Dealers You Wouldn't Recommend.

muzza15

Talk about bad dealers.
This guy has taken huge dollars for aftermarket parts and then disappears only to turn up with another business name eg Choppers East etc. He's taken people for just a few dollars all the way up to paid for but not filled orders for complete bike kits. If you want his name just ask and I'll give it to you. His scam is in at least 4 countries at last count.
If anyone no's where this guy is now please forward his location to me.

Gilligan

I didn't see anywhere that it had to be a Harley Davidson dealer. A couple years ago, when I set out to upgrade, I initially was drawn to the Victory motorcycle like a moth to flame. I had heard much hype and the local dealer "OFF ROAD EXPRESS" near Erie, PA was doing a pretty good job of letting folks know that they were the Victory dealer. I was enamoured with the Kingpin with it's 100CI powerhouse and 6 speed transmission, and if the sales manager had even acted like he was interested in selling it to me I'd be on a different web site today sharing my stories with other Victory owners, but this lack of interest gave me a real "cold" feeling, and I couldn't help but wonder what bringing a bike there for service might be like?
I continued my search, and soon was delighted by the contrast of the sales manager Bryan Lepley at Street Track & Trail, Meadville, PA. Long story short, by the time I left ST&T I felt like Bryan and I were old friends, and by the way, I had a contract for my new FXDWG with me! It's the same feeling every time I return to ST&T. They know how to cultivate a customer, not just sell a bike.

TQuentin1

OK, this weekend I had another completely dissatisfying experience with a HD Dealership here in the Houston area. The Dealership is "Harley-Davidson of The Woodlands" (Texas Motorcycle Dealer - Harley-Davidson of The Woodlands). A couple of weeks ago, I shopped around for a rear tire for my '03 UC. The tire I want is a Dunlop D402 MU85B16. Prices on the internet were $40-60 less than any of the Dealerships. So I bought a tire online. This past Friday, I called "Harley-Davidson of The Woodlands" to ask them if they would mount and balance the tire on my wheel if I brought them in on Saturday, and what the charge would be. They told me it would be $37.50 (1/2 hours service charge) to mount and balance, so I told them I would bring in the wheel and tire the next morning. My daughter had a swim meet in the Woodlands early on Saturday (and Sunday), so I pulled the wheel off the bike on Friday night.

On Saturday, I dropped my daughter off at the nat, and went over to the Dealership. You can imagine my shock when the guy at the service counter told me they would NOT mount and balance the tire I brought in because I had not bought it from them! I told him I had called on Friday and been told to bring it in. The guy checked with the Service Manager who confirmed that they would NOT do the work for me. In fact, they said they would not do ANY work with customer supplied parts.

Lucky for me, right next door is "American Deam Cycles". They sell choppers and other custom bikes (The Woodlands, Texas, Big Bear Choppers, APC, Saxon, Motorcycle, Dealer, Used, Parts, Service, Financing). They were glad to take my money and mount/balance my tire on my wheel. In fact the Service Manager over there, Paul Floyd, is the kind of guy you want to work with as a DIY'er!! And if you want, they will do it all for you. With or without your parts!

So, I strongly recommend folks find a better HD Dealership that has a customer focus. In my opinion, "Harley-Davidson of The Woodlands" is out for themselves, and based on my own personal experience, will likely do crappy work since it is clear they are only interested in maximizing the money they make from their customers. Luckily, the Houston area has plenty of choices.

TQ

wildspirit97

I've found that any dealership usually isn't the best place to get a tire mounted and balanced. For me I've found a lot of places that do better and less expensive mounts and balances. I'd rather deal with the smaller guys for stuff like that. You usually get better quality work and service.

Rabid Ranger

I stop at many HD dealers. Wife and I were at Caliente HD in San Antionio TX this weekend, one of the bad mouthed dealers. They had many new bikes and a slew of nice used bikes. I was treated well and the sales people were attentive even though I was from outta town and a looky looky. Every Saturday they have free barbecue and live music. It was yummy and a good time.

Gary12850

Any dealership owned by Bob Cedebe
Republic HD Stafford Tx
Topeka HD Topeka, Ks

TQuentin1

I'll second that. See my post way above for my personal experience with Republic HD.

I have spent 10's of thousands of dollars there for parts for my bike over the years. But my last experience with them is just that - my last one!! Even though they are 15-30 min. closer to the house than the other HD Dealerships here in the HOUSTON area, I will NEVER go back there.

TQ

wildchild

Purchase of my 2008 HD.

I am an easy going guy, paying for the Bike in full 1 week before delivery. I have a passion for HD’s owning several models.
Would love to run a Dealership but don’t have the $$$

I rode to the dealership 1 month after delivery to arrange a warranty issue only to be verbally abused by there sales man (part owner) in front of other customers in the shop. I couldn’t get a word in and had to leave the shop feeling like I had been kicked in the teeth by a bull. I only wanted to arrange a time that was convenient to both of us to inspect and organize a fix/replacement parts.

That was on a Saturday, the following Monday I returned to speak to mechanical repairs (second part owner) to explain and find out if there is anything I had done to deserve such disrespect.
The “sales man” approached me in front of mechanic suggesting I was there worse customer and he didn’t want to deal with me again, worse customer I thought, who would pay for an item before they actually lay there eyes on it with utmost patience when waiting to speak to either one of the team at any time.

During the sale all was great until the bike was handed over to me. The attitude change. After sales? Very disappointing, rood, negative attitude, no passion for the product they sell and defiantly no friendly after sales customer service. (Take you money and move onto the next potential victim).

The sales man walked up to me and stated, they are only tin and metal. For a HD sales man to suggest HD’s are only tin and metal blue me away. With this attitude this guy should not be a HD dealer/sales man.

What passion does this person have? Be nice during the sale and an “(edited)” after the sale.

3 Months later I was still waiting on warranty parts, don’t feel like these guys want to deal with me, why? I have not got a clue!!!

Finally after 4 Months I have my replacement parts only to have one faulty. Bad chrome on the part, I understand this is not the dealers fault only a quality issue. Another was ordered. 26th April still no replacement. No phone calls to inform me, I need to keep contacting these guys as they have no communication outside the dealership.

In other words, you want it come and get it. Maybe if I purchased my next bike from them they may relise how serious I am about HD’s. Currently I am planning on a 2010 model. Not sure if they are an option for the purchase though.

Final after six months the replacement part arrives and a phone call to let me know its in. Now thats an improvement. A phone call!
Although there is more than one dealer in the country that will be happy to take my 2010 order.

It is October 08 and I am happy with my bike after all repair work is done. I did the repair work (refitting of parts) myself due to the lack of trust with this dealer.

I will say they have much to learn and improve on there customer relations.

Although parts will be purchase due to the dealer being the only one in the area.

Anyone experience a dealer that abused you in front of other customers for no reason. Sales man was part owner and use to sell realestate...throughout the sale all was OK..sale man did glote and talk about him self alot but after sales fell out of the window...maybe a power trip?

I was not impressed after paying cash a week before delivery.

Service is crap and has not improve for the 10 months I have been dealing with them..unfortanantly they are the only dealer within 500klms..to give you an idea I had stock wheels replaced with custom wheels... they put the wrong bearing spacer in first time round..I took the wheel in to save them the time and still they put the wrong spacer in second time around..when I saw the spacer was incorrect again I pointed it out and finaly third time round they got it right...mind you this is on a new 08 model.

I have no other option but to do first and future services my self..I will be using genuine parts and keeping all records for warranty issues if they arise.

Giving these guys a second chance by replacing the incorrect spacer was the last time they will touch anything on my bikes.

Thankyou WC

scrinch

North Country Harley Rt 3 Augusta Maine

After 1000 mile service on the bike something made a terrible squeak every time I shifted or let off the throttle. People on this post led me to a very loose drive belt.

I mentioned this to them today and they acted like I was crazy.

Man at the price of their service you would think they could get the simple things right!

__________________
Life without danger is like sex without a partner. You might get through it OK, but it won't be that much fun

TQuentin1

WC,

You failed to identify the HD Dealership that you had such a horrible experience with. It is important to warn others of a problem Dealership like you have experienced. Unfortunately, the only vote we have in these situations is with our dollars!!

TQ