Is there a motorcycle shop in this country that wants my money?

[canarlee]

i have tried to have dealings with only 3 different motorcycle shops and all 3 have provided absolutely shit service!!! the 1st shop (in auckland), i bought my bike (brand new) and payed cash, did they offer me any discount on clothing/protective gear? NO (ok not expected but come on you would think they offer me something), the second shop (in napier), i ask for my bike to be serviced and could they find some aftermarket parts for me, well they serviced the bike and could they be bothered to tell me it was finished? NO, i asked them if they had got my stuff that they ordered, their answer when i asked "sorry mate i couldnt remember(read couldnt be bothered, that was his attitude)" so i told them to forget it! the 3rd shop (in hastings), i ask them to order me some stuff in and they say "yes it will all be here on friday" was it there? yep you guessed it, it wernt there! i asked them why they didnt call me to tell me it wasnt going to be there so i didnt waste time and money going there(yes they did have my number), the answer "sorry we didnt order the items(read couldnt be bothered)"


are all motorcycle shops in this country the same? i have only had three dealings with bike shops here and all three were fucking shit!!!


sorry rant over!!!

[Hitcher]

If you're going to live in Hawke's Bay, you'll need to come to some sort of understanding with the bike shops there, unless you like long rides to buy the things you need.

[dogsnbikes]

would be worth you travlling to Palmerston north or Wellington

[Steam]

My favourite shop ordered a $4 bolt for me from Japan, and I didn't even pay anything for shipping. Nice!

Maybe they knew about your habit of posting jokes you cut and pasted from other sites, and wanted to punish you for it...?

[DMNTD]

That's BS on all accounts mate,very poor!
Have experienced similar "service" in the past and refuse to return unless all other options are exhausted.
When I moved here I went around all of the bikes shops to see who'd give me the best deal on tyres explaining that I chew through a fair few. Was amazing to see/hear the bullshit re pricing! Have to admit that I was extremely fortunate having a fantastic bike shop like Maunders Suzuki to sort my needs when in Whangarei.
Have since found a great bike shop down here in Tauranga but yes there is a knack to acquiring the deals....cheeky works.

Re after market bling/bits/etc...go online,cheaper to do it yourself as it's usually all the shops are doing anyway. Any issues just PM me and I'll help ya source some goodies.

[98tls]

Sad story.........ive got the opposite down here,the local Suzuki shop Youngs is awsome,a great bunch to deal with.

[Babelfish]

Mostly I find it hard to find a place that wants to make me feel like giving them money. A pretty shit show really, but I havent given up hope.

[Colapop]

Where the fuck is Crasherfromwayback?? He'll be up your butt promising you the earth (and probably doing you a good deal too) - and he'll ship a bike anywhere in the country...

[Mom]

i have tried to have dealings with only 3 different motorcycle shops and all 3 have provided absolutely shit service!!!
Dont apologise, that sort of thing is not on at all...as DMNTD says take the businesss somewhere else! Mind you a quick, friendly call to the owner of the business, to appraise him or her of your experience may actually bring some results (specially if you are planning to stay a while there).
Mind you dont listen to me either, we have no bike at the mo, and have to ring to find out what is happening, we are patiently waiting and not complaining........it is difficult for me....



That's BS on all accounts mate,very poor!
Have experienced similar "service" in the past and refuse to return unless all other options are exhausted.

Re after market bling/bits/etc...go online,cheaper to do it yourself as it's usually all the shops are doing anyway. Any issues just PM me and I'll help ya source some goodies.


Want to help us find a teeny, tiny bracket to hold the fuel tank to the frame on the Trumpy?????

[heyjoe]

i have tried to have dealings with only 3 different motorcycle shops and all 3 have provided absolutely shit service!!! the 1st shop (in auckland), i bought my bike (brand new) and payed cash, did they offer me any discount on clothing/protective gear? NO (ok not expected but come on you would think they offer me something), the second shop (in napier), i ask for my bike to be serviced and could they find some aftermarket parts for me, well they serviced the bike and could they be bothered to tell me it was finished? NO, i asked them if they had got my stuff that they ordered, their answer when i asked "sorry mate i couldnt remember(read couldnt be bothered, that was his attitude)" so i told them to forget it! the 3rd shop (in hastings), i ask them to order me some stuff in and they say "yes it will all be here on friday" was it there? yep you guessed it, it wernt there! i asked them why they didnt call me to tell me it wasnt going to be there so i didnt waste time and money going there(yes they did have my number), the answer "sorry we didnt order the items(read couldnt be bothered)"


are all motorcycle shops in this country the same? i have only had three dealings with bike shops here and all three were fucking shit!!!


sorry rant over!!!

You have experienced shit service as you say and it's not good enough! It seems to be a virus that is making its way into many industries - not just the motorcycle selling game. My Mrs just ordered a computer the other week and all the bits had to be ordered in. It was all arranged and we even had the sales manager on the case since we were after good service due to muckups in the past. He was doing his best to make up for it. One of the other guys at the company orders the goods. We travel an hour especially to collect and deal with sales manager only to find out the monitor had not arrived but everything else had. The suppliers failed to advise that there were none in stock. The guy that ordered the items fail to tell his sales manager and we turn up to collect and he profusely apologising as no-one even told him! No-one told us either. There seems to be the 'I don't give a fark' virus going round eveywhere. It hits younger shop staff more easily as they have not been seasoned in selling yet. When I was in sales - one of my guidelines is give the kind of service that makes the customer want to come back again to buy more in the future. It is not difficult to do is it? Sounds like u got crap service and u are right to be brassed off.

[Swoop]

Having been through an episode with a "leading" D'Auckland bike emporium recently where they "lost" my order twice and apologised profusely (not), it is easy to see where the customer stands.

As DMNTD says, go overseas for "bits".

[smoky]

I stopped using Huntly Honda when it use to be Gingers place, man he was a rip off.
But recently I broke down on the side of the road north of Huntly, they came and picked me up. left my bike with them to be repaired. I’ve been impressed with the friendly service I’ve received.
The new manager /owner is a nice guy who knows how to make you feel welcome and will go the extra mile (or 10) to help out, much appreciated. Their mechanic seems to be on to it as well, honest service, work done at the price quoted.

I seem to get a good deal from Road and Sport in Hamilton as well – bling to them
Phils motor cycles in Morrinsville are awesome to talk to if your thinking of buying a bike.
Sadly I can’t recommend anyone in Te Awamutu, where I live.

[robertydog]

i have tried to have dealings with only 3 different motorcycle shops and all 3 have provided absolutely shit service!!! the 1st shop (in auckland), i bought my bike (brand new) and payed cash, did they offer me any discount on clothing/protective gear? NO (ok not expected but come on you would think they offer me something), the second shop (in napier), i ask for my bike to be serviced and could they find some aftermarket parts for me, well they serviced the bike and could they be bothered to tell me it was finished? NO, i asked them if they had got my stuff that they ordered, their answer when i asked "sorry mate i couldnt remember(read couldnt be bothered, that was his attitude)" so i told them to forget it! the 3rd shop (in hastings), i ask them to order me some stuff in and they say "yes it will all be here on friday" was it there? yep you guessed it, it wernt there! i asked them why they didnt call me to tell me it wasnt going to be there so i didnt waste time and money going there(yes they did have my number), the answer "sorry we didnt order the items(read couldnt be bothered)"


are all motorcycle shops in this country the same? i have only had three dealings with bike shops here and all three were fucking shit!!!


sorry rant over!!!

Mate i know how you feel. Same problem. Only last week i went to a local bike shop to order some bits and peices and he didnt know what i was talking about. Looked in every book he had. He said sorry i cant help you.
So i went elsewhere and ordered a pack rack.:gob:

[jafar]

Considering they are selling to a small minority of the population you would think they would treat customers like royalty but no , the attitudes shown by some (not all) is abysmal.
There are some bloody good shops around though , pity it takes trial & error to find them

[eliot-ness]

FFS. You bought a new bike and gear and didn't negotiate a discount before you paid. No bloody wonder you didn't get one. I've a good idea which shop you went to, on Barry's Point Road? the same shop I've bought 4 bikes from in the past few years. Average 5% discount on all bikes, 10% on spares and gear, all I have to do is ASK first and there's no argument. There is no way I would buy anything at the ticket price, I regard that as the approximate value. The purchase price is the one I agree to pay. I only slipped up once, got $8oo dollars off the last bike but forgot to ask for a free helmet. Won't make that mistake again.

[Unit]

Mate please dont judge our country yet based on your poor experiences, but having said that what you describe is totally unacceptable. Any help we can give just ask, there are plenty of people out there who will be keen. Also hook up with some local bikers who do deal with your bike shops, get them to introduce you to the people who will be bothered giving you the good service.

[MSTRS]

Mate please dont judge our country yet based on your poor experiences, but having said that what you describe is totally unacceptable. Any help we can give just ask, there are plenty of people out there who will be keen. Also hook up with some local bikers who do deal with your bike shops, get them to introduce you to the people who will be bothered giving you the good service.

Round here it is hit and miss. I've had good and bad experiences with the same shops....haven't noted whether the day of the week makes any difference.

[canarlee]

Mate please dont judge our country yet based on your poor experiences,

the country and people as a whole have been VERY welcoming and damn nice "viva neuva zelanda" its just the muppets at the bike shops that seem to be retarded!!!

[Toaster]

FFS. You bought a new bike and gear and didn't negotiate a discount before you paid. No bloody wonder you didn't get one. I've a good idea which shop you went to, on Barry's Point Road? the same shop I've bought 4 bikes from in the past few years.

Agreed. I've done the same with all my bikes..... last 3 from Holshot - don't ask - don't get. When buying bikes in a strong market, discounts generally won't be offered unless you ask. I'd also see discounts and 'service' as two entirely different issues.

[Morcs]

At the end of the day, If you dont like the service you get, use another shop until you find a good one. The bad ones dont get your money and the good ones do. Sadly people still give there money to the bad ones hence helping them survive with no need to improve their service.

[ynot slow]

moral is if ya don't ask ya don't get.try the provinces for bike shops/repairs etc,they also have internet and world is smaller for it,also smaller regions need customers so give service,in auckland if you say shop x is crap it don't matter as volume of punters is greater then say small town.even better is the lower overheads with rents/land sometimes means country areas can be cheaper.my point was with tyres,same brand was $100 expensive in city than in my town.as for clothing the margin is good enough to get decent discount,i got 15% from anza in palmy as i was in city for weekend and they had large range to choose from,spent over $600,would've spent locally but the sizes had to be ordered in and then not sure of fit,easy if you can try rather than go off pictures.also the staff in anza seemed really interested in heloing a newby.went there last week to look at cars(nice bikes)same great service both with cars being moved whilst pissing down so we could drive,whilst waiting in showroom sales guy came over as iwas checking out an sv and vtr,acknowledged me to see if i was wanting help,wasn't put out when said i was waiting to drive a car on the lot.

[magicfairy]

Where the fuck is Crasherfromwayback?? He'll be up your butt promising you the earth (and probably doing you a good deal too) - and he'll ship a bike anywhere in the country...

Hell yes !! Had a bike out of it's box, put together and gassed up, ready to test ride for me with less than a days notice!
I've bought about 4 bikes from him now, always been treated really well.

Wellington has some great bike shops I reckon. WMC, TSS I've found the best, but the others aren't bad either.

[banditrider]

I guess over the years I've had good and bad service. I get looked after pretty well locally when buying parts/accessories but have definetly had some bad experiences when looking at buying a new bike (practically sitting on the bike and not even getting a gidday). It's unbelievable that some sales guys think that people are just gonna roll on up and hand them a cheque. For me, I expect them to sell it to me and offer good advice etc.

Give your custom to the guys who work for it and offer decent service. Word gets around about the dodgy guys...

[RC1]

i bought my bike (brand new) and payed cash, did they offer me any discount on clothing/protective gear? NO (ok not expected but come on you would think they offer me something),
if you didnt expect anything why bother posting this ?? if you asked they would have done you a deal of sorts, only shop in hamilton i wont go to is boyd honda as they ignored me when i went in to get gears and paid no interest in me even though noboby else was there , so i went accross the road and spent my $1500 on gears and got a free pair of $4oo oxtars boots and shades thrown in for free :Punk:

[heyjoe]

Another way of looking at all this is to give praise/credit to the shops that are doing the job well (good service and good deals but good service no matter what is a good place to start). Is there any harm in writing honestly about shops that do look after their customers here?

I guess it is easy to be critical and I sometimes tend to do that too.

I buy stuff from places that give good service (to my standards - my expectations - not theres). I also like a good price like anyone else.

Good luck for your wheeling and dealing (after reading all the comments given on this forum) for the future Canarlee.

[NighthawkNZ]

are all motorcycle shops in this country the same? i have only had three dealings with bike shops here and all three were fucking shit!!!


I have had nothing but great service from Honda Otago here in Dunedin... I order something, I ask what day it will be here, and it is... the once it wasn't was when some shop in Auckland didn't put it on the Courier... (but they rang me and said some fella up there missed the courier and will be here the following day) and Honda Otago weren't to impressed with the service from Auckland either...

However I have heard nothing but horror stories from a certain other local bike shop...

anyway my point is you do have to shop around to find the best service for you and your bike.

regards

[bane]

only shop in hamilton i wont go to is boyd honda as they ignored me when i went in to get gears and paid no interest in me even though noboby else was there:

interesting, thats the shop I get the best service/discounts from in Hamilton...
(however the other crowd you went to are pretty good)

just shows you that bike shops (like all retailers) need to show a consistent level of service - first impression may be the only one they get to make!

I work with a guy who had decided he wanted a new supersport 600 of "x" brand. Cashed up, went to the appropriate franchise in Hamilton, who preceded to treat him like he was wasting their time. Told him the bike he wanted to trade was "difficult to sell on" (he had a jap 250), and offered him a trade in price that was downright insulting. The same afternoon he rode over to Tauranga, and deal was done in 20mins (saving over $2k on the deal offered in Hamilton).

So? you might ask... well now he tells everybody about the service he (didnt) receive at the Hamilton shop - and no doubt has an impact on their bottom line...

[Crasherfromwayback]

i have tried to have dealings with only 3 different motorcycle shops and all 3 have provided absolutely shit service!!!
are all motorcycle shops in this country the same? i have only had three dealings with bike shops here and all three were fucking shit!!!


sorry rant over!!!

Hell mate.......I want your money!

Anything you need.....feel free to call me COLLECT, and I'll do my best to take it off you!

Pete
Wellington Motorcycles
(04) 8010-725 DDI

[canarlee]

if you didnt expect anything why bother posting this ?? if you asked they would have done you a deal of sorts, only shop in hamilton i wont go to is boyd honda as they ignored me when i went in to get gears and paid no interest in me even though noboby else was there , so i went accross the road and spent my $1500 on gears and got a free pair of $4oo oxtars boots and shades thrown in for free :Punk:

i did ask for discounts when i bought the bike, the busa petes were there with me at the time and guess what i was told? NO DISCOUNTS!!! i asked for a pair of gloves (how cheap?) to be thrown in with the deal and they said no! mind it was a pom wanker that i was dealing with! (and before anyone says owt im a pom!)

[canarlee]

Hell mate.......I want your money!

Anything you need.....feel free to call me COLLECT, and I'll do my best to take it off you!

Pete
Wellington Motorcycles
(04) 8010-725 DDI

can you do me a decent aftermarket zorst can for me 1250 bandit?

cheers

[skidMark]

i used to work in a motorbike shop.

you cannot expect discounts and free gear unless you ask.

it just means they make less margin.

so why would they offer it , you cannot expect to get anything , if you don't ask.

SM

[canarlee]

i used to work in a motorbike shop.

you cannot expect discounts and free gear unless you ask.

it just means they make less margin.

so why would they offer it , you cannot expect to get anything , if you don't ask.

SM

i did ask for discounts when i bought the bike, the busa petes were there with me at the time and guess what i was told? NO DISCOUNTS!!! i asked for a pair of gloves (how cheap?) to be thrown in with the deal and they said no! mind it was a pom wanker that i was dealing with! (and before anyone says owt im a pom!)

[Toaster]

i did ask for discounts when i bought the bike, the busa petes were there with me at the time and guess what i was told? NO DISCOUNTS!!! i asked for a pair of gloves (how cheap?) to be thrown in with the deal and they said no! mind it was a pom wanker that i was dealing with! (and before anyone says owt im a pom!)

Welll that sucks!!!! Tight-arsed poms huh.

[Max Preload]

i did ask for discounts when i bought the bike, the busa petes were there with me at the time and guess what i was told? NO DISCOUNTS!!! i asked for a pair of gloves (how cheap?) to be thrown in with the deal and they said no!

You've got to be prepared to walk away and take your custom elsewhere, and make damn sure they know that before you even start talking turkey.

Remember, cash is no longer king - they'd rather you finance because they get a kickback on the interest.

[Max Preload]

I recently fitted new rubber to my bike at Haldanes. I wanted Pilot Road 2's front and rear, and was quoted when I walked in and asked (a couple of weeks earlier, when I thought it was about time I started looking).

They were close to where I was working, and the price I was quoted was fair. However, once I got my shit together and actually got the bike in to them on the day, they didn't have the front in stock, and it wasn't due for at least a week. So I asked about doing a Pilot Sport CVT front instead for the same price and they agreed.

They called to tell me it was all done, and when I turned up the bill was $65 more than I was quoted. I wasn't too happy about that, especially when I had raised the issue of cost with them when I'd dropped the bike off that morning and we'd agreed on a figure for the tyres I wanted.

Chris decided that I as the customer (who I always thought was always right, within reason) was wrong and that the original quote was for Pilot Roads, not Pilot Road 2's (although I had certainly never even asked about Pilot Roads as I wanted the dual compounds).

Tony however was more diplomatic and I felt he was genuinely embarrassed by the stuff up and after much umming and ahhhing I agreed to pay a little extra, but not the full difference. It ended up a little more than what I would have paid at Cycletreads but given the convenience of their location for me, I figured that was worth it.

However, it has left a bad feeling in that an agreed upon price was reneged on, but having had good service from the guys in the workshop on a recent occasion, I'm prepared to I'm prepared to write it off as experience. It's not even the issue of the money - it's the fact I was looked upon as trying to pull a fast one on him. I know what I asked for and I know what I was quoted. If it had been anything other than tyres, I'd have cancelled the sale right there and then, but with them already fitted, I was a bit cornered.

Next time I will insist on a written quote, be it Haldanes or otherwise.

[sunhuntin]

ifn ya dont mind the ride, i always hand my dosh to paragon, here in wanganui. anything the bike needs, leave it for a day and its done. only thing that cant come into that is when parts are needed, but they are usually there within a week. the boys are friendly, and go the extra mile. always happy to see a person and have a yarn.

i also tried two other shops, one was joe lett [suzuki] who treated me as if i didnt know what the hell i was on about. [just another chick wannabe biker] the other was whitlock suzuki. 5 weeks for a speedo, fluid all over the front of the bike, and the same shite all over the lock of my top box. crap sales service [bought a brand new gn from them] and they also baulked at chucking in a helmet. we had to nag to get it.

have used dowman honda in the past, but only in emergencys [flat tyre, broken brake lever after a drop] good service from them, too.

[gammaguy]

poor service certainly isnt limited to motorcycle shops,but it seems rampant in them for sure.

I run my own workshop in Chch and always try and remember what it was like when I was on the other side of the counter.

sadly other shops seem to have forgotten this and lots of shops have guys working there who dont even ride.

its all about communication,no one likes surprises do they?last i checked,a TXT cost 20c.a lost or pissed off customer costs a shitload more than that.:mellow:

(heres a hint guys,get them to TXT you the prices of stuff,then you have a written record,I do this all the time now with any major purchase):yes:

[Babelfish]

Just tried to find a 530 chain for my vitter. Tried 6 shops before finding one that had some in stock....and fucking chain ffs! I'll tell you what, when I find a shop thats good, I'll hang onto them like gold!

[caesius]

Ain't too many bike shops in Hastings, one I find is generally good apart from the grumpy as hell mechs. The other I couldn't comment on as I've never been there. Try whichever Hastings store you haven't been to, if the one you tried wasn't the one I'm thinking of you may be pleasantly surprised.

[Max Preload]

Ain't too many bike shops in Hastings, one I find is generally good apart from the grumpy as hell mechs. The other I couldn't comment on as I've never been there. Try whichever Hastings store you haven't been to, if the one you tried wasn't the one I'm thinking of you may be pleasantly surprised.

Could you be a bit more vague, please? :slap:

[caesius]

^^^ Just keepin' names out of the equation. He'll know what I'm talking about.

[Babelfish]

Its amazing what can fuck up an experience. A good example for me was some shite service I got at an italian place in Petone. Decided to splurge on the missus (oo er) and have a posh lunch so no expese spared. Met a nice girl on entry (double oo er) who showed us to our table and nicely served us throughout the lunch. After spending around 120 on the lunch, then buying a bottle of the 30 buck wine we had some SLUT take my money that treated me like I was invisible. Thats all it took...20 seconds of transaction at the end of an otherwise really nice lunch and I wont step foot near the shithole again.

[Mr. Peanut]

Wheels of Thames gives me a discount on most everything. I don't have to ASK for anything, because they're reasonable people.

The Business started in the first place, because he was so frustrated at the shit job the local Honda dealership was doing.

[tri boy]

NZ has had poor/slow/bad service right across the retail industry for ever.
Thats why Harvey Norman etc have and will continue to base themselves here.
There are good retailers out there, but doing your research to arm yourself with purchasing power is a must.
Most retail assistants only view their industry from the NZ experience, unlike our new citizens from Europe, Asia etc who have a much wider understanding.
Please be patient with us Kiwis, we come out at night, barely lift our nose off the forest floor, and waddle our way through life.
But we can be an endearing, trustworthy lot, who go about our business without trying to Nuke everyone with different views of the world.
:yes:

[ambler]

Weeelll... after living in Japan for so long, the 'service' I get in when I'm back in NZ on visits is quite a shock. But I don't want to just blanket label the whole place like that. If you get the owner of the shop, your service will be impeccable, downright friendly and highly inducive of many more return visits to that shop. Get someone who just works there (particularly younger staff) watching the clock and is far more interested in their cellphone email than earning their paycheck, and your experience will be the exact opposite. Seems like these latter types get adjusted to a routine and when called on to do anything more than that (ie. helping a customer) they get pissed off as if it's not their job or something. I believe this is called laziness?
Organizing my wedding in Auckland earlier this year I had dealings with a good number of services, and it wasn't long before I figured out how to do it right: find out the name of whoever is the first type of person I mention above, and ask for them. Otherwise just call back later. If you are actually going in to the shop, try to go when they will be there.
Overall I think I prefer NZ though... the really great times are when you come across someone who at first glance could be a 'clock-watcher' but turns out to have a real enthusiasm for what they are doing. These people really make my day. I remember one time I was getting a coffee somewhere and remarked to the guy about how noisy the grinder was, to which he responded by cheekily pretending to say something, mouthing the words silently as if the grinder was so loud that I couldn't hear him. Compare that to Japan where everyone is very robotic - every thing they say is kind of 'scripted', and if you make some off hand comment about the weather or whatever, they have no idea how to respond :/

[Storm]

I'd recommend Phil Turnbulls in Palmy- I've been dealing with them for years.
Particularly the parts and workshop have been very good to me with regards to discounts on bits and pieces( I made sure to let them know early on that if the service was good, I'd be back many times, and vice versa- not threatening like or anything, just let us all know where we stood), and the workshop boss (who as alluded to above, I make sure I speak to- he didnt get to be the boss for nothing :D) has always rung to confirm if anything is going to be more than originally thought, or to offer different ways of fixing the problem.
That said, I know some havent had such a great experience, but its been all good for me, and I've been singing their praises to everyone.
Another workshop who didnt show me as much love as I feel they could have, I also tell people about if they ask-thats free PR to be made or lost as I see it

[kro]

If you're going to live in Hawke's Bay, you'll need to come to some sort of understanding with the bike shops there, unless you like long rides to buy the things you need.

See, I think this is indicative of the level of "service" offered by a lot of NZ companies, and it is appalling. I don't think any shop should treat you indifferently because they think they have you over a barrell.

If they had any sense at all, they'd wow you, and over time get that much patronage, they could open a second shop/franchise, and take their business places, but no, sadly, they fuck you around, and generally be meatheads.

A Lot of it boils down to the NZ way of offering pittance salary/wages, and attracting the calibre of individual most detrimental to the business. A local contractor here in Nelson just lost 3 truckies to Australia. That's a huge number to all piss off at once, but they earn 15-20k more a year, and work less hours, and are in big demand, and get treated well. Hmmm, makes you wonder.

[Max Preload]

:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: