A Perfect dealership experience, until...

Went to the local multi-line shop at 9 this morning (22 degrees out) for new skins on my '04. It was dead there, I was the only service customer. I asked that they be careful with my rims and to change the rear's valve stem since it had a slow leak. When done, the rims looked great with no new scratches; I was happy. Got home later after riding 60 miles around the area since it had reached a balmy 35 degrees. Went to clean my bike; spun the back tire to clean the rim and heard a ticking sound. Looking closer, I noticed the chrome valave cap was missing its top. Spun the tire again and saw the valve stem bend WAAAAAY over from wacking the caliper assembly. Yes folks, even with plenty of time to do it right, they still managed to screw it up. They had put on a much, much too long valve stem. It's a miracle I didn't get a flat from 60 miles of repeatedly snapping the valve stem over. So now I have to go back up on Friday and have it replaced and it's supposed to get all the way up to the mid-20s on that day. Then they wonder why we go to dealers only when we have no other option...

 

Now you probably have to remind them to rebalance it when done.

 

Thanks; excellent reminder.

 

Did SOMEONE in the svc dept catch an earful for your time and trouble to take it back to have them do it TWICE? Not sure of your personality, but mine, in a case such as yours,...well...I would not be pleasant about it to say the very least.

I just cannot handle incompetence or ineptitude, esp when it occurs in a place that is supposed to be a SPECIALIST in what they do. They ain't smashing the atom there...all they DO is change tires! That's what they DO! I'm not upset b/c I asked them to program my cell phone, or troubleshoot my Mac or R&R my scuba regulator and they couldn't pull it off...I'm fired up and gonna chew somebody's ass LOUDLY b/c this is ALL you do and you couldn't manage it!

But...that's just me.

 

Other than when I'm playing sports I'm a pretty mellow personality. There's no excuse for sloppy work but it takes a lot for me to get really upset over this stuff. In a prior life I ran new car dealerships; I was at different times new car&truck mgr, used car mgr, auction buyer, general sales mgr and finance mgr so I'm used to hearing customer complaints about our service techs; it kind of innoculated me. I go to a dealership expecting problems because I know; I know most dealerships treat the techs like shop rags and pay them squat; the only way they can make any money in a Flat-Rate shop is to play Beat the Clock which inevitably leads to rushed and sloppy work.

They say that Flat-Rate helps the consumer because it sets a standard fee for most repairs and there is some validity to that but I think it also forces the typically poorly-paid tech (esp. MC techs) to rush to beat the flat-rate manual so he can move onto the next job; hence my return engagement later in the week. If only I could justify my own tire-changing and balancing equipment...

 

Think that's bad, try your shop doing your '05 VFR's 8k service using the schedule for an '02 Magna, because both bikes "have V4 engines".

 

What particularly bothers me when it comes to motorcycle service is that the consequences of a bad repair job are potentially so much more catastrophic. Not to say that motor vehicles of all kinds can't be; but it doesn't take much to go wrong with a motorcycle to spit you on your ear.

 

I did the same on my rear tire. I noticed after I had swapped out my rear tire with my spare that my valve stem was dry rotted. Since I didn't want to go to the dealership to pick up a new one, I went to autozone and got a pack. I didn't realize mine was too long until I was cleaning my wheel and heard the clicking. As I had just put the stupid thing in, I decided just to remove the cap for now. I don't like doing it that way, but I decided to wait until I swap out my rear and put a 90 in.

 

There is so much truth to the saying ( You want it done right do it yourself)

 

As much as I agree, I want no part of the major service checks (16,32, etc), other than paying for a job well done. After my reaction during the 8k incident, :madgrin: the shop's service checks have been golden...

 

So did you do anything about this sorry state other than pay lip service? I submit that the flat rate book was nestled right snuggly to the customer complaint script.

Better yet with all this shifty experience in hand, what would be your solution to this fellas problem with his too long valve stem which BTW could have snapped off deflated his rear tire and who know what else then.

Time to be mellow? Get fucking real..

 

My previous bike was a BMW K1200 RS, I loved that bike. The LAST time I took it in for service they bent a valve stem adjusting a valve that didn't need adjusting. And I traveled 100mi as they were the nearest dealer. I immediately sold the bike and have never set foot back on that dealership.

Luckily, my local Honda shop seems to be pretty good, knock on wood. Nevertheless, I do a lot more routine stuff myself now.

Ron

 

My brother is a personal injury lawyer. I tend to get real good service after I tell them what they did was unsafe and I hand them one of his cards. Too bad they just don't do it right the first time.

I spent 14 years working for Trans World Airlines. Most of our mechanics were ex Air Force / Viet Nam vets. IMHO the best mechanics in the world! Their biggest fear was an airplane they worked on wen't down! Most people don't know, when the plane is in the air the pilot is in charge but when it's on the ground the mechanic is in charge. That plane goes nowhere until the mechanic signs off! They always checked and rechecked their work. This was work you could and did bet your life on!! It's not that hard! Do it right!

 

Unfortunately, the DGaF attitude is to be found in all too many shops these days, the only effective counter being customers able and willing to endanger their financial and/or personal safety...

 

All good posts. I do all of my own work but I don't have the bead breaker and tire balancing equipment so that is the one item I go to the dealer for. It's just a shame that the industry in general is run so unprofessionally. And don't get me started on the price-gouging this same dealer does at his parts counter; most of the time the parts guys look embarrassed to give you their pricing because they know it's so rediculously marked up...

 

+1 When I flew I rented planes all the time, the 60+ aircraft fleet FBO had a mechanic that looked like Cooter from the Dukes of Hazzard. His mechanical (handyman) skills were questionable at best, after numerous in flight problems, I carried a fire extinguisher, zip ties, tools and other life saving equip and spent too long on preflight... checking his handywork. I finally switched to another FBO 40 miles farther away that had some new planes.... to avoid anymore glider practice.

 

I have a good friend (unfortunatley he is going to have to move away soon) that is very anal, and Honda certified. I have him either do the work for me, or have him give it the once over after going to a dealership. Most of the time I go to a local shop that I trust and have been going there since 95.

 

I trust my shop now, but only because they know I can back up my "Or Else"...

 

Was it the mullet that convinced them?

 

Ah bb, long time. What happened, get kicked out from under your rock? To give a reasonable answer to your (as usual) asinine post, the shop's BS during the 8k check got them ripped by America Honda for "unacceptable maintenance practices".