of Boston:
I had a great experience in purchasing my Mini at Herb Chambers. I was lucky enough to
have Rich Tran as my guide through the process; his enthusiasm, availability, and guru knowledge
was the reason I consider the experience wonderful. I look forward to my ongoing Mini relationship!
(Plus, I have the most adorable car ever..)

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pegmac
3/4/2010 4:14:26 PM

Overall Score: 5 Star Rating   5.0  

Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Richard Tran

My Review of Herb Chambers Mini of Boston:
Being the spoiled brat that I have the tendency to be, I convinced my husband that our 2009 Mini Cooper Clubman didn't have the get up and go I was looking for. Loved the car, but it wasn't doing it for me. I wanted the S version! So he indulged me. We went to Herb Chambers one Saturday with the intention of buying a new one and met Rich Tran. Rich was unbelievable. He had the type of personality that made you feel like you'd known him forever. I typically despise the whole car buying process because I liken car salesmen to someone that sells snake oil. Rich spent hours talking with us about what was important and what was less important when buying our new car. It was clear he had a true appreciation and love of Minis. By the time we were finished, the decision was apparent. The incentives Mini was offering at the time made it worth finding a car that was already built. Rich was patient and ran us list after list until we found our perfect "baby". When it was delivered to Herb Chambers and we were ready to take possession, he spent a solid hour going over all the new (and improved) features we now had. I love our new car, but frankly, it doesn't matter how much you love something, if the person selling it rubs you the wrong way or puts you off, you're not going to buy it from that person/dealer. I actually spoke to Rich today, and after gushing about how I completely loved the new car, told him the only way my husband may ever get to drive the Mini is if we buy another one.

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