Teachable Moment

Went to the Dealership on Saturday to get a new rear tire. 30 miles away. Paid $150.00, tax, tag & title, out the door. Drove the 30 miles back home - heard a "scraping" sound, pulled over, noted rear caliper hanging by the brake line. (No wonder rear brake lever suddenly felt "soft".) Called them up - Can you get the bike back to us they say - I say no. Well I can't think of anything we can do they say - I say think harder. Well they sent the kid out who did the work. He reinstalled the caliper, replaced the missing bolts, went over the whole thing, kept calling me "Sir", and was extremely apologetic. So now, do I go there again? Or when I do go, I insist that this kid does the work? I trust when the kid got back to work, he went over the other bikes in the shop he was working on, and maybe left his earbuds in his pocket.

janitorj1 wrote:

Went to the Dealership on Saturday to get a new rear tire.  30 miles away.  Paid $150.00, tax, tag & title, out the door.  Drove the 30 miles back home - heard a "scraping" sound, pulled over, noted rear caliper hanging by the brake line.  (No wonder rear brake lever suddenly felt "soft".)  Called them up - Can you get the bike back to us they say - I say no.  Well I can't think of anything we can do they say - I say think harder.  Well they sent the kid out who did the work.  He reinstalled the caliper, replaced the missing bolts, went over the whole thing, kept calling me "Sir", and was extremely apologetic.  So now, do I go there again?  Or when I do go, I insist that this kid does the work?  I trust when the kid got back to work, he went over the other bikes in the shop he was working on, and maybe left his earbuds in his pocket.

Forgive and forget (this time). We all make mistakes. Who knows what was on his mind. Who knows what kind of cross he's carrying....

Forgive and forget (this time). We all make mistakes. Who knows what was on his mind. Who knows what kind of cross he's carrying..<<<<<<<<<<<< That maybe true for you but we are talking about a major safety component that he paid someone to attend to while changing the tire. Notice the company response, doesn't say much for them either. I can relate to other work done stories

He didn't test ride his work. I would pay for the tire, but refuse to pay for the work, regardless that he traveled to complete the job.

Let the dealer offer "please give us another chance." By calling the service manager and stating your concern, let the silence on the phone do it's work until the service manager decides to do the right thing and refund you for the service work that was inadequately performed.

I will say this: $150 for a tire installed when they take the tire off the bike is a pretty good deal for my area of the country.

Teachable moment indeed.

To rely on others is to seek disappointment.


My 2¢: Given all the experience & work you've done on your scoot, you might consider removing the wheels and taking them to the dealer to have a new tire installed. Then reinstalling the wheel and caliper(s) yourself. Not only will you save money, but knowing that the dealer didn't have Denny Dickfingers service your scoot, you'll know that job is done correctly.

Tim

To rely on others is to seek disappointment. True for the most part but if not for others somethings never would get done, going through that right now, waiting on help for something I need to do that takes two to make it easier.

Funny not except for one instance lately things I've paid others to do on vehicles that were fails are oil changes and tire rotation, ALL at a dealership (s) My belief was they hire the cheapest they can with little to no experience and let them have at it, oh no they say he is a registered ----- tech. Retrain him I said.

When having new tyres fitted, I always remove the wheel and take it to(in my case, a tyre company that only deals in motorcycle tyres) I stand and watch them remove the old tyre,clean the wheel, and fit and balance the new tyre with a new valve fitted. It usually costs me £60. I would Never trust anyone to remove and refit a wheel, it is my life at stake after all.

£60 to me thats robbery

oldwingguy wrote:

Forgive and forget (this time). We all make mistakes. Who knows what was on his mind. Who knows what kind of cross he's carrying..<<<<<<<<<<<< That maybe true for you but we are talking about a major safety component that he paid someone to attend to while changing the tire. Notice the company response, doesn't say much for them either. I can relate to other work done stories

I agree the company's response could have been better. The employee was apologetic and treated him with much respect. What else can one do, burn him at the stake?

No need to burn just hope it doesn't happen again. One dealership sent the tech on his own time to clean up the oil mess he left me with on one vehicle.

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

Teachable moment indeed.

To rely on others is to seek disappointment.


My 2¢: Given all the experience & work you've done on your scoot, you might consider removing the wheels and taking them to the dealer to have a new tire installed. Then reinstalling the wheel and caliper(s) yourself. Not only will you save money, but knowing that the dealer didn't have Denny Dickfingers service your scoot, you'll know that job is done correctly.

Tim

This is what I did when I got my SWing back from FL 3 years ago. I brought the tires in and had them replace and balance them. Then I brought them back home in a couple of days and reinstalled them myself.

Why is £60 robbery?. How much do you pay for your Bridgestone hoops?

You did not say that included the tyre last one i bought was £25 i fitted it myself i have a new front one too that was the same money still to be fitted when i get round to it but normal cost would be around £50

I thought anyone reading my post would realise of course I meant they supplied the tyre. I have been using the same people for my tyres for at least 10years. The last time I bought a tyre for my Deauville ( about 1998 I paid £84). Sharples was a well known supplier and fitter of Motorcycle tyres in the North West (Bolton). When they stopped fitting tyres, and just supplied tyres, their fitters started a company in Little Lever called B& C tyres they have a very good reputation. If you can buy Bridgestone hoops for £25 I would very much like to know where from as we both live in the North West of England. I'am just about ready for a new front tyre so please tell.

you got to watch ebay thats where i got them from

I watch eBay daily, buy all my filters, oil, and motorbike clothing. They have tyres currently at 58 pounds which does Not include fitting and balancing. Ihave never seen any tyres for 27pounds in the 7 years I have had Silver wings. Enough said I think.

Not watching Ebay enough then all I can say I bought both these within the last six months at £25 each plus post.
Sorry my mistake it was for the rear hoop £27.99 from Tyre demon ltd inc post i just looked them up in my paypal history and for the front as stated £25 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Front-tyre-for-Silverwing-Scooter-120-80-14-Brigestone-Hoop-58S-/331988506640?nma=true&si=rGvQmzl%252Bxbedne%252BCm3skgRJKSO0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Guess thats a slam dunk then HO HO HO

yet another cheap rear tyre http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112284444966?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

bought for £30 + post

I also believe it's best to take the wheels to the tire supplier and let them mount and balance them. Take them off and reinstall them yourself. As already said it's cheaper and it's your body on the bike. I used to remove and install the tires on my Goldwing's wheels but these days I'd prefer to have someone else do the job. My current scooter with its open center rear wheel doesn't lend itself to hand balancing. The SW is easy to do.

I've been away from the forum for a bit: recovering and dealing with insurance headaches. I had a similar experience to janitorj (op) 's. I took my VLX 600 ( first bike) for a rear tyre change to a local shop recommended by a fellow rider. On the ride back from the shop, I got a hot metallic smell when I stopped at the lights. And then the bike just slowed right down to a crawl. I pulled over and found the rear hub was very hot. The rear brake drum had heated and tightened during the short ride. The guy who worked on the tyre change did not check the rear brake function afterwards.
I told the shop owner what happened, and he was non-committal and blase. Needless to say, I never returned.
Jay.