| Author | Message | ||
     Mr_grumpy |
My M2 decided that one of it's lifters was not going to pump up any more & clattered merrily so I took it to bits at the weekend, I still had the original lifters that were fine, I just replaced them anyway when I rebuilt the top end a few years ago, so I popped them back in. The oil light switch has been playing up too, so today I dropped into the brand new premises of the Geneva Switzerland HD dealer. Within minutes I was feeling like Yosemite Sam ooooooooh I hate those dealers. All I wanted was a pair of header gaskets, an oil switch, & a long non-chrome sportster oil filter. Mouth breather parts gorilla. "What's it for?" Me "Pre '99 Sportster ones will be fine." MBPG "Which model?" Me (fatally) " It's actually for a Buell M2, but they're the same parts." MBPG "Oh we don't do Buell parts any more, but I've got a catalogue & we can order them." Me "No need, they're exactly the same as the Sportster parts, do you have the sportster parts?" MBPG "But I've told you, we don't carry parts for Buell any more." Me "Yes you do but you just don't know it, can you please just get me the Sportster parts?" MBPG "I'll check" . . Minutes pass. . . MBPG "I've checked, we don't have any Buell parts." I'm now getting the Clint Eastwood twitch when somebody's just spilled his beer. Me "Look forget that it's for a Buell just get me 2 exhaust gaskets an oil switch & a long black filter for a 1200 sporty will you, please?" . . More minutes pass. . . MBPG "Here's the Sportster exhaust gaskets, but I don't know how you're going to use them on a Buell." Me "They're THE SAME!" MBPG "The only oil switches we have are for a Dyna." Me "Show me"..."Give me the short one." MBPG "I did find the correct filter for your bike" & with a smile he presented me with a SHORT black filter. I felt like I was kicking a puppy when I told him that wasn't what I wanted. So I left with 2 gaskets & an oil switch, 50 Swiss francs if you please, that's about 45 dollars, but I need them this week, & I didn't even get a f*****g bag!!! I knew it was going to be bad before I even went in so I can't say I was really surprised, just wound to the max. Thank you for allowing me to vent my spleen, I feel better for it. | ||
| Teeps |
Look on the bright side. When you make it to Canada, shipping from American Sport Bike will be cheaper... | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Too true. but the Buell will be staying here for vacations & such, It's not worth the shipping costs & pain of registration. I'll be buying another bike when I get there but it'll likely be a Guzzi. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
When Wandell became President, I sold my Harley and my Buell. Felt much better. Riding a Triumph Street Triple R now. Don't miss the motor company products at all, and the dealers are the biggest reason. | ||
| Loki |
I long ago quit using the word "Buell" at the local dealership. Now its just I want such and such from the 97-02 sporty or such and such from the 04-05 sporty. Oil filter always just asked for the long "Dyna" filter in black. and if he hands me a chrome one... I just stare at him. When he asks whats up, simply state "did I ask for a chrome oil filter?" | ||
| Sifo |
Look on the bright side. When you make it to Canada, shipping from American Sport Bike will be cheaper... +1 I'll go way out of my way to avoid casting a shadow on my local dealers doorway. They've earned it! | ||
| Nillaice |
I'll just tell them the part # and order it over the phone under a phony name. but when I show up in person to pay, they know the jig is up. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I've done similar. (I walk in with a big Buell logo on the jacket, and armor on my armor, so it's obvious right out of the gate I don't belong)... Me: "I need an exhaust gasket for a 1200 sportster. As far as you know." Counter Guy: "What year" Me: "Lets say 2000, that will do" Counter Guy: (shrugging) "Sure,whatever, here you go". Apparently, my counter guy had a better sense of humor than yours did. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
yeah i learned quick to just say "sportster" when i got to the dealer | ||
| Kenm123t |
Hell they hate Sporties too | ||
| Kilroy |
lol Ken | ||
| Pwnzor |
Nice to see the mothership lives up to it's reputation no matter where you go. | ||
| Forerunner |
Same thing happened each time I went to Mancuso Central for a) carb jets b) intake filter c) exhaust gaskets... YMMV, Nels | ||
| Oldog |
you poor guys, I don't have to deal with that here in NC Try Carolina coast in Wilmington NC, you can call in to place an order, you want Keith or TJ 910 791 9997. open tue - sat the have stuff, and usually fill OOS orders in about 2 weeks. | ||
| Britchri10 |
My local dealer (Adamec's) couldn't be more helpful. They will even look up Buell parts on their computer system to make sure I get the right ones. I can order over the phone without part #'s and they usually get the right part first time. I guess I'm one of us "lucky one's" Chris C | ||
| Teeps |
The parts department at California (Buell) Harley has always been friendly and helpful with my Buell parts requests. "Special Order" Buell parts usually are received within 2 weeks. Which makes it easier to just order parts from American Sport Bike. As, it takes about the same time, and saves me 2 trips to the dealer. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I rarely use dealers although there are some decent ones out there that I've dealt with, St Paul where I scored my Showa forks recently, couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. however when you need a couple of small parts that you know are likely to be in stock & the local dealer is next door to a regular client it's sometimes expedient to use them. At least he didn't try to sell me black & orange underpants or chromed doodad. | ||
| Britchri10 |
You can get your doodad's chromed in Europe? | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Nah, you have to send them to China same as HD do. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Also keep in mind that even a good dealer can have a bad parts guy. You can go to the same dealer two different times and end up with potentially two different experiences. Same can be said of sales people. There are many times that a person is put on the floor based upon an interview or the word of someone else and it isn't until they fail that you know it was a mistake. | ||
| Sifo |
And yet, some dealers consistently deliver the same level of poor customer service. In my experience, if you have a decent dealer, be glad for that. Many just aren't. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Agreed completely! I had the misfortune of experiencing 2 REALLY bad dealers (one of which I purchased by Buell from) and the fortune to work with a really, REALLY good one. | ||
| Kenm123t |
WE have Al and Family at American Sport Bike And WE DID have DAVES but he ran off and became the BIG DOG at Double Lung Archery I leave him alone since I don't need a another addiction | ||
| Strokizator |
My dealer has a couple of parts people and I occasionally get stuck with the fat-a$$ed broad (sorry for my french but that's the nicest thing I can say about her). She always give me that "you're too clean cut so you're not Harley people" look and therefore I must be a dumb-a$$. Whenever I ask for a part she always asks me "what's it for?" even when I give her the part number. Anyway, I needed some Kreem for the fuel tank of my tractor. I've seen it on the shelves before but not this time so I go to the parts counter hoping somebody but her will help me. No such luck. I ask her where's the Kreem. She says "What's that? We don't carry it. What model is it for anyway?" I tell her "It's fuel tank treatment and yeah you do carry it and what does it matter what it's for?" I'm sure if I told her it was for my tractor she would have told me they're a motorcycle dealership and don't carry tractor parts, stupid. Luckily by this time, another guy freed up and asked "What do you need, brother?" I said I was looking for the Kreem but didn't see any on the shelves. He tells me they just ran out but will get some more in a few days. I shoot fat-ass a disgusted look (who's the dumb-a$$ now, honey?). | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I get that dealers want to hire people that are passionate about their brand but they really need to wean them off the default position of NOT. I've had some fine experiences in dealers over the years, most of those dealers however are either now closed or the helpful knowledgeable personnel have moved on. I wonder why that is. Well we can wait & see what Indian/Victory/Polaris come up with. A café racer based on that 111" lump would be nice, then I could go & be the poor relation at two different dealers.  | ||
| Dpb |
The parts guys at Waukon Harley Davidson are ALWAYS helpful. May not have the parts on the shelf, but will have them there shortly! And the shop guys know their way around a Buell also. Couldn't be happier. | ||
| Steveford |
I've found the H-D dealers to be very good to me when it comes to Buell stuff. Maybe I'm doing something wrong or going to the wrong places! | ||
| Two_seasons |
Steve, the reason they are nicer to you is you're an old fart  | ||
| Steveford |
That could be. I also spent many years working at HarLee/Buell dealerships so I know that the people there are just doing their best and don't know everything. It was always a small portion of their business even in their heyday and now it's just an obsolete product to them. In 20 years it'll be like Aermacchi - oh yeah, I remember them... | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
One phrase I heard often was "find a way to give a yes". Kinda sums up the difference between the good dealers and the bad ones. That was a top down attitude. The good ones usually are. |
