Another service story

[DonG]

Called the stealer I purchased my bike from (Cleveland-Akron Honda) and scheduled the valve adjustment service but asked him only to do the valves and explained my bike is always maintained with oil changes, plugs, fluid checks, etc, and that part of the service wouldn’t be needed, only the valve thing. The regular full service cost $497.00 but the valve adjustment would be a few dollars less. So I ask how much, he replies; somewhere around $150 to $200 but he couldn’t tell me exactly, so now I’m beginning to wonder and I schedule the bike for the service.

Over the weekend my brother-n-law needs a part for his sons metric bike and heads to State Eight Honda to get it and while he is there he asks the service guy how much for the valve thing and gets a $95 to $135 quote without hesitation. So the next move for me was to verify the price (which I did) and called my stealer with yet another chance to quote me. The guy who answers the phone in service says it should be a bit less than the $497 but won’t commit and I said I was not coming with an open checkbook until I was quoted and how another dealer was able to give me a price.

With all said, the guy hangs up right in my face and now I’m pissed. Monday first thing I call back and ask for the manager and tell him the story and how his employee was unable to quote a service price and hung up on me to which he apologized for. Also mentioned my money was good anywhere and I won’t be back and would spread the word about the mistreatment.

I wouldn’t take my worst enemy to them nor recommend or acknowledge their existence to anyone.

Don

[BigV]

Don,
Sorry to hear about you experience!
State 8 Motorcycle in Cuyahoga Falls are the same ones that installed a new Water Pump in my “X” even though the warranty had expired over 3 months before at NO CHARGE!!. They have always treated me well. .

[TomVH]

I got my X from Cleveland-Akron Honda, but haven't had to schedule any maintenance yet...maybe I should just go to State 8 now, especially if they treat you, who spent wads of $$$$ on a bike there, that poorly. I really don't want to do business somewhere where they consider wrenching every last dollar out of someone first, then consider the customer second. They also were pushing V&H bigshots on me and a PCIII - they had never heard of the HPP and despite the fact I said I don't want the V&H's first thing. I mentioned it and they looked like at me like I was 'special' or something.

[DonG]

TomVH,

Before you go making any arrangments for scheduled service you might want to look at the list of what that entails. You'll find out the first one is no more than a $300.00 oil change.

The second 8000 mile service encludes a valve check or adjust, replace your plugs with their $25.00 each plugs that you can buy for $5.00 each, an oil change you can do for $25.00 or less, and check this and check that for the rest of $497.00.

My valves are going to cost me around $100.00 to have done, and the only reason I'm having them done the first time is due to time. If it was winter I'd do them myself.

These so called scheduled services are just money maker rip-off 's for people with more money then brains.

They've seen the last of me and my money, I can spend it anywhere and the best part is that I can do without them but they can't do without us.

Don

[TomVH]

Fair enough - I can't wait to get my hands dirty workin on my own bike. I'm sure I'll have a bunch of newbie questions to trouble you guys with :) Thanks for the tips!

[BigV]

No trouble at all!
Remember we were newbies once too!
A friend of mine (2high2ride) just got an 1800 “C”. Yesterday after riding with DonG, we decided to tear into his brand new bike. We pulled the tank (actually he did all the work, I just helped), removed his air box and cut a hole in the side to get better airflow. Then we did the desmog. I can tell you it was a lot easier the second time around.
So, ask away. If we can help, we certainly will!