Date: 29-03-24  Time: 12:24 pm

Author Topic: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?  (Read 4311 times)

imax

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How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« on: 06 July 2012, 01:27:39 am »
I'm a great believer in supporting local businesses and don't usually mind if it's a little more expensive than buying online for the  personal touch and ease of nipping down the road instead of the hassle of emails, phone calls, missing delivery slots and return postage if something goes wrong. However, I'm looking at getting some hard luggage (Givi) and the price difference is  ridiculous. For the cost of the 46 litre box from the dealer, I can get a 55 litre + backrest online!!

So, should there come a point when the additional cost of a local shop becomes too great to keep your business or should we support local businesses at all costs?

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #1 on: 06 July 2012, 06:45:30 am »
tough one that....i too like the personal touch but also the ease of buying online (when it works ok )i try to do a bit of both.service items through the post but something like a helmet would be bought local  ;)
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pete786.u

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #2 on: 06 July 2012, 08:20:41 am »
My local Yamaha dealer was absolute rubbish. They never had anything in stock (not even an oil filter) Would wait a week or more for the smallest part. Ended up using a dealer about 40 miles away, a quick phone call to see if what I wanted was in stock if they had it they would reserve it for me, if not they would phone me when they had one (usually within a day or so).

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #3 on: 06 July 2012, 09:28:20 am »
I'm a great believer in supporting local business as long as that business provides excellent service, even if it costs more.
 
Sadly, there are very few businesses offering excellent customer service these days and Main Dealerships are amongst the worst in my experience. Bear in mind, I've bought a good few bikes over the years and have used lots of dealerships. One that sticks most vividly in my memory is Motorcycle Centre Orrel who should be renamed Motorcycle Centre Orrible!  Their customer service was so very bad that I had to create a webpage about them, just to get them to react!!
 
Another dealer who got £11,000 from me, fitted a cheapo alarm to my bike when I'd ordered and been invoiced for a £350 Meta 357T alarm. Other dealers too, have tried to stiff me by varying amounts and methods. They were all nice as pie at the pre-sale stage and complete charlatans post-sale.
 
Needless to say, not all dealers are rogues, but I've yet to meet one which is truly worthy of praise. And it's no use praising a business just for doing the basics - they deserve praise when they demonstrate praiseworthy service and support.
 
NOW READ THIS....
Last November, I came off my Fireblade in Alston, Scotland. The crankcase cover was smashed and oil gushed out onto the road. I was totally stuffed - middle of nowhere and 300 miles from home. Closest dealer was in Inverness and they didn't provide a recovery seervice in my area. Some kind passer-by gave me a number to ring - it was an independent motorbike shop 40 miles away. They told me not to worry about anything, drove over to me in a van, collected me and my bike and then two mechanics tried to get my Blade back on the road. They even drove 12 miles away to get the alternator cover welded by a specialist to attempt a repair.
 
6 hours and many phone calls later , they had to admit defeat, so I rang a mate to send a van up to me the next day. The mechanics then rang around to find me a B&B for the night and lent me some money to pay for it (I only had plastic on me). Next day, they picked me up and took me back to the garage. I was totally dreading their bill. They asked for £70!!!
 
Now THAT's what I call customer service worthy of praise!  All these main dealers who walk around with sulking faces and couldn't-give-a-shit attitudes can kiss my hairy ass. If you're not eager to get my business (and keep it), I'n not eager to give it to you.
 
Tom  :rolleyes
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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #4 on: 06 July 2012, 01:26:36 pm »
Now THAT's what I call customer service worthy of praise!

Damn, that's good! :thumbup

In these days of stuff being available cheaply over the internet, a bricks and mortar business *needs* to put in the extra effort to make it worth your while going to them instead. Anyone who doesn't is heading for failure.

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #5 on: 06 July 2012, 02:33:29 pm »
I'm a great believer in supporting local businesses and don't usually mind if it's a little more expensive than buying online for the  personal touch and ease of nipping down the road instead of the hassle of emails, phone calls, missing delivery slots and return postage if something goes wrong. However, I'm looking at getting some hard luggage (Givi) and the price difference is  ridiculous. For the cost of the 46 litre box from the dealer, I can get a 55 litre + backrest online!!

So, should there come a point when the additional cost of a local shop becomes too great to keep your business or should we support local businesses at all costs?

I nearly always use a local shop. The only time recently is buying replacement visors/pinlocks where I go online.

Last year I got a Yamaha topbox and rack for £200 from my local Yamaha dealer, they knocked of £30 without me asking as I'm a regular customer.  The topbox is made by Givi as far as I  understand. What bike is it for?

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #6 on: 06 July 2012, 02:48:51 pm »
I usually use my local shop; he's 2 streets away, pricing is good, will occasionally knock a bit off for regular customers and you can actually speak to the lads in the workshop.

In fact, last I heard they were so busy they had to turn work away, so they must be doing something right.

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #7 on: 06 July 2012, 02:56:21 pm »
200 quid. Thats the limit. If he slings an ounce for less than 200 notes, he'll get my custom. Although, with the influx of this mass produced triad shit that's like smoking pot pourri, 200 is beginning to become a bargain. pfft
Smell ones mother. Yaas!

MadDogMcQ

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #8 on: 06 July 2012, 03:04:52 pm »
200 quid. Thats the limit. If he slings an ounce for less than 200 notes, he'll get my custom. Although, with the influx of this mass produced triad shit that's like smoking pot pourri, 200 is beginning to become a bargain. pfft

???  :rolleyes  ???
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MadDogMcQ

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #9 on: 06 July 2012, 03:06:44 pm »
Here's the comany that earned my praise way up there in Bonnie Scotland...
QUENTIN TARANTINO - HALLOWED BE THY NAME!

dickturpin

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #10 on: 06 July 2012, 04:19:14 pm »
Interestingly these guys came to my rescue two years ago when I was up near Tongue on the north coast. I broke a brake lever and local advice was that I needed to get to Aberdeen for the part! I rode towards Inverness where I had camped the previous night and found the same guys on the way into the town. They saved the day for me by robbing a lever off a Bandit and fit that for me.....and charged me a tenner!!!
Great guys still giving great service obviously.....hope they read these comments.


D

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #11 on: 06 July 2012, 05:40:23 pm »
Here's the comany that earned my praise way up there in Bonnie Scotland...

I hope that's not your bike on top of the pole! :pokefun

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #12 on: 07 July 2012, 06:32:12 pm »
I don't use my local dealer for anything. It I do use the one in the next town as the service there is great. Occasionally order parts online but normally go to them instead.
Another ex-Fazer rider that is a foccer again

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #13 on: 07 July 2012, 06:39:51 pm »
I can negotiate with my dealer last, year I wanted new tyres I phoned around and got a good price for ride in ride out, went to my dealer asked for his best price after he quoted me the price I said I can get a deal £60 cheaper than that he then knocked £50 off and said hows that I said that will do nicely

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How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #14 on: 07 July 2012, 08:12:48 pm »
I asked my dealer for a price on a part £245 supply only and that's with some discount to me, I went on eblag brought the same item new from a eblag shop for £175 !! It's not rocket science who got my money, £5-£10 I may have supported my dealer for that friendly personnel touch .

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #15 on: 08 July 2012, 12:28:47 pm »
Good local bike garage nr me better value the dealers, best dealer nr me is Youles in Manchester
i don`t have anything profound or funny to write so .............................

sadlonelygit

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #16 on: 08 July 2012, 10:05:01 pm »
no more than £12 an eighth............or have i got the wrong end of the stick!
The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money!

ChrisJH

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #17 on: 08 July 2012, 11:30:40 pm »
Dealers round our way drive DB7 & AMG Mercs rather than bikes still £12 an eighth is good value
i don`t have anything profound or funny to write so .............................

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #18 on: 09 July 2012, 12:03:21 am »
like I say, thanks to the chinese and some evil drought marketing, 200 an oz is starting to look like good business these days

Pfft
Smell ones mother. Yaas!

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #19 on: 09 July 2012, 09:34:36 am »
Haven't drugs gone metric yet?

imax

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #20 on: 09 July 2012, 10:34:11 am »
Getting back on topic  :)

Here's the prices for comparison:
Local Garage
Online
v46+rack
£281.39
£203.94
e55+rack
£308.39
£238.04
e55+rack
 +backrest
£358.39
£278.18

As the local garage is geared towards the mechanical side, rather than the aftermarket accessories, I have no issues with taking my bike to him for work, never had any problems with any work he's done in the past. Seeing the figures next to each other, decision made - 30(ish)% difference at 10 quid is okay, but at these prices  :eek , internet it is.

PS Drug dealers sought (and were granted) an exemption from the Weights and Measures Act 1985. They cited the illegality of their existing operation would prevent customers from raising complaints with Trading Standards and offered the judge a 10% discount on all future purchases.

locksmith

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #21 on: 09 July 2012, 11:52:09 am »
:lol

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #22 on: 09 July 2012, 12:51:48 pm »
Haven't drugs gone metric yet?

Only when buying in bulk.
Smell ones mother. Yaas!

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Re: How much would you pay to support your local dealer?
« Reply #23 on: 11 July 2012, 01:38:07 pm »
Haven't drugs gone metric yet?

Only when buying in bulk.

their scales are metric but sell at imperial prices so you get less bang for your buck!! - allegedly! :b
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