"Don't have it, but I can order it..."
- Thread starter KenR
- Start date
AJ Waggoner
Crash Test Dummy
- Nov 5, 1999
- 4,368
- 34
:)
lol because the home pressure washer and the car wash were the greatest inventions ever put on the earth for your local or internet Parts supplier ;)
by the way - we still have stools at the front counter and normally a few sitting there BSing bikes
anywhere from 4 to 93yo
:) it takes me back to my xr75 days and hanging at the local shop
and listening to the "old guys" BS about riding the new bikes I was there to drool over.
My cable 'trick' was simply an example. Perhaps I should have used another part. I just think if your dealer can not stock common every day parts that keep your bike moving then don't buy from them. Now if you are talking about a 6-10 year old bike then I figure everyone would expect to wait for that part. If you must buy that bike even though the dealer has zero parts then you know going in there will be a wait for parts. Some dealers wait until they have one entire page full of part numbers before they will place an order. They are trying to save on shipping fees. Guess what dealers have to pay ship fees too! Personally I like the idea that a dealer can and does carry parts that allow me to stay on the trails, locally. If a guy must order parts using the internet there are dealers out there that stock the parts and can get them to you overnight. What I am doing is simply throwing out food for thought. What I am seeing is everyone wants something for nothing and as stated earlier that just doesn't fly. The costs of running a dealership are unbelievable. If somehow a Rider could be educated or re-educated to understand that discounting as in not allowing a dealer to make any money equals a dealer who will or is going under- whew -that would allow the dealer network to grow . A lot of dealers have only one thing to sell and that is PRICE. A good dealer can back up their prices with excellent customer service and a full supply of parts. They have the ability to get that part out to you their rider the same day you order the part. If the dealer doesn't pay for his parts his distributors simply cut him off, end of game. If your dealer is healthy you will have your parts when you need them . Again we are just talking back and forth here.
Monkey Butt
Member
- Jun 1, 2000
- 281
- 0
I posted about my good experiences with a couple of local shops. Six days ago I ordered an HJC AC-X2 helmet from an internet shop. They told me they had it in stock and would email me a confirmation of my order. I've called three times since looking for the email confirmation. Each time they told me it was going to ship that day and then I would get confirmation. The helmet was suppose to arrive in 5-7 days from my purchase date. I called today (6 days later) to get the tracking # and the guy informed that the helmet is on back order until July 5. That sure would have been nice to know when I placed the order. Their price was $151 plus shipping for a current model HJC AC-X2 $229 helmet. Now I know how they can sell them so cheap. NO CUSTOMER SERVICE!! MX South on the other hand emailed a picture of the helmet within 5 minutes of talking to them and called 10 minutes after that to see if I received their email. Of course they were about $28 higher than this other place, but if I was in a hurry for a helmet and wanted to feel more secure about my order, that would have been the way to go. As it is I can't ride now because of an injury, so waiting awhile won't kill me. I just hate being told one thing and then they do another. I guess the internet shops aren't always what they are cracked up to be either.
Neal
Neal
wal mart is ruining america
wheel bearings may be purchased from a bearing supplier in any decent sized city for a fraction of the cost , and they are probably better quality to boot.
I have seen much flip-flopping and contrast of business theories here at our shops. Barstools vs. all business no small talk. Full retail vs. everybody gets a discount vs. only racers get a discount vs. if you buy a bike there you get a discount vs. if the right parts guy is in the right mood you get a discount. Ordering of parts "on your honor" vs. having to come in and put down a deposit.
It gets embarassing when the discount thing comes up, and there are other customers around who may not get the discount, then they want to know why.
wheel bearings may be purchased from a bearing supplier in any decent sized city for a fraction of the cost , and they are probably better quality to boot.
I have seen much flip-flopping and contrast of business theories here at our shops. Barstools vs. all business no small talk. Full retail vs. everybody gets a discount vs. only racers get a discount vs. if you buy a bike there you get a discount vs. if the right parts guy is in the right mood you get a discount. Ordering of parts "on your honor" vs. having to come in and put down a deposit.
It gets embarassing when the discount thing comes up, and there are other customers around who may not get the discount, then they want to know why.
pretty much, yes, we are enabling. as mentioned above, our towns have lost most of their individual shops run by people in the local community. The corporate money is going to Sam's big cookie jar instead of the local shop owners. Also, Wal mart tends to offer lower quality "jobber" type of merchandise in some cases, which I believe is more efficiently made overseas. Sure, they make an attempt to buy the products in the US, and what sells is consumer driven. I really think Americans are more efficient at making products that are a step up in quality. The mentality of US manufacturing has been forced to change due to Wal-Mart and the Chinese/Koreans etc.
think about how much more garbage we are throwing away (and filling up the ground with) now that the average product we buy lasts 2-3 years instead of 10-20.
I just hope this doesn't affect DIRT BIKES.
think about how much more garbage we are throwing away (and filling up the ground with) now that the average product we buy lasts 2-3 years instead of 10-20.
I just hope this doesn't affect DIRT BIKES.
- Jun 15, 2001
- 2,551
- 0
motometal--for every 1 smalltown businessman that gets stomped into the dirt, there's probably several hundred other middle class people making good on Walmart stock. I'm not particularly for or against Walmart, or online shopping...but letting the market sort itself out is what makes capitalism a work of beauty. Think of the number of jobs a Walmart would bring to a smallish town, the local XS taxes generated for the community simply by 'attracting' people into a Wallyworld where they'll spend more money than they had intended (vs. a smaller store with less selection)...etc.
AJ--I pay retail for bikes. I just flat don't believe in 'bartering', basically for the same 'double standard' reasons you pointed out. On the other hand, that statement I just made doesn't support my 'market will bare'/capitalism belief too well, either, does it? ;)
Someone pointed out the 'staple' items above, and I would think that jets would be the best example of them, since not only are they commonly changed, they're common to multiple types of bikes that share the same carb. I can't find a !@#$ pilot jet out here. Why is that? 'We stock mains, no pilots'.... :silly: Why is that?
On the other hand, I walked into a dealer yesterday with part numbers in hand for rare parts for an LEM R2 (including a very friable handlebar-mounted finger choke lever), fully expecting them to have to order them. They had all in stock. :cool:
AJ--I pay retail for bikes. I just flat don't believe in 'bartering', basically for the same 'double standard' reasons you pointed out. On the other hand, that statement I just made doesn't support my 'market will bare'/capitalism belief too well, either, does it? ;)
Someone pointed out the 'staple' items above, and I would think that jets would be the best example of them, since not only are they commonly changed, they're common to multiple types of bikes that share the same carb. I can't find a !@#$ pilot jet out here. Why is that? 'We stock mains, no pilots'.... :silly: Why is that?
On the other hand, I walked into a dealer yesterday with part numbers in hand for rare parts for an LEM R2 (including a very friable handlebar-mounted finger choke lever), fully expecting them to have to order them. They had all in stock. :cool:
nephon, what do you think of some of the tactics Walmart has used? For example, locally when they couldn't get their way to put in a new store in an area clearly zoned for other uses, they threatend to pull out other existing stores in the area. That's not right. In my opinion, they use their clout as a huge company to push people (and communities) around in an immoral way.
Regarding the stockholders benefiting-that's a good point, I never thought of that.
As far as the jobs go, it's probably a trade off, for every job created there is probably another one lost somewhere else, actually possibly more than one considering the Wal Mart system is probably more efficient than separate smaller stores. Other than potential stock $$$, the corporate money leaves town.
Which reminds me, I need to check the air filter on my DIRT BIKE.
Regarding the stockholders benefiting-that's a good point, I never thought of that.
As far as the jobs go, it's probably a trade off, for every job created there is probably another one lost somewhere else, actually possibly more than one considering the Wal Mart system is probably more efficient than separate smaller stores. Other than potential stock $$$, the corporate money leaves town.
Which reminds me, I need to check the air filter on my DIRT BIKE.
KenR
Member
- Feb 20, 2002
- 193
- 0
- Thread starter
-
- #60
"Don't have it, but I can order it..." Part II
To continue this sad saga, last week while trying to fix a carb issue on my sons KX250, I discovered that the air screw apparently vibrated itself ALL the way into the bottom of the threads and have become one with the carb body. Screw head is stripped and it aint budging. Tried all kinds of things, finally broke out the drill and carefully drilled out as much brass as I could get while preserving the threads. Tried to match up the threads with a tap from the replacement air screw I ordered (basis for first DHIBICOI thread on this board) and found that it's a weird size and pitch screw thread (5.5 X .8 or .9). Of course NOBODY in the great State of Utah has one of these for sale - the closest I could find was as part of a $180. set, the rest of which would've been duplicates for me.
To make matters worse, I need this bike to run by Monday morning for a class and race next week.
Okay, now the good stuff, and I SWEAR I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP.
Took the air screw to the dealer that sold it to me, go to the service department, find a service guy leaning on the counter with what I thought was a phone held to his ear, staring out into space. After a couple of minutes, he lazily looked over at me and asked "Uh...can I help you with something..."? Turns out his head was resting on his hand...there wasn't a phone (nor another customer) in sight.
"Yeah, would one of your technicians happen to have a tap to match this screw thread?" I went on to explain that I didn't want to borrow it, but wanted to make sure they had the tool before I brought the carb 25 miles into the dealership. "I don't know, mahn, I'd have to ask someone".
I smiled and ask if he would, please, ask someone.
He found the phone and paged a guy who turned out to be the shop manager (at least that's what his greasy shirt said when he finally strolled in after 10 minutes). I went through the whole thing again. Mr. Shop Manager say's "yeah, I might have one of those, but I'd have to go back and look".
I smiled and asked him if he would, please, look.
"Well, I don't have time...I think I have an air screw tap, but I'd have to go look for it."
I paused to give him a chance to realize he was being no help whatsoever. He didn't get it. I tried again.
Smiling, "Look, I live about 25 miles away. Before I drag the carb all the way into town, I'd REALLY appreciate it if you could tell me if you even have the means to fix it."
"Uh...(blank stare)...I don't know...I'd have to find my taps and...uh...I don't have time".
Fine. I finished my errands, went home and started searching for a tap online that I could get in a day. Search turned fruitless. I decided that the parts department I dealt with for the air screw wasn't awful, so I'd give 'em a shot a simply getting me an entire new carb. The problem was it was now Friday morning and I'd need it on Saturday.
Called the parts department, told the guy what I needed and he said he check and call me back. "Sure", the guy said when he called back, "I can get a complete new carb to you by Saturday, but you'll have to pay air freight charges, and it's going to cost a bunch". "No problem, here's my credit car number, get it coming, BUT I'VE GOT TO HAVE IT SATURDAY".
It's Saturday. Since no one called from the dealership to let me know it was in (not unusual), I called them. "Uh...the carb didn't make it, I don't know where it is, if it even shipped or where it shipped from if it did ship. Honestly, I don't know when we'll get it".
Notice, I didn't once ask for a discount. Conversely, I was/am willing to pay a premium, and the dealer has a right to get it for solving my problem.
I guess it's me. I must just be too demanding. Maybe someday I'll have a bike shop and things will be different.
To continue this sad saga, last week while trying to fix a carb issue on my sons KX250, I discovered that the air screw apparently vibrated itself ALL the way into the bottom of the threads and have become one with the carb body. Screw head is stripped and it aint budging. Tried all kinds of things, finally broke out the drill and carefully drilled out as much brass as I could get while preserving the threads. Tried to match up the threads with a tap from the replacement air screw I ordered (basis for first DHIBICOI thread on this board) and found that it's a weird size and pitch screw thread (5.5 X .8 or .9). Of course NOBODY in the great State of Utah has one of these for sale - the closest I could find was as part of a $180. set, the rest of which would've been duplicates for me.
To make matters worse, I need this bike to run by Monday morning for a class and race next week.
Okay, now the good stuff, and I SWEAR I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP.
Took the air screw to the dealer that sold it to me, go to the service department, find a service guy leaning on the counter with what I thought was a phone held to his ear, staring out into space. After a couple of minutes, he lazily looked over at me and asked "Uh...can I help you with something..."? Turns out his head was resting on his hand...there wasn't a phone (nor another customer) in sight.
"Yeah, would one of your technicians happen to have a tap to match this screw thread?" I went on to explain that I didn't want to borrow it, but wanted to make sure they had the tool before I brought the carb 25 miles into the dealership. "I don't know, mahn, I'd have to ask someone".
I smiled and ask if he would, please, ask someone.
He found the phone and paged a guy who turned out to be the shop manager (at least that's what his greasy shirt said when he finally strolled in after 10 minutes). I went through the whole thing again. Mr. Shop Manager say's "yeah, I might have one of those, but I'd have to go back and look".
I smiled and asked him if he would, please, look.
"Well, I don't have time...I think I have an air screw tap, but I'd have to go look for it."
I paused to give him a chance to realize he was being no help whatsoever. He didn't get it. I tried again.
Smiling, "Look, I live about 25 miles away. Before I drag the carb all the way into town, I'd REALLY appreciate it if you could tell me if you even have the means to fix it."
"Uh...(blank stare)...I don't know...I'd have to find my taps and...uh...I don't have time".
Fine. I finished my errands, went home and started searching for a tap online that I could get in a day. Search turned fruitless. I decided that the parts department I dealt with for the air screw wasn't awful, so I'd give 'em a shot a simply getting me an entire new carb. The problem was it was now Friday morning and I'd need it on Saturday.
Called the parts department, told the guy what I needed and he said he check and call me back. "Sure", the guy said when he called back, "I can get a complete new carb to you by Saturday, but you'll have to pay air freight charges, and it's going to cost a bunch". "No problem, here's my credit car number, get it coming, BUT I'VE GOT TO HAVE IT SATURDAY".
It's Saturday. Since no one called from the dealership to let me know it was in (not unusual), I called them. "Uh...the carb didn't make it, I don't know where it is, if it even shipped or where it shipped from if it did ship. Honestly, I don't know when we'll get it".
Notice, I didn't once ask for a discount. Conversely, I was/am willing to pay a premium, and the dealer has a right to get it for solving my problem.
I guess it's me. I must just be too demanding. Maybe someday I'll have a bike shop and things will be different.
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