Deleted account 210609001
Registered user
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2003
- Messages
- 29
- Reaction score
- 5
Took my bike in for its 6,000 mile service yesterday. What a negative experience! I seem to suffer from "biker invisibility" whenever I go there, eventually having to ask for someone to come and see me, despite standing at the reception desk while the staff welcome the car drivers.
Collecting my loan bike, I was told of the £1,000 insurance excess. "Why wasn't I told about this when I arranged it?" I asked. "Nothing we can do about it now, its the responsibility of the person booking the bike in to tell you. I'll speak to him next week, but there's still a £1,000 excess" When signing the form I wrote "Not advised of excess" (just so if the worst did happen I could at least argue the toss). The guy looked at me like I was mad. Clearly they haven't been trained how to deal with customers that are not very happy, very rich and very stupid.
Worse to follow: the bike needs new rear wheel bearings. Not chuffed about this, but these things happen and at least it's under warranty (just three months old). Technician said it was OK to ride but only until it could be booked in. Then told that the earliest they could do it was at least four weeks, at which point the techie winced and departed.
I firmly but politely pointed out that this was unacceptable: I didn't pay nine grand for a bike for it to go wrong and then be told I've got to wait four weeks for it to be mended, etc, etc. No attempt made to help, just the excuse proffered that "Well, that's the lead time!" as if I was somehow not clever enough to appreciate the complexity of it all.
Eventually, a date was found a little earlier, but still two weeks away. Still about 10 days too long in my view. I'll contact the warranty people tomorrow to demand that they find a dealer that can repair my bike more quickly, and collect and deliver as necessary.
I met with total apathy when I went to buy the bike there; when I turned up for a test ride I was not expected despite booking it three weeks in advance. I felt as if I would have had to beg to be allowed to buy a bike through them, so I went to another dealer.
The only positive point is that the technician did get my bike running perfectly - got rid of the stuttering that has been there since its 600 mile service. This backs up the view of another GS owner who has complemented the workshop side of the business before.
It does seem that since they converted the bike shop into a Mini showroom, L&C are not interested in bikes in the least. Perhaps they're trying to drive customers away so they can justify shutting down the bike franchise altogether?
Or is it just me?
Collecting my loan bike, I was told of the £1,000 insurance excess. "Why wasn't I told about this when I arranged it?" I asked. "Nothing we can do about it now, its the responsibility of the person booking the bike in to tell you. I'll speak to him next week, but there's still a £1,000 excess" When signing the form I wrote "Not advised of excess" (just so if the worst did happen I could at least argue the toss). The guy looked at me like I was mad. Clearly they haven't been trained how to deal with customers that are not very happy, very rich and very stupid.
Worse to follow: the bike needs new rear wheel bearings. Not chuffed about this, but these things happen and at least it's under warranty (just three months old). Technician said it was OK to ride but only until it could be booked in. Then told that the earliest they could do it was at least four weeks, at which point the techie winced and departed.
I firmly but politely pointed out that this was unacceptable: I didn't pay nine grand for a bike for it to go wrong and then be told I've got to wait four weeks for it to be mended, etc, etc. No attempt made to help, just the excuse proffered that "Well, that's the lead time!" as if I was somehow not clever enough to appreciate the complexity of it all.
Eventually, a date was found a little earlier, but still two weeks away. Still about 10 days too long in my view. I'll contact the warranty people tomorrow to demand that they find a dealer that can repair my bike more quickly, and collect and deliver as necessary.
I met with total apathy when I went to buy the bike there; when I turned up for a test ride I was not expected despite booking it three weeks in advance. I felt as if I would have had to beg to be allowed to buy a bike through them, so I went to another dealer.
The only positive point is that the technician did get my bike running perfectly - got rid of the stuttering that has been there since its 600 mile service. This backs up the view of another GS owner who has complemented the workshop side of the business before.
It does seem that since they converted the bike shop into a Mini showroom, L&C are not interested in bikes in the least. Perhaps they're trying to drive customers away so they can justify shutting down the bike franchise altogether?
Or is it just me?
