What would you think if...

[Jeffury]

I have a question for you? give me your honest answer, just humor me please. Thanks for your time in advance. ok here goes. What if you had a problem with your bike you had fought with on and off and with and couldnt resolve, you get so frustrated you give in and take the bike to a shop. Now the day you take the bike into the shop (running on one cylinder) you explain the problem to the man at the desk as best you can. You tell him as I did, that the bike runs fine but keeps loosing one cylinder after a bit of time at freeway speeds (65), you suspect an ignition/electrical problem, you tell him that when you wiggle the spark plug wire you get the one side to fire..you make sure you tell him about your theorys on this...
(as I did , and later found that this was part of your problem) you leave, and go on a trip for 10 days...

When you get back, your are told that your carbs have been synced, and that the bike idles well (It did before!!) you ask about if the bike was road tested, your told "no"....You stop at the shop and try it before you even take the bike home...and it still misses on one cylinder...(barely ridable)
You ask...did you check the coil/electrical system?..the mechanic knows NOTHING about what your talking about...in fact he asks you "why do you think we should be checking that..?? and tells you it isnt mentioned on the work order ANYWHERE...(the guy at the desk didnt write it down...) After seeing my dissapointment and hearing my complaint he finaly road tests it..it misses for him too..only then does he snip the high plug wire back an inch or so, and then tells you it seems better...you take it out again..and its NOT. now remember this shop had the bike ten days, yet the mechanic tells you he hasnt test ridden the bike at all...in 10 DAYS!! after seeing your dissassitisfied, they keep the bike for a few days longer and then they actually look it over, and tell you your intake pipes are cracked (they were, later I fixed them..) so far this is the only thing this shop has gotten right..you ask about replacing them, the mechanic tells you they are 40$ each...later that evening you call another shop that you trust more and your quoated 20$ each...Yes the shop guy is charging you double!! You tell the shop you have decided to work on the bike yourself...You remove your bike from the shop....now I ask you would YOU be satisfied by a shop like this??? would you be mad??

[JeffD]

Reason #1 to never go to a shop.  

I hate most shops.  All my experiences with shops has been horrible so I shall never go to one unless its under warranty.  And yes I'd be pissed, and I'd take my bike back and if they try to charge you for setting the idle and synching the carbs and you didn't ask for it, It would be time to go to the better buisness bureau.  

Im sorry to say but any trade where people charge for their own work time you get screwed. Another thing is trades/stores will always try and maximize their profit margins  :x , thats why everyone should shop around for everything!

My father in-law is a well known electrical engineer (well known in the electrical field) and he charges $140 an hour, even if he is on the golf course... get my drift?  :lol:

Stay Safe

[Jeffury]

Ahh yes " The better buisness bureau." I did goto them and filed a complaint...and I got a responce as a report via the bbb from the shop owner today...it was interisting the shop owner seems to be mad at me. (*sniff* im hurt...lol).  want a laugh??  here is what the owner of the shop put as a responce to the bbb inquirey "Im supprised to recieve a letter on behalf of MR Smeltzer. We were unaware of any disatisfaction. We make every effort to satisfy every customer. However, we are aware that it is impossable to satisfy all in an effort to learn somthing from this matter, I would like to invite Mr Smeltzer to my shop and properly educate my staff, since thats what he wanted from the settelment. Note: I would be interested in knowing how many complaints Mr smeltzer has filled in the past)

In case you folks on the board are curious, I have never filed any complaints..I have been to shops before..none has sucked this badly..EVER, I dont realy have any "official" mechanic training, but I know how to listen and write things down (Duhhhh)..An as far as him being un- aware of any dissatisfaction            Riiiigghhhtt....
Ohh yes It will be a cold day in hell before my bike EVER goes back to that shop!!!! :x  :x  :x   I have since learned to sync carbs, fabricated my own intake pipes and installed them. I now know how to re-build carbs.
the bike runs perfect now  :mrgreen:
I just wanted to warn all of you dont trust these creeps...and I think we should stop taking it...anyone who has had a shop screw you, we need to get together and tell them.."were not gonna take it anymore"!! If you run into a bad shop, tell your friends and everyone you know and dont goto them...then perhaps they will change there attitudes..or go out of buisness for all I care.. :guns:   heh well thanks for listening to my rant *gets off soap box* take care all.

[akky]

Why don't you post the name and add. of the shop, so others in your area are aware.

[Jeffury]

Moto-Tech 3672 York Rd (New Oxford) Pa

[scratch]

Yes, in order for the shop to learn it's 'lesson', you must hurt it's business. Most shops earn a reputation by word of mouth, if you know what I mean. The shop owner obviously is a sly devil, able to fabricate an innocent facade while all the time knowing the selfish, evil deed he has done. If there is a local motorcycle website, post there. Go to the local newspaper, I'm sure they'd love a juicy story like that. If the shop is worth that much effort. At least send the paper a letter describing the incident. At least talk about your experience so that other's who may sympathize will also speak up. But do, please, post the name and address of the shop here so that all may be warned to stay away from this shop. They are already begining to build a bad reputation for themselves.

[bbanjo]

Thanks Jeffury. It's important to publish the name of the shop via the board so that if folks in that area get stuck they'll know to avoid them.

In the same turn, publishing a list of reliable shops will help get GSTwin members in need to a safe place. That's a great service to members too.

I have one shop, Philadelphia Cycle Center at 2450 Castor Ave, that is regularly regarded as a first-rate shop. Sometimes you need the folks who really know their stuff to help.

I found a guy there with a tolerance for bullshit as low as mine. His name is Vince.

[Jeffury]

Ohh I do need to put this to be fair while I was out of town my stepfather did authorize them to sync my carbs, I dont fault him for this, hes not into bikes and I know he was just trying to get it fixed for me ...my problem is that they missed the problem, and didn't listen to a word I said...and then tried to cover it up with bs.. If you want a good shop in this area try M&S Cycle in Chambersburg, They havent over charged me for parts ever as far as I know.

[Michael]

If you are going to go public, be VERY careful what you say and how you say it.  (Libel, slander and all that.)  Try to stick to a factual account of what was done and said.  Try really hard not to get emotional as this will diffuse the force of your argument- ie "See, this guy is just a tosser who has over reacted to an innocent misunderstanding" or words to that effect.  As the shop has formally invited you to see them, even if it was meant as a way to discredit you before the BBB, reply.  Do not go to the shop, but do write to the manager/owner explaining as clearly and as calmly as you can what your concerns are and why you will not be going back there.  Politely decline his invitation to attend in person.  Explain clearly that your concerns have been made clear both to his staff initially and to the BBB in your complaint, and now to him in your letter.  Tell him it is not your place to tell him how to educate his staff.  Do not say you will be telling all your friends, even if you are going to tell everyone and their dog.  If you say that to the shop they will use that as ammunition against you.  Make it clear to him that a copy of your letter to him will be forwarded to the BBB to be included in their file of your complaint.  You should not take this sort of thing lying down, but neither should you provide him with the wherewithal to dismiss you as a wanker.

[Jeffury]

Right im not doing anything else...its not worth the trouble. Actually never expected anything in the first place.