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Mechanic dilemma

Ogier le Danois

Ogier le Danois

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Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Location
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I've been getting my motorcycles serviced for the coming riding season - due to work commitments I am not doing any of it myself.

One of the bikes was serviced by a shop that came highly recommended by several local riders around the Front Range.

I didn't inspect it too closely until I got on to ride it about a week and a half later. The bike is garage kept. Everything was not finished. Loose bolts and nuts. one of the spark plug wires was off. Tank venting lines were not connected. I trailered the bike there and back. I did not test ride it when picking it up.

I called the shop asked them to make it right. They so far have ignored me.

I've only disputed a credit card charge 1 time in the past.

Am I out of luck due to the time elapsed (10 days or so) or has anyone had luck? Am I being unreasonable in requesting them to sort the bike?

My main concern is riding it after going through it and missing something important causing an accident or damage.
 
Seems reasonable to have what you paid for done and it's unfortunate they haven't responded.

What was the scope of work you had done to the bike? I'd certainly be uneasy riding a bike that was given back to me in the condition you describe.
 
I'd be completely done dealing with them if they ignored me and I'd try to dispute the charge on the CC. I'd also document everything best I could; make a list, take pics, etc. After that, I'd probably take it someplace new and have them perform the service, but make them aware of the issue and also ask them to list everything they found wrong. I don't think the 10 days is a big deal, you'll have the mileage documented on the paperwork from the old shop and when you take it to the new shop and I'm assuming the difference will be very little, or no difference?

You should out them, btw. If they screwed up, it's fine, it happens, the real test of character is in how they deal with it. Sounds like they've failed that part miserably. Out them.
 
RightCoastBias said:
Seems reasonable to have what you paid for done and it's unfortunate they haven't responded.

What was the scope of work you had done to the bike? I'd certainly be uneasy riding a bike that was given back to me in the condition you describe.
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Essentially a 6,000 mile service with a few extra bits and pieces.

Oil, Valves, replace/clean air filter (filter is dirty still) etc
 
byke said:
I'd be completely done dealing with them if they ignored me and I'd try to dispute the charge on the CC. I'd also document everything best I could; make a list, take pics, etc. After that, I'd probably take it someplace new and have them perform the service, but make them aware of the issue and also ask them to list everything they found wrong. I don't think the 10 days is a big deal, you'll have the mileage documented on the paperwork from the old shop and when you take it to the new shop and I'm assuming the difference will be very little, or no difference?

You should out them, btw. If they screwed up, it's fine, it happens, the real test of character is in how they deal with it. Sounds like they've failed that part miserably. Out them.
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I am going to wait a few more days but contact my credit card to pre-dispute.

The shop is not near the bay area, so outing them here won't be particularly harmful/motivating to them.

It has about 2 miles more than what was on the shop receipt. I started riding and it was running funny and then I realized something was off. Then went home right away.
 
Meter Man said:
I am going to wait a few more days but contact my credit card to pre-dispute.

The shop is not near the bay area, so outing them here won't be particularly harmful/motivating to them.

It has about 2 miles more than what was on the shop receipt. I started riding and it was running funny and then I realized something was off. Then went home right away.
Click to expand...

What about a yelp review? If they have good ratings, it might shake them up a little bit.
 
bureau of autmotive repair

Contact them and explain your issue.
No shop wants BAR breathing down their neck.
Keep on them and get some satisfaction.
No shop should ignore you or take advantage of you either.
Heck, call them out on Barf it will give us all the knowledge of knowing they suck ass.
Who knows one of us might wander in their territory one day, and it would be nice to know who to avoid.
 
Whammy said:
Contact them and explain your issue.
No shop wants BAR breathing down their neck.
Keep on them and get some satisfaction.
No shop should ignore you or take advantage of you either.
Heck, call them out on Barf it will give us all the knowledge of knowing they suck ass.
Who knows one of us might wander in their territory one day, and it would be nice to know who to avoid.
Click to expand...

OP is in Colorado.
 
Meter Man said:
I didn't inspect it too closely until I got on to ride it about a week and a half later. The bike is garage kept. Everything was not finished. Loose bolts and nuts. one of the spark plug wires was off. Tank venting lines were not connected. I trailered the bike there and back. I did not test ride it when picking it up.
Click to expand...

that's some basic shit. sounds like the owner has a mechanic that needs a new profession.
I'd probably pay the bill but talk the the shop owner in person and if they didn't feel like they needed to make it right I'd just never use that shop again.
If the mechanic did it to your bike he's done it to others and the owner will pay one way or the other.
 
I agree about trying to reach the owner. If owner isn't available, out of town, then the general manager. I would give them a chance to fix it, who knows what or why it happened.
 
I would pay ZERO unless and until they went through the bike completely and fixed every issue. Then I'd tell the owner that I would never recommend the shop to anyone. This kind of sloppy work is way too dangerous to ignore. If they seemed to actually take the complaint to heart and you see actual improvement then reconsider.
 
Did you call them after dark and piss them off or something?
 
Document all the things that you can. Call your credit card company and dispute the charge. Then, take your bike to someone you can trust to check EVERYTHING including the valve adjustment. (How do you know that was done right if all that other stuff was missed.)

Then, after you've paid this second shop, if you paid less at the second shop than the first, AND you're feeling generous, you might send the first shop the difference.
 
The silver lining is a guy buying the bike (I got it serviced in prep to sell). He knows the shop and knows how they returned it. I explained it to him. He was surprised as well. The shop is small, owner run. I think it is a 3 man operation.

Buyer doesn't care as he is going to go through the bike anyway after getting it.
 
I think I'd trailer the bike back over there and raise hell.
 
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