Things Dealers tell Customers

[Tuna Helper]

My bike buying adventure continued...

I took the bike for a test ride, came back not sold on it. Took another bike, newer, little more expensive on a test ride. Stood and talked to the parts guy about what it would cost to modify each bike to what I want. Sales manager comes over and says "I've had that bike for too long, Everyday it sits here it costs me money, so if you buy it I'll give you another $800 for your trade."

I didn't intend to screw the dealer out of extra money, but didn't want to get screwed on my trade either.

[RxZ]

I've got one from yesterday. I was at the Kawasaki place to get some bolts for the bike, and was listening to the conversation ahead of me involving the parts guy and a customer. Parts guy rings up the total after the two talk for a while, and says "That will be 89 dollars". The customer stares at him for a second then exclaims, "Now how does that work!?!" Basically, he thought that the parts he was picking up (that were ordered for him) and the new part he was ordering should not have cost that much money, even though as they were looking up the parts the parts guy was telling him the prices. Finally, customer says, "Well, fine. I'll get them somewhere else. [then some expletives that I couldn't make out.]" Sure, they guy could have saved maybe 10 dollars shopping all over the internet, but he had already ordered some and they were in his hands. I don't get people sometimes.

I actually felt bad for the parts guy. All he did was do his job

[Tome]

Originally Posted by RxZ

I've got one from yesterday. I was at the Kawasaki place to get some bolts for the bike, and was listening to the conversation ahead of me involving the parts guy and a customer. Parts guy rings up the total after the two talk for a while, and says "That will be 89 dollars". The customer stares at him for a second then exclaims, "Now how does that work!?!" Basically, he thought that the parts he was picking up (that were ordered for him) and the new part he was ordering should not have cost that much money, even though as they were looking up the parts the parts guy was telling him the prices. Finally, customer says, "Well, fine. I'll get them somewhere else. [then some expletives that I couldn't make out.]" Sure, they guy could have saved maybe 10 dollars shopping all over the internet, but he had already ordered some and they were in his hands. I don't get people sometimes.

I actually felt bad for the parts guy. All he did was do his job

That is one of the worst things about working in a parts dept for OE parts. The prices are set by the factory and there's nothing you can do about it, even if you know you can buy 50 million stainless bolts in various sizes on ebay for the price of 7 OE ones or the quality of an aftermarket item is the same or even better. It's not hard to 'no thanks, that's more than I'm willing to pay atm' instead of 'HOW F*****G MUCH!? THAT'S RIDICULOUS! F*** OFF!'
Although there is some satisfaction in seeing an a*****e come back when they've acquired a bolt from elsewhere and it's the wrong pitch or something and they've ruined the original part too.

[RxZ]

The thing that I couldn't understand was that he had already ordered parts previously and was there to pick them up. Surely the price was talked about before he ordered. If he didn't want to pay for the new part he was needing as well, then fine go buy it somewhere else. At least buy what you already ordered.

Originally Posted by Tome

That is one of the worst things about working in a parts dept for OE parts. The prices are set by the factory and there's nothing you can do about it, even if you know you can buy 50 million stainless bolts in various sizes on ebay for the price of 7 OE ones or the quality of an aftermarket item is the same or even better. It's not hard to 'no thanks, that's more than I'm willing to pay atm' instead of 'HOW F*****G MUCH!? THAT'S RIDICULOUS! F*** OFF!'
Although there is some satisfaction in seeing an a*****e come back when they've acquired a bolt from elsewhere and it's the wrong pitch or something and they've ruined the original part too.

[davevv]

And then people wonder why a dealer wants to be paid in advance for special ordered parts. I do have one dealer who knows me well enough that they will order anything I want without prepaying because I've dealt with them for years, bought three bikes there, and they know I won't back out on them. This is a multiline KTM/Triumph/Aprilia/Moto Guzzi deaer who also happens to keep a reasonable stock of parts on hand to service all the lines they carry. Every other dealer I've ordered parts from always wants payment in advance, and I don't blame them.

What does bother me is a dealer's reluctance to stock common parts. Honda dealers I've encountered are particularly bad about this. When I needed a front brake light switch for a 750 Nighthawk, a bike that was produced unchanged for 12 years, it had to be special ordered. I'm sure that switch was used on other Honda models of the period as well and has to be needed on a fairly regular basis just because there are a ton of them out there in service, but none of the dealers in the area had one in stock. I've even had them tell me they didn't stock a standard service item (an air filter to be exact) I needed. Dealers of other Japanese brands don't seem to be much better. And then they bitch because people buy parts off the internet instead of supporting their local dealer. If my local Eurobike and Harley dealers can afford to keep common parts in stock, why can't the Japanese brand dealers do the same?

[dwoodward]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

The truth spoken here!

Jim

At the local HD dealer, the only employee who helps customers load bikes is the lowest guy on the totem pole... I'll secure my own bike TYVM.

[AZbiker]

Originally Posted by davevv

And then people wonder why a dealer wants to be paid in advance for special ordered parts. I do have one dealer who knows me well enough that they will order anything I want without prepaying because I've dealt with them for years, bought three bikes there, and they know I won't back out on them. This is a multiline KTM/Triumph/Aprilia/Moto Guzzi deaer who also happens to keep a reasonable stock of parts on hand to service all the lines they carry. Every other dealer I've ordered parts from always wants payment in advance, and I don't blame them.

What does bother me is a dealer's reluctance to stock common parts. Honda dealers I've encountered are particularly bad about this. When I needed a front brake light switch for a 750 Nighthawk, a bike that was produced unchanged for 12 years, it had to be special ordered. I'm sure that switch was used on other Honda models of the period as well and has to be needed on a fairly regular basis just because there are a ton of them out there in service, but none of the dealers in the area had one in stock. I've even had them tell me they didn't stock a standard service item (an air filter to be exact) I needed. Dealers of other Japanese brands don't seem to be much better. And then they bitch because people buy parts off the internet instead of supporting their local dealer. If my local Eurobike and Harley dealers can afford to keep common parts in stock, why can't the Japanese brand dealers do the same?

Metro Motorsports in Phoenix--back in '98, didn't have sparkplugs for my CB650. Those sparkplugs were used on approximately a bajillion Hondas.

Triumph/Ducati Superstore (also a Kawi dealer) on 7th St in Phoenix had zero Kawasaki parts on the shelf. However, they did have a Triumph part that fit and cost a THIRD of what the part cost from Big K.

Bloody Stubbs H-D in Phoenix--parts guys that have worked there for decades and know their stuff. Keep a pretty good supply on hand.

Grand Canyon H-D in Mayer--smart parts guy and reasonable prices for o-rings. BTW, the o-ring for an early CVK carb (without the accelerator pump seal molded onto the float bowl seal) fits a Kawasaki Concours just fine, doesn't leak.

Star Island Motorsports in Prescott Valley--
Parts guys are pretty sharp with good attitudes. Know how to look up parts in the K&L catalog when they need to. Parts cost is reasonable. Bring in a print out of what you want and they will get close to the internet prices.
Service--no whining about installing an internet tire. They only asked where it was from--the ONLY tires they won't install are old (out of date) tires. I can live with that. They did what I asked them to do and had it ready when they said they would.

Powersports Outlet in Prescott--They did a great job installing a tire on my ZG1000. They had the tire on clearance for $65 and charged $20 to mount it on the bike. Really old-school dealer. One of the mechanics has a long beard--think he's the Guzzi specialist.

[NHBill]

This thread is full of some wild stories, some funny but some truly scary!

I've been using 2nd Wind BMW Triumph in Merrimack, NH for service and parts for a few years now. Bought my bike used, not from them, but they have treated me as if I had purchased 10 bikes from them, from the very first time I walked in the door.

Service dept is excellent. If the parts department doesn't have the part I'm looking for in stock, they get it promptly and ship it to me without mugging me with a huge shipping and handling fee. Prices are on par with anybody else when I have bothered to compare.

Don't know if my next bike will be either a Beemer or a Triumph, but if it is, I will absolutely talk to them first (and would probably be willing to pay a premium because of their attitude). They have earned my respect and loyalty by treating me honestly and well. Other dealers would be well served to learn from them . The average informed consumer knows when they are being fed a line of crap, why would you (as a dealer or salesperson) risk going there?

[Human Ills]

Originally Posted by rebake

The local shop won't load or tie down a bike on a trailer or truck because of the liability if it falls over,off,or out.

I always thought the general practice was the driver secures their own load.

[hooliken]

Originally Posted by davevv

This is a multiline KTM/Triumph/Aprilia/Moto Guzzi dealer

^^^^ THIS ^^^^ would be SOOOOOO bad for my bank account. Two of my top three, "next" bike, are listed above.

Originally Posted by Human Ills

I always thought the general practice was the driver secures their own load.

This is what I unstruct my folks to do. I have no issues with them helping throw a strap over a tall load, or helping a driver tarp up a load that requires it. But I make sure they all understand that the driver must be the one to secure everything, especially when it involves vendor equipment or tooling.

[Little Bike]

If you're ever in Richfield, UT there is an amazing dealership there - I think it's all Hondas, Kawas, etc. I was on a trip, they serviced my bike for $212 (did a great job), less than half what my local shop would charge and they washed my bike! They also checked the bike over for anything else and did some minor stuff for no extra charge. Except for the wash this is the kind of repair shop I remember taking my cars to years ago - people who knew exactly what they were doing and went above and beyond. Few and far between now a days.........

[redneck rider]

Originally Posted by NHBill

This thread is full of some wild stories, some funny but some truly scary!

I've been using 2nd Wind BMW Triumph in Merrimack, NH for service and parts for a few years now. Bought my bike used, not from them, but they have treated me as if I had purchased 10 bikes from them, from the very first time I walked in the door.

Service dept is excellent. If the parts department doesn't have the part I'm looking for in stock, they get it promptly and ship it to me without mugging me with a huge shipping and handling fee. Prices are on par with anybody else when I have bothered to compare.

Don't know if my next bike will be either a Beemer or a Triumph, but if it is, I will absolutely talk to them first (and would probably be willing to pay a premium because of their attitude). They have earned my respect and loyalty by treating me honestly and well. Other dealers would be well served to learn from them . The average informed consumer knows when they are being fed a line of crap, why would you (as a dealer or salesperson) risk going there?

This is really good to know. I'll have to check them out next time I need parts for my Speed Triple.

[creggur]

Originally Posted by Tome

That is one of the worst things about working in a parts dept for OE parts. The prices are set by the factory and there's nothing you can do about it, even if you know you can buy 50 million stainless bolts in various sizes on ebay for the price of 7 OE ones or the quality of an aftermarket item is the same or even better. It's not hard to 'no thanks, that's more than I'm willing to pay atm' instead of 'HOW F*****G MUCH!? THAT'S RIDICULOUS! F*** OFF!'
Although there is some satisfaction in seeing an a*****e come back when they've acquired a bolt from elsewhere and it's the wrong pitch or something and they've ruined the original part too.

Many dealers will mark the parts up from MSRP. Stopped by my local Honda dealer (where I bought the bike) to pick up an air filter for my VFR800. Didn't have it in stock, would take three days to get it, quoted me $16.00 over list price to order it. I just said no thanks and walked away. Ordered the filter for MSRP (free shipping and no sales tax) and had it at my front door two days later from a dealer that sells online... Why would I do business with their parts department?

Some dealers refuse to join the modern world. While I could almost understand them not stocking an air filter for a VFR (not too many of them on the road) the inflated price and 3 day turnaround were asking too much IMO...

[mikesova]

I don't go to the dealerships very often. 1. Because they are all over an hour from my house. 2. If I bought my bikes from dealerships, I probably couldn't afford to ride or I'd still be riding a mid 80's UJM. (Not that there's anything wrong with that)

[KungPaoDog]

I prefer small, locally owned businesses if possible.

I needed a spark plug cap, 5k ohm, 90º bend for a bike I'm working on. The auto parts stores all were very confused when I called and asked for this. I decided to try a small motorcycle shop that a couple of friends have had a hard time dealing with, and I expected a total fiasco.
Me: "Got a plug cap, 5k ohm, 90º?"
Owner: "Here's my used plug caps, pick one you want."
"Can I check the size and resistance of these?"
"Here's a multimeter & caliper"
"How much for this one?"
"How about $1.00?"

I sheepishly dug through my pockets for a moment hoping to dig up a buck. We didn't really want to charge $1.00 on a card, and said "pay me next time you come in." I dropped off $2.00 the next day. Any time I can get friendly local service like that is a win worth a tip.

Other story--> I took some oil and antifreeze to be recycled to a local (auto) tire shop that I had never visited about a month back. After the guy dumped my oil I saw him in the back of the garage bay spray down my oil pan and wipe it off. Then the guy walked over with my freshly cleaned oil pan and one of those paper board foot mats that shops put in your car and said "this is just in case there's still some residue on the bottom." They had never seen me before and treated me like an old friend. That right there got them about $1500 in business from me: 5 new tires and an alignment for my Land Cruiser. The tires were slightly more expensive than Discount across town. I'll gladly pay a little more for service like that.