It's not bloody fair - Long rant, just ignore me, Sawyers do!

[StoneChucker]

IGNORE this post, was written while being a dumbass. Read the followup thread. I won't delete, since I did post it, and should live with it.

When I had my old bike, I had a major service done at MotoMart, which was about $1500. When I got it back, the chain adjuster was loose enough to fall off, the petrol tank was leaking (from the connecting pipe), the back brakes vibrated and it ran rough as hell. But since I had already paid them, getting much done about it was hard task, they couldn't really give a crap. So, I've never, and will never use MotoMart again. (I have a friend who does, and has no issues, so different people have different experience, I know. Maybe it's just the fact that I stutter, and look like a f*ing retard, so they treat me as such, and don't take me seriously, nothing new there....) ANYWAY....

Now, with my new bike, I use Sawyers on Vivian Street, Wgtn, since that's where I bought the bike from (They were really helpful, and fast when I was paying for it). I took it in recently for the 1000kms first service, and haven't done much maintanance since, it was only a few weeks ago. I took the fairings off today, to change the oil and filter (I've finished the run in now), and found that I can't get the oil filler cap off. It feels like they tightened it with a pneumatic wrench, and welded it for good measure, it won't bloody budge. AND, they scratched the spanner groove on the oil filler cap, while using MY filler cap wrench (out of the bike tool kit). I wouldn't mind, but they tore the rubber fitting that goes on the wrench, which stops any scratching. And, when I picked the bike up after that service, it stank of oil, and there was a little smoke from where El Mechinic had spilt oil on the engine. There is also an issue I'm having investigated with Yamaha, through Sawyers, which I don't think they have even started looking into, although they assure me they have.

Before this all happened, I ordered an oil filter wrench, that took 2 weeks or so to come, and when it did, and I got it home, it didn't even fit, was too big. (They checked the part number before ordering!) So I had to exchange it, and wait again, for the new wrench, a genuine Yamaha part (The price was $75 when I got there, but they quoted me about $65 to $70. They weren't sure what they quoted me, so from my memory I said $69 which is what I ended up paying).

I called them up at 12:50 today, and asked if I could bring it in quick, so they could sort out their handywork, but everyone of any use had gone home at 12:45 (they close at 1pm). Some guy named Paul said use a crescent spanner or pliers and a rag to loosen the nut. Well, maybe BugSplat knows, but the R1 filler plug doesn't seem suitable for gripping with pliers, it's very flat, and slightly dome shaped. By the time I tried this, it was 1pm (what sawyers were hoping I think), so when I rang I had to give in and book it in for monday. They better not bloody think of charging me for that.

I'm really confused as how to treat them on Monday. The two female sales staff, Robyn and the other whose name I forget, are very willing to help and friendly. OH, they didn't even tighten up all the rivets/lugs on the fairings. To be fair, I guess that is a bit much to ask.

It's just one thing after another, with Sawyers, but also with everything else. I'm getting f*ing sick of it. Going for a ride over the weekends is what I do to relax, and I can't even bloody do that now (Need to finish changing my oil).

[Racey Rider]

So,,,
What your telling us is,,,
Your not happy. <_<


So apparently,,
You can own a R1,,, sorry, a 04 R1,,,
And, Still not be happy.
:spudwhat:
Interesting!

[Paul in NZ]

I'm sorry, but there are stuff all decent mechanics out there (insert many reasons including undervalued works, unrealistic customers - whatever) that work for dealerships. IMHO.

Look, you paid a motza for a bike you think is real special as you sweated blood to get it. However, these guys see a bunch of em so it ain't no biggie to them. It's a bastard but thats life. I'm amazingly anal and thats one reason I could not stand to own a new bike...

Ooops. Back to you...

Friction occurs when there is a gap between expectation and reality. You have to understand that they may think they did a bang up job for you....

However. Just go in, explain the problem as you see it, be patient, be reasonable, be calm, explain the problem logically and out line your expectations. The fact that you stutter is no reason to expect to be or to be treated badly. However, getting yourself wound up into an indignant frothing rage will not help....

If you don't think you can do that, write it down, explain to the guy and give him the letter....

Whatever you do... Don't get angry. First one to get angry LOOSES. You want a negotiation, NOT a confrontation.

If none of the above makes any sense I'll explain more. if you are still mad, sell the bike, your rage will kill you on a bike like that.

Buy an old Guzzi and do your own work son... You will lean a LOT about patience....

Paul N

[Motu]

Sell the bike,buy another,different brand from another,different dealer - then see how your first service goes.....if you have exactly the same compaints then we have a common denominator....

Oh,and good reply as usual Paul - expectations and communicaton,that's where it's at.

[wkid_one]

I don't think it is the mechanics fault - that's what you get when you end up with a workshop originally designed to do the work for one shop - now doing the work for two

What is the prob with the bike you mentioned? Go to www.r1-forum.com (http://www.r1-forum.com) to see if it is a common problem as there seem to be quite a few issues with the new R1

[BugSplat]

http://www.ciamotorsports.com.au/detail.asp?Ref=269&Model=Yamaha%20YZF-R1%20(04)

I've sent you a PM, give me a holler if I can assist.


Remember, “Don’t sweat the small stuff & … it’s all small stuff.” :calm:

[merv]

Sorry to hear about your problems.

Does the R1 have a normal screw on oil filter like Hondas have? Reason I ask is that to perhaps help any others out, if it does have an ordinary kind of filter then any cheap filter wrench from Repco or wherever should do the trick.

I use a cheapo Motoguard strap type one (looks like a bit of seat belt on a square aluminium rod) that I've had for more than 20 years, and it fits all my cars and the smaller filter on the VFR - you just wrap it around and then turn the rod with a crescent spanner and I doubt it cost more than $10.

[StoneChucker]

Thanks for the help...

Paul, you're 100% right there, and I also make sure I don't go for a ride in a bad mood lol
Wkid_one: You're crazy, the R1 is perfect, crafted by angels :blah: (But I've already been to r1-forum.com, and I seem to be free of any issues.
Merv, yeah normal screw oil filter, but I've got my filter wrench sorted, just the filler cap needs loosening.

Ride safe...

[moko]

A few things here mate.There are dealers and there are dealers,it`s as important to pick your dealer as it is your bike.If I was buying a Suzuki for example I`d do what a lot of Plymouth does and go 40 miles away to Bridge Garage rather than the place 2 minutes walk from me.My regular dealer is tight on p/ex values and aren`t big on discounts either but nothing is too much trouble and they`re always on the customer`s side.They`ve twice taken parts off of new bikes in the showroom for me so I didnt have to wait for the warranty process to grind on and I once turned up early to pick the same bike up from a service to find the mechanic giving it a quick polish,blokes are bloody good and real bike nuts."The other place",well I know for a fact,knowing an ex mech from there,that they`re told to get bikes in and out as quickly as possible,my mate left there because he was frustrated at not being allowed to do his job properly.Word of mouth is the best way to find a good dealer,KB is ideal for this.
Agree with a couple of things Paul has said,wise man that he is.My Union rep once gave me the same advice before a meeting with the bastards that had sacked me,"lose your temper and you lose the argument",very true and the best way to deflect away from the original complaint is to provoke confrontation so stay cool and stick to your point,annoyed though you rightly are.Accusations and threats will get you nowhere,if they wont be reasonable walk away and think about the next move,lose it and they`ll be able to use your attitude as an excuse for not treating you properly should things go further"Bloke`s a nutter,we tried to help but he wouldn`t listen".Paul`s right as well about "being anal",the reason I rarely buy new these days.Bikes get scratched,the paint chips,things get broken.Last new bike I had was the XT and every little dink and bit of tar that stuck to it was a personal tragedy until I realised what a prat I was being,when I traded it in the dealer had his mechanic take it into the workshop for a good going over,bloke was really impressed and I got over top book for it despite the higher than usual mileage after a bit of haggling.All the little blemishes I was well-aware of the mech hadn`t even noticed,as I doubt many would have.Obviously we all want to keep our bikes as good-looking as possible but in real-life they get bent,scratched and corrode so why fret over it?
SO,keep it cool,stay polite,if you get no joy bite your tongue ,walk away and think about your next move,there`s a "worst dealer" thread here somewhere with plenty of good advice in it.

[LB]

Let us know how you get on Stonechucker.

I know that bike shop mechanics see brand new bikes all the time so it's no big deal to them, but I still expect them to treat my pride and joy (paid for with my hard earned money) with respect, and not to damage it. If they do damage it (beyond fair wear and tear) I would expect them to front up to me and be honest about it and tell me.

I also would not expect them to use my tool kit to do work on my bike - I would have expected them to use their own tools!!

I would also expect them to treat you with the same respect that they would someone who doesn't stutter. I think Paul's idea of writing it down is good - you could take it in with you in your pocket, and if things get heated (try to stay calm, though I realise it's easier said than done in these circumstances) you can pass the notes over. Perhaps too you could speak with the Service Manager - I think it's still Derek McAdam who's a good guy. (Bugsplat, you may be able to elighten us if it's changed from Derek?)

Wkid_one, you're quite right about the workshop being very small for two bike shops. However, it was their choice to move next to Motorad, so they should sort out their workshop area. How they do that is their business - we still pay the same amount of money for our servicing so we have a right to expect the same quality of work.

Good luck Stonechucker.

.
.
.

[Firefight]

Hey StoneChucker, have bought 3 new yams(1 a year) for the last three years, bought local,Our family poilcy to always try and support local business.
Also thought it would make it eaiser for service etc.

Have not been thrilled with the service, now ride an hour to get bike serviced, not only was it cheaper, for service,(on average NZ$80cheaper) but am able to have bike worked on by dedicated bike mechanic. In a dedicated bike workshop.

Not sure if It made any differnce but when I started having concerns (after bike #2) and seemed to make no progress with dealer principal, I rode over to Yamaha head office, and got in the face :angry2: of the distribution manager dude.

He claimed they were aware of other complaints, it seemed the co I was dealing with were going through some restructure, the manager of the dealership resigned, and they have now employed a bike mecahnic.

However I have now found a good dealership :first: to service bike, and I guess when I replace the 04 R6, I will buy from theses guys.

Feel free to pm me if you want more info.


Firefight. :crazy:

[Paul in NZ]

Stone Chucker old son. I've met you once and I cannot remember you looking particularly like a retard (well, not in that company anyway - heh heh). But a couple of things have been buggin' about your message so if you will forgive me, can i suggest you go back and read it through again as if you were Sawyers...

You copped a shitty deal at motomart that has made you wary of dealers. fair enough, even the best organisations screw up. Frankly, usually thats not as important as what they do to address the screw up.

You stutter? Get over it. We all have disabilities. I'm a type 1 diabetic and I have farking near collapsed into a raging frothing heap from a hypo in a bike shop which scared the shit out of them (and me) but once they knew what the problem was, they could not have been nicer and have continued to be so. 90% of the time it's ignorance that causes the problem. Perhaps you feel your speech problem is far worse than mine? How about a reading difficulty that means no email, lists like this or ability to complete a simple sales agreement thrust in front of you?

Once again. If you explain it to people, the good ones will fall all over themselves to assist you. Who the hell is gunna mistreat a person with a "disability" these days?? Use it!!!! Walk away from the arseholes, you will soon figure out which are which.

OK... Hopping off my hobby horse....

The bike...

They ordered the wrong spanner? Mate! It might be the first one they ever ordered and the parts books are not always clear! Fuck me, I've had people order the wrong telephone exchange to the order of several million dollars over a simple part number error! Do you think they did it on purpose? Sounds like they did their best to sort it out and accepted the price you told them without question. Thats not bad!

You rang just before they closed on a saturday????

Yes, it might be unproffessional but I'll bet a sack full of septic sausages that your doctor or your lawyer (not to mention your dentist) would tell you where to go if you did the same to them. If you had called at 10am I'll bet it could have been sorted. Believe it or not, these people get paid fuck all and have family and lives. They get into the industry because they love bikes not because they hate customers (that comes with experience)

I can think of a shitload of reasons why the filler cap is stuck. It could be a design problem with unsuitable materials, inappropriate thread forms etc etc. Some things just seem to thighten up, maybe thats why the spanner was damaged, ask them about it and perhaps you will get a tip like smearing a little anti sieze in there??

How do you know they have not bought your problem up with Yamaha? I'm sorry but it is a well know practise of some companies to do nothing about some things (ie don't reply or acknowledge until you have the answer). What is sawyers gunna do, throw in the dealership??

Read the above, think about how sawyers might see the issues, come up with your bottom line to remedy the situation and always leave something in the deal for the other guy... In this occasion it might be thanking them for helping you out even if you didn't get everything you really wanted... You will next time...

Look, I hope this helps... I have spent years negotiating these types of problems but on a bigger scale... You have to be hard on yourself to see how the other guy might see it. In this case, list the facts, forget the emotion. They can only deal with the physical, emotion is your side....

Paul N

People will forget (eventually) what you say but they will never forget how you make them feel...

[Sensei]

Yea Tuff break StoneChucker . I think we have all been down this road oneway or another .When it's your own bike that you have paid for we all expect the people that work on our Bike's to not scratch , dent or damage it , But it doe's happen :gob: . Doesn't help when it's brand new either. I'v found sometime's if you talk to shop people if they are important they respond alot better even if they aren't ,they seem to help out a bit more .Could be worth a try ? Sensei

[wkid_one]

It is like when you buy that new visor/pair of glasses and they get their first scratch - shit happens. I don't think many people are going to go - nice bike, pity the oil filler caps scratched.

Mate - what are you going to be like with your first stone chip or paint scratch!

[Pickle]

Something bothering me with this thread, You have just had your bike serviced - did they not change the oil and filter as part of the service???

If not why not?? If they did then why are you wanting to do another oil & filter change??

I think as Paul & others have said go back & talk to them as to the problems you have - good luck on that.

[mangell6]

StoneChucker - I have no trouble with the Yamaha dealer in Upper Hutt who has Yamaha 'certified' mechanics, and an owner that is at the shop. Mainly deals in offroad bikes but also looks after sports and street bikes as well.

The dealer that Moto describes is similar to the mine and others experiences with my dealer.

JMHO

Mike

[MD]

So Yamahas need to have their oil and filters changed? That sounds like a design fault. Buy a Honda, ride it for xx odd years then sell it -see maintenance free riding. Simple.
But seriously, some good advice posted above. The staff at all the shops around Wgtn seem like good, bike lovin, blokes to me. When I see how hard the workshop Guys work I feel guilty (but not enough to help). So give them the benefit of the doubt. As for Saywers they are a helpful bunch and I'm sure a quiet word in Brendon's, Barry's (when he returns from sick leave) or Derek's ear will have you smiling again.

[StoneChucker]

Paul, you're 100% right. What I wrote on Sat was just after I realised I'd be stuck inside all weekend. 99% of the time, even if I'm really annoyed, I'm still nice and friendly anyway, so I just posted what I was thinking, mainly.

Hey Lynda, I was watching a little MotoGP yesterday, and I saw Cabarossi (spelling?) was only 9th of something? Maybe you should send him your neck warmer/scarf for good luck :D

[Paul in NZ]

There was no need to be stuck inside...

You could have come up to Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park with us and cut tracks and planted trees... (I still feel rooted - har har)

Seriously, we could tell you were venting. I'm old and was bought up in the era when you got slapped in the mush and told to snap out of it... These days you would be assigned a shrink and a case worker and an accountant to look after your compo....

;-)

BTW. In case you think I'm a Sawyers fan, I'm not. When they had a tilt at being a Guzzi dealer I booked a ride on a new V11 demo on sat morning. Vicki and I rode in the 50km on the Mk2 in the cold and wet to arrive at our appointed ride time of 10am. All their dealer plates were 'out'. Hmmm! Waited 45 minutes, rain got worse. I was sweet up until I got told 'things have got better since they made those old heaps' (dismissively pointing at my Mk2 and hopefully hinting - you are not gunna try and trade that POS are ya?). My Mk2 might be a lotta things but it aint no HEAP!

About then, we realised that buying a Guzzi (it's bound to have a few issues) off these guys would be a disaster. They didn't like Guzzis or Guzzi riders. I guess because they are all racers Guzzis are notrep etc etc so we buggered off. They never followed up with a call to appologise, I never bought the bike.

After 45 minutes I was getting concerned about blood sugar levels (I explained all this to them) so we needed to investigate lunch. Total waste of a morning. Vicki will never go back. The guy in masterton - different story altogether...

Sure, things have changed now but the bike sales staff are the same and I still get a bit miffed. ie I made a stupid mistake and i got angry because the world didn't go the way I wanted to believe it would.

They had a couple of people come in for a test ride and a bird in the hand was worth it I guess... perhaps i would make the same call?

Let us know how you get on though...

[Motu]

I've seen the other thread,but I'll put this in the bitch and moan thread where it's more apropriate.This is from the otherside of the fence.

I don't work on bikes anymore,but have worked as a mechanic fixing bikes,these days it's just bloody cars.As mentioned,things can tighten up,and come loose,also noted - tighter is always better eh? On some cars these days the oil filler cap has a ratchet to prevent overtightening,same as a fuel filler cap,they can get bloody tight alright,they can break too.Spin on oil filters have been tight to remove from the get go - the first 'red' Holden motor in 1964 I think.Using the customers tool kit? not likely,but I don't think any Lada ever had the oil plug allen key in it's tool kit,13mm was hard to get,and I still have the one I stole.

I got a call from the MTA today - a customer complaint about my workmanship and charges,and the fact I won't rectify the problem.The customer rang last week,then came into see me about the problem,no response from me,so later that day he had someone else ring on his behalf to push the point a bit harder.His next step was the MTA,after that I don't know what he'll do - but I know what I'm doing...nothing.

His car was towed in as a non runner,the battery wound down flat,the battery was put on charge and one of ours fitted.It didn't take me long to diagnose (don't talk to me about how much I get paid for this hard earned skill) spark,injector pulse but no fuel,power at the fuel pump - so I rang with an assesment on price (no quotes from me) he gave the go ahead,the fuel pump was fitted,his recharged battery put in and a road test - next day he fronted up with $800 and collected the car.So he's back a week later with a car that won't start - and he's right,it won't start because it has a flat battery,it's totaly stuffed,and the alt is only putting in 13.5 volts...chicken or egg here,did the old battery overload the alt,or the undercharging alt stuff the battery - anyway,he reckons he brought in his car because it won't start,we obviously didn't fix it right because it still won't start,I'm a right arsehole and he's gunna screw me for all I've got.He may be right about the arsehole part - but if I fix his car again...he's paying again.

As I said in my first post in this thread - expectations and comunication,I have tried to explain it to him,but he can't get around the fact he spent all that money and his car still won't go,he doesn't understand they are totaly unrelated problems.English is not his first language,the MTA is my mediator on this,I hope they can sort it from that end.This is not a one off,it's continuous - the motorcycle shops will have similar stories,it's just part of the game.

Sorry about my little hissy fit,but I thought some input from the shop side would help even things out.

[mechanic]

you should have talked to the shop staff first.

[scumdog]

I feel you could have allowed your feelings a bit more freedom here and not held back quite so much but I think I got the drift of what you were trying to say, good effort but allow you emotions to front up a bit more next time eh? :whistle: :innocent:

[merv]

Mechanic welcome to the forum.

Have you ever done a Kiwi Host or some other sort of customer service course? - it would do you a world of good and allow you to understand the service supplier/customer relationship a whole lot better and half of what you have said above would not need to have been said.

It looks to me like Stonechucker has done the honourable thing and posted the update on the other thread.

p.s. if you work at Sawyers, well done to your boss Brendan for sorting this and keeping the reputation of the shop up.

[rodgerd]

Instead of venting your spleen on a public forum & whinging about how hard done by you were.
people like you make me sick!
you would be f--ked without them & every other unappreciated mechanic out there.

Could you let me know which bike shop you work for in Wellington? Just want to be sure to avoid the right ones...

[Firefight]

you should have gone back to the shop & talked to the service manager or manager to address any issues you had with your bike &/or level of service.
Instead of venting your spleen on a public forum & whinging about how hard done by you were.
people like you make me sick!
sounds like the filter remover being wrong was nothing to have a kitten about.
so they ordered the wrong part.... so what! they put it right & it cost you no more. Shit, even parts people make mistakes! does having a stutter mean you dont need to have any patience?
Your bike stunk of oil?..... so a bit of oil got on the exhaust when it was drained & hadnt completely burnt off.... Poor baby! yamaha designed the exhaust & sump plug lay out, not the mechanic who changed the oil.
engine filler plugs always stick tight. a large o-ring sealing the cap against the clutch cover which expands & contracts every time the bike is started as well as vibrating. what did you expect? would you prefer the thing fell out onto the road? Why were you undoing it if an oil change was just done?
Are you one of those pedantic bike polisher types who spends all his waking hours changing oil that doesnt need to be changed & polishing the stripes off the bike instead of riding it? Have you tried opening the throttle yet?
guys like you are the nightmare of hard working, underpaid tradespeople the world over. you think you are the only person on the bloody planet & the rest of the world is just waiting to carry out your every wish, but that still wont be good enough! FOOL!
going by your most recent posting you owe the staff at Sawyers an opology.
you were not shy or slow when it came to slagging them off in public before you even gave them the chance to talk to you about your percieved problems. Have you got the balls or brains to do the right thing?
How would you know if the mechanics were useless anyway? Fool.
how many years of polytec, exams & study have you done to be in a posistion to judge a good mechanic from a bad one, shit you couldnt even get your oil filler cap undone!!!! yet another backyard grand prix mechanic, who thinks he knows everything, but knows nothing of the amount of work a real mechanic has to do. you should think twice about labelling someone as useless, did you think to count up how many years of mechanical experience were in that workshop? you would be f--ked without them & every other unappreciated mechanic out there.


What a fucked up attitude, you should try running your own business, see how long you last, or maybe try working in PR, why don,t you tell us were you work you shit head .Just remebember you cunt its the customer who pays your wages.

Firefight

[Motu]

Well,I'm happy to see another mechanic on the board,and one who speaks his mind too! It's a really tough unthanked job working as a mechanic - they all want to do the best job possible,but it's just able to be done....between the expectaions of the customer and the boss,covering as much as possible but still turning out a respectable time.It's seldom a customer will make the effort to thank a mechanic - but they sure will come in to bleat and moan,they are all experts and the mechanic knows nothing - just look at the members of this board,they know everything about bikes,much more than the poor underpaid bastard working day in day out on them,they question the knowledge he has built up over years of experiance...mechanics can be surly,with good reason.

After 25 yrs of being told how to do my job by bosses I decided I couldn't take it anymore and became one myself - now I see my industry from a different perspective....I have to keep an eye on my guys so they don't go off doing unimportant work I can't charge for,every job has to be done in a reasonable time,they have to be able to overcomme problems and yet still come up with chargable work.

Sure,we can do a whole lot better job - but will you pay for it...not likely! How do you think that makes us feel?

[gav]

Hmmmm, interesting.... I worked in a Honda shop where we did a deal over the phone on a new XR250 when they were in short supply. This guy had a two year XR250 to trade and was keen as mustard on a new one, agreed to meet him out country and he was travelling up with his bike. Our farm serviceman called up after getting the trade enthusing over how mint this 2 year old XR is, me, so sceptical thinking oh oh, not good. Sure enough it turns up with brand new plastics, but tell tale paint worn frame, engine cases, footpegs etc, but started OK and seemed to run OK. Parked it up on shopfloor, and next couple of days notice to seems to be dripping a bit of oil, hmm, could be loose bung, take it through to workshop and start looking closer, found cracked case around oil bung and after taking sprocket cover off find the sprocket had been welded on!!! Bike was a shitter but what can you do? live and learn, and you wonder why some bike shops are wary :whistle:

[Marknz]

do you work for Sawyers or Motorad by any chance?

[riffer]

A little lateral thinking would quickly solve the mystery of mechanic's identity.

I wonder just how many OWO1's there are in this country? Would have to be less than 5...

Actually mechanic, can ya post a pic of the bike? I'd love to see it.

[merv]

Only 2 posts and Mechanic has gone all quiet. Maybe he's gone off to take that pic for you celticno6.

[Eddieb]

Only 2 posts and Mechanic has gone all quiet. Maybe he's gone off to take that pic for you celticno6.

Hmm 2 posts and he's managed to become the 2nd most disreputable member on the site. beating even the Boi.

That's gotta be some record.

[riffer]

Hmm 2 posts and he's managed to become the 2nd most disreputable member on the site. beating even the Boi and Bondagebunny.

That's gotta be some record.
Oooh. hang on I'll see if I can help him shoot the moon.... :killingme

[White trash]

you should have gone back to the shop & talked to the service manager or manager to address any issues you had with your bike &/or level of service.
Instead of venting your spleen on a public forum & whinging about how hard done by you were.
people like you make me sick!
sounds like the filter remover being wrong was nothing to have a kitten about.
so they ordered the wrong part.... so what! they put it right & it cost you no more. Shit, even parts people make mistakes! does having a stutter mean you dont need to have any patience?
Your bike stunk of oil?..... so a bit of oil got on the exhaust when it was drained & hadnt completely burnt off.... Poor baby! yamaha designed the exhaust & sump plug lay out, not the mechanic who changed the oil.
engine filler plugs always stick tight. a large o-ring sealing the cap against the clutch cover which expands & contracts every time the bike is started as well as vibrating. what did you expect? would you prefer the thing fell out onto the road? Why were you undoing it if an oil change was just done?
Are you one of those pedantic bike polisher types who spends all his waking hours changing oil that doesnt need to be changed & polishing the stripes off the bike instead of riding it? Have you tried opening the throttle yet?
guys like you are the nightmare of hard working, underpaid tradespeople the world over. you think you are the only person on the bloody planet & the rest of the world is just waiting to carry out your every wish, but that still wont be good enough! FOOL!
going by your most recent posting you owe the staff at Sawyers an opology.
you were not shy or slow when it came to slagging them off in public before you even gave them the chance to talk to you about your percieved problems. Have you got the balls or brains to do the right thing?
How would you know if the mechanics were useless anyway? Fool.
how many years of polytec, exams & study have you done to be in a posistion to judge a good mechanic from a bad one, shit you couldnt even get your oil filler cap undone!!!! yet another backyard grand prix mechanic, who thinks he knows everything, but knows nothing of the amount of work a real mechanic has to do. you should think twice about labelling someone as useless, did you think to count up how many years of mechanical experience were in that workshop? you would be f--ked without them & every other unappreciated mechanic out there.

Holy shit! What a come back!

People on a public forum share their experiences, otherwise, there'd be nothing to talk about.

I think Stone' did a great job of relaying the message that he was pissed off at the time and that with hindsight and Bredans damage control, he no longer feels this way. Hence the other thread on the same matter.

Well done for sharing your experiences and views though Mecahnic. You probably just don't want to get too hot about it. You may blow a blood vessel!

Show us a wheelie next time your past too will ya? :2thumbsup

[riffer]

Geez Trashy I hope he doesn't work with you mate!

[merv]

Mechanic certainly doesn't understand customer service like you WT.

If he is at WMCC kick his arse for all of us. As celticn06 said how many 0W01's are out there (who's seen those since Andrew Stroud and Crafar rode them if I remember rightly) so unless he's bullshitting well and truly he would be easy to track down?

Maybe he needs a few months in sales dealing with customer complaints to tune him up a bit and learn to be humble.

[gav]

I think Stroudys old OW01 is sitting in Cycletreads here in Chch so it aint that one.

[White trash]

Geez Trashy I hope he doesn't work with you mate!

Doesn't matter where he works. Maybe he does and maybe he doesnt.

With a response like that, I doubt he works with us. However, I know where he's coming from and I too have taken exception once to what a fellow poster said in regard to our shop. I then flew off the handle without thinking and probably made a dick of myself, maybe not to the same reception Mechanic got for speaking his mind though.

As F/F said, the customer pays your wages. Be nice.

I also live by the simple rules.

Rule 1 The customer is always right.

Rule 2 If the customer is ever wrong, refer Rule no. 1

I've completed every KiwiHost course there is, I've got a folder full of customer references, I've been head hunted for various retail and sales positions and I've still managed to piss the odd customer off.

[rodgerd]

I also live by the simple rules.

Rule 1 The customer is always right.

Rule 2 If the customer is ever wrong, refer Rule no. 1


See, now that I just don't agree with. Walk into McDonalds and demand a Sunday Roast and see how far it gets you.

For that matter punch the staff, you've now in the wrong.

[White trash]

See, now that I just don't agree with. Walk into McDonalds and demand a Sunday Roast and see how far it gets you.

For that matter punch the staff, you've now in the wrong.

Sorry. Did I forget to mention that it doesn't apply to mental people or fuck wits.

Come into my shop and ask for a sunroof for your car and you're either taking the piss, or there's something wrong with your head. Neither of which mean you're a customer.

[rodgerd]

Sorry. Did I forget to mention that it doesn't apply to mental people or fuck wits.


Clearly. Although the way some people carry on they expect it to.

(Although if someone asks for a sun roof for their bike, you could charge them for pointing at the sky....)

[White trash]

Clearly. Although the way some people carry on they expect it to.

(Although if someone asks for a sun roof for their bike, you could charge them for pointing at the sky....)

I may just do that.......

But seriously, you and Motu have the same idea, it's all about customers expectations. Some realistic, others far from.

[James Deuce]

Doesn't matter where he works. Maybe he does and maybe he doesnt.

With a response like that, I doubt he works with us. However, I know where he's coming from and I too have taken exception once to what a fellow poster said in regard to our shop. I then flew off the handle without thinking and probably made a dick of myself, maybe not to the same reception Mechanic got for speaking his mind though.

As F/F said, the customer pays your wages. Be nice.

I also live by the simple rules.

Rule 1 The customer is always right.

Rule 2 If the customer is ever wrong, refer Rule no. 1

I've completed every KiwiHost course there is, I've got a folder full of customer references, I've been head hunted for various retail and sales positions and I've still managed to piss the odd customer off.
And while I agree with Rules 1 & 2 the customer also has a basic obligation to behave in a civilised fashion. I always try to keep mechanics who work on my bikes happy, because it does pay off.

I try to establish a relationship (quiet in the cheap seats) with the sales guy/girl for major purchases because it helps when things go wrong, and can often lead to good deals in future.

Stonechucker has done the honourable thing, explained it was a vent, AND changed his original post, whihc has earned him major kudos in my book. I do understand Mechanic's frustration though, and I am one of those weirdos who has ideas about what he wants to do to his bike, but is perfectly willing to defer to someone with better training and knowledge.

WT, I'm still working on the missus about one of the Buells at some stage this year. Does Daryl still work at WMCs? He's bloody good, and his communication skills are superb.

[Marknz]

Doesn't matter where he works. Maybe he does and maybe he doesnt.

With a response like that, I doubt he works with us. However, I know where he's coming from and I too have taken exception once to what a fellow poster said in regard to our shop. I then flew off the handle without thinking and probably made a dick of myself, maybe not to the same reception Mechanic got for speaking his mind though.

As F/F said, the customer pays your wages. Be nice.

I also live by the simple rules.

Rule 1 The customer is always right.

Rule 2 If the customer is ever wrong, refer Rule no. 1

I've completed every KiwiHost course there is, I've got a folder full of customer references, I've been head hunted for various retail and sales positions and I've still managed to piss the odd customer off.

Mmm, where he works makes a difference to me... I'll probably be in line for a new Firestorm when I get back in 4 weeks and if "Mechanic" works at Sawyers/Motorad then they've probably lost a sale.

I respect everyones right to express their point of view, but the sooner he appreciates that it's my hard earned moolah that puts gas in his tank and food on his table then the better off he'll be. If he's the only fella on this forum that has had to study hard and pass exams here, there and everywhere to get anywhere then I'd be very surprised.

I'll also add that in the past I've always made a point of thanking any mechanic personally for any work that has been done on my bikes, and at Xmas time there has always been a 24 pack delivered to the workshop for the mechanics and salesmen to partake in. At the end of the day my life is in their hands... you don't want to piss them off!

And my opinion is that your industry is one where your rules do not apply. I'd suggest that the majority of people walking into a motorcycle shop would rather hear what you have to say based on your your experience... you're in a high risk industry and need to recognise that while the big dollar sale might be good for business now, the lesser sale might well make for more sales in the future.

[White trash]

WT, I'm still working on the missus about one of the Buells at some stage this year. Does Daryl still work at WMCs? He's bloody good, and his communication skills are superb.

Darryl is the most requested mechanic for customers having their bikes worked on.

He is absolutely brilliant. As is Hayden.

These two guys have built two robots each for fun to compete against each other.

Haydens can tow his Ford courier ute up his bloody steep driveway and has lifetd 300kg efortlessly on it's lift. It's jaws clamp with 1000kg pressure.

Darryl has built beach racing trikes out of GSX400s, built a racing quad out of a GSXR750 and raced it at the Race to the Sky, made a moviein which he transformed a Valiant Ranger to remote control for the dangerous stunts.

They are both frickin genius's.

[White trash]

Mmm, where he works makes a difference to me... I'll probably be in line for a new Firestorm when I get back in 4 weeks and if "Mechanic" works at Sawyers/Motorad then they've probably lost a sale.

I respect everyones right to express their point of view, but the sooner he appreciates that it's my hard earned moolah that puts gas in his tank and food on his table then the better off he'll be. If he's the only fella on this forum that has had to study hard and pass exams here, there and everywhere to get anywhere then I'd be very surprised.

I'll also add that in the past I've always made a point of thanking any mechanic personally for any work that has been done on my bikes, and at Xmas time there has always been a 24 pack delivered to the workshop for the mechanics and salesmen to partake in. At the end of the day my life is in their hands... you don't want to piss them off!

And my opinion is that your industry is one where your rules do not apply. I'd suggest that the majority of people walking into a motorcycle shop would rather hear what you have to say based on your your experience... you're in a high risk industry and need to recognise that while the big dollar sale might be good for business now, the lesser sale might well make for more sales in the future.


Good couple of points.

When the fuck you gonna come in for a coffee anyway?

[Marknz]

Good couple of points.

When the fuck you gonna come in for a coffee anyway?

'bout this time 2moro I'll be getting acquainted with the inside of a 747 for the best part of a day.... will see you sometime after 08 Sept.

Might have scored a ticket to the Czech MotoGP too.... damn!

[gav]

You know what use to piss me off most was when I'd book my bike in for a service/tyre/whatever, drop it off first thing, and find them still rushing to finish it when I arrived after 5 to pick it up. Why the fuck was my bike left to last, coz I'm a nice guy and didnt moan to much? but honestly I'd rather not seeing them rush to finish it on time, mistakes happen huh... You know you be cool about it but why not do the job when it was booked in for, like morning job. When I worked in a bike shop use to try and get the mechanics to try and get the small jobs out of the way first, but no, its only a 15 minute job I'll start at 4.45 :brick: then they find its actually taking a "little bit" longer than 15 mins :Oops: Guess the time management class wasnt too well attended with our exam sitting mechanics?

[loosebruce]

Darryl is the most requested mechanic for customers having their bikes worked on.

He is absolutely brilliant. As is Hayden.

These two guys have built two robots each for fun to compete against each other.

They are both frickin genius's.

Hence why if i need any serious work done on my bike i still make the trip to welly to get the boys at Welly M/Cycles to sort it

[Marknz]

yea, I know where you're coming from there gav. I got caught out with my very first service on my VTR250 in Aussie like that, I even had to wait till the next day to pick it up which really annoyed me as I'd made plans for a ride that evening. So I just got to talking to the mechanics and ended up becoming reasonably good mates with them.

After a while and moving up to the VTR1000 I found that I could roll on in to see these guys and talk to them anytime I liked (they are the biggest dealership in Canberra) and discuss ideas about how to upgrade the 'Storm and personalise it a bit. One of these guys is a fellow 'Storm rider and I would now consider him to be one of my best mates... we have an agreement that we're going to go to the MotoGP at Phillip Island as long as we're physically able to.

I also got to be so happy with the support and workmanship I got from them that I offered free advertising for the dealership on my racebike... you see how quickly that get's your bike turned around and how well it's cleaned and polished at the end of the day when you go to pick it up!!

[rodgerd]

I may just do that.......

But seriously, you and Motu have the same idea, it's all about customers expectations. Some realistic, others far from.

Yeah, well, in my own line of work I try never to say "No", but sometimes things just aren't technically feasible.

A friend in the same field has the excellent line, "That sounds very expensive" when trying to explain to customers why a given course of action, while possible, is not necessarily in their own interests.

[Motu]

You know what use to piss me off most was when I'd book my bike in for a service/tyre/whatever, drop it off first thing, and find them still rushing to finish it when I arrived after 5 to pick it up. Why the fuck was my bike left to last, coz I'm a nice guy and didnt moan to much? but honestly I'd rather not seeing them rush to finish it on time, mistakes happen huh... You know you be cool about it but why not do the job when it was booked in for, like morning job. When I worked in a bike shop use to try and get the mechanics to try and get the small jobs out of the way first, but no, its only a 15 minute job I'll start at 4.45 :brick: then they find its actually taking a "little bit" longer than 15 mins :Oops: Guess the time management class wasnt too well attended with our exam sitting mechanics?

The customer is not always right,and getting their own way doesn't go far with me - explaining the best course of action is what it's all about,but it's their decision,and that's why mechanics get pissed off!

gav - as you say,it's time managment,just because you brought your bike in first doesn't mean it will be worked on first.As I said I run a car shop,I prioritize the jobs,bring them in,strip them down and order parts as required,this is the most important part of the day,everything else hinges on getting parts.The ''easy'' jobs will be left to later,fitted in as time allows,it doesn't mean
you are not important,just the work reqiuired on your bike may not be a priority in the day.

Oh,for the good old days,when we were trusted(?),able to make our own decisions on the customers behalf,to be thanked for doing the right thing,not blamed for a larger bill.I still have the odd customer who says....I brought the car in for you to fix,just do it and I'll pay the bill,it's your job and you know best.

[Mongoose]

gav - as you say,it's time managment,just because you brought your bike in first doesn't mean it will be worked on first.As I said I run a car shop,I prioritize the jobs,bring them in,strip them down and order parts as required,this is the most important part of the day,everything else hinges on getting parts.The ''easy'' jobs will be left to later,fitted in as time allows,it doesn't mean
you are not important,just the work reqiuired on your bike may not be a priority in the day.

.
You do make a point with this posting BUT, as a customer I book my bike in for first thing in the morning because its an 80 odd k trip to the bike shop. I want it done that day, not started today and maybe finished tomorrow. Why else would I book it in? If it is started first thing, that leaves time for any Ooops to be dealt with before I ride home.
In short, it does make a difference to the customer when he/she books in for first thing that they get service first thing.

[Motu]

Well,in my branch of this industry there is no 'it'll be finished tomorrow' all jobs that come in today go out today,if we need it more than a day you will be told when you drop it off.A hard act to juggle - but other areas of our trade work a bit different...I just had a job towed in froms a trans shop,it's been in there for 10 weeks and hasn't been completed,my job is to fix their stuff up and make it a runner,and will only get a few days to do it,not weeks!Specialist shops...bikes,autos,outboards etc are kinda protected in that they have very little competition,no Iranian shop up the road working at half price to push them along.But for those who want a job done right now,or to pick it up at lunch time - uh,no...our hours are 8 to 4.30,you can pick your vehicle up at the end of the day.But I work druring the day - yeah,so do we,that's how we fix your car.

[Brian d marge]

ok
1st off the bike mechanic is a SERVICE industry. you are a 24 hour printing company and your copier breaks down damn sure cannon will send a tech round ..ours arrives within an hour or so...Yes they do come at 3 in the morning ..u pay.. but they come! Actually its not that bad ..we had our copier go at 10 pm and had a new one installed by 11 ...a bit off topic but to illustrate the point

You ( the bike owner are MY customer YOU bring YOUR bike to me because you trust my knowledge and experience .....

You want to see anal retentive you should see an older Japanese person that has Just spent 2 million yen on a bike ....

Now if you bring YOUR PRIDE and JOY to me ..( you may have little money and this may be your first bike BUT you love it ...( My Enfield ,,,,, carrillo rod , special piston ..NEW reworked cylinder head , kibblewhite valves set up.....its stiil only an Enfield but it MY pride and Joy)

It gets treated as you one would assume u treat it ..( a steam clean and a polish adds min to the final total and is a great way to double double check your work....and any other safety things that you may have missed Such as a cracked side stand on XT600 s )

Closing on Saturdays is another point ...when do most office worker work ..monday to friday ,,when do they go shopping ,,Saturday and sunday ... christchurch was a ghost town on sunday when I was last there ....
you open sat and sunday AND you offer free pick up and delivery ( or at min cost ) ,,,closing at 5 ..yeah right .. I start at 2 and work to 10 at nite others start at 7 and finish at 3 or 4 ..and they will stay on if they are needed ..for the same money ,,,,( loyalty to the customer and company)

As to undoing those oil fillers ..the ones I hate are the screwdriver slot ones ...not many are dissimilar metal . Magnisium being quite low on the galvanitic table alumin being slightly higher ....anyway they get quite tight ..and there are a few ways to remove them ...

1 make a tool with SOFT nylon insets /and a long handle ( or aluminium if slotted and a Longggggg handle
2 HEAT the engine up hot,,...as usually the bike was given a test ride then the oil checked AFTER the ride ..the case expands and a now cooling cap get screwed back into a hot case ...thats how u hold main bearings in heat the case cool the bearing and drop in ,,,
3..use n1 with no 2 AND localised heat from a hair dryer...
4 it all goes south ......Ring customer and ask.......

Remember the customer ISNT paying for the bike sitting while some chemical/heat....thinking time.... is doing its work....( well it might come under consumables ) BUT you do have to tell the customer what is happening ,,,as they may need the bike on sat morning to go on a trip thats why they are getting the bike serviced ...then they MAY give u permission to be brutal....

And as for charging ...Honda provide a guide line in the parts book for how long it should take ...these are pretty accurate ( what happens if a bolt is stuck ..the customer gets informed ..u stick the part in plus gas , and leave over nite fore which the customer doesnt get charged ,,,,)..I like price per Job..as its my skill u are paying for ...So if I give you a price its my experience and skill that makes me the profit !..I dont like over estimating in order to say no to the work I prefer just to be honest,,,,,( i really have difficulty in saying no ,,,)

I would be quite happy for me ( so I could edit out all the bad words when I find the part I ordered is the wrong one!!!!! ) to take a video of everything I do ..in fact I think there is a company in England who does just that )
I personally like having the customer sitting at a table not far from me watching say a bike video , so that the service manager / me / anyone can talk to them and they can see what I am doing ,,,,

and if you think thats a bad Idea ,,, look at the car world ..I am a bike mechanic and I was doing that ( having the customer sit with me while I worked ) for a few years before I changed position ,,you get to know your customers real well...( which I like as I like people..) and sometimes your customers suggest way in which to tackle a problem ...which is cool because they feel important ..and the bike gets done quicker ,,once u get over I am the mechanic rock head mentality ,,,,,

Well look like I went off at the deep end ..but I have spent half my life working with the classic Ive been a mechanic for ...... and was sick of it so now I race mx ( as cheaply as poss, as the wife will - insert very painful things here- ) In the mornings I can design new bits ,,,,( BIG PLUG for F1 engineering who gets all the difficult bits one offs and stuff that costs a fortune to do here ,,,and he still smiles at me when I met him at wanganui!! )

Finally before anyone jumps in ,,,my numbers on a bike shop ,,are fifty an hour min...As an owner /mech.. if I and my family are to have a AVERAGE income, That is with ME owning the building ie not paying rent !!

as Quoted before Sports zone@ 60 per hour in chch arnt probabaly making much money on the workshop side and I know the costs on their bikes they import ..which isnt a lot this side of the water ....

Stephen
Who is very busy at the mo trying to get 2 bikes ready for a big Enduro in fukushima in June ,,,,on the money the wife drip feeds me ....( she the money boss.... :doh: .makes me stay within budget!!!! :brick: )

[jazbug5]

Brian?

Did you see the date of the last post.....?

[gav]

And obviously not that busy if he's reading all these old threads :devil2: Why not post this reply in the service cost thread? :no:

[Brian d marge]

Brian?

Did you see the date of the last post.....?

errr does the date matter ? ( for someone who posted AFTER me ,,,,, and no not that busy after work...always like an intersting read ....thats why I was searching ....
beats what color do you guys paint your sidestand or other mindless post :D

Stephen

[The Tazman]

Maybe it's just the fact that I stutter, and look like a f*ing retard, so they treat me as such, and don't take me seriously, nothing new there....) ANYWAY....


I have not had time to read all this thread as it takes my computer about 3 days to down load a page. So here's my little bit

I know the owner of Sawyer is Brendon. He lives next door to a very good friend of mine who Stammers. They talk from time to time so he should be a little more understanding. You could try asking to speak to him as he is the boss and should care a bit about his business!!

Taz

[The Tazman]

Brian?

Did you see the date of the last post.....?


Bugger Bugger Bugger Bugger Bugger Bugger Bugger Bugger Bugger Bugger

I must start looking at that. I am still trying to get to grips with everything on this site.

oh well it is upping the number of posts I have done. I want that senior position ;o)

[James Deuce]

STOP POSTING IN THIS THREAD!!

[Biff]

.................................................

http://img242.echo.cx/img242/8776/threadresurrection0so.jpg

[merv]

I have not had time to read all this thread as it takes my computer about 3 days to down load a page. So here's my little bit

I know the owner of Sawyer is Brendon. He lives next door to a very good friend of mine who Stammers. They talk from time to time so he should be a little more understanding. You could try asking to speak to him as he is the boss and should care a bit about his business!!

Taz

You'll see Brendon dealt with this all OK to Stoney's satisfaction after I had a chat to him the morning Stoney made the first post about this. Brendon is a good dude so no worries there. He is of course away at the moment on the Silk Road trip.

[Slingshot]

STOP POSTING IN THIS THREAD!!


MAKE ME :whistle:

[StoneChucker]

MAKE ME :whistle:
SERIOUSLY....

As Jim wisely said, PLEASE STOP posting in this thread! I posted this hastily, FUCKING MONTHS ago. I learnt a big lesson out of this, but I STILL feel like shit, especially everytime I walk into Sawyers.

Just for the record, they DID sort it out brilliantly, and they provide the best service I've found anywhere I've been, which is why I am still going there.

I said I wouldn't delete the thread as I had posted it, and should live with it. Now I can't delete it for some reason. So, must I keep reliving the guilt everytime someone feels the need to dig up old threads?

FFS :mad:

[Slingshot]

For the record...I too use Sawers/Motorad.

Here's an example of the service...After work I walked down to the bike park, jumped on and started to ride away. The steering didn't feel right at all so I got off and had a look. The front trye was all but flat.
Called my wife...she rang Sawers, she spoke to Kerry (wicked dude) to see about getting the bike picked up. It was going to be fairly costly and by the time my wife had called me back I had decided there was just enough air left to limp to the nearest gas station. Anyway...pumped the tyre up and then rode carefully to Sawers. Kerry had organised a loaner (GPZ250r) for the night so we could get home and the tyre is going to be replaced tomorrow.

Kerry mentioned that if we weren't able to get the bike to the shop he was going to drop me off a puncture repair kit on his way home.

Anyway...they're always bloody good to me in there.


NOW...IF ANYONE ELSE POSTS IN HERE...LOOK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gav]

He he he, I had an NSR400R once upon a time and had one of those deals, where I dropped the bike at the dealer and agreed to pick up after work. Got there and they were just wheeling it out for me, think I might have got new tyres and a service or something. Anyway made the comment "right, off to scrub in these tyres, blah blah blah" Anyway riding through town and I notice the temp gauge is going up, keep cruising a bit, its still going up, getting close to where I live so pull in home. Just about to start checking it out and phone rings, its the bike shop,"gee glad we got ya, we forget to add the coolant?" yeah, i know :no: , Turns out they were rushing to get the bike finished because they had forgot about it, :no: :mad:
And no it wasnt Sawyers, they're great, top blokes !!!!