Mt Eden Motorcycles - Not going there again

[Crasherfromwayback]

A mechanic sniffing my seat would be the least of my worries.

I'm sure you'd be well worried if you happened to be sitting on it at the time

[kwaka_crasher]

They can, but it's not legal.
You can't legally charge an hour and a half if it only took you 30 minutes.

Never heard of the flat rate manual?

To be a biker dealer you need to be an LMVD, which means you fall under the Motor Vehicles Traders Register:
http://www.motortraders.med.govt.nz/cms
Part of the act, a legal requirement, is that every "vehicle" sold has to be given a 3 month warranty.

Ever notice how a lot of dealers advertise a 3 month warranty? It's not because they are being generous.

The LMVD hasn't existed since 2003. Statutory warranties disappeared with the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act that was repealed, as I recall.

Some RMVTs (the new name for dealers) offer an explicit 3 month warranty. They don't have to. Motor vehicle sales by RMVTs are now primarily covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act and disputes are handled by the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal (MVDT), a division of the Justice Department.

[Hispid]

You are not the first person to to be riipped off by Mt Eden Motorcycles and you won't be the last. I used to go there couple of years ago but not anymore. They have too much attitude.

I go to Spectrum Motocycles over the shore. very friendly and great service. have no complains.

[The Stranger:Me]

Never heard oft he flat rate manual?

Nope. Though I am aware that there are various schedules available for how long a particular service should take, these are often available with service information software for example and/or from some manufacturers.
If you for example quoted based on these then that would not be an issue. The price was agreed from the start in a quote - no contest (in general).
If you charged based on these it would be very difficult for the customer to argue against in court as you could very simply produce evidence (the manual) of what constitutes a reasonable time frame.

[The Pastor]

Motorcycle oil is generally more expensive than car oil - for some reason, so I don't think that's a good comparison. Plus the way some of these guys drain car oil (i.e. quickly, before it's all drained) I wouldn't dream of doing to a bike.

I would suspect that it's a standard charge and that the person raising the invoice probably didn't do the spanner spinning.
"Oil - X litres @ $X"
"Filter - 1 @ $X"
"Spark plugs (for example) - 4 @ $X"

I'd suggest that more bikes would have a filter than wouldn't.

No you are wrong. Bike oil is the same price as car oil.

As your comment on the invoice and standard charge - thats complete bullshit. They should never ever charge out something that wasnt done or required and the mechanic should confirm the work he done, and the time he did it in. Its just basic bussiness sence. If the person doing the invoice dosent know - they should find out.

The reasons a person goes to a mechanic rather than DIY is of a few reasons;

They are the experts (i.e., they should know about the oil filter)
They have the tools required
They do a professional job.

This experiance has only confirmed what i've thought about mt eden for a long time now. It is very embarrising for the store and I thank the OP for sharing the story. I strongly doubt this was a careless mistake and the blatent rip off attiude of Mt eden is shocking.

[kwaka_crasher]

No you are wrong. Bike oil is the same price as car oil.

No, they're not when you compare apples with apples. Compare the price of Mobil 1 4T (around the $80 mark) with Mobil 1 (around the $60 mark).

[Slyer]

No, they're not when you compare apples with apples. Compare the price of Mobil 1 4T (around the $80 mark) with Mobil 1 (around the $60 mark).

He is claiming that this is only because they charge more. I think they would be a bit more expensive as it is a specialty oil.

[The Pastor]

He is claiming that this is only because they charge more. I think they would be a bit more expensive as it is a specialty oil.

nope i pay $35/4L of oil, the same as a car.

[kwaka_crasher]

nope i pay $35/4L of oil, the same as a car.

Which oil. All the details, please.

You can buy car oil at $20/4L BTW. So your bike oil is more expensive.

[Headbanger]

I find it of even more interest that so many in the industry blame the customers for problems within the industry

[Ixion]

Well, personally I use diesel oil in bikes (four strokes, obviously), so it is the same price by definition.

[The Pastor]

Which oil. All the details, please.

You can buy car oil at $20/4L BTW. So your bike oil is more expensive.

what ever costs less than $35 at cycletreads. eaaassssy

[Robert Taylor]

No, they're not when you compare apples with apples. Compare the price of Mobil 1 4T (around the $80 mark) with Mobil 1 (around the $60 mark).

Of course everything posted on the net is correct right? Motorcycle oil is for the most part more expensive than car oil because it doesnt have the same economy of scale. Its also different to car oil as it has a different bucket of additives.

[Robert Taylor]

I find it interesting that some within the industry try and shut down legit honest discussion, and try and paint it as slanderous just for daring to exist.

I mean ffs, Think of the children?

I find it interesting how so many who slag the industry etc etc on forums are not totally transparent who they are. If you are going to ''name and shame'' a dealer so blatantly then say exactly who you are and where you are from.

Like another post said the customer should have first gone to the manager of the said shop and asked him to clarify or put it right. Prior to pulling the pin on a KB hand grenade. I wonder how many on this forum who have engaged in this feeding frenzy would survive intense scrutiny of their own workplace performance????

[kwaka_crasher]

what ever costs less than $35 at cycletreads. eaaassssy

Yeah, so you're not comparing even remotely similar oils. Just as I thought. Why aren't you buying the $20/4L bike oils then?

That's like saying a Porsche costs the same as a Toyota Echo because you bought a used '91 Porsche for the price you'd pay for a new Echo.

And like RT says - bike oils are a low volume specialty oil which is a significant factor in pricing.

Of course everything posted on the net is correct right?

Are you by any chance attempting to make some spurious link between, let's just say, a customer's experience of a particular workshop charging for parts that weren't fitted and perhaps the retail pricing of similar motorcycle parts?