Mt Eden Motorcycles - Not going there again

[Metastable]

I read some of the first few and some of the last few pages, so maybe someone else has pointed this out... dunno.

Whether or not 1.5 hours of labour makes sense isn't what I will be getting at with this post. However, one thing many folks seem to forget is that there HAS TO be a minimal charge for getting the bike up on the lift for service.

You're not just paying for a guy's salary to pull a drain plug and fill it with oil.... or to just switch over a tire. You are paying for:
- Labour
- The cost of the equipment being used, tools, lifts,
- Rental space, lights, heating whatever
- The cost of burden if something goes wrong.

What if the bike is damaged? It could be a dent, mechanical screw up, rims scratched when changing tires, etc...

It doesn't make sense for a shop to just charge someone for 15minutes. Then they would be losing money, especially considering how many things CAN go wrong.

Plus - you never want a mechanic to RUSH anything.

[kwaka_crasher]

No comment at this stage as I'm one of the big mouth buggers up stairs too busy catering to those that would like to buy bikes and gear.
I am, however, more than happy to find out plus I will also do some of my own research...

I look forward to the findings of the Royal Commission...

But seriously I would be interested to know. Flat rate was ok back when vehicles were all very similar, not so much now with such a diverse range of configurations and models.

It doesn't really affect me as I do all my own servicing. But it's probably of interest to others who have commented on the 1½ hours..

[The Stranger:Me]

Fuk em, blame them crasher.
The bastards that dont pay, the bastards that flame ya on the net, the bastards that ask "do i owe you anything for that" (no im fuckin Santa cant you see)
The bastards that fuck it up themselves & want the shop to sort it out.
The bastards that try on boots & helmet & then buy them off the net.
The bastards that supply their own parts off the 'net & want the shop to fit them. & all the other munters out there, i could go on for pages.
But woe betide if a customer gets accidentaly charged ten bucks he dosent owe.
Be funny if the shop started a thread naming & shaming assholes that do the above. That would be hilarious!!

You been in the industry too long, you need a break ya grumpy old bugger.

[Headbanger]

In my PERSONAL opinion....when I have an issue with someone or something, I use the set of balls I was born with to 'sort it out' on the spot instead of coming online and bitching.

Which is exactly what he did, raised the issue, had it sorted on the spot (as he reported), and then decided to throw his tale it into the public arena. As you can see there are dozens of points of view coming through and the opportunity is there for all concerned to say their piece.

Personally I don't see the shop has come off badly at all, One person has complained about a small item......meh

Hell, If I was insane enough to pay someone to change my oil, if the quoted price was within my expected budget, and if I were in close proximity to the shop in question then....well....damn, I just can't get over the hump of paying someone to change the oil, Its like paying someone to tie your shoes.

[sidecar bob]

You been in the industry too long, you need a break ya grumpy old bugger.

Yet strangely, im making more now than i ever did when i took everyones shit.
Cant quite work that one out.

[kwaka_crasher]

I read some of the first few and some of the last few pages, so maybe someone else has pointed this out... dunno.

Whether or not 1.5 hours of labour makes sense isn't what I will be getting at with this post. However, one thing many folks seem to forget is that there HAS TO be a minimal charge for getting the bike up on the lift for service.

You're not just paying for a guy's salary to pull a drain plug and fill it with oil.... or to just switch over a tire. You are paying for:
- Labour
- The cost of the equipment being used, tools, lifts,
- Rental space, lights, heating whatever
- The cost of burden if something goes wrong.

What if the bike is damaged? It could be a dent, mechanical screw up, rims scratched when changing tires, etc...

It doesn't make sense for a shop to just charge someone for 15minutes. Then they would be losing money, especially considering how many things CAN go wrong.

Plus - you never want a mechanic to RUSH anything.

Padding the labour charge is not the answer to covering any of that. It is disingenuous.

In any case, if something goes wrong that is unforeseeable then the customer bears the burden. But why should the customer be penalised if something goes wrong that is the fault of the mechanic like damage from falling off the lift etc. It's not up to the customer to ensure that's covered in overcharges for labour! It's up to the workshop to ensure they minimise the likelyhood and are suitably covered. They'd have to be making a lot of fuckups to warrant double the hourly rate! (based on 45 min to change oil, which is generous).

[Crasherfromwayback]

Talking of fuckups...we just had a salvage truck reverse down our drive, smash into the skip bin...and flatten around 6 motorcycles with it. THAT's a major!!!!

[Headbanger]

Talking of fuckups...we just had a salvage truck reverse down our drive, smash into the skip bin...and flatten around 6 motorcycles with it. THAT's a major!!!!

I hope your taking photos.

[caseye]

Talking of fuckups...we just had a salvage truck reverse down our drive, smash into the skip bin...and flatten around 6 motorcycles with it. THAT's a major!!!!

Jeez! Crasher thats bloody incredible, make sure those pics come out Good and lets be seeing em soon.I'd laugh but I know it's bloody serious insurance etc aside it's sheer bloody incompetence has wrecked someones pride and joy.

[Jantar]

Talking of fuckups...we just had a salvage truck reverse down our drive, smash into the skip bin...and flatten around 6 motorcycles with it. THAT's a major!!!!

Ouch!!!!
I hope the truck's owner has good insurance.

Back on topic. I've only ever had one "less than good" experience with Mt Eden Motorcycles, and that was so long ago it probably isn't even the same owners any more. Generally I've heard more positive than negative about them.

[kwaka_crasher]

Talking of fuckups...we just had a salvage truck reverse down our drive, smash into the skip bin...and flatten around 6 motorcycles with it. THAT's a major!!!!

Gees I wouldn't want to be the customer whose bill gets padded for THAT!

[Maha]

To be honest, to me, that reeks of "we've been caught out trying it on and want the chance to hush it up so the next victim... umm customer isn't forewarned".

But that's just my opinion.

Carry on with kinda talk and you'll get the thread Quarantined.

[Quasievil]

To be honest, to me, that reeks of "we've been caught out trying it on and want the chance to hush it up so the next victim... umm customer isn't forewarned".

But that's just my opinion.

You think so eh? so Mt Eden have a history of this ? I strongly doubt it as this subject would have appeared on this website before, to my knowledge it hasnt.
I think it demonstrates a slagger with a keyboard and no Balls.

[kwaka_crasher]

You think so eh? so Mt Eden have a history of this ? I strongly doubt it as this subject would have appeared on this website before, to my knowledge it hasnt.
I think it demonstrates a slagger with a keyboard and no Balls.

Yeah, I do think so. No, they don't have a history that I'm aware of, but isn't that my point? If nobody ever hears about it how are we to know?

I've dealt with M Eden MC on occassions - I've been going there for 20+years. I've had reasonably good experiences - nothing to complain about except lack of communication one time when getting parts a couple of years ago and a bit of white lies from Mike. But then I don't need them for servicing or repairs so perhaps this is the norm for the workshop. Who can really say? We can, perhaps at best, only establish a pattern. Is that not what this community is about - helping each other rather than just becoming a mouthpiece for the industry?

Now, I'm prepared to take DMNTD's word for what he posts. He's on the floor and even though he has a vested interest to some degree (being a job) I feel he's trustworthy and as I posted early on, the filter issue could be a simple oversight. But I also take onboard the OPs complaint because, really, what do they stand to gain from lieing? I'm not prepared to disbelieve him without good reason. Just as I have no good reason to disbelieve DMNTD's statement about the error being genuine and regretful.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I hope your taking photos.

Oh yes. We'll need 'em for the insurance company...and proof to the poor customers who's bikes got squished so they don't think we did it!