Would you stand for this?
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,523
Likes: 3,953
From: Vermont
Would you stand for this?
Of course there are two sides to each story, and I'm only hearing one side, but here's how the story goes:
Customer traveling and attending a rally close by needs a tire change. A dealership is changing his tire. The tech changing his tire smashes the axle and splits it so it needs replacing. The dealership doesn't have the axle in stock so calls our dealership (we stock just about everything
) and wants it shipped to them. Dealership tells customer, "Got one coming, we'll have it here Tuesday." Customer says, "No good, I'm leaving tomorrow." So the dealership tells him if he drives to our dealership and gets the part, they'll put it in. So, now to my point.....the customer arrives and tells the story, dealership is making him pay for the axle and says that it is considered an "incidental" and it's not their fault. Not only did he have to drive to us to get it so he can leave on his way home, he had to pay for it. Again, I only have his side of the story, but I told him no way in hell would I pay for it and I would want 15% off the service for having to drive an hour each way to get the part! Bike is an 01 Road King. Evidently the axle hasn't been properly anti-seized in the past.
Customer traveling and attending a rally close by needs a tire change. A dealership is changing his tire. The tech changing his tire smashes the axle and splits it so it needs replacing. The dealership doesn't have the axle in stock so calls our dealership (we stock just about everything
) and wants it shipped to them. Dealership tells customer, "Got one coming, we'll have it here Tuesday." Customer says, "No good, I'm leaving tomorrow." So the dealership tells him if he drives to our dealership and gets the part, they'll put it in. So, now to my point.....the customer arrives and tells the story, dealership is making him pay for the axle and says that it is considered an "incidental" and it's not their fault. Not only did he have to drive to us to get it so he can leave on his way home, he had to pay for it. Again, I only have his side of the story, but I told him no way in hell would I pay for it and I would want 15% off the service for having to drive an hour each way to get the part! Bike is an 01 Road King. Evidently the axle hasn't been properly anti-seized in the past.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 13
From: MA
After what I've seen from some Harley dealers, I completely believe the customer. The customer is also a fool for a) paying for the axel and b) driving to go get it! He should have told the dealer, you broke it so you pay for it and go get it.
Never fails to amaze me at what some sheep...I mean people will put up with. Which is why the dealers have no problem pulling this crap.
Never fails to amaze me at what some sheep...I mean people will put up with. Which is why the dealers have no problem pulling this crap.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 22
From: Denham Springs, La
Sounds like the guy got a raw deal. I can't imagine a dealer tearing up my **** then wanting me to pay for it much less, go get the part for them. Sounds like a good area to open a dealership or good indie if that's the way they do business.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX - Some call it heaven.
I dunno. Anyone who has ever done any wrenching has had stuff break. It happens, and it ain't always the mechanic's fault. Especially when the axle has not had proper maintenance done in the past.
If you were in business, would you eat the part every time something broke, even if it wasn't your fault? If you did, then you'd have to charge everybody else a higher rate to make up for it.
If you were in business, would you eat the part every time something broke, even if it wasn't your fault? If you did, then you'd have to charge everybody else a higher rate to make up for it.
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,523
Likes: 3,953
From: Vermont
If the axle was frozen, it's good business practice for the tech to get with the service writer to go and speak with the customer and explain that the axle is frozen and if it breaks coming out, then he will need another axle at his cost. Again, I don't know both sides of the story, but I'd certainly work with the customer.
Trending Topics
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: PSL florida
Not sure how you could smash and split the axle unless it was already damaged and corroded but the tech should of showed him the poor condition of the axle and explained why it split if that was the case. I would think it would be very easy to tell if it was already in poor condition or if the tech was just a crappy neanderthal hammer tech
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
From: The Real World
Yep, there's always the other side. If the dealer thought ahead he'd have still charged for the part (assuming it was broken because it was ceised) but fetched it for the guy. That way the customer goes away happy and tells everyone what good service he recieved and everyone wins.
