Kiwi Biker censored?

**LXS** · 2nd February 2007, 21:50

Originally Posted by cowboyz

I hear what your saying and thats why like to make up my mind.. but when dealing with hundreds (or in some cases thousands) of dollars worth of machinery you can narrow the odds by if 1000 people say bike store 1 is crap and 10 people say bike store 2 is crap.

i don't particularly like dark chocolate. Never buy it myself because I don't like it. Am I saying you should not eat dark chocolate? No. Just saying I don't like it.

I agree, if I had a $5000 bike I'd want it to be looked after, I'd hop on KB & ask wheres the best place to my brakes bled etc..
Should have said in my first post, I was leaning more towards the "non-mechanical" side of bike shops (the stories you here about on here), i.e. went into Bike Store 1 for a fibreglass repair they quoted $200, Bike Store 2 quoted me $180..bla bla bla etc..

**Chisanga** · 2nd February 2007, 21:54

Yeah the guy on the phone did have a point, however he needs to remember; "The customer is NOT always right, but he/she is ALWAYS the customer"

A bit of respect goes a long way.

**cowboyz** · 2nd February 2007, 21:58

Originally Posted by Speedie

Hmmmm, the guy on the phone was right, up to the point where he said your bike was a pile of shit. Looks like a visit in person is in order.

funny enough I actually agree. They guy has a problem with me posting on kiwibiker. Doesn't like me calling him a PR god but then goes on to say he would like to think he is a PR god. The big question is who is this guy who did the work in the first place. One of us is mistaken. If it is me and this guy is alot older than he looks then so be it. If it is him and he doesn't actually know who did the work does this question how much control he has over his business? Right up to the point of him telling me my bike is a piece of shit was fine really. The guy has a problem and trying to deal with it. Fine. But I am allowed to call my bike a piece of shit. The ashhurst boys are allowed to call my bike a piece of shit. He is not.

**McJim** · 2nd February 2007, 22:11

He can't be a PR guru - he wouldn't have called your bike a heap of shit if he was.

It shows you though - many bike shops have got access to the latest and greatest bikes which means they will place very little value on your beloved bike - reading between the lines the shoddy workmanship you have received is possibly because the person working on the bike thought it worth little attention as he would rather be tweaking a 2006 bike.

As he says though - he done right by you, fucked up your brakes several times so they don't work any more and has charged you money for it - s'not PR - that's fraud!

These comments are based on the facts posted which may or may not be true - I'm sure the other fella will be along shortly to give another side to the events.

**McJim** · 2nd February 2007, 22:16

And I forgot to say - he works in a customer service industry - therefore he will make it difficult for people to complain to him properly - little negotiation tecniques etc. to belittle you and make you feel uncomfortable about making a fuss.

If someone decides that their career takes them to shop work or dealing with the public then having your name dragged through the mud behind your back is part and parcel of the job - if he can't handle that then he should find another career and not whinge about it on the 'phone.

**cowboyz** · 2nd February 2007, 22:21

You are a wise lad McJim. I encourage to read everything as it was written. I Believe in fairness above all else. Mean what you say and say what you mean. I don't play secret squirrel. just not my style. I have put great effort into stating fact as I saw things from my side of the fence rather than emotion but I am sure that even though I tried to write up as unbiased as I could it still came from my hand so there is still some biased to it. Feeling a whole lot better just putting the whole story out in type and will rest assured that I acting with intergity throughout the deal.

**cowboyz** · 2nd February 2007, 22:25

Just to clarify. I never did anything behind AFC or Brendons back. I am well aware he reads kiwibiker. He knows who I am, my address and my phone numbers. Cowboyz is a nickname I got while farming. it is not difficult to find out who I am if you really want to but for a long time there if I was talked about as Lance then not alot of people actually put a name to the face. I was always known as the cowboy.

**Skunk** · 2nd February 2007, 22:32

Funny; I was thinking the shop had done all right, if a little slowly, and the guys phone call was ok and everything could be sorted. The way I took it was they had done the right thing but you were a little sour on them because of the way it went down. Based on what you wrote I'd still go see them. His phone call to you was fine; expressing some concerns about your posts.

Then he calls your bike a piece of shit! Bad move fella. Everybody's bike is their gem.

**Paul in NZ** · 2nd February 2007, 22:33

Originally Posted by Motu

I like Kit Kats.

More a dog guy myself but I've never assembled one

**KLOWN** · 2nd February 2007, 22:36

Well that sounds like a bad time was had by all.

I think the difference between talking to a couple of mates at the pub and posting on an internet forum means thousands of people see the post as opposed to two or three people you may tell in person, And there is always 2 sides to the story.

Afc got on to my shock as soon as they read my post so it MAY have been a mix up at the work shop and I appreciate that they got on to it after finding out BUT I did plan on calling them and saying it to them in person so I feel a little foolish with them finding out on the internet, I like saying things to peoples faces.

In your case cowboy sounds like everyone had a bad day.

on a side note I enjoyed the ride I joined you on and you are an easy going and cool guy we need to go for another ride when I get my bike sorted, I may even be able to keep up now that I have a 400cc

edit: when I say "I like saying things to peoples faces" I am NOT saying you went behind his back because you obviously talked to him first.
2nd edit: i believe in second chances for all, with the exception of rapists, murders, kiddy fiddlers and animal cruelty

**Bonez** · 4th February 2007, 09:27

Originally Posted by Skunk

Then he calls your bike a piece of shit! Bad move fella. Everybody's bike is their gem.

Just to throw the cat amounst the pidgeons. Cowboyz bike is a peice of shit

which happens to be a quite capable bike in the right hands. Owning a couple of shitters myself I do consider myself an expert on this subject. Brendon probably should have said it to Cowboyz face not over the phone though. Maybe over a couple of beers in a pub even.

The oil leak was tracked down to a crack in an engine casing and this should have been picked up. Nothing a bit of areldite couldn't fix. The brake pad thing should never have happened. The work should have been supervised, or at least inspected, as I'm sure an experianced mechanic wouldn't have done this even on a bad day. Could be wrong.

I'm sure things will settle down. It's possible a few of us have had bad expreriences from bike shops at one point. One reason I prefer to do most of my servicing was due to a similar set of events some time ago.

Oh and I like Milky Ways. The lightly whipped chocolate flavoured centre coated in smooth milk chocolate does it for me every time..............

Edit- I should add the bike shops I had issues with no longer exist.

**Meanie** · 4th February 2007, 13:30

He he he he I have to agree bonez cowboyz bike is a piece of shit

however in his defence a very reliable and worthy bike that is on its second time around the clock and realy only needs a good paint job to bring her back to her former glory , i just hope the mean streak runs as well after that many ks
He did the 4 points rally with myself and mouse and it never missed a beat or gave any trouble
Now at the risk of everyone thinking i am sucking up and wanting my work at AFC done any quicker

i feel i have to put my ten cents worth in
The clash of personalities
Cowboyz, who everyone who knows him, knows he can be very arrogant, something he freely admits too and is not ashamed of, Good for you

But all in all a bloody good guy "And in the other corner"
Brendon who is rightfully so, defending his buisness that does provide good service IMO anyway
I have brought three bikes off AFC now and had them serviced there and have not had any problems they have always done what they said they would do and charged appropriatly
When all is said and done AFC did replace the disc on his bike and the brake pads so they did do what any good bike shop would do
When was the last time you took your cage to the machanic and they gave you a car to use while they had your one, it does happen but not often and there is normaly a charge for it
When i take my bike there they always give me a loaner which saves a hell of a lot of pissing around with getting lifts or trailors
I know cowboyz has a few gripes with AFC and some of them are founded but i dont think we should slam AFC for one slip of the tounge left on the answer phone, something i am sure Brendon is regretting about now or one mistake made by an (apprentice?) mechanic
I run my own buisness and know how important it is to keep your customers happy which is something i strive very hard to acheive. I am also aware that my guys make mistakes and it is up to me to make sure they are put right immediatly with no question if i want to see that customer return
In my experience AFC is a reputable bike shop that like all shops makes the occasioal mistake but in the words of Mr LV Martin "puts it right"
I can honestly see now why the powers to be on KBer discourage dissing bike shops on the forum, however entertaining it may be

**limbimtimwim** · 4th February 2007, 16:17

I could hear the anger in the guys voice in the message, and I was wondering when he was going to let rip. He was saying the right things and he probably didn't intend on saying your bike was shit when he picked up the phone, but his anger got the better off him.

I think KB needs a 'Hall of fame' of some kind. I think the phone message is a worthy contribution

**cowboyz** · 4th February 2007, 17:55

Originally Posted by Bonez

Just to throw the cat amounst the pidgeons. Cowboyz bike is a peice of shit

Right! That does it. I not buying you a christmas card now. I know I have never brought you one in the past but now I got an excuse.

Originally Posted by Bonez

which happens to be a quite capable bike in the right hands.

It is even quite capable in my hands too!

Originally Posted by Bonez

Owning a couple of shitters myself I do consider myself an expert on this subject. Brendon probably should have said it to Cowboyz face not over the phone though. Maybe over a couple of beers in a pub even.

A couple? Which of the 7948 bikes in your garage are the good ones?

Originally Posted by Bonez

The oil leak was tracked down to a crack in an engine casing and this should have been picked up. Nothing a bit of areldite couldn't fix. The brake pad thing should never have happened. The work should have been supervised, or at least inspected, as I'm sure an experianced mechanic wouldn't have done this even on a bad day. Could be wrong.

Could br wrong... but I doubt it.

Originally Posted by Bonez

I'm sure things will settle down. It's possible a few of us have had bad expreriences from bike shops at one point. One reason I prefer to do most of my servicing was due to a similar set of events some time ago.

Life moves along pretty fast. Problems come and go

Originally Posted by Bonez

Oh and I like Milky Ways. The lightly whipped chocolate flavoured centre coated in smooth milk chocolate does it for me every time..............

Just like your head.