tcmalker
Banned
Let me just say that I am just so sick of my dealership trying to take advantage of me. My first bike, the ex-500, when I brought it in for the 600 miles service: $450. That's for 4 hours (per the manual) at $89/hr + parts/tax, etc. I bit it because what can I do? I have to get it done or the warranty will be void. I am not mechanically inclined either.
So two months later I 'dropped' the ex-500 and didn't feel comfortable riding it anymore. Trade it in the same day for the 2009 FZ6. OTD was $4900 including the trade-in. I got smart this time and have them include the 600 miles service in the contract.
Two weeks into it, my bike wouldn't start. Tried jumping it with a car, but couldn't get the clamps on the small FZ6 battery terminal. So I jumped started it instead. Much easier! Along the way I had to life up the tank...noticed two hoses sticking out but didn't think of it much.
Another two weeks later, 600+ miles on the ODO, I went in for the 600 miles services. They wanted $325. I gave them an IOU and that was that. Later on I start noticing the two hoses on the bottom, they have lines on them. I know these line are supposed to be level with something, but they are not. Looks like the monkeys at dealership didn't even fix them. And today I just notice there was a bend in the left hose just under the tank. I pulled it from the bottom and fixed that, hoped nothing damaged.
A week ago I got into an accident with an SUV and took it in to the dealer for an estimate. They won't even give me a free estimate, saying they have to do a thorough 3 hour ($89/hr) estimate. I didn't care that much b/c the insurance said they were going to pay for it. The end of business day they call me saying estimate is complete ($2800).
I call the insurance and asked them when the adjuster would go check out the bike and they said they won't send anyone out. They got the fax of the estimate from the dealer and they will review that. I asked if I can pick up my bike and got a go ahead.
Went to pick up the bike and the dealership freaked out. They're saying they can't in good conscience let me take the bike because it might not be safe. I laught in their face. They said 'are you refusing the repair the bike?'. I said I want the bike because I WANT TO RIDE. I'm not going to wait 3-4 weeks for the insurance to settle this and then wait for them to order part. Winter is coming up for god sake! They said they'll give me the bike but I have to pay $50/day storage fee. Somehow they put this in the contract saying I agree to pay this fee UNLESS I repaired the damage per estimate. Imagine if I left this longer, a week or two, then decided to get the repair somewhere else. Oh, I also had to pay the 3 hours of estimate.
So I have HAD IT with the dealership. My vow is to perform all the maintenances/repairs myself. I don't care how long it takes. The dealership is not taking no more of my money! Of course I'm going to rely heavily on this forum. Thank you in advance. Oh, and if anybody's in the Chicagoland area and would like to 'help' a fellow rider in need, give me a holler.
Sorry for the ranting.
So two months later I 'dropped' the ex-500 and didn't feel comfortable riding it anymore. Trade it in the same day for the 2009 FZ6. OTD was $4900 including the trade-in. I got smart this time and have them include the 600 miles service in the contract.
Two weeks into it, my bike wouldn't start. Tried jumping it with a car, but couldn't get the clamps on the small FZ6 battery terminal. So I jumped started it instead. Much easier! Along the way I had to life up the tank...noticed two hoses sticking out but didn't think of it much.
Another two weeks later, 600+ miles on the ODO, I went in for the 600 miles services. They wanted $325. I gave them an IOU and that was that. Later on I start noticing the two hoses on the bottom, they have lines on them. I know these line are supposed to be level with something, but they are not. Looks like the monkeys at dealership didn't even fix them. And today I just notice there was a bend in the left hose just under the tank. I pulled it from the bottom and fixed that, hoped nothing damaged.
A week ago I got into an accident with an SUV and took it in to the dealer for an estimate. They won't even give me a free estimate, saying they have to do a thorough 3 hour ($89/hr) estimate. I didn't care that much b/c the insurance said they were going to pay for it. The end of business day they call me saying estimate is complete ($2800).
I call the insurance and asked them when the adjuster would go check out the bike and they said they won't send anyone out. They got the fax of the estimate from the dealer and they will review that. I asked if I can pick up my bike and got a go ahead.
Went to pick up the bike and the dealership freaked out. They're saying they can't in good conscience let me take the bike because it might not be safe. I laught in their face. They said 'are you refusing the repair the bike?'. I said I want the bike because I WANT TO RIDE. I'm not going to wait 3-4 weeks for the insurance to settle this and then wait for them to order part. Winter is coming up for god sake! They said they'll give me the bike but I have to pay $50/day storage fee. Somehow they put this in the contract saying I agree to pay this fee UNLESS I repaired the damage per estimate. Imagine if I left this longer, a week or two, then decided to get the repair somewhere else. Oh, I also had to pay the 3 hours of estimate.
So I have HAD IT with the dealership. My vow is to perform all the maintenances/repairs myself. I don't care how long it takes. The dealership is not taking no more of my money! Of course I'm going to rely heavily on this forum. Thank you in advance. Oh, and if anybody's in the Chicagoland area and would like to 'help' a fellow rider in need, give me a holler.
Sorry for the ranting.
