Your opinions on what is fair.

**FROSTY:Me** · 9th September 2009, 11:21

Hey folks I'd like to ask you opinion on what you think is the fair thing to do/ be done in the following situation.
Customer came into bike shop saying "hey Ive got $*** to spend on a bike" Sales manager shows a number of bikes to customer in his price range-NONE he's any too keen on. Sales manager then remembers a (for example) Gsxr600 in the workshop because some numbnuts had knocked it over and done some minor damage-scratched bar end scratched indicator etc -including a 75mm crack in the fairing lower.He tells the customer. Hey look the bikes still a great bike. but repaired its outa your price range. as is I can do it for the money you've got.

The deal is that the bike is sold as it sits but subject to being mechanically sound and having a new WOF and rego.
A FULL inspection of the bike is carried out by a competent mechanic.
Some cosmetic issues are noted as expected but NO mechanical issues in any way. One of which is a 75mm crack in a lower fairing panel
The customer reads through the report which he is happy with and deal is all done--away he goes on his bike.
2 weeks later the customer goes back to the dealer with the bike wanting the 75mm crack to be repaired.
A junior member of the staff says hey no problem we can fix that for you.
Fairing is fixed and returned to the bike shop manager
The customer is contacted and told his fairing is ready and the cost of repair.
Customer gets upset because he wasn't told he would be charged to repair the fairing,He argues that the crack was in the fairing when he bought the bike and so should be repaired free
Manager replys.- Hang on ,You saw the bike and the marks in the fairing-including the crack.Its noted on the inspection report that there is a crack in the fairing. You then later bring the bike to us to be repaired. Why would you think we would repair it for free? We repaired it because you as a customer asked us to carry out work on your bike.

Whats FAIR in this situation??

**sondela** · 9th September 2009, 11:29

Seems clear cut enough.. if they wanted the fairing fixed they shoulda negotiated at the time of buying, not once the deal was done..

**buellbabe** · 9th September 2009, 11:31

Come on...its a no brainer.

**elevenhundred** · 9th September 2009, 11:32

Bike owner pays.
I reckon he's had someone in his ear about that crack and he's suffering from a bit of buyers remorse.
He agreed to it and the deal was done.

**Dealer** · 9th September 2009, 11:34

Customer pays. He should have arranged the repair as part of the sale if he wanted it done gratis.
Unless there was an agreement regarding remedial work its his bill.
How much dosh are we talking, ballpark?

**firefighter** · 9th September 2009, 11:35

Fuck'em,

Make him pay for it.

Not at all the bike shops fault.

What a fucken shit.

**MSTRS:Me** · 9th September 2009, 11:37

Charge the bugger.

**Sidewinder** · 9th September 2009, 11:43

bro wtf was the point in putting this on here, you answered the question your self lol!

**Swoop** · 9th September 2009, 11:46

The bike owner pays.

He was aware of the deal.

**Stirts** · 9th September 2009, 11:47

Seems pretty clear cut to me. But......

"Whats FAIR in this situation??"

Well the work is already done, and there is a bill to be paid. I would certainly find out exactly what Junior member of staff said to this customer. Find out if costs where discussed in any way, shape or form.

I would reiterate to the customer that.....
a) A deal is struck on the bike cheaper than advertised price.
b) A full report was given, which icluded cracked fairing, and he was happy with that deal.

Then I would ask the customer what do you expect us to do?
And if he still says "Dont charge me for it"
Tell him to fuck off and die!

But seriously, I would weigh up the "cost" of losing this customer and the 7 or so people he is going to tell "his side the story" to and maybe enter into negotiation for a discount on the bill.

**The Stranger:Me** · 9th September 2009, 11:52

Dealers make heaps as it is. The dealer should pay!

**MSTRS:Me** · 9th September 2009, 11:52

Originally Posted by Stirts

... maybe enter into negotiation ...

Only negotiation should be - When you pay the bill, then we give the fairing back. Or we can keep the fairing.

**Stirts** · 9th September 2009, 11:56

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Only negotiation should be - When you pay the bill, then we give the fairing back. Or we can keep the fairing.

Certainly if he is a right wank and you don't want to have them as an ongoing customer.

**nudemetalz** · 9th September 2009, 11:57

Definitely BIKE OWNER pays. He was informed & saw that the crack was there to begin with so why should the shop pay?

**CookMySock** · 9th September 2009, 12:08

If I was the bike shop I'd tell him to fuck off and then tell everyone who it was. Pricks who do that just make bike shops hate their work and their customers - not what I need.

Oh fair? Whats fair is he can go get bent. Yeah, thats fair.

Steve