Why are Auckland dealerships so rubbish?

[Glowerss]

What is it with motorcycle shops in Auckland? Or is it just me? Maybe its the shops I'm visiting?

I'm in the market for a new bike (obviously). I have the cash in the bank right now waiting to be spent. As a habit from back home where trademe doesn't exist and any other classified site is really just asking to get stabbed, I've been poking around the dealerships in Auckland. I hit most of the major ones and even a few of them in Hamilton.

Even when the sales staff were told " I have this amount of money, and I'm ready to buy a bike today" , they were utterly and completely disinterested. Most of them, after poking around for 10 minutes, I'd have to go up to the desk to ask the staff if I could have a sit on a specific bike I was looking at. None of them came back to chat with me while I looked, none offered alternatives if the bike I was looking at wasn't what I'd wanted.

Dodgy sales staff aside, one dealership the bike I was looking at had badly rusted forks that they apparently "hadn't noticed". It was covered in dirt and dust, and there had been no apparent effort to clean the bike whatsoever. Touching any part of the fairings would leave you with a very dirty finger indeed.There, the salesman was at least honest in admitting that he wouldn't buy it either. A second bike at another shop had BADLY rusted fork clamps, super corroded engine bay, rust and shit everywhere. You could probably have gotten rid of most of the rust n shit with a bit of effort. They were asking $5,500 for it. When I asked what the fuck was with all the corrosion, i got "It's from 99 mate theyre all like that".

The final straw for me came today at Red Baron Auckland. I don't like to normally name companies but the sales staff there deserve to be shot for gross stupidity. They've got a 98 SV400 they've had for the better part of a year and a half. They've had it listed on trademe for something stupid like $5.9k. RB down in Wellington just got in a 2000 model that they've got listed for $4.9 and is a much better bike. First thing I noticed when walking in is that although the bikes been on trademe for 5.9 for the last forever, in the store they have it marked for $6.4k. The fuq? So when I asked the sales manager there why the difference,

"Because it's on the LAMS list next week". I tried to politely inform him that in fact, it wasn't as I had already tried to get it approved and been told the 400s were outside 150kw/tonne. To which I got "The SV650 is on the LAMS list, I cant see why the 400 wouldn't be". How does somebody who works in a motorcycle shop not know shit like the SV650U is a restricted bike and that a 70+ BHP v-twin is not likely to be learner approved it beyond me.

When I pointed out RB Wellington had a better version of same bike for over 1k less, I was told to essentially buy it from them.

It's a fucking wonder any bike shops in Auckland are still going with sales staff like that

Fortunately, I got in touch with Whitetrash who is a bike selling superstar, and has been brilliant to deal with.
/rant off.

[uksteve]

They're not interested because they make an absolute killing on spare parts.......................I was quoted $330 for a magneto cover which i had to wait for. Landed one from the US for NZ $130.

These guys will be out of business in time and they'll complain about Kiwis not supporting local business. I dont think most loyal kiwis will mind paying a bit extra to support local business, but mark ups like this are criminal.
They forget, that without customers you have nothing. In this era with electronic media so readily available, and every one can be heard it is essential that as a business you have have extreme customer focus, those that refuse to do this do it at their detriment.

[sharp2183]

Interesting you say that about Red Baron. I was interested in a bike that had been advertised for a year for a stupid amount. Offered them what they were going for at other dealers and was told no. When asked why he said 'mate it doesn't matter if it sits here for 3 years, we will only sell it if we get this amount.' Their idea of flexibility was dropping $200.

I'm all for selling things at the right price, but all other dealers I've dealt with have been happy to bargain and most understand basic principles of economics. $5000 in the bank today is better than $5500 in 3 years.* Shit if they utilise their earnings properly, $4500 is probably better. Plus then you get a turnover of stock which looks good and keeps people interested, while at the same time preventing any deterioration.

I should mention that I have had nothing but great service from the apparel side of the Auckland Red Baron outfit.



*Based on a 3.4% compounding interest rate.

[Scouse]

Red Baron is a bad example of Auckland dealers go try Holeshot or Cyclespot over the shore or Colemans back in town Try Haldanes but you may find that they are your best freinds right up until after they have sold you a bike. but please do not rate all Auckland bike shops in the same poor class as Red Baron.

[nzspokes]

Red Baron is a bad example of Auckland dealers go try Holeshot or Cyclespot over the shore or Colemans back in town Try Haldanes but you may find that they are your best freinds right up until after they have sold you a bike. but please do not rate all Auckland bike shops in the same poor class as Red Baron.

Got to say when I went to Red Baron to try to start finance on a bike I liked just before I got my full I was told to go away. Was only a couple of weeks off and would not pick the bike up untill I had the licence and insurance. There loss of a sale really.

I would not recommend Holeshot either.

Maybe they should try opening on Sundays......

[bsasuper]

I stopped buying bikes from RB over 10 years ago because of bad after sales service, in the mean time I've spent over 70k on bikes from much better shops, 70k that could have gone through RB if they had their shit together.I dont think bike shops have to be open on sundays though.....

[HenryDorsetCase]

Red baron suck at telephone selling too. i rang them about one of their stupidly overpriced bikes a year or so back and the sales drone said immediately i asked about it "nah mate just been sold" why then would it be advertised on tardme for another 3 months? And no followup, no "we have sold this but would you be interested in this" just could not give a fuck. so fuck them i will spend my money elsewhere

[Road kill]

I tried buying older Yamaha parts through red baron about 5 years ago,but their service was so poor I ended up buying in everything I needed from the States an saved heaps.

In fact it was solely due to their shit service that I really got into researching off shore web sites and importing most of my bike needs and other sports gear,,,so I have no problem with them

[Edbear]

Experience Motorcycles seem to be good. Heard good about Spectrum, too.

[nzspokes]

Experience Motorcycles seem to be good. Heard good about Spectrum, too.

I would have to say I agree on Spectrum. Ive only bought a few small things there but they are friendly and helpful.

[Tryhard]

Sorry but me also RB has a piss poor team! I purchased from Hamilton Honda. Fin fantastic no bs and wow took me seriously up yours RB

[Gremlin]

I hope you visited a large percentage of the shops to tar them all with the same brush?

Sure, there are bad ones, and probably every dealership has at least one customer who reckons they're shit. Doesn't make them all bad...

[merv]

Does this mean you have bought a bike from White Trash then?

[nzspokes]

Does this mean you have bought a bike from White Trash then?

Well to be fair, Wellington MC was far more intrested in selling me a bike than any Auckland dealer. And easier to deal with to. Main bonus was I didnt have to drink Petes coffee.

Just a shame they didnt have the right bike. So Wellington dealers seem to try harder.

[Tigadee]

I bought my XJ400 from Bob McCleary Yamaha in Welly. Not only efficient friendly service, but great price AND free shipping too! Pity the bike didn't survive long...

Hamilton Honda, good rep too. Great bikes, great prices.

Would not recommend Colemans - overcharged on an insurance repair for my XJ400 I reckon, and my front brake was very soft after going to them, so much so that I I had an accident shortly after getting the bike back from them.