Frusteration at dealer
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 291
Likes: 3
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Frustrating to say the least. I'm lucky that my dealership seems to put a premium on quality service. They're a little slow but I will assume that's because they're taking the time to do it right. Mine's been in for service 4 times and once for a warranty repair on a oil line and they've been stellar every time. I wouldn't expect anything less for the money they charge!
At least your capable of taking things into your own hands so your dealings with them will be limited . I really feel sorry for the guys or girls that have no choice but to take their bikes to these guys.
At least your capable of taking things into your own hands so your dealings with them will be limited . I really feel sorry for the guys or girls that have no choice but to take their bikes to these guys.
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, OH
that truly blows. totally ruins the new bike experience.
I am really, really lucky I suppose. We bought our bikes a couple of hundred miles away from Columbus, but have always gotten service at AD Farrow/North. Nothing but perfection from these folks.
true, I have spent quite a bit of money there on parts and installation, so that always helps their attitude, but I have had a couple of minor warranty issues that HD balked at where the dealership went to bat and got them taken care of for me.
I have watched how the guys in the service department treat bikes, mine and others. they are so very careful not to scratch or ding anything on the bike. after service, they wipe the bikes down meticulously to ensure they look as good as when the bikes were ridden into the service area.
there is absolutely NO excuse for the type of bad service you have received. HD service is expensive as hell, so they can certainly afford to hire and train the highest quality people available, and avoid stupid blunders like those you experienced.
I am really, really lucky I suppose. We bought our bikes a couple of hundred miles away from Columbus, but have always gotten service at AD Farrow/North. Nothing but perfection from these folks.
true, I have spent quite a bit of money there on parts and installation, so that always helps their attitude, but I have had a couple of minor warranty issues that HD balked at where the dealership went to bat and got them taken care of for me.
I have watched how the guys in the service department treat bikes, mine and others. they are so very careful not to scratch or ding anything on the bike. after service, they wipe the bikes down meticulously to ensure they look as good as when the bikes were ridden into the service area.
there is absolutely NO excuse for the type of bad service you have received. HD service is expensive as hell, so they can certainly afford to hire and train the highest quality people available, and avoid stupid blunders like those you experienced.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
I hear you HellFish...what bugs me the most is that dealers are just getting crapper and crapper, and that pulls HD's name to shame. HD needs to implement a strong dealer quality control!!
Although I have not had this much trouble with the dealers around me, I rather take my business to one of the local indy shops, they are cheaper, offer better customer service, and are more upfront. they servive on great customer service. I do not expect to be treated like a king, but I do expect better treatment than most dealers give you.
Wished dealers would realise that they would make more money if people would keep coming back to them lol.
Me too I am trying to start to do more and more myself on the bike. especially the service articles.
Although I have not had this much trouble with the dealers around me, I rather take my business to one of the local indy shops, they are cheaper, offer better customer service, and are more upfront. they servive on great customer service. I do not expect to be treated like a king, but I do expect better treatment than most dealers give you.
Wished dealers would realise that they would make more money if people would keep coming back to them lol.
Me too I am trying to start to do more and more myself on the bike. especially the service articles.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 4
From: GA
There is ONE mechanic I trust at the dealership and use him for some stuff. Other than that, I have a local indy who is wonderful and I use him for almost everything - great prices, years and years of experience and treats the bikes like they are his own. I do some stuff myself, but my mechanical skills are limited so I stay away from the more complex things.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Carollton, Texas
Glad to know its not just me! There are suite a few dealers around my area in TX so next time I go in for parts I'm going to cruise out to the Denton location. Sucks because this dealer I'm working with is like 2 miles from my house ...oh well, nice excuse for a ride 
...but I'll def be wrenching myself. Between the service manual and a couple of friends and a 12 pack ...anything is possible!!
...but I'll def be wrenching myself. Between the service manual and a couple of friends and a 12 pack ...anything is possible!!
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: Pearland, Texas
Between your friends, the service manual and this board you'll be just fine on most everything.
Besides saving some money working on the bike yourself helps build valuable working knowledge for those few and far between problems on the road. Not to mention that wrenching on the bike is fun. Especially with a 12 pack.
Besides saving some money working on the bike yourself helps build valuable working knowledge for those few and far between problems on the road. Not to mention that wrenching on the bike is fun. Especially with a 12 pack.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 911
Likes: 3
From: Venice, FL
I feel your pain, We have got the crappiest service dept in the whole state of Fla locally, They are just a bunch of idiots that I would not let work on my push mower. Now about the parts Dept, well, I won't even go there. You would think that in this economy that they would care a little more about giving substandard service leading to customer loss. I let them do my 1000 mile and have done all my own wrenching since.
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 694
Likes: 2
From: indiana
Between your friends, the service manual and this board you'll be just fine on most everything.
Besides saving some money working on the bike yourself helps build valuable working knowledge for those few and far between problems on the road. Not to mention that wrenching on the bike is fun. Especially with a 12 pack.
Besides saving some money working on the bike yourself helps build valuable working knowledge for those few and far between problems on the road. Not to mention that wrenching on the bike is fun. Especially with a 12 pack.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
this is exactly why I go to my local independant. He's a long time Harley mechanic who figured he could only do the quality work he wanted his name attached to by going out on his own. He treats everyone who walks through the door as the most important customer he has. His rates are lower, the quality is second to none and knows you made a choice to bring your work (money) to him verses another shop and acknowledges it. I'm out of the warranty trap so I don't have to go to the stealership and I don't. We had one shop here that had gotten so many complaints about it's service department that Harley pulled there francise. I don't know how long that took, but complaints apparently do get listened to. Since you have to continue to go to the dealership to keep your warranty valid my only advise to you would be to document everything. When something isn't done correctly push that issue up the food chain both through HD and your states Better Business Bureau. I work in an industry that has to answer to the PUC (Public Utilities Commision) and I will tell you that the "squeeky wheel" usually does get the attention. You paid a lot of money... make sure they (the dealership mangagement and owners) know you will make a lot of noise when you feel mistreated. Good luck.