Kerry and Motohaus, a very bad situation made good.

[CookMySock]

DB, like Motu sez, shit DOES happen [...] we really can't do anything extra to avoid it happening.

Theres your error. Do you see it ? It's about what you believe.

if his mechanic marked it off, what more do you think he can do?

uh, he could CHECK IT FIRST and THEN MARK IT OFF.. or am I missing something here ?

You can't straight out accuse the mechanic (it may not have been his fault) as you'll get in the shite nowadays, and what would that accomplish anyway? The mech obviously thinks he DID tighten them.

Who gives a fuck what anyone THINKS. Tell the staff to check their shit properly or get a nasty written warning. Your business doesn't need mistakes of this magnitude - especially if it gets in some forum on the internet. Do you want to stay in business or not ? Are you really at the mercy of your staff ? Can you not reprimand them in writing ?

Sorry those are tough words, but this is a tough industry, and being mr nice guy doesnt cut it. Get it right! Put extra staff on if necessary - put your price up if you have to.

We just gotta accept that this sorta stuff DOES happen once in a while (and anyone who says it doesn't happen to THEM is a fucken liar, and I'll happily say that to their face) and just be thankful that no-one got hurt.

WRONG. What we gotta accept is people who make fuckups of this magnitude get out of the industry. Only then will the responsibility lie where it should.

Change your procedures.

Retrain your staff.

ONE written warning only then the sack. Sharpen up or get out.

HAVING SAID ALL THAT, I have taken this onboard, and will be checking MY bike personally after maintenance. If I have to open his toolbox and use his tools then so be it.

DB

[Big Dave]

If I have to open his toolbox and use his tools then so be it.
DB

I'd pay to see that - someone get bolshey with Kerry - those spanner swingin', tyre chucking forearms - and how many years in the SAS?

And you couldn't strangle him - c***s got no neck.

[xgnr]

Quality control should stop that sort of thing happening as brakes and tyres are the difference between life and death. Personally I think a shop that specialises in tyres should do better than apologise. I'd want to know what systems they've put in place to prevent a recurrence.

Holy shit... glad they don't fix aircraft.

Kerry may be a good guy but that ain't gonna help when one of his staff has screwed up and someone loses their life.

BTW I always watch the mechanic change my tyres.

(they couldnt/wouldn't sell me a Pirelli as "there is not enough in it for them to bother" hmmmm...)

[Forest]

Good thing you are ok. I understand human error can happen, but this does raise some questions.

What happens if you take your bike in for some work, it is not done properly, for whatever reason. You have an accident, your bike is destroyed and you are permanently injured. If that happens, who is going to make it better? Is the repairer insured against this kind of thing?

Let's say you went off a cliff because of brake failure. Would Motohause and their insurance (if they have it) have replaced your bike? What if you died? Would Kerry and Motohause provide for your family?

I don't think Kerry and Moto did badly in this case. I just wonder what happens if the shit really hits the fan. Who is going to pick up the pieces?

A properly run business will have professional liability insurance to cover situations like this.

Though strictly speaking, the liability of a limited liability company would be limited to the company's assets (unless the company's directors have behaved in a criminal manner). In other words, if a company is found to be liable then it will just be wound up.

[CookMySock]

I'd pay to see that - someone get bolshey with Kerry

I don't get bolshey with anyone. But if he or any mechanic is going to get all insulted while I check his work, while at the same time insisting that he is trustworthy coz he is a "really nice guy" and then make major fuckups like this, then there is a really serious problem to be overcome. Damn I'm glad its not MY problem - I have enough of those already.

WTF? what workshop is going to pissed that I check their fucking work ? Get real. They should be IMPRESSED not pissed off.

If its my arse in the sling, I'M GOING TO CHECK HIS WORK. He can GET OVER IT. Sportbike, paraglider, cessna - its all the same - the buck stops with the rider.


DB

[McDuck]

Shit dose happen. Hell it happens every day, a fair bit of it by me. The fact is they had been ticked off as tightened. That is not a 'shit happens' that is a 'negligence happens'

[CookMySock]

A properly run business will have professional liability insurance to cover situations like this. [...] In other words, if a company is found to be liable then it will just be wound up.

Which means what for someones dead teenage son ? It means precisely jack diddly squat - thats what it means. Buy him a new caliper maybe ? I can tell you EXACTLY what he will do with that caliper if you hand it to him. He will jam it ungreased up yer fucken ass, thats what.

If you own your own business, then to criticize someone elses business I will assume you are telling me you've never had a fuckup? YOU ARE A FUCKEN LIAR! Or a hypocrite, or whatever you wanna call it.

Stop yelling names at people. It makes you look small.

There is a difference between fuckups, and fuckups that will take peoples' lives. Everyone makes mistakes, but some mistakes cannot be undone easily, and these mistakes must not happen.

I've been in the automotive industry for over 15 years [...] And I've seen bolts come loose that I know were tightened....

re-read what you have typed here. Things that we "know" refer to what we "believe", not what is "truth". Use a checklist or other procedural method to convert "what I believe" into "what is actually true".

It would be nice to wander around associating truth with "what I believe" but sadly that is just a fantasy for me, you, or anyone, and is not an appropriate workshop method either.

Check it! Clear everything like this in a methodical, procedural fashion. Use a checklist. Do it or go out of business.

Take 5 minutes to do it. Charge the customer for this time.

DB

[DEATH_INC.]

Check it! Clear everything like this in a methodical, procedural fashion. Use a checklist. Do it or go out of business.
[/U]
Take 5 minutes to do it. Charge the customer for this time.

DB

Look, I've had shit come loose that I have personally done, and I can say I know 100% that it was tight when it left. Shit I've had shit come loose on my stuff too, who hasn't? Bolts bind, they also sometimes don't seat properly, there's a number of things that can go wrong.
I'm not saying that the mech didn't leave them loose either, it happens too. All I'm saying is that no-one here can state categorically that he did, because you weren't there and don't know the full facts.
I get sick of fools shooting down others when they too make mistakes. No-one is perfect.

[sidecar bob]

I don't get bolshey with anyone. But if he or any mechanic is going to get all insulted while I check his work, while at the same time insisting that he is trustworthy coz he is a "really nice guy" and then make major fuckups like this, then there is a really serious problem to be overcome. Damn I'm glad its not MY problem - I have enough of those already.

WTF? what workshop is going to pissed that I check their fucking work ? Get real. They should be IMPRESSED not pissed off.

If its my arse in the sling, I'M GOING TO CHECK HIS WORK. He can GET OVER IT. Sportbike, paraglider, cessna - its all the same - the buck stops with the rider.


DB

What planet mate?
Ive owned & run a busy specialist repair shop for about 15 years, & if you checked my work in front of me, id politely ask you to piss of & find a repairer that you trust, Impressed? Na, Id just think you were a tosser, But that may just be me tho.
Hey, if you can do it better yourself, then why bother a bike shop with it in the first place anyway.

[Max Headroom]

Who gives a fuck what anyone THINKS. Tell the staff to check their shit properly or get a nasty written warning. Your business doesn't need mistakes of this magnitude - especially if it gets in some forum on the internet. Do you want to stay in business or not ? Are you really at the mercy of your staff ? Can you not reprimand them in writing ?

Sorry those are tough words, but this is a tough industry, and being mr nice guy doesnt cut it. Get it right! Put extra staff on if necessary - put your price up if you have to.

WRONG. What we gotta accept is people who make fuckups of this magnitude get out of the industry. Only then will the responsibility lie where it should.

Change your procedures.

Retrain your staff.

ONE written warning only then the sack. Sharpen up or get out.

HAVING SAID ALL THAT, I have taken this onboard, and will be checking MY bike personally after maintenance. If I have to open his toolbox and use his tools then so be it.

DB

I understand the sentiments made here, and appreciate the consequences of calipers falling off etc. with potential loss of life. The same thing happened to my brother several years ago with a reputable tyre specialist based on Auckland's North Shore - caliper bolts coming loose.

The comments made here though suggest possible solutions and strategies which sound reasonable considering the potential for injury or worse. However they ignore the commercial realities of most small businesses in NZ. If anyone thinks guys like Kerry are making a fortune, think again.

I have an automotive trade background, and have swung spanners for a crust. I currently run a small business in a different field. I also happen to know Kerry personally and have dealt with him for many years. No matter who you are, or how good you may be at working on bikes/cars/anything mechanical, one day you're going to make a mistake. On that day, all you can do is pray it's a minor one, and that no harm is done.

Aviation maintenance practice used to require three signatures on every job. Even then, mistakes occasionally slipped through......

Find the perfect mechanic by all means, but when you do you'll find you can't afford him.

[CookMySock]

I get sick of fools shooting down others when they too make mistakes. No-one is perfect.

haha, any further logic is wasted here. I wish I knew where you worked - It's critical that you never put a spanner on my gear.

I've owned & run a busy specialist repair shop for about 15 years, & if you checked my work in front of me, id politely ask you to piss of & find a repairer that you trust, Impressed? Na, Id just think you were a tosser, But that may just be me tho.

Yeah its you mate. If it was your ass in the sling, and death on your doorstep - would YOU check it ? You would, wouldn't you.. Get insulted if you like, but its my arse in the sling, and my life on the line, and I AM GOING TO CHECK IT.

Hey, if you can do it better yourself, then why bother a bike shop with it in the first place anyway.

Why ? Because I don't do menial little jobs. I pay staff to do that, so pull your head in and do your job.

The same thing happened to my brother several years ago with a reputable tyre specialist based on Auckland's North Shore - caliper bolts coming loose.

just how widespread is this problem ?

However they ignore the commercial realities of most small businesses in NZ. If anyone thinks guys like Kerry are making a fortune, think again.

Money is not the point - put the price up if you need to survive - everyone else is. What the point is, foolish and dangerous mistakes are being made. If this was the aviation industry heads would roll.

No matter who you are, or how good you may be at working on bikes/cars/anything mechanical, one day you're going to make a mistake. On that day, all you can do is pray it's a minor one, and that no harm is done.

Praying isnt good enough. Look at each job, and if its risky one, then it needs to be checked over PROPERLY afterwards. You know what I mean about risky jobs - brakes, fuel lines, footpegs, bars et al.

Find the perfect mechanic by all means, but when you do you'll find you can't afford him.

That can never be a solution, because there isn't one. Thats the whole problem. No one is asking for perfection so there is no reason for feeling inadequate. Just CHECK risky work INDEPENDANTLY. Gee, give the office lady a checklist and a pen and a torquewrench - she doesnt have to FIX anything - just check stuff off on the checklist and give it back to the mechanic if something isnt tight. How hard IS that ? sheesh.

No more free advice. Aren't you lucky!

DB

[McDuck]

haha, any further logic is wasted here. I wish I knew where you worked - It's critical that you never put a spanner on my gear.

Yeah its you mate. If it was your ass in the sling, and death on your doorstep - would YOU check it ? You would, wouldn't you.. Get insulted if you like, but its my arse in the sling, and my life on the line, and I AM GOING TO CHECK IT.

Why ? Because I don't do menial little jobs. I pay staff to do that, so pull your head in and do your job.

just how widespread is this problem ?

Money is not the point - put the price up if you need to survive - everyone else is. What the point is, foolish and dangerous mistakes are being made. If this was the aviation industry heads would roll.

Praying isnt good enough. Look at each job, and if its risky one, then it needs to be checked over PROPERLY afterwards. You know what I mean about risky jobs - brakes, fuel lines, footpegs, bars et al.

That can never be a solution, because there isn't one. Thats the whole problem. No one is asking for perfection so there is no reason for feeling inadequate. Just CHECK risky work INDEPENDANTLY. Gee, give the office lady a checklist and a pen and a torquewrench - she doesnt have to FIX anything - just check stuff off on the checklist and give it back to the mechanic if something isnt tight. How hard IS that ? sheesh.

No more free advice. Aren't you lucky!

DB

Give more advice OR THIS GOS INTERNATIONAL.

[zeocen]

If I was Kerry, I'd kick your arse for starting this thread.

...why?
It was started a while ago, someone bumped it back up.

I just wanted to share how well Motohaus handled the situation and that it always pays to be level headed in these situations, for both parties. The majority of the posts thereon are praising the guy for always going the extra mile. Man, telling people about a good experience I had at a bike shop, rather than a bad one, I'm an asshole! He pretty much admitted fault as much as he could, he came after hours out of his way with the tools needed to get it sorted right there and then and apologised.

You're more than welcome to come kick my arse in his stead, kattywatty.

[titirangi]

Not true. Kerry fitted a new set of tyres put to my bike a year ago. Within a week the front axle nut had come loose and was about to fall off. Just wasn't tightened up enough. I re-torqued it and it's been fine ever since. He also fitted the rear tyre the wrong way round (for a directional type).

I tried calling him to bring it to bring it to his attention but couldn't get an answer so I sent him an email but never had a response.

Yes he is a good cunt, but he's rushed off his feet having to answer the phone all the time (or at least he was a year ago) and this leaves the door open for mistakes.

That was similar to my experience. His mechanic fitted 2 new tyres, handed the bike over, I inspected and noticed the rear wheel block was incorrectly adjusted and brought it to mechanic attention. He remarked "nice catch" and fixe it in a few minutes. Which sounds OK but thankfully I kinda know what i'm looking for (20 yrs biking). And I'm paying bloody good money for the service so I expect safety to be paramount.

If that was it then I prolly woudnt bother posting here. But two weeks later a bloody good joker working on my front end noticed the bolts on my front calipers were only hand tight... The bike is a GSXR1000 so it s gets up - last thing I want is a caliper popping off at the wrong moment.

I can put up with loads, but someone compromising on safety gets a big thumbs down in my book. And no point blaming the mechanic - they are constrained by time, process and resource. A simple safety checklist signed off after every job would take 5mins and solve a big reputation and potential future criminal negligence issue for Kerry. He does seem to have a good heart, but now I will pay a bit more and get safety from Adam at Henderson MC.

[DEATH_INC.]

haha, any further logic is wasted here. I wish I knew where you worked - It's critical that you never put a spanner on my gear.
DB

No problem, I don't really turn spanners anymore, and your type is not welcome in any shop I run. I bet you drive a euro car.....Mr Perfect.