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Rip off or not?

marvinsc

marvinsc

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Myself and 3 others were on a ride yesterday, we took back roads to Paducah Kentucky with our destination being Metropolis Illinois across the Ohio River from Paducah. As we reached Paducah my bike developed a familiar wobble. We were less than a mile from a multi brand bike shop so I limped in with a flat front tire. The service department was open and said they would take care of it. I rode B!tch on the back of a Gold Wing Trike to Fat Ed's in Metropolis for lunch. They called as we were finishing lunch and said my bike was ready. I asked what they found and they said the tube was shot. I thought 1 hour labor plus a tube might be close to $125-150. Got there and they presented me a bill for $225.55. Myself and my companions thought that was excessive, they charged 1.8 hours labor to remove the front wheel, replace the tube and remount the wheel. Fair or not?
 
Last edited:
marvinsc said:
Myself and 3 others were on a ride yesterday, we took back roads to Paducah Kentucky with our destination being Metropolis Illinois across the Ohio River from Paducah. As we reached Paducah my bike developed a familiar wobble. We were less than a mile from a multi brand bike shop so I limped in with a flat front tire. The service department was open and said they would take care of it. I rode B!tch on the back of a Gold Wing Trike to Fat Ed's in Metropolis for lunch. They called as we were finishing lunch and said my bike was ready. I asked what they found and they said the tube was shot. I thought 1 hour labor plus a tube might be close to $125-150. Got there and they presented me a bill for $225.55. Myself and my companions thought that was excessive, they charged 1.8 hours labor to remove the front wheel, replace the tube and remount the wheel. Fair or not?
Click to expand...

Sounds like excessive time. How long was it since you left the bike and they phoned you? Sounds like you had a really long lunch.
 
Sandy said:
Sounds like excessive time. How long was it since you left the bike and they phoned you? Sounds like you had a really long lunch.
Click to expand...

A couple of hours, I am thinking the tech was not very skilled and I helped pay for his learning curve..........
 
Pretty sure the Dealer was a bit ashamed, the posted labor rate is $149 per hour but they reduced it to $99. In any event they have made their last dime from me.
 
Another reason to avoid ALL dealerships (if possible). It seems they all have the power to separate a riders money into their own pockets.
 
It's the same anywhere in the world .... There are two rates .... One for he lives in town and we might be dealing with him again .... And he doesn't live in town and we'll never see him again ......
 
A few years back while at my favorite independent bike shop/campground in Michigan I got to thinking, does a real live balance job on a tire do better than using Ride-On balancer/sealer?

The family owned shop is owned and run by no less than three generations of real live bikers, the "old man" being a grizzled old flat track racer from back in the 60's. Being in his 80's he doesn't do a whole lot of wrenching himself and spends most of his time in the "showroom" sitting in a comfy chair and greeting customers while playing the part of town "Wise man" Believe me, he's earned it!

So anyhow, I had a tire shipped to my buddies place nearby and asked the old boy how much would it cost to mount and balance a tire if I brought the wheel and tire in with the old tire already off, he told me $25. Decided to have them do it, the price being reasonable enough.

His grandson took the tire and rim out back and in less than 1/2 hour brought it back out front while the old man and I had a nice conversation. The kid writes it up and says "Seventy eight dollars" Both me and the old man scoffed at this "I told him $25! You can't do business that way, you'll lose customers!" he says to the kid. "We've had this discussion before Grandpa, there's a reason we run this shop now, remember?"

Anyhow I grudgingly pay the bill and go on my way. About six months later I've managed to wear that tire out on go back to my old way of doing things and do it myself. Lo and behold I dismount that tire and what do I find inside? RIDE-ON! He did exactly what I would have done myself.

Returning the next summer I bring this up to the old man and he wasn't too happy to hear it. He calls the grandson up to the front and says "I could give a rats ass what you say kid, this guy gets full use of our tire changing machine free of charge from here out!" I've never taken them up on that but I sure hope the old boy is still alive, great guy all the way around.
 
Imagine how the mechanic feels...
they're charging $150 per hour, and I'm only making $20 per hour.
 
I hate dealerships, Try my best to never go to them "BUT". I do realize the dealerships "customers" have got to pay for those $1M +++ buildings, all equipment, all inventory, Insurance, utilities, all employees salaries including the ones that don't bring in $150 pr. hr.. then the taxes on any profits that may be left over at end of yr.. My independent guy charges me $50 to mount and balance if I bring in wheel and tire, or was to do it all, remove from bike, install and balance new tire, put back on bike for $100, the last time I brought in my Kaw. ZRX with no center stand. Other bikes are no problem, but that ZRX is well worth the extra $50... As always, just my opinion.
 
As I told my buddy Rick who is way more upset about it than me, this is a first world problem. I had the means to pay and will survive. As flat tires on the road go, there are much worse places it could happen.
 
At the local Honda shop here it was a half hour for tire and wheel in hand and one hour for wheel still on the bike. Shop rate of $125.oo
They then tried to tack on an illegal tire disposal fee of $5.00, shop supplies of $5.00 and a $15.00 balancing fee. I asked to speak to the shop manager and they quickly dropped the incidentals. Bastards!
 
Yep, kind'f expect the incidentals at a stealership, part of reason I try to avoid them, kind'f rare at an independent shop.... Like marv though, had the means to pay and will survive... Also said could happen at much worse places, BTDT back in 1980,. out in the middle of nowhere with no dealerships nor any way to get to one... Was very lucky to get home same day.
 
Best tire story I know of is this

Lady called me and complained she was on the highway and her car, a retired Ford taxi, felt very wrong.
She told me where she was and I told her to get off at the next exit, turn left. A Ford dealership was in that direction, but it was too late for them, so I told her to turn at first intersection as there was a couple of independent shops in that area.

Se did that and went into the first one.

The mechanic, who happened to be one of the owners, asked what was wrong and she told him the car was shaking while she drove on the highway.
He looked at her left front tire and shook his hear in disbelief. "You were driving on the highway? That is not possible"

He brought out a jack, lifted the front of the car and installed five new wheel nuts , which was necessary as there was not even one nut holding the wheel in place.

No charge.
 
UPDATE: Got a call from my friend Rick who gave me a cell# for the Service Manager at the Dealership. I called him and he said a mistake was made on the labor charges and he said I was owed an apology and he is refunding my Card $123.50. THAT is about what thought was fair for the repair. They haven't lost a future customer after all.
 
That's almost the same as my independent guy charges, plus your dealer furnished a tube... You think that dealer may deserve a shout out... Heck he may change my opinion of dealerships.
 
rphillips said:
That's almost the same as my independent guy charges, plus your dealer furnished a tube... You think that dealer may deserve a shout out... Heck he may change my opinion of dealerships.
Click to expand...

Once the $$ hit my account I will indeed give them a public shoutout.
 
I am fortunate in having a friend with a tire machine, he charges me $25 for tubeless and $30 for tube tires. But, he lives 20 miles away.

Also, I have a giant son with Harbor Freight tire changing equipment
 
Shout out to Powersports of America in Paducah Kentucky for doing the right thing! The Service Manager confirmed that I was overcharged for Labor and I have been refunded $123.40.
 
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