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[falcon]

Red
When the rep came out he told the dealer that he would contact him with the authorization number to order NEW painted parts in the next couple of days. Ok great, problem solved. At that point the dealer told me it was ok to pay for the bike. One week later no authorization number...dealer calls and the rep says he wants to try rubbing it out first. The dealer goes nuts on him tells the MoCo that there is no F’in way he is sending it out to be rubbed out. The dealer is talking to the reps boss today.

[RedFXR2]

Well, I guess this dealer won't ever trust the MoCo rep again...and he rightfully shouldn't.  If he had no intention of issuing the authorization for new parts, he should never have said so.

I don't know how much clout dealers have with the MoCo--probably very little, but as I read this story, I'd have to set up a meeting with me, that Rep. and someone higher up to get them to "clarify" their policies with respect to their expectations of dealerships and relations with MoCo reps and customers.

If that rep has half a brain, he certainly understands the blow he has dealt to the dealer and you (the customer).  I'd like to ask him if that's the way the MOCo wants to do business?

My personal footnote about factory "reps".   I once had a Nissan truck that had a clunk in the rear end.  After much haggling with the dealership service manager, he agreed to call in the regional factory "rep" from out of town.  About a week later, after he allegedly looked the truck over, I met the guy, who agreed to pull the rear inspection cover off the differential to look at the gear set.  I had to point out to him that this truck had no bolt-on inspection cover, it was a welded third member type assembly that dropped out as a unit from the front.  He just stared at me.  The point is that the factory "rep" didn't know much about the product.  I mean all he had to do was bend over and look underneath.  I asked him if he had looked--another blank stare.  Later, when I was back at the dealer, I saw the same guy working the floor as a salesman.  He saw me and ducked into the back somewhere.

He was no factory rep at all--just a salesman playing the role to get rid of me.  Needless to say, I never went back to that dealer.  But they don't care--plenty more customers where I came from.

Anyway, whenever somebody starts talking about factory reps, I remain unimpressed.

[grc]

My personal footnote about factory "reps".   I once had a Nissan truck that had a clunk in the rear end.  After much haggling with the dealership service manager, he agreed to call in the regional factory "rep" from out of town.  About a week later, after he allegedly looked the truck over, I met the guy, who agreed to pull the rear inspection cover off the differential to look at the gear set.  I had to point out to him that this truck had no bolt-on inspection cover, it was a welded third member type assembly that dropped out as a unit from the front.  He just stared at me.  The point is that the factory "rep" didn't know much about the product.  I mean all he had to do was bend over and look underneath.  I asked him if he had looked--another blank stare.  Later, when I was back at the dealer, I saw the same guy working the floor as a salesman.  He saw me and ducked into the back somewhere.

He was no factory rep at all--just a salesman playing the role to get rid of me.  Needless to say, I never went back to that dealer.  But they don't care--plenty more customers where I came from.

Anyway, whenever somebody starts talking about factory reps, I remain unimpressed.

Red,

As a former (1970's) zone service manager for a manufacturer, I understand exactly how you feel.  Back in those days, reps were technical people who could (and did) turn wrenches.  I loved that job, even though it required a lot of travel, up until the time that my employer decided it would rather employ people with business degrees and no tech background for those positions.  The first two folks hired under this new policy in my district were females with zero mechanical knowledge or aptitude, and the rest of us had to pick up the load.  Then my employer decided we didn't need tech people visiting dealers at all; the dealer had to call a "hot line" for tech assistance.  The reps became strictly sales types for parts and service, and customer service took a huge step backwards.  I saw the handwriting on the wall and got a transfer to manufacturing.  To this day, "service reps" for my company are non-technical folks who probably couldn't find the oil dipstick.

Jerry

[SEUC-OCD]

I first heard about a milky paint back in Oct/Nov from my dealer.  Supposedly it was claimed as a warranty Item and new tins were sent.

It seems that if they set precedence once and recognize/admit there is a problem, then they have to do it every time.

Either that was an early event and MoCo has since determined that they don't want to cover it, or word is not getting out to the reps (not likely).

[Ramblin Man]

You guys are making me nervous.  I've been waiting impatiently for my Autumn Haze since September.  It was supposed to be here in December.  Now it's mid-January, because they're running about 30 days behind.  Is that because of "paint problems"?  Are all 3 colors having paint problems, or is it just the Black & Slate?  Oh, and thanks for giving me something else to worry about. --  JR  :-/  

[SE_ULTRA]

OK, today was they day I went to pick up the new SE...Crimson and Slate...make that Crimson, Slate and some ugly dull greyish collor.

Real noticable on the saddle bags. THe saddle bag lid is AWSOME..what a cool DEEP black with crimson flake..very impressive. The bags..YUCK!

Here, see for yourself

and by the way....I rejected the bike and refused to pay for it. THe Rep will be there tomorrow.

[SE_ULTRA]

another

[SE_ULTRA]

last one

[jeffj]

Sorry to hear your situation on the paint and you rejecting the scooter.
Am I seeing that the exhaust has already been changed out?
Who authorized the change and will you be liable for additional accessories installed?

jeffj

[SE_ULTRA]

The new true-duals and the new SIX SPEED TRANY thay I already paid for?? Those are my parts...I think the stealer may have more of a vested interest in getting this resolved to avoid refunding my parts money and being stuck with this.

[hd-dude]

Sorry to hear of more paint problems. They are VERY obvious in the pics. Are there other areas or is it just the bags?
These continued problems really suck! I can't believe that the moco is putting up with this. Its time they find a new paint supplier.

[gator]

I just had my SE Ultra black Crimson/slate delivered Saterday 12/10 and my paint is all "milky" the only part of the bike that looks good are the saddlebag lids. Pre inspection was done at dealer ship inside there building due to a snow storm, bike was never looked at under sun light or uv light. Got a sunny day today took bike outside to look at it under sun light and noticed the bad paint; at the dealer ship or in my garage paint all looks the same black. Will be calling dealer in AM to have bike picked up. I'll post what the dealer says. Anyone with Black Crimson / Slate with paint problems please send me a PM with dealer/moco comments regarding a fix. my paint looks just like the fearing picture by CVO member falcon

[falcon]

This is getting ridiculous!

[Twolanerider]

Sorry to hear of more paint problems. They are VERY obvious in the pics. Are there other areas or is it just the bags?
These continued problems really suck! I can't believe that the moco is putting up with this. Its time they find a new paint supplier.

There's a better question.  Worse, but better.  Instead of why is the MoCo putting up with it from suppliers the question should be why are they trying to release the product to us?  

It can not because they don't realize it.  Painfully obvious things such as this make that an impossibility.  

Only thing that makes any sense is that someone decided delays had gone on too long.  That same someone decided to push product out the door anyway.  Some will accept and bite their tongue (hard to believe, but true).  Others will accept and require something be done.  But at least those bikes are out the door, have been paid for, and have become a different kind of problem.  

Quite frankly you know Harley is getting a lot of free rework out of the supplier on this.  The entirely unacceptable feature is that they're willing to so callously, casually and without notice attempt to shift the problem on to us and make it an after purchase issue.  It's obviously more important to get paid for the bike than it is to deliver the bike properly ready to present.  That's not just sad, it's scary.

[CVOJOE]

MOCO is really dropping the ball on the quality issues with their vendor. Someone, somewhere has to sign off on the final quality inspection, perhaps they were hired under a special program for employing the blind or something ?  [smiley=nixweiss.gif]
If enough people sat down and wrote letters to H-D management (starting with the CEO on down) outlining the same issues with paint and area reps. I think something would eventually get done. Their names and addresses are in the annual report.
Otherwise, maybe a class action suit would get their attention ?