Rant about my experiences with MID and CaptainTransporter

**Milts** · 15th June 2009, 17:41

Hey guys, I'm 100% new to riding, got my learners a bit over a month ago, and at about the same time bought a new bike, seemed easy enough...little did I know...

Bought the bike from Motorcycle Imports Direct in Christchurch, a 1991 Kawasaki ZZR250, mint as condition, looked like it had never been dropped in its life, 16000 k's. I made the first payment on the 11th or 12th of last month, and the following two payments in the following two days (couldn't pay all at once due to my internet banking cap). I tell them to ship via CaptainTransporter, because it would be about $80 cheaper than the shipping company they often use. I opt not to get insurance (NEVER AGAIN), because it was an extra $50 or so and they cover 1500$ of damage anyway, and if the bike is a total write off they have a 'total loss coverage' thing, so in order for me to lose out they had to do over 1500$ of damage without totalling the bike.

Bike doesn't get shipped and doesn't get shipped while they wait for all three payments to go through (makes no sense to me why they didn't just send it after the first), then they have to organise it, get the bike to the shipment company etc. So finally it ships by about the 23rd, and it arrives here in Welly on the 27th. Low and behold, they had managed to snap off the entire right foot peg bracket somewhere on the way, and to top it off the guy lifting it off the truck drops it straight on its nose, crushes the mirror, destroys the screen etc. It arrived on the Friday I got it in to Motorad in Wellington the following Tuesday (long weekend), which was two weeks ago tomorrow. It took them until today to get me an appraisal, and wouldn't you know... they don't make 1991 ZZR screens or brackets anymore, so the screen will set me back $200 and the bracket (this tiny shaped piece of metal) another $270. Gonna cost over $2k just to get the F-ing thing roadworthy, if I want a new paint job it's another $1600, and more to patch up the scratches on the muffler, handlebars etc, and it won't be ready regardless until sometime next week or later (six weeks after my first paymet)... MY insurance company isn't paying out because it wasn't in my possession at the time, and they cover 3rd party, fire and theft but apparently not this... WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SO HARD TO GET A BIKE.

Honestly, I feel like hurting someone. At least captaintransporter were very very sorry and happy to pay out the $1500... the rest is up to me though. And to think, I bought this bike because it was a damn cheap deal (2400$ good condition with only 16000 ks on it)...

/rant.

**jtzzr** · 15th June 2009, 17:53

Bummer to hear mate, but you live and you learn. Insurance is a must in the motorcycling game.

If you ask nicely around here , you may be able to pick up some cheaper bits and pieces, and maybe a decent paintjob at a cheaper rate. Good luck to ya.

**p.dath** · 15th June 2009, 17:56

I guess the real lesson here is to always get the transport insurance - and that the cheapest deal often isn't (as was in this case). So next time I'd use the transporter the bike shop recommends, even if it is more expensive. You probably find they use them for a reason.

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Hopefully next time it will be better. Just an expensive lesson to learn unfortunately.

**hayd3n** · 15th June 2009, 17:57

fark
and were they a bike freight company??

talk to crazefox he will sort you out paint and plastic repairs
hes in wellington and ive seen pics of his work

**vifferman** · 15th June 2009, 18:03

IF ONLY you'd checked out Kiwi Biker beforehand!
This has happened before (but a different freight company). The know-alls on here could've given you HEAPS of advice (admittedly moost of it worth what you paid for it....)

**Mom** · 15th June 2009, 18:04

Ouch! Sorry to hear that they were less than careful with your new baby. Sadly, it takes almost no effort to do a lot of dollars worth of damage to your bike. I am sorry you learned this lesson the hard way.

I am sure some lovely Welly biker can help you to get your trusty steed into a roadworthy condition for you at a reasonable price.

**sil3nt** · 15th June 2009, 18:05

Did any one watch target the other week? I caught it one weekend and someone had just got an rgv250 (i think) shipped from south island to north island and the guy onloading it dropped it causing a lot of damage. Transport company only had to pay out $1500 because the person didnt pay the extra $50 for insurance. It is pretty much identical to what has happened here and if you had seen it i am sure you would have paid the extra!

BTW a company here in hamilton can make you a screen for $145 but you would have shipping on that. http://www.godiva.co.nz/models.php?mk=9&srt=model&pg=3

**Lurch** · 15th June 2009, 18:10

Whoah major FairGo deja vu!

Although the guy on FairGo recently wasn't even gonna get the 1500 until the TV got involved.

Sorry to hear of this, theres no worse way to start your riding career than with mechanical/costly messes.

Shit really does happen, get yourself insured.

**caseye** · 15th June 2009, 18:18

Sad to hear of your misfortune. I also used Captain Transporter to get my wifes bike up from Napier. I didn't opt for the extra insurance either.
Somewhere along the way the right side hand brake lever and foot brake lever were both severly bent, the hand brake lever actually breaking in my hand.So I couldn't use the bike for two weeks while I sorted out parts etc.
The bike is now up and running beautifully and Anthony from Captain Transporter was in touch with me from the word go about parts and labour costs, which they meet unequivocally.
So while I had a similar expereince with transporting a bike and with the same crowd, I'm posting this in their Defence.
While they or their shippers did actually damage the bike, it was repaired and I was reimbursed fully and promptly.
Captain Transporters price to transport from Napier to AK was $180.00 all up including $1500.00 of insurance.
The next best price was approx $400.00 and that was from one of the recommended companies from here on KB.
I'd use Captain Transporter again without hesitation, even after this expereince, as they remained professional and approachable throughtout my ordeal.

**AD345** · 15th June 2009, 18:26

Not to have a go at you personally but.....

some of us Kiwis do ourselves no favours in the neverending quest for the "cheap deal".

Bike for a bargain, didn't use the dealers freight company, didn't take insurance....at this point you are way past the stage where you get to bitch about the outcome.

**flyingcrocodile46** · 15th June 2009, 18:47

The Carriage of Goods Act sucks when it comes to getting compensation for damage occurring through outright stupidity (not properly securing the load when lifting it) Who was "the guy lifting it off the truck"? Did he work for the transport company?

**Mully** · 15th June 2009, 20:16

Originally Posted by flyingcrocodile46

The Carriage of Goods Act sucks when it comes to getting compensation for damage occurring through outright stupidity (not properly securing the load when lifting it) Who was "the guy lifting it off the truck"? Did he work for the transport company?

Funnily enough (I've just had this very discussion with our claims and legal teams on a MUCH bigger scale), negligence on the behalf of the "unloader" does not prevent the carrier from claiming the liability limitations of the COG Act (i.e. $1500).

The COG only states the limitation doesn't apply when the goods are deliberatly damaged.

So, people playing along at home. Whenever you move anything, ensure you have insurance to cover the value. This applies whether the cargo is domestically or internationally moved. Bills of Lading and the COG will limit liability and the guilty parties will run for the hills.

**marty** · 15th June 2009, 21:30

hope that $80 saving is feeling worth it.

**MDR2** · 15th June 2009, 21:36

have used captain trans twice now never opted for insurance, both time the bike arrived in perfect condition... i don't understand handling damage when its in a crate from depot to drop off.

nothing but high praise for them.