Harley "Custom" Paint Defect
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,051
Likes: 50
From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
All I can say is they took care of my problems with the custom paint. It took a little time, and Dealer stood right there beside me. Key is getting the dealer on your side. You didn't respond to my offer for CustRep...so you should be able to get it worked out.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 305
Likes: 1
From: pittsburgh
UPDATE: 10/29/08
After Harley-Davidson Customer Service received the pictures of the paint blemish (same pics as thumbnails in first post), a customer service representative left the following message on my machine:
"Hi. This message is for John. John, this is (name) with Harley-Davidson customer service. I'm giving you a call. After reviewing the the pictures John, that were forwarded in. Again we are unable to make a clear determination of what possibly caused this. And again, in speaking with the dealership, the best recourse John is to have the dealership send the part in to the paint vendor to take a look, to inspect, take a look at it and make a decision how they would like to further handle. This is one of our vendor paint sets, so they would be responsible for making that decision. John, unfortunately, according to the pictures, we can't give details of how this happened, why this happened, and we haven't gotten a chance to take a clear look at the tank. So it would need to be sent in to the vendor, ahh, for them to make a decision on how they would like to handle. If you have any questions for me John... (time on machine ran out)
I then called this Harley Customer Service Rep back. I asked her "What does that mean? ...you want to find out what caused this?" She told me that they need to find out the cause now. I asked her if there was an insinuation that I caused the blemish? She replied that they are not saying that, but could not tell me that I did not cause it. She then reiterated that the dealer needs to take the tank off and send it in. I also asked her to send me an email regarding all this. The next day she sent me the following:
10/30/08
John-
To have your fuel tank of the parts & accessory paint set part number
95710-08CSZ on your 2008 Fatboy to be evaluated. Harley Davidson Motor Company
recommends to have the fuel tank shipped to the paint vendor for an inspection
and determination how this should be best handled.
Sincerely,
(name)
Customer Service Representative
414-343-4056
So they are admitting that there is a blemish, but now they need to know what caused it? I can't understand this. Should not the dealership have enough qualified personel available to be able to inform HD that it is more than likely under the clear coat?
I still contend the dealer should order a new paint set, put the tank on my bike, and then work the warranty out with HD. It is a defect.
After Harley-Davidson Customer Service received the pictures of the paint blemish (same pics as thumbnails in first post), a customer service representative left the following message on my machine:
"Hi. This message is for John. John, this is (name) with Harley-Davidson customer service. I'm giving you a call. After reviewing the the pictures John, that were forwarded in. Again we are unable to make a clear determination of what possibly caused this. And again, in speaking with the dealership, the best recourse John is to have the dealership send the part in to the paint vendor to take a look, to inspect, take a look at it and make a decision how they would like to further handle. This is one of our vendor paint sets, so they would be responsible for making that decision. John, unfortunately, according to the pictures, we can't give details of how this happened, why this happened, and we haven't gotten a chance to take a clear look at the tank. So it would need to be sent in to the vendor, ahh, for them to make a decision on how they would like to handle. If you have any questions for me John... (time on machine ran out)
I then called this Harley Customer Service Rep back. I asked her "What does that mean? ...you want to find out what caused this?" She told me that they need to find out the cause now. I asked her if there was an insinuation that I caused the blemish? She replied that they are not saying that, but could not tell me that I did not cause it. She then reiterated that the dealer needs to take the tank off and send it in. I also asked her to send me an email regarding all this. The next day she sent me the following:
10/30/08
John-
To have your fuel tank of the parts & accessory paint set part number
95710-08CSZ on your 2008 Fatboy to be evaluated. Harley Davidson Motor Company
recommends to have the fuel tank shipped to the paint vendor for an inspection
and determination how this should be best handled.
Sincerely,
(name)
Customer Service Representative
414-343-4056
So they are admitting that there is a blemish, but now they need to know what caused it? I can't understand this. Should not the dealership have enough qualified personel available to be able to inform HD that it is more than likely under the clear coat?
I still contend the dealer should order a new paint set, put the tank on my bike, and then work the warranty out with HD. It is a defect.
I think that's what I was trying to say. Neither Caliber nor Platinum One will do a sight-unseen warranty. It sucks but that's that. Even when a dealer (ME) claims a defect (A CHIP ON A FENDER EDGE) they still wanted me to return the fender for evaluation. They touched it up. It came out of the box and was packed right back up for a new paint job. The customer was never even told about that near insult.
I know that you'll get satisfaction I just wish that for all of our sakes it wasn't so difficult.
Art
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 305
Likes: 1
From: pittsburgh
Don't get too attached to number of posts = title.
Go to www.harleychatgroup.com. My title is admin. And I'd be glad to fetch you a beer as soon as I'm done with your wife and need one for myself too.
Go to www.harleychatgroup.com. My title is admin. And I'd be glad to fetch you a beer as soon as I'm done with your wife and need one for myself too.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 2
Don't get too attached to number of posts = title.
Go to www.harleychatgroup.com. My title is admin. And I'd be glad to fetch you a beer as soon as I'm done with your wife and need one for myself too.
Go to www.harleychatgroup.com. My title is admin. And I'd be glad to fetch you a beer as soon as I'm done with your wife and need one for myself too.
Your name has propect on it, prospect it is. Not my fault.
You mean you'll fetch my beer when she's done shoving that ***** you requested up your chili hole.
Last edited by badinfluence63; Nov 3, 2008 at 01:24 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: S.E. Michigan
The fact of the matter is ..you paid good money for this,, and its not right, It would drive me crazy,even if no one else noticed it, I would know its there, and I would have its repaired without question. Tim
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,823
Likes: 2
From: THE MARITIMES Canada
Whether he is right or wrong doesn't matter to the factory. I know it matters to you and me, but to HD it doesn't. They have a 3 foot rule on their factory paint - if you can't see it from 3 feet away, they won't fix it - no it's not remotely fair, but that's what they go by. Sadly a custom set of tins can be passed off to the painter, so HD still doesn't have to help....unless they are in a very generous mood. I once saw a sporty come in with a long black hair under the clearcoat, HD refused to fix it, because it was far enough down the side of the tank, that when you backed up over 3 feet you couldn't see it.
Last edited by Sam; Nov 3, 2008 at 06:55 PM.
Greetings all... I'm new to this great bulleting board and decided I'd like to chime in (if it's okay). I'm a long time Harley rider and I love them like I love my wife. My most recent aquisition is a new '09 Sunglo Street Glide. I purchased this bike through the military overseas sales program (20+ year active duty Navy... still going strong) when I was stationed in Greece. This is one BAD ride. Long story short, I came home from a particularly dirty ride last night and decided I should wash my new scoot up before I went to bed. When I was polishing the tank guess what I found? I THUMB PRINT right on the top of the fuel tank, just to the left of the chrome console. We're talking "Zone A" here, on the top, clearly visible from the rider's position. Unfortunately not visible from 3' away. My dilemma is that I didn't purchase this bike from a dealer but via the military overseas sales program. I sent my POC an email and I'm waiting to hear back from her. They're usually pretty good about things like this so hopefully they'll just tell me to take it to the nearest dealer and have a new tank bolted on. I'll tell you, it makes me sick. One more thing... I've noticed that the frame tubes, just after of the aft head, under the seat and near the tranny, have a rather rough texture, almost like the steel was corroded and some just painted over them. Check your frame and tell me if your's exhibits the same symptoms. Right in the vicinity of the pannier covers. It really disenchants with me the entire "Harley Experience." This is my 4th Hog, and my 3rd new bike. Thoughts...?
Brad
Brad
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,053
Likes: 5
From: Southern IL
Don't get too attached to number of posts = title.
Go to www.harleychatgroup.com. My title is admin. And I'd be glad to fetch you a beer as soon as I'm done with your wife and need one for myself too.
Go to www.harleychatgroup.com. My title is admin. And I'd be glad to fetch you a beer as soon as I'm done with your wife and need one for myself too.