Good dealers

[instructor Boy]

Ouch....the problem you lot have, and from where we were standing not so long ago is that the bikes are so damn reliant on specific electronics and getting your service book stamped by bmw for fear of the price cratering, they have you by the short and curlies!

Not that fair really. Anyone ever saw a struggling bmw dealership? i don't recall a kawasaki dealership down park lane either but i'm afraid I know whats better value and a lot more reliable.

 

[billynomates]

I was at Bahnstormer on saturday and waited a long time to see the salesman yes I was spending a large amount of money but that does'nt entitle me to push in front of anyone else wether buying or not.
they were very very busy but still professional and courteous.
Everyone has off days so unless im losing money I tend to give the benefit of doubt unless its repeated by the same person.
ian

 

[Navy Boy]

Johnny

I live in the Gosport area and have used SPC, Vines and CW. I now use CW for all my BMW servicing/accessories as I've found them to be consistently good.

I'd like to add that I haven't yet used Bahnstormer but that is simply a case of not having cause to use them... yet. From what I've heard they seem to be a good bunch and I know John Gilbride from the SPC days. He was always friendly and willing to help you. As for Vines I found them to be helpful and straight with me though I feel less comfortable with them sharing the premises with the car franchise. Seems less personal however that's simply my opinion. Their service didn't appear to suffer in any way.

My advice would be to give CW a try. Yes it's a bit of a way but I've found them to be spot on every time I've used them.

 

[bustupbiker]

**now a volume product and with that comes more discount, lower prices**


From BMW

Volume product i will go along with.
Discount what discount...
Lower prices..

 

[MarkN]

Hi everyone,

Wouldn't mind you views on good dealers in the south (east & west), as I've had very mixed experiences with a few and haven't been able to settle on one which I feel I can trust.

My experiences to date:

I live in Hampshire and bought my bike from SPC (RIP) and the service was alright - as it will always be when you buying a bike! I had it serviced there until it went under and things were OK.
Then I took it to Vines in Guildford, who were OK but not great! For example, when I went to pick my bike up they couldn't find it and I had to wait 10mins until they did and even then the guy didn't look like he knew his way around a bike and looked like he might drop it - so had to cut in and rescue my pride and joy from the fool. Overall not a great start, also it looked like they had car technicains working on bikes - in my opinion a recipe for disaster and the bike didn't feel quite right. You know that feeling you get when it doesn't feel all in order. So was left feeling a little cold from the experience.
Finally (and the for the last time) I took it Bahnstormers at the old SPC site, and to say it was a shit experience would be an understatement - IF YOU GUYS AT BAHNSTORMER ARE READING THIS TAKE NOTE AND BUCK UP YOUR IDEAS AND FIRE THAT NO GOOD SERVICE MANAGER, HE IS SHIT. Its too long to go into but the first word out of thier mouths was 'NO', no we can't do this, no we can't do that, no thats an issue for BMW and so on, and to top it off they started to add jobs and parts to the job sheet that I didn't even authorise! Surfice to say I will go back there and recommend you don't go there.

So I'm left with not a great deal of immediate local choice but don't mind travelling for good service.

Any ideas would be great
Thanks
Johnny

I first read this last night and have had some time to sleep on it before replying.

The great thing about forums like this is that it makes the world a much smaller place and allows people to share their views and ideas with other like minded people. This can be a positive thing when it comes to getting better service from a dealer as word can travel very fast when we receive poor service.

With a lot of dealers now reading these forums with some coming out and replying and some wishing to stay in the shadows, it gives them the chance to see what we really think about the service that they are giving us and having the chance to do something about it.

BMW dealers as a whole are generally a pretty good lot, BMW make sure of that and it costs a lot of money to have and maintain a franchise so they're going to want us to keep going back and handing over our hard earned credit cards.

When we read a complaint in the way you've written what you have it makes people think that it might be you with the problem as both Vines and Bahnstormer are not cowboys and both have a good name which they work hard to keep.

If you have a complaint then sure, post it, tell everyone what went wrong, we need to know. But grow some balls, talk face to face with the dealer and give them a chance to put things right and then you can add that to the bottom of the message and finish on a positive.If they don't put things right once you've spoken to them then we need to know this too.

In my experience if I've disagreed with something the dealer has done I've sat down with them and talked the problem through and then sat and had a coffee with them, I've formed a working relationship with them that has lasted 22 years so far and I keep going back because I've found that loyalty is a two way street.

Anyway, I've said what I've wanted to say, I hope you find a dealer that you can work with in the long term.

Cheers

Mark

 

[Navy Boy]

Well said

Nicely put Mark

I too have had a fair bit of experience with bike dealers over the years (Usually whilst spending lots of money too... Hey ho!) and would wholehartedly agree with your sentiment. It is a hard business to be in and being unreasonable generally doesnt get you anywhere.

I think this thread has struck a chord with a number of us and being in the position where I go back to a dealer I both like and trust has taken a lot of trial and error.

I'd stick to my earlier advice and give CW a try if Johnny really feels that he can't do business with Bahnstormer. At the end of the day voting with your feet is always the most effective means.

One of the best posts I've seen for some time.

 

[Johnny Davies]

I first read this last night and have had some time to sleep on it before replying.

The great thing about forums like this is that it makes the world a much smaller place and allows people to share their views and ideas with other like minded people. This can be a positive thing when it comes to getting better service from a dealer as word can travel very fast when we receive poor service.

With a lot of dealers now reading these forums with some coming out and replying and some wishing to stay in the shadows, it gives them the chance to see what we really think about the service that they are giving us and having the chance to do something about it.

BMW dealers as a whole are generally a pretty good lot, BMW make sure of that and it costs a lot of money to have and maintain a franchise so they're going to want us to keep going back and handing over our hard earned credit cards.

When we read a complaint in the way you've written what you have it makes people think that it might be you with the problem as both Vines and Bahnstormer are not cowboys and both have a good name which they work hard to keep.

If you have a complaint then sure, post it, tell everyone what went wrong, we need to know. But grow some balls, talk face to face with the dealer and give them a chance to put things right and then you can add that to the bottom of the message and finish on a positive.If they don't put things right once you've spoken to them then we need to know this too.

In my experience if I've disagreed with something the dealer has done I've sat down with them and talked the problem through and then sat and had a coffee with them, I've formed a working relationship with them that has lasted 22 years so far and I keep going back because I've found that loyalty is a two way street.

Anyway, I've said what I've wanted to say, I hope you find a dealer that you can work with in the long term.

Cheers

Mark

Mark/Navy Boy et al,

I get the feeling also that this has struck a cord, perhaps my post didn't delight , with enough polite lynch threats to boot But to us Brits, complaining is like sh**ting on your own door step!!! Do it at you're peril!! But this is not right, and anyone else across the world would not think twice about piping up if something wasn't cool, and those that do here are seen as heratics and plain rude!

Believe me I very much agree, love, support, endorse, rally & push long term supplier/client relationships, its the best/only way forward, and am an up front and straight person. Yes sitting down over over a coffee might be nice to us GS owners, however, if an invoice needs paying, most in the 'motor-trade/business' aren't interested - cash is cash, month-end-is-month-end, and arse's/mortages/bonuses/promotions are all on the line, even for the 'do anything for you BMW'. So it ain't a case of balls, MarkN - you show me yours and I'll show you mine Its a case of fact, money & time.

GS owners, love me, hate me be in-different to me - don't sit there and except rubbish service just because you're mate said so, or people say you should 'cos they are historically great or nearest you. Say it, how you see it and vote accordingly - with your feet and don't get pompous or precious.

Sorry for having a different view to you all and by the looks of things perhaps the only one - and the moderators will probably move me to the heratic section, but I said it like I saw it - did you really!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Navy Boy]

Johnny

Have you really read the replies above?

I'd stick to my earlier advice and give CW a try if Johnny really feels that he can't do business with Bahnstormer. At the end of the day voting with your feet is always the most effective means.

and

to a dealer I both like and trust has taken a lot of trial and error.

At the end of the day it isn't constructive to simply say that a person/persons are S**T without qualifying your statement/complaint. By all means complain (I've certainly done so in the past both on here and on other forums) but you have to give both sides of the story.

What is it that Bahnstormer did that has so upset you? Are you going to accept it or, as alluded to in earlier replies, vote with your feet and go elsewhere.

I don't accept rubbish service. Neither do most of the people on this forum. Give CW a try and if they meet your expectations tell us all about it.

Oh and Good Day to you.

 

[Bahnstormer]

Calling Johnny Davies, Calling Johnny Davies

Since this thread started I decided not to rise to the bait as your (Johnny Davies) description of Jody, my service manager, borders on slander.

I am concerned that you (Johnny Davies) would prefer to post on this forum before highlighting to Alistair or I what must have been a major issue for you, so that we may have resolved the problem, however, since you posted the thread we have contacted all the J Davies’ that own a GS current on our systems to try to find out what went so badly wrong, strangely, all of them claim this post has nothing to do with them. So I ask you to please call in or phone and speak to either myself or Alistair.

Alternatively, email either or both of us on, [email protected] or [email protected]

Regards
Paul Davies
Bahnstormer Motorrad
01420 587 007

 

[MarkN]

Since this thread started I decided not to rise to the bait as your (Johnny Davies) description of Jody, my service manager, borders on slander.

I am concerned that you (Johnny Davies) would prefer to post on this forum before highlighting to Alistair or I what must have been a major issue for you, so that we may have resolved the problem, however, since you posted the thread we have contacted all the J Davies’ that own a GS current on our systems to try to find out what went so badly wrong, strangely, all of them claim this post has nothing to do with them. So I ask you to please call in or phone and speak to either myself or Alistair.

Alternatively, email either or both of us on, [email protected] or [email protected]



Regards
Paul Davies
Bahnstormer Motorrad
01420 587 007

As I said JD, grow some balls and talk to the guys face to face and give them some idea of what went wrong instead of hiding behind a keyboard.

You've really not understood what I've written above. I'm all for complaining when things go wrong but be constructive rather than just saying someone or something is SH*T, you'll find you're more likely to get a result in your favour.

Cheers

Mark

 

[BAKERMAN]

----- .i.

 

[Sparky GS'r]

I think we have found the problem here.... Johnny Davies.

Paul, Alistair, Jody & all at Bahnstormer.. Keep up the good work.

Stu

 

[Sable]

I`ve been using the guys at Cooper Tunbridge Wells- so far so good. Not sure where Johnny lives but the ride to Bahnstormer cant be as much fun as the run to Tunbridge Wells.

Ring 01892 506766 and ask for Steve Franklyn - worth a try.

 

[JonL]

JD,

Ignore the criticism. I was gob-smacked by most of the replies as the normal response to your rant would be a rating, pat on the back and a polite request for more details - or is that just between tossers/moderators with high post ratings and who know each other face to face?

MOST of the criticism comes from those who have not posted often - are they all dealers (wait for the backlash)?

Everyone has the right to express their opinion and if others don't like it they can stay silent and your thread will die a lonesome death.

 

[karlp]

JD,

Ignore the criticism. I was gob-smacked by most of the replies as the normal response to your rant would be a rating, pat on the back and a polite request for more details - or is that just between tossers/moderators with high post ratings and who know each other face to face?

MOST of the criticism comes from those who have not posted often - are they all dealers (wait for the backlash)?

Everyone has the right to express their opinion and if others don't like it they can stay silent and your thread will die a lonesome death.

You happen to be a person with low post count - just like me and I am no dealer

 

[JonL]

Here comes the backlash

 

[MarkN]

JD,

Ignore the criticism. I was gob-smacked by most of the replies as the normal response to your rant would be a rating, pat on the back and a polite request for more details - or is that just between tossers/moderators with high post ratings and who know each other face to face?

MOST of the criticism comes from those who have not posted often - are they all dealers (wait for the backlash)?

Everyone has the right to express their opinion and if others don't like it they can stay silent and your thread will die a lonesome death.

No one is having a go at JD for moaning, most people tend to agree that you should moan, but do it constructively rather than the way he's done it.

The guys from Bahnstormer have even come out and tried to track him down but everyone they've spoken too has denied it's them.

What's the point of moaning publicly if you're not going to back it up and talk to the dealer face to face?