Good/Bad experiences with AMPS [Archive]

riffer

9th January 2006, 10:10

crashe

9th January 2006, 10:18

well there seems to be some personal shite happening out there..
Lets all keep it to being about bikes..

AMPS - I have had no problems with AMPs.
I just wish they could lower the prices on a HD for me :rofl:
and then lower the whole bike for me as well... :rofl:

Ok I got a great deal on my HD boots a couple of years ago...thanks Annie.

Lou is always great to talk to... even checked out a few things for me...
(oh Lou, the bike pants do keep me warm - cheers)

Only question for AMPS is when are you going to start up the MD fundraiser bike run again....? They were great and all for a wonderful cause.

MSTRS

9th January 2006, 10:20

To the red repper... you know who you are......
What do the other KBers think of AMPS?
I have not had a bad experience with AMPS - in fact very much the opposite.http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=465417&postcount=44 But as for that red repper.....it's tossers like him that cause people to leave this site. Fuckwit.

Firefight

9th January 2006, 10:20

Bought some good shit from them, Micron can, Metzlers at bloody good price, Lou fitted me into some good deals,:niceone: they let me use Amex even for sharp prices(not all bike shops will)

had only good service from parts dept, never dealt with Bike sales dudes, have heard good and bad about stories about them from kb riders, but can only go on your own experince I guess.

I don,t think they sell R6's so I will never get the chance to find out.

F/F

Biff

9th January 2006, 10:25

Good service, decent prices.

Shame about the staff.

That's a joke Lou!

Lias

9th January 2006, 10:29

That's a joke Lou!
I thought the staff were the joke? :gob:

ManDownUnder

9th January 2006, 10:33

I've only been there a couple of times but no problems ever.

If you have a problem with a bike shop - take it up WITH the bike shop. Someone as senior as required to get it fixed. Give them the chance to correct/resolve the issue before taking it anywhere public.

MDU

Hitcher

9th January 2006, 10:37

All bike shops can have their off days. At some stage I'll probably cross the thresholds of a couple of stores who have provided me and mine with shit customer service experiences in the past. I have shared these online previously. Clearly others have different views to me, because these organisations appear to be turning a dollar without any assistance from me.

If people don't like a store, that is one thing. But harassing employees and satisfied customers who post here is another matter entirely. In fact it's juvenile and banal.

Rashika

9th January 2006, 10:38

Speaking from someone who doesn't even live in Auckland...I've always been treated well... from Lou and whoever the guy was that let me take out the Firebolt for a 5 hour testride waaaaay back in march... Very much appreciated :msn-wink: Cheers to both of ya!

Biff

9th January 2006, 10:49

banal.

Is that bum fun with a banana?

WildBoarMouse

9th January 2006, 10:52

Same here... I've had good experiences with all the staff in sales... one of the ladies there even spent an hour or more trying to track down size 15 boots for me! Lou has been great... he's helped me out on more than one occassion and is quite patient with people that aren't idiots, but are obviously newbies :) I haven't had any experiences with the parts or service departments...

Cibby

9th January 2006, 11:00

never brought anything from them.. but

Me and Dover were in there about a month ago as he wanted to have a look at the sprint (Before he got is k6) and they barely glanced at us let along seeing if we needed anything.. - lost a potential sale.

Saw one of the guys at the big boys toys show a few days later, got introduced to him, and before i could say hi, i was interrupted and told as he was turning his back on me that he regonized me from the shop the other day .
In saying that thou, perhaps it is cause we work for colemans??!?!?!

but i havnt redrepped anyone over it.. oh well

moving on. :)

Grahameeboy

9th January 2006, 11:10

never brought anything from them.. but

cause we work for colemans??!?!?!

Where were you Saturday then.....short guy in Parts didn't know who you were.......

justsomeguy

9th January 2006, 11:16

Bought a jacket and helmet there, received great service everytime.

Even held an item for 3 weeks for me.

Lou's always offered me the best advice, even if it meant shopping at another store.

It's a great place:first:

Sniper

9th January 2006, 11:19

Spoken to them on the phone from blenheim, while looking for a couple of parts for a mates bike. Nothing but friendly.

Riff Raff

9th January 2006, 11:21

I had really good service from the parts department there. Have been in a few times browsing and the staff were all really friendly.

Ixion

9th January 2006, 11:58

Had nothing to do with them since they've been AMPS. No reason, just never gotten there. But back when they were Auckland Motorcycles I dealt with them a bit. Never any probs, but that was a good few years back I guess (I hope it was them that Auckland MC turned into, otherwise, I'm a prat)

Any shop can have a bad day, I guess.

Waylander

9th January 2006, 12:14

My only beef with them was they didn't hire me, despite being told by the guy interviewing me that I was more qualified than any of the other applicants at the time.

onearmedbandit

9th January 2006, 12:24

Any shop can have a bad day, I guess.

Exactly. No-one goes into business to be successful by providing poor service. I run a car yard, we are the worst of the worst apparently (not us, car yards in general!) yet our intention is not to provide bad service or rip people off. We sell to sell again (we get a lot of referrals) and go above what's required as far as after sales service goes. Unless the customer is a complete asshole, in which case they get the bare minimum, even so more often than not we go a bit further to get to the root of their problem and see if we can sort it out. It is worth it to us to spend $200 or whatever to sort even the most arrogant fuckwit out as it usually brings them back to earth and they leave happy.

Having never dealt with AMPS I can not give an opinion on them, but I'm almost 100% certain what I said above rings true for them as well. But we are all only human, prone to suffering from brain fade, exhaustion, and emotions so just don't always expect us to be perfect.

terbang

9th January 2006, 12:35

Never been there but I have heard friends complaining about the staff especially in sales.Thats all..

Motu

9th January 2006, 13:27

(I hope it was them that Auckland MC turned into, otherwise, I'm a prat)

Any shop can have a bad day, I guess.

No,Ray is the Pratt,Universal Motorcycles was his Company and they combined with Shafts...a funny marriage.I think Ray would be held in higher esteme by his longtime customers than the owners of every other motorcycle business in the country combined.I've been dealing with him since he first started in the basement in Stoddard rd,and he was on the scene long before that,he's done the hard yards and stuck to looking after his customer base.

Shafts on the other hand was started by a couple of car sharks and they were never to be trusted,many a shady deal done in the early days....I know.They had a gormless apprentice who walked around all day with his mouth open....ended up quite a good rider.

Auckland Motorcycles ended up in the hands of John and Caroline Gurney,and John had to finaly fold it in the late 80s.

vifferman

9th January 2006, 13:58

I switched to buying Honda parts through AMPS rather than "that other outfit" and I've been very pleased with their service. Haven't bought anything from Lou yet, but he's been very helpful, and I would've bought a suit but the accountant vetoed the purchase.
Bikes? I've been in several times and browsed the bikes, and the salesman have always left me alone. I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or not; I hate people leaping out at me, but on the other hand I was hoping they'd offer me a demo ride, as that's why I went in. Can't blame them, as I didn't approach them and say, "I'm very interested in the Sprint ST - howsaboutaride?"
Overall, I like going to AMPS, I'll keep going there, and I'd consider buying my next bike there if they had what I was interested in.

Yokai

9th January 2006, 15:26

I like AMPS - they've treated me very well and I don't spend much unfortunately... don't have the money to spend. Lou knows that I will get my Bonne and then my Thruxton from him... Unless something happens to stop that happening in the next 2 years or so....

Heh

Lou Girardin

9th January 2006, 16:26

Thanks all. I know we're not perfect. But we try to be. As Cibby said, sometimes we don't get it right.
If someone has a legitimate gripe they should take it up with the owner.
At least he works here and isn't some faceless entity as you get with car franchises.

WINJA

9th January 2006, 16:31

Gremlin

9th January 2006, 17:47

I ain't got the money to deal with sales or parts, so from my point of view, Lou is AMPS, and it ain't a bad view at all. Even let the boss (I think) know on BD's request, much to the puzzlement of Lou the next day I believe :done:

Lou is awesome, plenty of help, advice, bought a few bits and bobs from them, and Lou was a massive help... dunno how to say it really, just nice to have someone with the access and knowledge on your side, not the dollar side.

geoffm

9th January 2006, 18:50

AMPS supplied the battery for the Beamer (same as some Guzzi) for $30 less than Motomail (and $20 less than Red Baron)- and had it in stock. They don't sell Beamer Bits (and they are cheaper from germany anyway) so haven't got much else from them, and I can't afford any new toys. No problems otherwise
Geoff

Hitcher

9th January 2006, 18:57

Maybe they'd give me a deal better than Holeshot's on a new ST1300...

WINJA

9th January 2006, 19:13

Maybe they'd give me a deal better than Holeshot's on a new ST1300...
CYCLESPOT??????????????

Hitcher

9th January 2006, 19:30

Oh yeah. Probably. Hard to blame one-handed typing for that one...

myvice

9th January 2006, 21:43

Great bunch of people, wonderful, saint like even...
And I'm not just saying this caus I'm a greasy crawler and my Mother-in-law works there!

Na, never had a problem with any of them, I've had a few with other bike shops but that would be MY problem and no one elses!

The_Dover

9th January 2006, 21:53

lou is amps, and it ain't a bad view at all.

i think she is .hitting on you bro!!

pritch

9th January 2006, 22:06

I have had very limited experience with AMPS, two visits to Auckland for Dyno runs. The Service Manager was helpful as was Lou. Nice coffee and TV but I waited at Experience BMW simply 'cause I know people there.

Yeah both AMPS and Experience BMW will even tolerate a Honda rider...

Devil

10th January 2006, 08:16

The only person who didnt ignore me at AMPS (on multiple visits) was a lady in parts/accesories.
Not even a blink from the bike sales guys. Needless to say, I didn't buy my Triumph there. It won't make the list for the next bike either. Wouldn't rule out buying parts/accesories from there though.

What?

11th January 2006, 05:47

Shafts on the other hand ... ...They had a gormless apprentice who walked around all day with his mouth open....ended up quite a good rider..
Yeah, didn't he just!
I've yet to spend a dollar (though I have spent a penny) at AMPS; last time I was there I was well treated, the time before a little, but not totally, ignored. It was obviously not a good moment, but I am sure they would have paid more attention to me if I was looking like a customer rather than a window-shopper. Like One Armed Bandit says, they all have their moments.

marty

11th January 2006, 06:21

Is that bum fun with a banana?

or anal that's gone baaaadddd

cowpoos

11th January 2006, 09:42

To the red repper... you know who you are.

Since you'd rather sling shit in PMs and bad rep than post what your problem is, I'll start the thread. Its put up or shut up time. :angry2:

I haven't had any experience about AMPS, but have heard good things from a number of people on this site about them.

What do the other KBers think of AMPS?

who was this coward...post there name for crying out loud...everyone on this site are getting sick off the pussy's that are wankers behind PM's and red rep....comon homo who are you :argh:

Pixie

12th January 2006, 09:50

No,Ray is the Pratt,Universal Motorcycles was his Company and they combined with Shafts...a funny marriage.I think Ray would be held in higher esteme by his longtime customers than the owners of every other motorcycle business in the country combined.I've been dealing with him since he first started in the basement in Stoddard rd,and he was on the scene long before that,he's done the hard yards and stuck to looking after his customer base.

Shafts on the other hand was started by a couple of car sharks and they were never to be trusted,many a shady deal done in the early days....I know.They had a gormless apprentice who walked around all day with his mouth open....ended up quite a good rider.

Auckland Motorcycles ended up in the hands of John and Caroline Gurney,and John had to finaly fold it in the late 80s.
Does Ray go back that far?
I remember getting a chain link for my RD350 back in the late 70's
He was the only one open on a saturday, before weekend trading.

riffer

12th January 2006, 09:57

Cowpoos - it's not hard to work out.

Who's had a chip on their shoulder about AMPS in the last few weeks...

scumdog

12th January 2006, 09:58

Is that bum fun with a banana?

Or is it two bananas at once??

cowpoos

12th January 2006, 10:05

that would be Bi-nanas wouldn't it?

Finn

1st March 2006, 20:01

i only dealt with steve elgar who might be one of the most honest straight up guys in the industry , good rider too , and mark w who honoured a huge warranty for me , this was a long time ago , im happy to go back , we may all have different experiences with bike shops but i put a lot of weight on how they handle things when it all goes wrong and theyd get an a+

Small world. I lived around the corner from Steve when I was a little shit. Went to Primary and Intermediate with him. His father was tragically killed on a bike. I think he's now in the SI somewhere.