| Author | Message | ||
     2hogs |
Hey All, Folks have reported the lack of Buell dealers. I didn't understand this until I called the dealer I bought 3 bikes from (1 triumph and 2 Harleys). They stopped carrying Buell 2 months ago. WTF??? They will be kicking themselves with the '06 releases. Now I gotta find another dealer in the Baltimore/Washington DC area. Cheers, Joe | ||
| Whodom |
A good many marginal Buell dealers (i.e.- they carried Buell but had no interest in selling them) dropped Buell over the past year or so. I think you're right; a lot of them are gonna be kicking themselves... | ||
| Pcmodeler |
2hogs, which dealer were you trying to connect with? I know of a couple south of the DC area. | ||
| 2hogs |
PCmodeler, Right now my only criteria is one with Buell knowledgeable sales and service people. I usually take the bike to the dealer for the first service, then do them myself. If I ask the sales person "when are the Ulysses coming in?" I don't what to hear "Ulysses, what's that?"  Thanks, Joe | ||
| Digitalgt |
While I was in for a service on Saturday I asked my local dealer about the new Ulysses and the guy just looked at me like I was stupid. So I asked about the Nightrod and he piped up all proud as a peacock and waxed intellectual about the thing for five minutes. After I calmed him down and wiped the drool from his chin, I started asking "interested buyer" questions about the XB12 they had sitting on the floor. He just sorta kicked at the floor and said, "yeah they're ok but the carburetors (plural) are messed up and they don't handle well" I swear there is still a dent in the tile where my jaw hit the floor. I feel kinda bad now because I laughed......loudly in fact right in the man's face. On a side note, NEVER EVER EVER go to Big Moose HD in Portland, Maine for Buell service. If it ain't chromed they don't care. Charged me for 3 hours of labor when I watched my bike sit on a lift for an hour and a half without even being looked at let alone touched. Then they had the nerve to tell me they didn't appreciate my attitude when I called them on it. They refused to run my credit card for anything other than the full amount charged. I wound up pulling cash out of my pocket for the full amount minus the 1.5 hour labor cost and putting it on the counter. Told them to take it, leave it, or wipe their ••• with it and that I would never be back. | ||
| Rageonthedl |
Yeah lots of people get mad when they pay 2hr (what your 1 and 5k should cost) but i can do the service in an hour or so but you still pay the 2hrs labor...thats how i make money | ||
| Davefla |
Yeah, Mike, and lots of people don't bother to think that you might want to make a decent living, just like they do. I'm worried about my dealer, but only sometimes. Like I've written before, the techs always let me know that they've enjoyed the post-service test rides... (Message edited by davefla on July 27, 2005) | ||
| Digitalgt |
I have no problem with paying for services rendered. I have no problem with dealers making a profit either. I DO have a problem with a service department trying to shaft someone for an extra $120 just because they want more money. If they had worked on my bike for three legitimate hours I wouldn't be bitching...though judging by the total amount of work performed by the tech, it could be done in about an hour. Am I being unreasonable? (Message edited by digitalgt on July 27, 2005) | ||
| Blublak |
Hey 2Hogs... Give Frederick hd/BUELL a call, Ask for Blain, Al or Trey. Tell 'em Peter sent ya! If that's too far for ya, go the other direction and call Ft. Washington, tell 'em Jose sent ya (hope he doesn't mind me using him as a ref.) .. Those are probably the best two Buell Dealers in our area. I deal with Frederick, Jose with Ft. Washington. The others.. well.. most are a waste of your time. PM if you need more details or are looking to go riding in our area. (where are you anyway?) | ||
| Wildman4x4nut |
Digitalgt, I can't speak as a Harley/Buell tech but I was a Ford tech for 4 years. It is a hard way to make a living let me tell you. When you take your vehicle in for a service or a problem they will tell you what the shop rate is & how many hours it will take. So lets say the repair book says it takes 3 hours to do a 1,000 mile service. If I can do this in 2 hours I just made money as long as there is more work in the shop. Most general items have a hourly rate book. So same example it takes me 4 hours to do that service. Guess what? I still only get paid 3 hours. It can be a good thing but it also makes some tech's cut corners. So to answer your question are you being unreasonable that all depends. Were you given a time for what ever was done. This is what matters. If they told you the hour rate was 3 hours and you agreed to it?? Hope this help some. And I'm sure others will step in. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
I really dislike the "Flat Rate Book". But on the other hand a tech can milk a job on slow day and make the same if not more if he was working hourly. This is, of course, unscrupelous (sp), and we all know that won't happen. | ||
| Howieshotrods |
Well, like Wildman4x4nut explained it can go both ways on the flat rate, sometimes the dealer wins sometimes they lose. What tends to happen is you pay for their experience, the things they have learned over time to make the job easier and quicker. Sometimes it can make you mad if you pay for 3 hours when they only did 1.5 hours of work on it....as long as they stick to what they said it was going to cost you should be fine with it. Imagine how mad you would be if they told you 3 hours and it took 6 hours and they charged you that extra, a good dealer would only charge the 3 quoted and either the tech or the dealer has to eat that. | ||
| 2hogs |
Blublak, Thanks. Frederick is ~45 minutes away from where I'm at in S. Central PA. When riding over to WV, I often run down Rt 15 to Rt 77 thru the park and over to I-70. Great Road (Rt 77) but way too much traffic. I usually just putt along on the Glide. Me, ride with Buell folks? Sure, but if it's twisty, we'd have to have 'waypoints' as the Glide doesn't carve the curves very well. Ok when she's close to dragging chrome -- I think I'm rocking, you all would think I was sitting still.  Cheers | ||
| Izzinya |
Well, like Wildman4x4nut explained it can go both ways on the flat rate, sometimes the dealer wins sometimes they lose. What tends to happen is you pay for their experience, the things they have learned over time to make the job easier and quicker. Sometimes it can make you mad if you pay for 3 hours when they only did 1.5 hours of work on it....as long as they stick to what they said it was going to cost you should be fine with it. Imagine how mad you would be if they told you 3 hours and it took 6 hours and they charged you that extra, a good dealer would only charge the 3 quoted and either the tech or the dealer has to eat that just spent about 8 REAL hours on a wireing issue for a customer got paid for a half an hour .... would that be fun ??? i make my money doing services ,motor builds, acc installs but i loose money on other stuff.. but it all evens out thats the flat rate BOOK for ya but i am a softy i love a happy customer .. (my wife makes alot more money than i do LOL) Izzinya |
