They charge as much as crazy people pay them.
I would sell rusty nails for $1000 each if I could find buyers.
Everybody will screw you as much as you let them.

 

I've never had a single dealer problem and never had a single dealer employee be anything but nice.
And I have met No one In the real world that has had serious dealer issues,,
I only read about this stuff on forums,,funny,,or not

 

I have a personal view of why "some" dealerships have problems with their service department. First of all a good majority of them haven't had a lot of experience wrenching. If you notice now days they are referred to as a "Technician" look at the definition of the word:
A technician is generally someone in a technological field who has a relatively practical understanding of the general theoretical principles of that field, e.g., as compared to an engineer in that field.

Now back when I grew up auto or motorcycle were referred to as mechanics:
A mechanic is a craftsman who uses tools to repair machinery. Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics.

Now take a look at the average whiner opps sorry rider that takes it in for some reason or another. Umm, well, umm gee it makes a funny noise when I do this or that kinda a clunk, thunk, whine, hum, buzzing noise from somewhere. Well crickets on a cracker who the hell can figure that out. They obviously don't ride bitch so you can show them when or how it happens.

All you have to do is look around the forum and see what they have to deal with daily. How do I put air in my tires, what do I do if my light burns out, should I run 87, 89, 91 and with or without ethanol, what do you do with your gas cap when you fill up. Honestly I don't expect everyone to be a mechanic but ffs at least learn the basics. What the heck are you gonna do if you out in BF nowhere and something happens. Oh yeah, should I wave or not.

Sales people are sales people. Unless they don't work on commission they are working to make something above minimum wage. Attitude??? Who here can honestly say they have never, ever given a customer or client a bit of attitude? Everyone has crappy days and if some of the whining that goes on in the forums goes on in the dealership how the heck would feel?

Sorry for my rant. I do agree with SOCAL and SOCAL btw congrats on your 10-7.

 

I give credit where it is due with good dealerships and likewise I will never give my money to a lousty dealership with lousy service. So far three are great in my area, and one was lousy... Cycle Stop in Rochester, NY. I will never buy anything from Cycle Stop nor will I go there for any service... but I will drive further to those that were good dealerships... Arkport, Harv's Harley and Gowanda.

 

My problem with dealers is rather narrow. Its not the prices, since you don't have to pay a cent if you don't want to. You can always do it yourself...and I do. And it's not quality of work. Most of my buddies who have their bikes serviced exclusively at dealers have great luck and almost never an issue. What a person would expect. My problem is how dealers have blatantly turned there backs on bikers to cater to fools. The very bikers who for decades has supported the Moco with unyielding loyalty, only to be crapped on and ignored unless they constantly keep buying brand new bikes and have them serviced under warranty at the dealers. God forbid you ride an Shovel or Pan, but many dealers aren't even stocking Evo parts any more. So yeah, I have an issue going to a dealer and being told they can order it for me. Hell, I can order it myself...for allot less. How about carrying more motorcycle parts and less fashion gear. Then maybe I'd spend more time saluting the moco.

 

Did you see the stickies at the top of the chat page?

Good dealer experiences: comments 1,061

bad dealer experience: comments 1,124

Goes both ways when appropriate.

I have a dealer about ten minutes from my house. I won't go there because they are arrogant and overcharge.

I support a dealer that is thirty miles to the south of me because they are friendly and helpful and don't overcharge.

Pretty simple when you do the math.

 

Ummmm . . . . Do you still have any of those nails left? I might be interested - but I'm not going any lower than $1200.

 

You can't please everyone when your a dealer. Then those that aren't happy run their mouth.

 

Same reason why politicians get a bad rap. Because for every honest one, there are 1000 crooks. And like politicians, when your money passes through their hands, you seem to get very little, if anything, in return.

 

took my deuce in last spring for 25,000 mi. service, rear upper heat shield was scratched up so the service manager told me the pipes were discontinued and he would try and locate one called back a month later and was told they would have to give me a new set of pipes. decided to have them re-chrome my rear heat shield instead. took it in, waited, called back a month later and was told the sheild came back flawed so they sent it to the chromers again. waited some more, a month later i called and was told the chromer lost the sheild and they would have to replace the whole system after all. after i cooled off for another month i went in for a face to face with the service manager, as i aws walking to the service department i noticed another deuce on the showroom floor and decided to have a look at it, just for grins. low and behold teh deuce they had had the same exhaust system as mine. when the 'new' service manager came out i told him about the deuce on the floor, we went and had a look and fifteen minutes later he handed me the rear sheild and asked if i wanted them to put it on, i thanked him and declined his offer and asked how much i owed him, he smiled and said, "nothing", and apololgized for the delays. did i get good service ? Took it in for 30,000 mi. service, ( under warranty 'til next april ), they found the steering bearings were notched, (might have been over tightened at 25,000 mi. service ), they replaced the neck bearings, at no cost. did i get good service ? You decide, i'll ride.