Is it me or... - Harley Forum

kempomark · #1 10-07-2009, 09:49 PM

As you guys know I bought a 95 flhtc that needs a lot of love. One of the things that it needed was the ignition switch recall performed. After getting it to dealership F they said that it would take about 3 days to get the parts in for the recall. Okey dokey... A week later I call and as about the status of the bike. Well, uh, mmm it is going to take longer to get the parts... Uh, mmm OK... Several days later... So, how's my bike doing? Uhmmmm my parts runner is gone on an appointment. He will be back in an hour. I can call you back in an hour... OK... Three hours later. So I was expecting you to return my call. What is the status on my bike? We don't have the parts yet. Well how long? A week, a month??? I don't know for sure. Ok. I will be there to pick it up Sat. ready or not. OK, that's fine.

Frustrated, I call dealership S. Hey, here's my VIN. Can you check to see if you have these parts for this recall? (I explained the above to them) After several minutes on hold they come back. We've got those parts in stock and we put your name on them. When do you want to bring it in. Simple as that...

So is it just me or should dealership F after finding out about the delay called around to other dealerships to see if they had the parts? Would that not have been good customer service? That's what I would have done for MY customer. This is my first and last Harley. It means a great deal to me. Since it is an old 95 and this was a recall did the dealership not give a crap about me, it, or customer service. What if this had been a 2015 super deluxe Ultra? Would they have done a better job? I would think that the very first service request of a new customer would make them want to earn repeat business by doing a good job. They acted literally like they didn't give a, well, you know...

Is this how Harley dealerships treat people or is it just this particular one, with my particular bike? I can and will do most of my own work. This was a recall, on the factory's nickle. So I am having the work done. Thankfully I can turn a wrench and have a roll-away full of tools from working on aircraft. I believe in craftsmanship. I believe in giving 120% 100% of the time. This treatment was unacceptable even to me, a new owner.

botzman · #2 10-07-2009, 10:10 PM

I've seen that behavior many times at many dealers. Cant stand having to bring bike in. Good luck and as you said doing your own work is the way to go. Botz

HDDon · #3 10-07-2009, 10:35 PM

kempo, don't know where you live or where the dealerships are, but for me I must really be lucky. I'm like you and I would rather do the work on my bike than take it to a dealer, but when I do take it in, Gainesville Harley, Gainesville Fl. gives me a time to bring it in and tells me when it will be ready. They haven't missed a date or time yet. The dealership goes out of their way to make sure I'm happy and its been this way since I bought the 94 FLSTC, even though I didn't buy it from them. They will gladley mount tires, or parts I bought online. They have also bought aftermarket parts I have requested. With some of the post I've read I must be really lucky!!!

HDDon · #4 10-07-2009, 10:38 PM

Oh yea, When it came time for a new bike guess where I bought the 05 FLTRI. You have my permission to make a copy of this and give it to dealer F

tommyglide · #5 10-08-2009, 01:38 AM

I had pretty good luck in western Canada wandering around with an 85. As a traveller any dealership I might have needed help from had very satisfactory service.

1haugster1340 · #6 10-08-2009, 06:28 AM

The first dealership really messed up. When warrany or recall work is done the parts and labor is normally paid for by the manufacture. This is easy money for the dealer. He knows he will get paid for the work. My Dad worked for a Chevy dealer for 39.5 years and they would always welcome warranty work no matter where the vehicle was bought.

Gas Man · #7 10-08-2009, 04:34 PM

That is F'ed. When I walk into my dealership most of the people that work there know me by name. Will say "hey haven't seen ya in a while" or "you're in here all the time". As it sits now... I was telling one of the parts guy about a project I have on the lift (working on a bike for bardering) and he said... well call me up and tell me what you want... I'll pull it all down for you and set it aside for you. Save you some time. That IS customer service.

Same dealership... rode my bike into the service for a engine light and limp mode throttle. Checked the code, told me he would have to order parts. I leave the bike. This is on memorial weekend on Sunday. He finds out Tuesday the parts I need are on 2week back order. I'm thinking FU*K, my luck. He says "let me see what I can do". Thursday he says "come pick it up, all fixed!" WOW.. how? He called in a favor and had parts over nighted right off the assembly line in York, PA. No cost to me. He said he wanted to make sure I had my bike for the weekend. once again CUSTOMER SERVICE.

Tbone · #8 10-08-2009, 05:51 PM

I think I've threatened to not ever buy every make of vehicle that exists over poor service at a dealership. Ford, Dodge, Chevy, Jeep, Toyota, Mercury Outboards, Evinrude Outboards. Pretty soon I ran out of something to buy and, let's face it, you can't get by with a horse or a rowboat anymore in most places.

Hammerhead Pat · #9 10-08-2009, 06:27 PM

It appears stealership F is the issue. There is a dealer less than a mile from where I slave...errr work, and I bought my bike at a dealer 40 miles away. I'll get my oil and misc from there due to convience,( close to work) but I was treated great at the place I got my bike. You know the old saying about a first impression

tommyglide · #10 10-08-2009, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tbone

I think I've threatened to not ever buy every make of vehicle that exists over poor service at a dealership. Ford, Dodge, Chevy, Jeep, Toyota, Mercury Outboards, Evinrude Outboards. Pretty soon I ran out of something to buy and, let's face it, you can't get by with a horse or a rowboat anymore in most places.

You could get by with a horse or rowboat if you were Amish, but I don't think they have a forum for posting, do they?