Good service vs bad service. Stories?

[The Lone Rider]

Only had real problems with Budget Motorcycle Spares, where I had bought an electrical part for a bike, verbally checking multiple times with sales man that it would in fact work on my bike since the part clearly said it was for a different variation of my bike model.

"Yeah it will work, same bike really" was what I was told

Then I asked why it had an extra wire compared to the broken one I brought it

Oh thats for the XYZ model, just dont connect that one.


So bought it at the cost of several hundred dollars.

Put on a multimeter when I got home, to check it was functional. It was.

Wired it to bike as instructed (ie.. I pluged it in, but disconnected the "extra" wire).

Turned on bike and checked current... part blew straight away.

Phoned shop the following week.

Was told one of two things -

*that they had no recollection of who I described as the person that sold me the part, and the only person not there presently was away on holiday for 123 amount of time.
*that nobody that works there would sell me the part I purchased, and tell me not to hook up that wire.
*it wasnt for the model variation I have, therefore they wouldn't have sold it to me
*I cannot return it, as they can't see if I wired it correctly

Went to another shop, purchased the same part but for the model variation I had (learned a lesson eh?). Looked exactly the same, minus the extra wire. Multimeter read the same also. Hooked up the plugs. Worked fine.


So I only go to Budget now if I absolutely have to.

Last time I went to Budget I had some tires taken off, at about $25 (maybe $25 each?). Approached them a week later about putting said tires back on, plus putting in new bearings & valve stems that I was supplying. Was told it would take them a week to do it/get around to it. Wanted about $50 or so per tire. Took wheels to another place, as a week was to long for a fairly small job. Currently happily riding said bike.


Take the stories as you like.

Had mediocre service at Norjo, Casbolts, and Rolling Thunder at various times. Trevor Pierce had been so so, but I gave up going there after awhile.

I guess depended on who I talked to.

[NiggleC]

Was in Budget Spares CH when i spotted a pair of riding pants for Mrs C. Bought them only to find when i got home they were too big (a story in itself). Anyhoo Mrs C takes pants back to exchange only to be told by salesman 1 that they have never sold that brand. Mrs C then produces the receipt. Salesman 1 is saved by the bell, literally, as the phone starts ringing. Salesman 2 looks a bit ill but recovers the situation and she ends up getting a more expensive pair (she happily paid the difference). Otherwise the usual ChCh suspects are tops: Pitlane, Avon City, and an honourable mention for Hamptons back when I had a more modern BMW.

[Jerry74]

Avon City , Trevor Pierce and Hamptons are the only bike shops worth looking at here in ChCh.
If you fancy a drive to Darfield go and see Pitlane.

[The Lone Rider]

be told by salesman 1 that they have never sold that brand.

Luckier than me. I got the same bullshit story and cost me about $350 in the end and cost them my business from there on forever.

[Jerry74]

Luckier than me. I got the same bullshit story and cost me about $350 in the end and cost them my business from there on forever.

Fully agree... clueless shop really is Budget spares.

Avon City get all my business plus they now stock some tasty Suomy helmets.

[Berg]

Dave and Sam at Motor Mart parts Lower Hutt. Always a smile and great service
Dave at Hi Torque cycles in Paraparaumu. Has saved our ass more than once when faced with flat tyres or tyre swaps. Would recommend these two to anybody in need.
Wellington Motorcycles. Rode Mrs Bergs newly acquired GSR750 after just had 1500km service from them. Wasn't happy being able to squeeze the front brake lever all the way to the right grip without bike really wanting to stop. Went and spoke to salesman who inspected it and told me "its normal, they just have shit brakes". Argued with me when told they were similar type to my Z750 which has far better brakes. I went and grabbed workshop staff who agreed with me and quickly bleed brakes. Fucken hey presto! Way better lever position and front stoppers. Will now use TSS as they are also Suzuki agent.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Went and spoke to salesman who inspected it and told me "its normal, they just have shit brakes". Argued with me when told they were similar type to my Z750 which has far better brakes. I went and grabbed workshop staff who agreed with me and quickly bleed brakes. Fucken hey presto! Way better lever position and front stoppers. Will now use TSS as they are also Suzuki agent.

That's odd. My recollection of events is quite different to yours. I remember telling you quite clearly that the brakes weren't that shit hot compared to four piston calipers, but that after you telling me how much better yours were, I told you that they're very similar brakes (ie: twin piston sliding type). You informed me yours were four piston calipers, and I said I was sure they weren't. But hey...I'm only a bike salesman!

[Berg]

That's odd. My recollection of events is quite different to yours. I remember telling you quite clearly that the brakes weren't that shit hot compared to four piston calipers, but that after you telling me how much better yours were, I told you that they're very similar brakes (ie: twin piston sliding type). You informed me yours were four piston calipers, and I said I was sure they weren't. But hey...I'm only a bike salesman!

I'all agree to disagree. They reason I knew they weren't right was I knew they WERE the same as mine being twin piston sliders. Being that mine would do a stoppie and the GSR just wouldn't stop. A bleed fixed it anyway.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I knew they WERE the same as mine being twin piston sliders.

Odd seeing as you were 100% adamant I was full of shit and yours were four piston jobs. Guess I made that bit up.

[Berg]

Odd seeing as you were 100% adamant I was full of shit and yours were four piston jobs. Guess I made that bit up.

Not going to argue here. But end result, GSR brakes needed a bleed and lever should never had pulled back to the bars. Got 30,000kms on it now and that's been the only issue

[arcane12]

I have had a mixed bag from Honda Hamilton. I bought the bike there, so thought hey, lets get it serviced there! I thought the fees charged were a little high, but hey, you pay for good work right? And I did ask them to look into a small starting issue which was apparently sorted by topping up the battery fluid. All of a sudden it had developed an oil leak!

Being a little new to bikes I stopped at Huntly Honda who topped my oil up free of charge ( ) just asking me to give a guy at Hamilton a friendly ribbing!

Went back Hamilton Honda, and they fixed it up free of charge (apparently the speedo cable was loose) and said it probably wasn't thier fault, but were willing to take it on the chin. Must have been one hell of a co-incidence (leak free until that point). A few weeks later and I'm having starting issues again. Actually decided to look into it myself - hey, the caps are loose, and one is off! That can't be right. So yeah, either another awesome random chance, or perhaps a bit of sloppy work at Hamilton Honda?

I checked the voltage, and it's low. Also looking at the battery, is it almost definately the original one, so time to replace. It'd be nice if that was mentioned when I asked them to look into it.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Got 30,000kms on it now and that's been the only issue

Excellent news.

[sil3nt]

I have had a mixed bag from Honda Hamilton. I bought the bike there, so thought hey, lets get it serviced there! I thought the fees charged were a little high, but hey, you pay for good work right? And I did ask them to look into a small starting issue which was apparently sorted by topping up the battery fluid. All of a sudden it had developed an oil leak!

Being a little new to bikes I stopped at Huntly Honda who topped my oil up free of charge ( ) just asking me to give a guy at Hamilton a friendly ribbing!

Went back Hamilton Honda, and they fixed it up free of charge (apparently the speedo cable was loose) and said it probably wasn't thier fault, but were willing to take it on the chin. Must have been one hell of a co-incidence (leak free until that point). A few weeks later and I'm having starting issues again. Actually decided to look into it myself - hey, the caps are loose, and one is off! That can't be right. So yeah, either another awesome random chance, or perhaps a bit of sloppy work at Hamilton Honda?

I checked the voltage, and it's low. Also looking at the battery, is it almost definately the original one, so time to replace. It'd be nice if that was mentioned when I asked them to look into it.

Go talk to Grant. If you are unhappy with the work let them know. I have been unhappy with work they have done and talking to Grant (a part owner) had it sorted.

Although I don't quite understand how the oil leak could have been caused by them? Unlikely they would touch the speedo cable to get to the battery.

Glad you have mentioned this though as it seems someone in the shop is a bit sloppy with their work.

[harrysown]

The other day my motorbikes accelerator cable got snapped. Then i took the bike to Drury tyres on Tuesday, 8/01/2013. They advised that bike would be fixed by Friday. Went on friday and they said come on Monday. I then went there on Monday then tuesday then thrusday and then friday and they still haven't even touched the bike but the guy said it would be done by Monday. Today i payed them another visit and they said it wont be done by Wednesday.

Not too sure what to do. People told me that they are good mechanics but as my first experience this is just totally unacceptable.

[Maki]

The other day my motorbikes accelerator cable got snapped. Then i took the bike to Drury tyres on Tuesday, 8/01/2013. They advised that bike would be fixed by Friday. Went on friday and they said come on Monday. I then went there on Monday then tuesday then thrusday and then friday and they still haven't even touched the bike but the guy said it would be done by Monday. Today i payed them another visit and they said it wont be done by Wednesday.

Not too sure what to do. People told me that they are good mechanics but as my first experience this is just totally unacceptable.

Sounds like ripping heads off would be the logical next step. It sounds to me like you are not making yourself clear to these people.