For some who have copious amounts of money, and don't want to dirty their fingernails, don't know a box wrench from a Phillips screwdriver, afraid to do anything to their bike for fear of voiding the warranty (that isn't worth the paper it's written on anyway. My opinion) a dealership is often the choice. No problem there. On the flip side, not everyone is rolling in it and they expect their money's worth.

However, paying for parts and services that weren't done, or were done poorly requiring yet another visit, then the dealership qualifies as a Stealership since they are in essence stealing from the customer. If they substitute something for something else, for instance the fluid changes, whose to know, right? Or you specifically ask for one type, and they use another whose to know? That still amounts to theft. And if they substitute for fluids, whose to say they're not substituting for other things which you paid for?

There are many threads dealing with these dealership's incompetence, one recently:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...d-o-rings.html

And how about the sticky at the top of the page for this section of the forum:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...periences.html

So whether or not you have disdain for the use of the word Stealership is irrelevant. The fact remains there are many out there that qualify as Stealerships. If your dealing with one that had done well for you, good for you. Just remember, they all are not the same!

 

I can only imagine.

 

Half a life time with the same dealership. Lot of miles on the road . I have never had a problem with a dealership. Some people create their own problems.

 

Same with me and with the term "Cagers."

 

This has to be a common thing in all industry. If you have ever worked in the sales or service field I guarantee someone has thought you were unreasonable or a thief. You may think oh, I don't charge to much, my work is perfect and so on, but someone, somewhere, thinks you are a cheat when all you were doing was trying to make a paycheck and keep the lights on.

 

Yup, know the owner. Used to ride with him (back when he was married.)

Rode to Laughlin with he and his brother, back in '96. Fun times!

 

Oh boy, there would be A LOT more republicans if this were the case. A lot more.

 

I get that, and generally agree. I'm not much of a customer for HD dealerships. I've probably not spent $250 total at them. But that doesn't mean I haven't figured out which parts guys know their chit and which ones don't.

My only objection to the term "stealership" is what you might call linguistic in nature. I don't think the problem, where it exists, has anything to do with stealing. Most of what I hear is more about incompetence, indifference, and maybe arrogance.

 

Dealership service is expensive, they are a business, not a charity. I can do routine maintenance myself for much less, even including tool purchases along the way, and still come out on top. The only thing I've paid dealership service depts. for is tire changes and inspections. So I was a little peeved one year when I got back home and found the front pinch bolt about to fall out because the nut was almost off.

There are serious costs to run a dealership. I haven't had a job come up yet that I couldn't do, but if one does, I know it's gonna cost me.

 

Understandable, think my attitude firmed the day I took mine in for a couple simple warranty issues and the bastards with a straight face gouged me just shy of $500 for a rear tire as I had picked up something within a block of their driveway, head of the bolt wasn't scratched up yet.

Marking up parts 10-15% over factory list just because they have them in stock is stealing money from a customer, sorry that's my take on that bit of nonsense it's downright predatory.