Honda Dealers

[Gurgar]

I have to blow off a little steam.

I have a great relationship with the Honda/Yamaha of Anderson, SC. They are a little slow with parts and service sometimes, but always give me great deals. And usually everything works out find.

Rewind to last Thursday. I talk to the sales person and tell her to find me a 06 ST 1300A. I would like to have it by next week. She says no problem.

I usually go by the Honda shop a couple times a week to drink coffee and talk to the mechanics and the owner when he is in. I have bought 5 bikes from them. I work 2nd shift, so my morning are free.
Saturday, I stop by. She tells me that Honda doesn't have any ABS bikes and she will have to call around to dealers to find one. I say ok, can you still get one by next week. The reply is yes.

Tuesday,
I walk in and she tells me that Hendersonville NC has one, but they want a $200 floor fee and that she is trying to get one from Blairsville, GA. I say no problem.
She leaves for the day without getting a call back. This is my wifes day off, but she had to attend a meeting. She goes by the Honda Shop after the meeting and asks the sales persons husband about the call and if the ST is coming in. He replies that he didn't recieve a call from Blairsville and that I seem to not be in a hurry to find one.

Rule 1: always send wife to see if anything has been ordered. Her fuse is very short when she smell BS from someone :)

There was a Honda regions sales rep in the store when my wife went off :)

She told the sales person's husband that, his wife has promised to get a ST1300A in here by this week and that I intended to ride it to the BBQ that Hal, Honda Direct Line, was having in Hendersonville on friday. And that we would pay the freakin $200 floor fee if we had to, just go get the freakin bike. :)

I can't believe that just because they don't want to pay another dealer $200, they would grab arse around on a 13k bike when it is 54 miles away.
by the time they payed someone to ship in or go and get a bike farther away, it would cost them that much.


Ok, I am done. Thanks for listening :)

[msnyder755]

Sorry to hear about your experience but I have to ask because it is somewhat unclear.....did they get if for you?

[Gurgar]

Yes, the bike is for me. My wife has a 05 Silver Wing that she rides locally. But on longer trips the ST will be a lot more comfortable than my VTX 1800 F3.

[jeffmiller]

That sounds like the "document filing fee" when you buy a new car. Or the "dealer prep" fee.

Its horse hockey. When I was buying my new Tahoe, I said you can either delete the dealer prep fee and the document filing fee, or I will take my ENTIRE FEE and go down the street to the next Chevy dealer that can't move a gas guzzling Tahoe off his lot to save his life.

Guess what? Bye bye doc and prep fee.

I'd do the same with this dealer.

I've learned a few things in life....one of which...friendships are friendships until they become business. Then it's just business.

My FWIW....

Jeff

[Gurgar]

Jeff,

I see your 3rd Bat avatar. What dates were you at Benning?

[RibsST1300]

It's amazing Honda even sells any bikes, especially here in Florence, SC. I had been in the local dealership numerous times talking about my desires to upgrade from a Shadow. I finally told the salesman I wantd to buy an 06 ST. He said they did not have any(never had any)-I said-can you find one-like car dealers do and get one for me? "sure" was his reply, "but I don't think there are any currently in North America". I waited a week, no return calls, drove 40 miles down the highway and bought one from the next closest Honda dealer. He had 2 on the floor, and more crated.. I pulled up to the local Honda shop on my new bike, the salesman dipped his head and went in the backroom...so useless-so full of crap.

Boy-I feel better-venting-did not mean to hijack your thread-only to share similar experience!

[Gonzo]

It's not just at Honda dealers, but I have experiences all over like this. I'm 64 now, and I have gotten to the point I can detect BS before somebody even opens his mouth.
Why do these sales people think we are stupid?
Vote with your feet. If the local STealer won't give you the time of day, move on.
When I was shopping for my '06 ST, the local dealer gave me BS weekly. I finally sleuthed out the real story. The shop was up for sale. That meant the old owner wasn't willing to part with an extra dime.
There is always a story behind the story. Do research.
gonzo

[Mellow]

Well, it's good you're getting your bike. That's the important thing.

Lots of people put stock in their 'relationship' with a local dealer. My thought is, "It's a Honda, after the sale, I shouldn't have a relationship with my dealer". And, that's pretty much been the case. That's not to say that some people haven't received better treatment due to their willingness to frequent a dealership. I can't as I just don't have one that close to me and I'd rather spend my extra time here.

I do know a couple people that have probably gotten better deals for bikes but in the DFW area you pretty much are at their mercy as far as the 'wiggle' room they will give you.. all the more reason why so many go to MS, OK, TN etc. to save $1k-$3k on a bike.

When all else fails... send in the Wife... I love it...