Mt Eden Motorcycles - Not going there again

[nodrog:Me]

I had to do the WOF and oil change for my bike and somebody recommended these guys.
All nice and smooth although $150 for a change of oil seemed a bit steep since $90 was just the labor (1.5 hours to drain the oil and put new one. whatever).
I could do it myself but I didn't have the proper tools.

Anyway, the next day I took my wife's bike for an identical operation. She has a '99 Honda Rebel.
Same price. Looked at the invoice: "oil filter - $10".
Since the Rebel doesn't have an oil filter I asked the guy why am I being charged for one. He mumbled something and he called somebody else.
He said and I quote: "Eh, I thought the bike has an oil filter, this is why it's on the invoice but not to worry, I'll make another invoice without the oil filter".

So, if I wasn't aware of this they would have ripped me off. I don't care about the $10, I care about the fact that who knows what else they "think" the bike might have. The gesture, not the money.

I wonder if they really changed the oil or they just thought they did it.

So I'd advise avoiding Mt. Eden Motorcycles if you can.

Anybody can recommend an honest guy that can do simple maintenance on bikes (like oil change) at reasonable prices and maybe also Warrants of Fitness?

Thanks.

what are you actually bleating about? are you bleating about the $150 (which, from my experience seems about the going rate at a branded franchised dealer) which was fine 24 hours before on your bike?

or are you bleating about the $60 an hour labour charge (thats a fucking good hourly rate, all the franchised shops here are $80+)

or are you bleating about the mistake on the invoice which was made good as soon as you asked about it (they made a mistake and fixed it, what more do you want? a cuddle?)

im confused

[AllanB]

Maybe Skidmark got a job there - that would explain the 1.5 hours ......

[sidecar bob]

what are you actually bleating about? are you bleating about the $150 (which, from my experience seems about the going rate at a branded franchised dealer) which was fine 24 hours before on your bike?

or are you bleating about the $60 an hour labour charge (thats a fucking good hourly rate, all the franchised shops here are $80+)

or are you bleating about the mistake on the invoice which was made good as soon as you asked about it (they made a mistake and fixed it, what more do you want? a cuddle?)
im confused

Pull ya head in Gordy, she's just bleating, ok. Aint a chick allowed to just have a bleat sometimes?

[nodrog:Me]

Pull ya head in Gordy, she's just bleating, ok. Aint a chick allowed to just have a bleat sometimes?

fair enough, i should be more understanding, especially when Aunt Flo is visting for the week.

[The Stranger:Me]

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

Farrrk you must have realllly grumpy before then.

[Robert Taylor]

Not as many if Target focussed on its customers

Yep , plenty of bikes have been traded into dealers over the years that the owners knew were timebombs, the sort of faults that cannot be picked up easily with a standard appraisal. The worst examples are 250cc 4 stroke MX bikes where components have gone beyond maximum stress hours and the maintemnace has just not been there. Yes there are shifty dealers, but there are also loads of shifty customers out there.

[Robert Taylor]

Never heard of the flat rate manual?



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.

Heck flat rate times are another subject, they are formulated on the moon, it seems. Especially with manufacturers warranty this is one of the biggest losses dealers regularly incur. It must be terrible with the Chinese brands.

[Big Dave]

I want to have Wiggles' babies.

[Robert Taylor]

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

Well if one of your former posts on this thread is anything to go by you fit the customer profile that many dealers would prefer not to deal with. Too much inbuilt anger.

[Robert Taylor]

That's not SO many people. It's normally one or two...and not all are from the industry

He was of course referring to me as I have dared on many occassions to put forward my views, views that dont happen to agree with his. So be it.

My record of customer service stands on its own two feet and Im not afraid to have a point of view if I see something that I dont agree with.

[The Stranger:Me]

Yep , plenty of bikes have been traded into dealers over the years that the owners knew were timebombs, the sort of faults that cannot be picked up easily with a standard appraisal. The worst examples are 250cc 4 stroke MX bikes where components have gone beyond maximum stress hours and the maintemnace has just not been there. Yes there are shifty dealers, but there are also loads of shifty customers out there.

I tell you, this thread is a real eye opener. Finding out how those in the industry view their customers.
I wouldn't dare speak of my customers the way you guys do. If I did, I'd fully expect to have none.
Furthermore, I'd be thankful of the open an honest feedback i.e. knowing how my customers felt, and working out what I could do to ensure this sort of shit didn't happen again.
Knowing that I'm viewed with suspicion and disdain really doesn't make me want to use the services of those in the industry.
I guess dealerships repairers etc are a license to print money and they don't really need or want customers.

Thank goodness for the Internet, I can buy my stuff from overseas and fit it myself.

I don't know about the motorcycle industry, but I find a mistake is an opportunity.
I try not to make them as it doesn't help you to stay in business if you make too many. But when I do, I so often find that I can cement a relationship that will last for a very long time.

[Robert Taylor]

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.

Thats how I read it, interesting to note that he who started this thread has gone quiet and left the roving sharks to do the rest, many basing their opinions on supposition.

I really dont blame Mt Eden for being reluctant to post on this, as it would be akin to jumping into a swimming pool full of hungry sharks.

As the precedent has been more than set with supposition let me offer some of my own. There was possibly more to it than an oil change and the post may have been economical with the truth. NOTE THAT I USED THE WORDS ''POSSIBLY'' AND ''MAY'' !!!!

Mt Eden were good enough to apologise on this thread for the indiscretion re the oil filter. Maybe the staff member was inexperienced or in receipt of incorrect info, human error etc. Either way I dont think it fair that they are so vilified for it.

If indeed there is ''indiscretion'' in the customers post or shall we say economy with the truth he should man up and apologise publicly on this forum.

[Robert Taylor]

I tell you, this thread is a real eye opener. Finding out how those in the industry view their customers.
I wouldn't dare speak of my customers the way you guys do. If I did, I'd fully expect to have none.
Furthermore, I'd be thankful of the open an honest feedback i.e. knowing how my customers felt, and working out what I could do to ensure this sort of shit didn't happen again.
Knowing that I'm viewed with suspicion and disdain really doesn't make me want to use the services of those in the industry.
I guess dealerships repairers etc are a license to print money and they don't really need or want customers.

Thank goodness for the Internet, I can buy my stuff from overseas and fit it myself.

I don't know about the motorcycle industry, but I find a mistake is an opportunity.
I try not to make them as it doesn't help you to stay in business if you make too many. But when I do, I so often find that I can cement a relationship that will last for a very long time.

Actually just in this one instance I am personally staing a reality that happens to motorcycle dealers with some regularity. It was not a statement nor intended to be a statement about customers in general.

Personally I have many very good and very happy customers and always have new ones. Why? Because we are very experienced, give the customers a lot of information and meet them as much as possible on price. Plus in dealing with a highly technical product we always follow through.

There is one guy on this thread who has been giving me a hard time because he thinks Im self righteous. So be it and I have taken note of his childish innuendo. I have no hesitation in saying that he fits the profile of a customer I dont want.

I can well assure you that the perception that being a motorcycle dealer is alicense to print money is so far from the truth its laughable. A high volume Harley dealer, maybe.

Check with my many customers about what we are like to deal with. Straightforward and brutally honest, just like on thios forum.

[DMNTD:Me]

I don't know about the motorcycle industry, but I find a mistake is an opportunity.
I try not to make them as it doesn't help you to stay in business if you make too many. But when I do, I so often find that I can cement a relationship that will last for a very long time.

Agreed, and the customer was apologized to and the issue rectified on the spot. It was a genuine balls up by the employee and system used which he admitted.
Just a bit sad that the OP decided that this wasn't good enough and has decided to 'go national'

Needless to say that a lesson has been learnt

[Robert Taylor]

I'm genuinely interested as to why you would think that neccessary.



This isn't intense scrutiny. It's an obvious swindle. Why haven't Mt Eden MC come in to clear up the lies? I'm sure someone would have alerted them to this. Could it be indefensible?

I would suggest that for any professional that it takes anywhere near 1½ hours to change a bike's oil, they should find a new profession.

OLD WORLD COURTESY, no apologies for being old fashioned. When Im doing business with someone I like to know who they are as they like to know who I am, is that so unreasonable? You know I get so many phone calls from people and they dont tell you who they are. Its also like people talking to you wearing dark sunglasses, one of my old fashioned pet hates.

Is it an obvious swindle? All has been based on what the customer said, did he actually divulge ALL the details?