Suzuki dealership parts department fiasco

[wolfman]

LOL! Her name was Brenda. Her name tag said she was the parts manager :-? When I complained about her, they were shocked! They told me "she knows her stuff" LMAO!!!!

[Blueandorangefish]

I didn't get the girl's name that helped me. I was too busy keeping my attention on the ongoing train wreck.

[Blueandorangefish]

I got a bit irked dealing with Bikebandit.com today. They've been sitting on an order for just shy of a week. Before I ordered my new petcock I asked for an assurance that it wouldn't take that long before they shipped it. The customer service rep got a bit snippy with me, so I decided to check around locally a bit more. I started calling around town and eventually found a suzuki dealership 20 miles up the I-84 in Caldwell, ID that actually seemed competent. I was able to order the parts that I needed, for the same price as bikebandit.com, and they said it would be there in 3-5 days. All I have to do is foot the 1.5 gallons of gas it will take to pick up the part and I could be riding again by this weekend!!

[skreemer]

Here's a fun one. For Suzuki parts I go to my local Honda dealer. The woman behind the parts counter has been riding and wrenching on her own bikes for more than 20 years. In that time she's owned a few GS "L" models. If any of the parts counter monkeys has a hard time looking for something she'll ask the person to wait and then look up the part herself usually within a few seconds.

For major parts and tires I'll usually hit up ebay or soemwhere else. For incedentals like oil, o-rings, the occaisional special bolt, or levers, I always went back to that shop.

Now I've moved away from there and have a new shop to deal with. A couple of their sales guys and one service guy will talk to me. Their parts counter folks look at me like I just landed from mars and asked for rocket parts. Though this place is a combo harley/suzuki store... they have on hand 7 or 8 suzuki cruisers and 4 or 5 sport bikes and about 50 harleys...

[Calvin Blackmore]

well it is sad that so many mouses have to die by over-cliking
alas
I recall once upon a time 15-20 yrs ago going to a GMC dealer to get a part for the injectorsa on my truck

no one in the parts dept new SFA about anything
all clicks
er um
touch screen touchings


oddly I have had great luck with the local Suzuki dealer in fre NB
no bad attitude and a real effort to find parts
esp the OEM main jets which on the fiche were the mains for US models not Canadian

they ordered the US ones and when I said these are too samll these are not the ones in the bike they re ordered.

these folks are at the mercy of the system just as much as you or I

hell if an expewrienced parts person with in depth knowledge that spans our bikes life spans could be found he woould absconded with Enron funds or be doing something consistent with his intellect and recall powers

gosh how old would one be
say yah start in 75 as a 20 yr old all keen and knowledgeable
that would make yah 54 now and by god if you progressed in intelligence and skill there is no gd way you would carry the arcana of old bilkes forever and most certainly not give it away.

give the kids in parts places a break

do you expect the fast food or even normal restaruant crew to be cordon bleu trained
BAH

[Blueandorangefish]

I understand what you're saying about cutting people slack. I 100% agree and do my best to practice that philosophy whenever possible.

I've worked customer service-type jobs for the vast majority of my job history. Believe me, I'm willing to cut behind he counter people TONS of slack. When I'm looking for parts at a parts counter, I have absolutely no expectation of them having even heard of my motorcycle. That is totally fine with me. Part of the fun of talking with people is exchanging the vast knowledge base that is distributed amongst the population.

It seems, though, that modern customer service means service w/ an attitude instead of service with a smile. I am normally a very understanding person if I know that the person helping me is doing the best they can. Throughout the entire visit I kept my cool and was not disrespectful or rude at all. I have, however, given the store many chances to provide good customer service to me, and they have yet to deliver. Unfortunately they have the advantage of being the only game in town, and seem to act accordingly. Now I am forced to travel 45 minutes to the next nearest dealership. Obviously, it's my choice to do so, however, it's just a shame that simple service with a smile is rarer than a 24 carat diamond.

[rapidray]

Sorry about your bad luck with your local dealer but now I am going to make you jealous! My local dealer also sponsors my dragbike so I get my parts at cost plus 10. To make it even BETTER is that the parts manager is a GS guy forever & I am building the engine for his dragbike! Whatever GS part (or Suzuki part) I need that has to be ordered is at the MOST 2 days because the west coast warehouse is only 20 minutes away! If I need something I just walk behind the counter & get on the computer & find the part . I will call one of the guys over & ask them to order what I need. Sometimes they have been busy or short handed & I have helped customers! I LOVE my dealer! If any of you in SoCal need anything, let me know & I will hook you up! Oh yeah, the parts manager is a member here & his name is "twindragster"! Ray.

[SqDancerLynn1]

I used to have a friend,mechanic. I could get all my auto parts from the Warehouse... GOOD parts not Crappy auto