Teehaml
.....
Yikes... that sucks.
It looks like the "dropped socket" still had the torque wrench attached to it.
It looks like the "dropped socket" still had the torque wrench attached to it.
600 Mile Initial Service Screw Up
- Thread starter Burnspot
- Start date
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BigOgre
Well-known member
Glad it'll work out for you. Maybe what's even more gratifying is that you can keep that dealership on the list of places you still trust.
(Matter of fact, I'll be passing through that area in a couple of weeks too. Hmm. . . .)
Maybe on that one sale but with two apologies, including from the mechanic directly, coming through to make things right with the customer and then word-of-mouth like here, they might have boosted their profits a bit without even knowing it. I've been tempted all year for a new one and would give this dealership a shot after reading this.
(Matter of fact, I'll be passing through that area in a couple of weeks too. Hmm. . . .)
HotRodZilla
GOD BLESS AMERICA
I know a lot of places that would have tried to pull a schenanigan and get out of that. Them stepping right up and not trying to half-*** the fix speaks volumes. They're making it right. Can't gripe about that!
Good for them. Sorry you have the hassle, but glad they're not trying to hose you.
Good for them. Sorry you have the hassle, but glad they're not trying to hose you.
Big Ogre, you make a valid point: "Goodwill" is real and valuable and you have to make it yourself, work at it.
Here's a tale for you:
I had a leaking fork seal (on my first FJR many years ago) so took it to the local Yamaha dealer. When I got it back, we quickly loaded our gear and took off for a few days. Only near our return home did I actually look at the fork caps and associated hardware... Those beautifully machined spring pre-load adjusters were chewed all to hell! WTF! It was clear some gorilla had taken ...what?... a pipe wrench to it?! I went directly to the dealer but was working hard to keep my temper and disgust in check. I asked the dealer to step outside so I could show him something on my bike. I know now he knew then what was coming. He started offering excuses about how tight they were, how difficult to remove, blah, blah, blah...which is not what I wanted to hear, and so I left directly without much comment before my top really blew.
Well, the dealer called me that night and said I should come in and we'd talk about it, give them another run at a proper repair, etc. I said no, I would take the bike to another Yamaha dealer (this time Five-Star, 180 miles away), have them disassemble and inspect everything (what else internally might they have screwed up?), replace the damaged parts, then we would talk.
When the other shop had done the repairs (nothing else wrong) I sat down across from the first dealer at his desk, placed the ruined bits on his desk between us just for emphasis and reminder, then showed him the invoice. I asked him what he was going to do to make the situation right. He offered store/service credit in the amount of the invoice, which I accepted. Eventually, I used up that credit, but I never again took him one of my bikes.
To me, his most grievous error was to let me take that bike out of his shop without telling me what had happened, letting me discover it on my own a few days later. THAT's what pissed me off! He should have admitted fault and offered a re-do with new parts as soon as I arrived for the bike...or even called me in advance to let me know difficulty had been encountered and parts damaged.
The OP's dealer handled it right. And, yes, the good word-of-mouth could ultimately make him new customers, more money. My dealer handled it absolutely wrong. That dealer is out of business.
Here's a tale for you:
I had a leaking fork seal (on my first FJR many years ago) so took it to the local Yamaha dealer. When I got it back, we quickly loaded our gear and took off for a few days. Only near our return home did I actually look at the fork caps and associated hardware... Those beautifully machined spring pre-load adjusters were chewed all to hell! WTF! It was clear some gorilla had taken ...what?... a pipe wrench to it?! I went directly to the dealer but was working hard to keep my temper and disgust in check. I asked the dealer to step outside so I could show him something on my bike. I know now he knew then what was coming. He started offering excuses about how tight they were, how difficult to remove, blah, blah, blah...which is not what I wanted to hear, and so I left directly without much comment before my top really blew.
Well, the dealer called me that night and said I should come in and we'd talk about it, give them another run at a proper repair, etc. I said no, I would take the bike to another Yamaha dealer (this time Five-Star, 180 miles away), have them disassemble and inspect everything (what else internally might they have screwed up?), replace the damaged parts, then we would talk.
When the other shop had done the repairs (nothing else wrong) I sat down across from the first dealer at his desk, placed the ruined bits on his desk between us just for emphasis and reminder, then showed him the invoice. I asked him what he was going to do to make the situation right. He offered store/service credit in the amount of the invoice, which I accepted. Eventually, I used up that credit, but I never again took him one of my bikes.
To me, his most grievous error was to let me take that bike out of his shop without telling me what had happened, letting me discover it on my own a few days later. THAT's what pissed me off! He should have admitted fault and offered a re-do with new parts as soon as I arrived for the bike...or even called me in advance to let me know difficulty had been encountered and parts damaged.
The OP's dealer handled it right. And, yes, the good word-of-mouth could ultimately make him new customers, more money. My dealer handled it absolutely wrong. That dealer is out of business.
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Powerman
Well-known member
You could have FYB drop the tank!
Burnspot
Who Me?
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Happytrails63
Well-known member
Lots of car dealers have done shady things to my vehicles in the past. So have garages. I've learned thats its important to check your vehicle and look over it carefully. Sometimes something is damage and they wont mention it. Other times they claim to have done work they never did. Its why I very reluctantly have started to do all the work on my cars/trucks and bikes. I save a lot of money but I lose a lot of time.
Glad your dealer is stepping up and taking ownership of the mess up. Mistakes happen but I agree why would they not have something covering the tank. I bet they will in the future. Whats a tank cost? $1500? Pricey accident.
bigjohnsd
2021 BMW R1250GSA
You should be thankful you have a dealer that cultivates the concept of personal responsibility in his employees and in his dealings with his customers.
Yes, it is a pain in the *** to deal with the dented tank, but, I'd give that guy my business any day of the week.
Yes, it is a pain in the *** to deal with the dented tank, but, I'd give that guy my business any day of the week.
Bill Lumberg
Merica
I'd take the new tank and put it on a shelf, and keep running the old one. My "helper" during my helibar install dropped a socket on the well padded tank. Zero damage, but it hit hard. A few weeks later, a tiny paint chip showed up in that precise spot. You have to look for it, but it's obvious to me. I'm over it. More chips showing up on the 14 than showed up in years on my last bike. Going to look interesting by 100K. Congrats on your legit shop. And plus one on the wrench teehaml.
s.ga.rider
Well-known member
Thats crazy the socket caused so much damage.
Dudewado
Well-known member
As others have said, at least they owned up and are making it right.
It could be worse, You could have done it yourself, with a crescent wrench, to your new '03 with 800 miles on it!
It could be worse, You could have done it yourself, with a crescent wrench, to your new '03 with 800 miles on it!
HotRodZilla
GOD BLESS AMERICA
GenIIIs are SOFT. Like their owners.
:****:
:****:
wheatonFJR
...
^^^^^^
Obviously a future Gen 3 owner.
Obviously a future Gen 3 owner.
Intech
Mr. Camping Meet
Burnspot
Who Me?
FYHRZ
FYB
Last edited by a moderator:
Burnspot
Who Me?
UPDATE: Late last Friday evening, well after the dealer's closing time, I received a call from the dealer's service manager...my new tank had arrived. The service manager said he inspected it, found it to be in perfect shape, and that I could come in that Saturday, at any time, and they'd install it (they stay open until 5 on Saturdays).
Unlike Bob's Tech Day, lol, I arrived at the dealer at about 10am with my bike flashing reserve fuel, and not long after, the same mechanic who had damaged the original tank, set about moving hardware off the old tank and onto the new tank. I learned that they had ordered some tank protectors...go figure, lol. By lunchtime, I was rolling out of the dealership with a brand new tank.
Capitol Powersports, Wake Forest, NC...I can't compliment these guys enough; they took real good care of me. Sure, they messed up, but they went out of their way to make it right and that's an increasingly rare thing these days...
Unlike Bob's Tech Day, lol, I arrived at the dealer at about 10am with my bike flashing reserve fuel, and not long after, the same mechanic who had damaged the original tank, set about moving hardware off the old tank and onto the new tank. I learned that they had ordered some tank protectors...go figure, lol. By lunchtime, I was rolling out of the dealership with a brand new tank.
Capitol Powersports, Wake Forest, NC...I can't compliment these guys enough; they took real good care of me. Sure, they messed up, but they went out of their way to make it right and that's an increasingly rare thing these days...
gixxerjasen
Well-known member
Sooner or later everybody messes up. It's how you handle yourself after you mess up that matters.
Glad to see your shiny new machine is all perfect again.
Glad to see your shiny new machine is all perfect again.
HotRodZilla
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Now you're going to have to get a salvaged title. You replaced a major component of the bike.
Haha...I'm just talking ****...That new tank looks purty!!
Haha...I'm just talking ****...That new tank looks purty!!
Intech
Mr. Camping Meet
