Anybody else get teed off over this?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Anybody else get teed off over this?
OK here are my two pet peeves.
#1 Most people are angry that dealers charge so much.
I'm not, I have no problem paying a higher price for quality parts and or service... My problem is I put my Bones into the dealer 7 weeks ago for some minor things (windshield, put stock seat back on, detachable sissy bar and 2000 mile service) 7 weeks and still no bike... First it was "well the bolt didnt come in, it's on back order" - come on 4 weeks to get a two inch long 3/8 bolt??? Man you could have called, I would have gone down to the hardware store for you.. Then it was "The wrong windshield came in"... Really? Its the only windshied trimmed in black you sell...
#2 Then he asks "I see you still have $2000 left on your Harley Credit, you should check out our jackets and boots, because we are having a sale". When I said NO THANK YOU, you should have seen the look he gave me..
This kills me, I am not going to spend $500 on your jacket with YOUR name on it and advertise for you for free... Harley should pay us to advertise... I dont go buy Ford or GE jackets (and other stuff) and promote them...
I have no problem with people who wear advertising, that is OK, just don't get pissed off with me because I decide not too...
Ok I'm done bitchin now....
#1 Most people are angry that dealers charge so much.
I'm not, I have no problem paying a higher price for quality parts and or service... My problem is I put my Bones into the dealer 7 weeks ago for some minor things (windshield, put stock seat back on, detachable sissy bar and 2000 mile service) 7 weeks and still no bike... First it was "well the bolt didnt come in, it's on back order" - come on 4 weeks to get a two inch long 3/8 bolt??? Man you could have called, I would have gone down to the hardware store for you.. Then it was "The wrong windshield came in"... Really? Its the only windshied trimmed in black you sell...
#2 Then he asks "I see you still have $2000 left on your Harley Credit, you should check out our jackets and boots, because we are having a sale". When I said NO THANK YOU, you should have seen the look he gave me..
This kills me, I am not going to spend $500 on your jacket with YOUR name on it and advertise for you for free... Harley should pay us to advertise... I dont go buy Ford or GE jackets (and other stuff) and promote them...
I have no problem with people who wear advertising, that is OK, just don't get pissed off with me because I decide not too...
Ok I'm done bitchin now....
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 754
Likes: 24
From: Southern Maine
That's why I learned how to do my own work years ago. When you rely on others to do work for you, you will get let down eventually. Just the way things are. Never put your stuff in the hands of others unless you have to. Just my 2 cents.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 105
Likes: 2
From: Missouri
This kills me, I am not going to spend $500 on your jacket with YOUR name on it and advertise for you for free... Harley should pay us to advertise... I dont go buy Ford or GE jackets (and other stuff) and promote them...
No s$$t you can't buy anything nowdays with out a name on it
No s$$t you can't buy anything nowdays with out a name on it
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 41
From: So Cal
Your Dealer sucks.... you should have picked it up at most 2 days after you dropper it off if it was not done and either found another Dealer or better yet ordered the parts on line from Chicago, Surdyke or Zannottis if they were HD parts and done the work your self. For what you are having done its only an hour or so with basic tools
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 682
Likes: 1
From: In the World
live and learn
Once I leave a stealership with a new bike...I don't go back. Unless I have a major system catastrophe they never see me again after hand them the cash for the bike.
Find a local well equipped m/c shop where you can build a relationship with an experienced wrench-turner....when you need maintenance or mods you can't or don't want to do yourself ...take it to the independent shop. Buy your parts online....by pass the stealership and save time, money and avoid stress. If you don't know a good shop...find out where your m/c cops take their machines...more than likely cops won't take their bikes to dealers...too expensive and poor quality service. The three HD stealerships near me are all shtt...I would not trust them to tighten a single nut on something that takes me
down the road at 80 mph on two wheels.
Find a local well equipped m/c shop where you can build a relationship with an experienced wrench-turner....when you need maintenance or mods you can't or don't want to do yourself ...take it to the independent shop. Buy your parts online....by pass the stealership and save time, money and avoid stress. If you don't know a good shop...find out where your m/c cops take their machines...more than likely cops won't take their bikes to dealers...too expensive and poor quality service. The three HD stealerships near me are all shtt...I would not trust them to tighten a single nut on something that takes me
down the road at 80 mph on two wheels.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,173
Likes: 177
From: East Coast
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Tourer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 293
Likes: 1
From: Inland Empire
My local dealer knows less about parts and repairs for my bike than I do. They never seem to be able to diagnose and repair a problem or find me the correct part. I get far better help here on HD forums than at my dealer. The only advantage the dealer has is access to all the right tools and I'm working on that.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 738
Likes: 6
From: Brigham City, Utah
Man, I don't know what is up with the local dealer here that I use. In the winter time they come down, pick your ride up and trailer it back to the shop for what ever you want them to do.
Last year I sent my 98 Sportster up for a 29 tooth sprocket, 20,000 mile service, replace some worn/old cables and a few other things....1 week later I got a call it was done.
Dropped out the Sportster and picked up my 06 SB for a 15,000 mile service, do some mods here and there and again about a week and very affordable considering what I was having done.
This summer I collected parts of a 88 to 95 inch build on the SB. Took my box of collected parts up, talked to the tech and he was impressed at my selection of heads, cams, pistons and what not.
Made arrangements to have the bike again trailer ed up to Saddleback in Logan, Utah on a Friday morning. Saturday afternoon I get a call from the tech that he is almost done and will be by that night...but we need to talk about A/C as the motor wasn't going to be getting enough air.
Up graded to SE A/C, retro chrome cover, new bearings and they discounted what they could here and there as well.
Went up and it wasn't quite what I expected sound wise, tech told me about BCT Baffles so I ordered them up and had them shipped straight away. They installed the BCT baffles at no charge to boot.
They would have keep the bike stored all winter for free but I wanted to get it home so I could play with it.
Just bought a 1998 Fatboy I am going to have them pick up and take it to the shop for a good once over and some mods like add the headlight Nacelle.
Karsten
Last year I sent my 98 Sportster up for a 29 tooth sprocket, 20,000 mile service, replace some worn/old cables and a few other things....1 week later I got a call it was done.
Dropped out the Sportster and picked up my 06 SB for a 15,000 mile service, do some mods here and there and again about a week and very affordable considering what I was having done.
This summer I collected parts of a 88 to 95 inch build on the SB. Took my box of collected parts up, talked to the tech and he was impressed at my selection of heads, cams, pistons and what not.
Made arrangements to have the bike again trailer ed up to Saddleback in Logan, Utah on a Friday morning. Saturday afternoon I get a call from the tech that he is almost done and will be by that night...but we need to talk about A/C as the motor wasn't going to be getting enough air.
Up graded to SE A/C, retro chrome cover, new bearings and they discounted what they could here and there as well.
Went up and it wasn't quite what I expected sound wise, tech told me about BCT Baffles so I ordered them up and had them shipped straight away. They installed the BCT baffles at no charge to boot.
They would have keep the bike stored all winter for free but I wanted to get it home so I could play with it.
Just bought a 1998 Fatboy I am going to have them pick up and take it to the shop for a good once over and some mods like add the headlight Nacelle.
Karsten
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Usually I do small repairs my self.
In this instance I had just bought the bike from a guy (he is in Afghanistan) so since he hadn't rode it for about 8 months and it was due for the 2000 maintenance, I figured I would take it in to have it checked out and also they would have a record of it being in my name.
Also my shop is about 30 miles from my home so driving up there in the snow is a pain in the ****...
I am waiting to see what they charge me for labor, the parts, inspection and the maintenance will come out to around $850...
ONE good thing that came out of it is that he said he will Grease up the front forks for "free" so I don't have to bring it back at 2500 miles...
Most of the labor (about 3 hours) is included in the price of the maintenance fee. The rest (all bolt on stuff) shouldn't take more than an hour and a half..
While I was there I noticed a small piece of paper on the wall that said "winter special, 15% off all parts and labor. He never mentioned this so it will be interesting to see if he brings it up at bill paying time...
I guess since he will probably have it for over 2 months, I shouldn't complain, after all I'm getting "winter Storage" for free...
In this instance I had just bought the bike from a guy (he is in Afghanistan) so since he hadn't rode it for about 8 months and it was due for the 2000 maintenance, I figured I would take it in to have it checked out and also they would have a record of it being in my name.
Also my shop is about 30 miles from my home so driving up there in the snow is a pain in the ****...
I am waiting to see what they charge me for labor, the parts, inspection and the maintenance will come out to around $850...
ONE good thing that came out of it is that he said he will Grease up the front forks for "free" so I don't have to bring it back at 2500 miles...
Most of the labor (about 3 hours) is included in the price of the maintenance fee. The rest (all bolt on stuff) shouldn't take more than an hour and a half..
While I was there I noticed a small piece of paper on the wall that said "winter special, 15% off all parts and labor. He never mentioned this so it will be interesting to see if he brings it up at bill paying time...
I guess since he will probably have it for over 2 months, I shouldn't complain, after all I'm getting "winter Storage" for free...