Dealers

[jonesthesteam]

Just wondering on your opinion of bike dealers and salesmen. 3 of my 4 bikes have been from dealers, including the Fazer and all of them have been in my opinion fairly priced and the dealers have provided good, polite service. The dealers were SP motorcycles in Exeter and Greenlane in Exeter although it think that may have closed now. Personally, I like them but have friends who have had good and bad experiences concerning dealers.


I'm not sure if I am in the wrong here or not, but I phoned up a dealership in Exeter today that I haven't mentioned above and enquired politely about test rides and their policy on them. I mentioned I was interested in their DRZ 400. The guy asked how old I was, which is fair enough as he said you have to be 21 for insurance purposes which I'm not yet, then got really arsey all of a sudden saying how it's impolite to just say "I want to ride your bikes" and how it makes them "nervous" when you ask. Really? I was quite shocked how the conversation turned so abruptly and wasn't really sure what to say. I hadn't been impolite to him and he was making out that because I hadn't come and personally asked them about the bike, sat on it etc (there are about 10 HD pics of it on their website, all details are written about it and I am 6 foot 4 and have sat on similar bikes so know I will fit on it) that I was being rude, he advised me to never start a conversation like that again. I apologised, but it's pissed me off to be honest thinking back as I think he was the one being rude.


I've been to that dealership before and sat on bikes and yes I agree they get an idea of what you are like etc and can gauge a bit better if you are trustworthy but surely they can understand that it's a bit easier to politely phone rather than have a 70 mile round trip in the rain just to sit on a bike ummming and aarring to be told "no" anyway. Not happy.

Greenlane are still going but have moved to Pinhoe now, I have bought twice from dealers and both times the bike wasn't 100% as described, their idea of "mint" obviously isn't mine, but they did sweeten the deal with some extras and sorted out a couple of minor niggles. But I wouldn't use a dealer again, a good private seller who has owned the bike for a while and can prove its been looked after is a far better bet unless buying new / nearly new. Some of the prices dealers ask for ropey old bikes are unbelievable!


Go on, name and shame the dealer who was rude to you 


Jonesthesteam