Assistance denied when needed

**el milanes** · 14th September 2005, 10:54

Hi,

it's my first message - have just discovered this forum and it seems full for interesting information!

I'd like to hear from you guys what you think about all this.
Yesterday, before going home from work I discovered that my old EL250 was leaking fuel like crazy! It seemed to me that the leakage was coming from one of the two little hoses under the tank.
I wasn't feeling like going home since it's about 30km from work- I didn't think it would have been a good idea to let the fuel leak around a very hot engine.
Since the bike shop where I had my bike serviced recently wasn't far, I took it there.

They said though that all the mechanics had gone home and that they were fully booked for the rest of the week. I asked the guy to take my bike anyway, it didn't really matter to me if I had to wait until next week to have it back.
But he said it was too dangerous to take it and suggested me to go home. He even told me not to park it in front of the shop, because "it's too dangerous".

Well, I think that when you have a fuel leakage the most dangerous thing is to tell someone to ride the bike anywhere. If the engine is off, you just put a bucket under the bike and you'll be safe... but no.
Definitely next time I'll think about it twice before going back to Alicetown for servicing. And I'll rather go to the other shop in LH where I've never been denied assistance.

By the way, eventually I called a friend who has more handle with mechanical stuff and he helped me fixing the old little hoses that were leaking. It took us 20 minutes. Definitely I need to learn more about the kiwi do-it-yourself attitude

Cheers!

UPDATE (15/9/2005)
Good on you TSS
I've been contacted by the manager of TSS who wanted to know exactly how it went. I explained and he said that I shouldn't have been sent off under those circumstances. But it's true that I arrived around 6pm, that means afterhours since they close at 5:30. He apologised anyway and was very helpful.
I apologised myself for not having talked to him before putting the thing on the forum.
My faith is restored and I'd be happy to return with my bike to TSS.

**Sniper** · 14th September 2005, 11:00

Bugger mate. Looks like they were just fobbing you off so they could go home. Welcome anyway.

Do you know if a hose is cracked or just come off. Fuel lines are pretty easy ti fix though.

**Motu** · 14th September 2005, 11:05

Sad isn't it? I own a workshop and do the same myself...refuse to help people over simple things,say I'm shut and close the door.

What happened to the world? Or more correctly to the wonderful country we knew? OSH,Consumer Rights,Small Claims Courts and every other sort of PC rubbish you can think off.No longer will a business put themselves out for a customer...not when there is the potential for the customer to turn around and take the business to court for something they asked the business to do in the first place.It makes me very upset to be an unhelpful sod and know they go away and tell everyone about that miserable prick down the road...not my choice,we've been backed into a corner - once again,the consumer pays.

**MSTRS:Me** · 14th September 2005, 11:14

Guy at the shop should have known that the EL has a gravity feed fuel tap. Just turn it to off, to stop hoses leaking until new ones can be fitted. "Too dangerous" Pah!!

**Brains** · 14th September 2005, 11:19

An excellent book to get is 101 performance sport bike tips (or something like that), goes through everything from changing oil and plugs (simple stuff), to the more advanced engine type stuff.

I pretty much do the same as you did, get mates to help out, box of beer latter and it's done, everyone happy.

**ManDownUnder** · 14th September 2005, 11:20

FFS... take it home??? (Where it will blow up YOUR house?)

nu uh. Which bike shop was it... one of the locals on KB (and or yourself) should get in touch with the Manager there and let them know what happened.

That sucks
MDU

oh - and welcome!

**crashe** · 14th September 2005, 11:27

Welcome to KB....

Contact the bikeshop manager today and let them know what their guy said to you...
All they had to do was put the bike inside as you were happy to leave it with them to fix it... with a bucket to catch the fuel.

Shit buggar pushing the bike 30km.... you would still be pushing the bike today.

Glad you got it fixed.. a few beers for your mate.

**DemonWolf** · 14th September 2005, 11:29

Welcome el milanes.. glad to hear ya got the fuel leak fixed...

kinda crappy response from the MB shop..

**Pancakes** · 14th September 2005, 11:36

I recon it could have been fixed with one of these http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...590#post344590

**John** · 14th September 2005, 11:51

Well fuel system woes just finished fixing mine (vacum feed) and on a certain trip one of the temporary fixes broke and my fuel consumption got to about 1km/l when I stopped I noticed a very shiney chain and litres of fuel pissing out over the case - I didnt blow up, had 7litres of fuel leak in the garage when I was in hospitial came back and the entire house stunk of fuel cat was high but no explosions - they probably just couldnt be screwed - what was the problem fuel hoses abit loose or sumthing?

**mstriumph** · 14th September 2005, 11:57

welcome to kb fella --- you won't find any of that unhelpfulness here

----- as for the workshop guy - don't sweat it, wat goes around comes around.

**Phurrball** · 14th September 2005, 12:07

Originally Posted by Motu

Sad isn't it? I own a workshop and do the same myself...refuse to help people over simple things,say I'm shut and close the door.

What happened to the world? Or more correctly to the wonderful country we knew? OSH,Consumer Rights,Small Claims Courts and every other sort of PC rubbish you can think off.No longer will a business put themselves out for a customer...not when there is the potential for the customer to turn around and take the business to court for something they asked the business to do in the first place.It makes me very upset to be an unhelpful sod and know they go away and tell everyone about that miserable prick down the road...not my choice,we've been backed into a corner - once again,the consumer pays.

I respectfully disagree - I worked at a workshop where the exact opposite of what you described occurred on a regular basis - help was always available for the little things.

The position you take is your choice. The nature of the regulation you describe is all well and good to bitch about when it impacts on the way you would otherwise choose to do business, but remember the boot is on the other foot when you've been treated shoddily and you have a comeback through the means listed. You have nothing to fear in business if you deal honestly and equitably IMHO.

Arguably compliance costs are an issue - but look at what happens when businesses get more of what they want in regulation - it isn't always a good thing: New Orleans for example - had chemical storage regulations been tighter to deal with the high likelihood of the disaster that occurred, there would be less of a chemical soup to deal with now...

My $0.02 - There are always two sides to every coin...

Cheer up Motu - We're lucky b*stards really - the country is still a great place! Its a great and beautiful land, and people make it greater still! (Usually...)

**White trash** · 14th September 2005, 12:38

I read this with interest as I honestly believe that the quality of service in Wellington bike shops was better than this. I could've believed the tale of just about all Auckland stores and none of them seem too interested in changing their outlook anytime soon.

As Crashe suggested, take issue with the manager of the shop.