Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[lilcoot]

Well, I had another experience this week regarding Harley dealer service   vs independent mechanics  .

I thought I needed a new exhaust valve on the rear cylinder.  Went to a local dealership, who quoted $550 for labor to evaluate the top end, plus additional for leak down test, parts, or additional labor.  They agreed to pick up the bike for free if they did the work.  I thought this was too much, so I went to another local dealer who quoted me $750 for labor PLUS $100 to pick it up.

I was ready to just try to do the labor myself and send the heads out, but found two local independents.  When I went to the first one, he said it was too big of a job for him (he was 70+), but let me use his trailer to pull my bike to the other mechanic FOR FREE.  The second mechanic wouldn't give me an estimate, but said he'd call if they found anything major.  The next day, he called and said there were two seals that were leaking, and my total cost would be for 1.5 hours less than ($150), and it runs perfectly now.  

Now, it's very possible that either Harley dealer might have found the problem, and done the same thing, but I really doubt it.  The mechanics at these two dealerships seem dumber than rocks.  I find the ethics of HD dealerships, and most auto dealerships, to be, um, "inadequate".

I assume there are some excellent, honest dealerships out there, and those of you who have them, congratulations.  Personally, I'm going to avoid any business with Harley Davidson unless it's absolutely necessary.

[tweeter13]

As being a mechanic for a living and have worked at a dealer.  I know where you are coming from.  The customer is usually talking to a service writer not a mechanic.  Writers try to schedule things and guess what's wrong by your description and try to make sure there is enough work for all the mechanics and get bikes or cars fixed accurately and quickly.  Most of the time the mechanic don't get to talk to the customer.  The writer don't describe problem accurately to mechanic and either he can't duplicate it. Or since he thinks he knows what's wrong already describes that type of problem and the mechanic trying to repair a vehicle even though he didn't find any thing really wrong goes ahead and throws some thing at it trying to see if that was what the writer was taking about.  Not the customer. 



Not trying to say you did any thing wrong but you did say you went to the dealer and said you needed a new exhaust valve.  They quoted you a new price.  It was not properly diagnosed by anyone.  Same went for the next dealership and the 60 year old man.  He might have been Abel to repair them two seals. 


The service persons first question to you should have been.  What makes you think you need a new exhaust valve?  That's their mistake.  They lost you as the customer right there.   


I do work on the side out of the house.  I do some for free if its quick and easy.  People return as good customers.   I have changed brake light bulbs for total strangers in parking lots just cause I had the bulbs with me and the tools.  Hand them my card.  Hand a few call me for some things to be done later on.  Some not.  But I don't mind.  Get to meet nice people and help someone out and might prevent accident. 


But on the other hand there are some real winners out there working on things.  People I would not even let plant a tree for me.   It's just when you find some one even if they are slow at what they do it may be worth it.  I would rather work next to some one that was slow and good then fast and got every thing wrong. 


But giving a mechanic as much information to get a problem to occur helps them tremendously.   Most mechanics do take pride in their work and its not about the money.  You do enough work more work will come.  Word of mouth is the best advertisement. 

Todd

[OKC13CVO]

Good post Todd.

[lilcoot]

Tweeter13, I really don't think it's just the technicians' faults.  I blame the business mentality that puts short term profits ahead of long term customer satisfaction.  I'm sure the owners put a lot of pressure on the service writers and mechanics to get charge as much as possible, and do the bare minimum work in the shortest possible time.  When a good tech burns out, or gets fired for making mistakes, the dealership will hire the least experienced applicant so they can pay the lowest wages, and the cycle continues.

These places may get my business one time, but they won't earn my business again.  

[muddypaws]

It's all about how fast the mechanic can do the work and how high they can charge the customer. Just look at what at 10,000 check uo cost. How in the hell can they claim it takes that long...

[JustDennis]

I think Todd makes some very good points.  The high costs at the dealer are one of the reasons that I try to do most things myself.  Someone else mentioned the 10K service, I just called the dealer and it is $300.  I can do everything on that checklist for a lot less and enjoy going over my bike.  Some things I don't attempt or can't diagnose so after checking here and not finding an answer, I look for a qualified person to do the work. 

[smkblwr]

$300 for a 10k service on a touring bike. my local stealer charges $450 plus up charge for Syn fluids. Service manual $80, Syn oil , Saturday morning with coffee in the shop Priceless.