| Author | Message | ||
     Buellgrrrl |
After a mere 2 weeks St.Paul HD/Buell has disgorged my M2L,having replaced it's shorted stator. My thanks to their service department, this was the 2nd time they've worked on my Buell and they did a fine job. Now for the criticism- this should have been a 2 day instead of a 2 week repair. In fact, if the dealership was really on the ball lke some of the truck repair shops I've dealt with it would be a two hour repair. The delay was caused by St.Paul HD's failure to stock a common, fast moving replacement part, the stator. Now, I imagine some MBA wannabe at St.Paul HD or the Motor Company thinks they're being real clever keeping the Motorclothes inventory high and the spare parts inventory low. Such dim bulb management philosophy has assured that I won't be adding another Buell to my fleet. And while a V-Rod looks like a good bet to pull my sidecar when my aging BMW hack puller comes due for replacement, I need better parts availability to keep a bike going on the campaign trail. While my Buell sat at the Harley dealer waiting for parts my 23 year old BMW and sidecar did a half dozen parades- while the old airhead needed no repairs, parts were available the next business day if needed. So that MBA wannabe that made me wait 2 weeks for parts has cost the Motor Company at least 2 new bike sales... | ||
| Pwnzor |
Voting with our wallets is the only way they will learn, it seems. Too bad it will probably be too late when they figure it out. | ||
| Old_man |
My XB9S has been in the shop for 3 weeks, took them a week to even look at it. Still waiting for a coil they said they ordereed 2 weeks ago. You'd think they might have stocked a coil. | ||
| Iamike |
My shop in Waterloo has really surprised me at times when it came to parts on hand. They had the stator, regulator, seals, gaskets and brake pads when I needed them. Since many parts are shared with the Sportster you'd think that they would stock that stuff. My gripe has always been the length of time that it takes to do repairs. When it is transportation a week or two for basic work is too long. | ||
| Tramp |
unreal. the job shoulda been no more than 2 hours, at worst. as i've said, stick with bmw airheads. not only are stators a breeze to purchase and replace, but they're much better for all that parade riding. they don't scare the elephants and clowns so much. | ||
| Buellgirlie |
if i were a MBA wannabe, or maybe even a real MBA, i wouldnt advise anyone on keeping a stator for a 5 year old (soon to be 6 model years old) buell in stock....... maybe a current platform buell, maybe a couple model years back for harley, but not for a different platform 5-6 year old bike. (excuse me, if the part overlaps with anything i listed above, i dont have that technical knowledge) i'm glad the work was done and your bike is back. was it covered under warranty? were you well taken care of? is the bike performing well? THOSE, are the important things. luckily, you've had other forms of transportation to tide you through your waiting. not everyone is so fortunate. D | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Someone must hove hosed the parts order. You should have had the stator in a few days. It's the same as a sportster. | ||
| Buellgirlie |
if its indeed the same as sportster, then yes, the part took way too long. i stand corrected, D | ||
| Bomber |
Grrrl -- it IS the same part as a Sporty -- common enough, but I have no idea how often they are needed at a particular dealership -- I found six within 40 minutes of my garage -- could be their last one went out the door the day before you got to them? On the other hand perhaps they DID have the part in stock, and, realizing that, no matter waht they did, you'd not be happy, they decided to keep it for another customer -- sigh while MBAs DO make bad decisions (please name a job classification that doesn't?), the overall idea is to operate at a profit -- given the boutique nature of the facilities that dealerships have to maintain in order to gain/keep their franchises, keep expenses at a reasonable minumum makes sense -- the definition of reasonable is where folks can honorably disagree -- Daves in APpleton, for instance, keeps the "commonly" needed parts on hand for Buells, even tubers (gasp) -- I'll wager, though, that he's done the math and figured out how many he needs to maintain his business (which is likely larger than the georgraphic territory his dealershit occupies -- thank the 'net and the public switched telephone network for that, and his hard work, of course). Were not you the rider that was MBAing yourself into keeping your Buell for purely fiscal reasons? ah well, mebbe not in any event, congrat on the return of your bike -- enjoy the riding -- sure is nice out, yes? | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
The airhead indeed appeals to the livesstock... I was behind a donkey in one parade. The owner told me the donkey was calmed by tractors, and sure enough he was downright docile with the airheads 800 cc. boxer motor idling behind him. The airhead is so smooth it will tractor along at 500 rpm in low gear. I'm posting today from a coffee shop in western MN- hope to get in some riding in the Dakotahs... | ||
| Pwnzor |
They could get parts faster if they wanted to. When I ordered my race kit they wanted me to pay 100% up front but they couldn't tell me when it would come in. I asked them to transfer it in from another dealer. They said dealers don't do that. I said "sure they do. Call and ask." Parts guy acted all irritated that he was being asked to pick up a phone. I told him "either you do it, or I go home and do it myself and you lose the sale." Within 10 minutes he had located the whole kit at a San Diego dealer. That dealer was more than happy to accomodate a next-day shipment as long as I would pay the cost above a normal 5 day delivery. I of course handed over my credit card and WOW, the next day it arrived. Of course it didn't end there. The kit comes in, I had to call them and they told me "we havent sorted the UPS shipment yet" and acted like they forgot all about the little episode at the parts counter the previous day. I said "put the owner on the phone or whoever is top dog right now". 2 minutes go by and when he got on the phone with me it took about 5 seconds to find the largest box in their shipment. "Yes we have it, I see you paid extra shipping, you must be in a hurry." I said "I'm always in a hurry, when can you install it?" "2 weeks" "WTF!!!!! I'm coming to pick it up, have it on the counter when I get there,....*click*" BTW, that was California Harley in Lomita, CA providing the crappy service. I guess my point is that parts people shuold be trained just a little bit, not just to answer the phone but to pick it up and take the steps to please the guy in front of you that has spent his hard earned money on an overpriced product. Not to just capitulate on any issue that comes before them. The attitude is one of "it's not me or my bike so I don't care how long it takes" really permeates the service staff just about everywhere. It's sickening. If I was working at the parts counter, everyone would have their parts within 2 days max. I'm the guy that keeps UPS and FedEx on their toes, been doing it for years. If you know how to manipulate a delivery system (it's not difficult) you get what you want, when you want, 99% of the time. | ||
| Court |
>>>If I was working at the parts counter, everyone would have their parts within 2 days max. There is no constraint at Buell. Any part (with an occasional rare exception of certain painted bodywork-depending on order velocity) can ship w/in 24 hours. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Thats what I'm getting at Court. If the parts counter guy would go beyond just putting an order into the computer and actually pick up the phone... track the orders... all of them... I know its in somebody's job description to be on top of it. You can't run an effective retail outlet without somebody in charge of shipping and receiving. A good shipping manager can be the backbone of any good business. Some bean counter might be writing the checks, but when it comes to getting the goods in and out of the big roll -up door, its all about a truck. You gotta have someone who can make the trucks move for you. | ||
| Court |
>>>A good shipping manager can be the backbone of any good business. That could be gospel in the motorcycle business. The other thing is I'd insist having someone, in that slot, who understood the difference between effort and results. Speedy legs that never cross the finish line are worthless. When I was sequestered in my area at Buell I had two dandy folks assigned to me. One of the first things I did was read them a story, just like in kindergarten. I taught them that we'd always operate with the SOLUTION as the finish line. I didn't want them to break the rules, but I gave them blanket permission to. One rule was when I was gone, they were NEVER to delay a decision. If I was gone they were to ACT as they saw fit and best for Buell with the understanding that whatever they did, if I agreed or not, I would endorse 100% and I'd take the hit for anything we screwed up. If you ever want to hear one of the great stories of the Buell White Lightning, ask me about the time Joni got the dozen roses from a dealer. One of the all-time great "whatever it takes to succeed" tales of Buell. I'd never be afraid of working for Erik Buell and screwing up. I'd die before I'd tell him something like "it wasn't my job". Get my drift? | ||
| Court |
>>>>You should have had the stator in a few days. Actually they did. I, call me hopelessly curious, pulled up all the order data on this. The order was placed on the Friday the 23rd, the part shipped on Monday the 26th and arrived at the dealership on Tuesday the 27th. So I called and did some more checking. Bike was done, tested and ready to go and customer notified on the 30th. The bike was picked up on the 4th. In retrospect, as a guy preparing to buy a stator this afternoon, it'd been cool if they'd had the stator in stock, but there's nothing there that would have sent me packing off to another dealership. Facts screw up most good internet stories. | ||
| Djkaplan |
My bike was down for 9 weeks when the stator failed. I should have kicked the mechanics ass for being so lazy and slow. He only worked on the bike 1 hour a week! He could have fixed the damn thing in only one day. I was the mechanic, btw. | ||
| Buellgirlie |
Facts screw up most good internet stories.  1 week isnt that bad, for getting a 2001 buell in and out, and if they wouldve had the part, it wouldve been 2-3 days. that would be a completely acceptable level of service for a bike i owned. D | ||
| Pwnzor |
I agree, 1 week is acceptable to fix a discontinued bike. Now, if I roll into the service area and I see bikes backed up out the door and into the parking lot, I know better than to demand something quickly as far as service is concerned. Parts should never take long. I understand that X amount of people can only do Y amount of work in Z amount of time. Of course I've been in this situation where they said they would work on mine first because "there's only one other Buell in service and we have one Buell tech so he's the only one that will work on it, and it'll get done right away" Then they stall you out for 2 weeks and you drop in on them and some other schmuck is working on it, the Buell guy being nowhere around. And this guy accidentally cuts clean thru the wiring harness behind the tensioner wheel and kills my speedo. Thats a story for another day. (Message edited by pwnzor on July 06, 2006) | ||
| Hattori_hanzo |
Ya but...if it only took a week, she'd have nothing to bitch about... | ||
| Nguzzi |
Thanks Court!!!!! | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
Well Court, if that was my Buell's service log you pulled up, it actually went like this: 6/19- Bike dropped off at dealer, told their was two day backlog to get into service department. 6/26- Checked back, told bike was waiting for stator. 6/28- Checked back, told stator was in and about to be installed. 7/1- Hadn't heard from dealer, called and found bike was finished. 7/3- Picked up bike from dealer. All accounts of this incident agree that the bike was delivered to the dealership on 6/19 and according to the dealership's own documents was not released until 6/30. The dealership spent at least 9 working days fixing the bike. The part needed is installed in around 100,000 new HD products a year and is in such demand that it should be in stock at every HD dealership. So St.Paul HD is certainly at fault for not stocking the part and the Motor Company is at fault for allowing a dealer to maintain such an inadquate parts inventory. St. Paul HD's statements and Court's alleged pull up of the service log do not agree and clearly one of the above is lying. I'll deal with the issue of why a non Motor Company employee may have access to the Motor Company's or it's dealer's service database and who knows what all other confidential customer information later. | ||
| Anonymous |
buellgrrrl..... Maybe you should quit while you're "ahead" - the hole you dig just keeps getting deeper. or, maybe I'm just begging you to stop because this is getting painful to read. Most rational people have figured out that you're here just to b!tch and vent (and show off your BMW knowledge, and talk about how great those are) "we" are SORRY that you aren't happy with your Buell. "we" are sorry that you won't just put it out its misery and let it find an owner that cherishes it rather than complains about it. "we" are sorry that you believe one of the better Buell dealers out there isn't up to your standards. it seems "we" just can't make you happy - so why can't we just have a divorce? The Motor Company is NOT going to buy your bike back. Posting on the internet wouldn't make that happen anyway - especially with the lack of credibility you have in this forum and at your local dealership. Just sell the silly thing because it adds so much misery to your life - costs/useful life/whatever else you are calculated be damned - you have other bikes, other cars, other houses. why bother with this? good day. | ||
| Tramp |
actually, i checked the service log, as well.... and the delay wasn't on the stator..... it was actually on the barend parade tassels.... | ||
| Blake |
 Damn you TRAMP, I just spit some pretty good Red Zinfandel out my nose all over my keyboard! Buellgrrrl, Anony has a valid point. Buck up and enjoy life would ya? Sheesh. You also have a point and one that is a pet peeve of my own too. I cannot understand why motorcycle dealerships don't notify their customers when the job is complete. That is simply unacceptable. It certainly isn't limited to Buell or even motorcycle dealerships; that I can verify first hand o more than one occasion. On another case, a friend took his '83 Gold Wing in for repair and the Honda dealership's service manager informed him that they could not work on his bike as it was obsolete and no longer on their list of supported Honda motorcycles. How's that for great service? I'm no lawyer, so I could be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure that there is no right to privacy concerning motorcycle service/repair logs. Seems you were told that your bike would wait in line for a couple days, then be diagnosed, parts ordered, and repaired. Seems to me it took them no more than a work week to get that part done. They did drop the ball on contacting you about it, though they did inform you that the repair was underway, so maybe it ain't all so bad, is it? I sure wouldn't think so if it were me in your shoes. (Message edited by Blake on July 07, 2006) | ||
| Tramp |
....just kidding, buellgrrrl. why not put the buell in the classifieds here on badweb? give it a try. use the money for a new used bmw airhead. I, too, really like bmw airheads...they're terrific motorcycles. let me know of any particular models you're interested in, and i can definitely track some fine examples down for you. my buell's treated me really well, but it is, in fact, a niche motorcycle. i can understand being frustrated by the weird need-to-shower after dealing with a HD dealership. i'm fortunate in that i don't step foot in those places. I once doubted court's word, myself, and i found my foot in my mouth. He's the real deal when it comes to helping countelss fellow riders find service satisfaction. He has that access to the service ROs...I found that out for certain. maybe he was looking into your case in hopes of helping you. oddly, your response to his post doesn't, when you read both closely, contradict what he found. don't imply that he's dishonest- he's not. thanks | ||
| Tramp |
Blake- it wasn't Ravenswood, was it? I'll bring you a bottle at Laguna. I'll be the tall nubian woman on rollerblades with the "Frankie say RELAX" muscle-T and chartreuse leg-warmers. can't miss me. | ||
| Buellgirlie |
Bike was done, tested and ready to go and customer notified on the 30th somehow, she didnt get the msg i guess. or maybe she doesnt have answering machine? regardless, my assumption is that if she wouldve called in to check on the 30th, she coulda picked the pick up that day. tramp - you must send a pic of you in chartreuse leg warmers - the visions in my head are frightening me........ D | ||
| Tramp |
willdo, Buellgirlie. they are NOT for the faint-of-heart, however. | ||
| Buellgirlie |
dearie, "faint of heart" is typically not used to describe me.  D | ||
| Tramp |
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