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I don't usually gripe about the dealer, but...

I have a rear tire with two holes in it and the plugs won't hold air so I decided to break down and get a new tire. I like the tire. It's a Pilot Road and I've gotten over 13,000 miles on it and it still has tread. But it IS wearing thin in the middle and now it has two holes in it. So its time for a new one. My front one is also ready to be replaced. This called for a major tire expense of two tires at once, and since I like the Pilot Roads that's what I wanted to go with as a new set.

First off, my local independent motorcycle tire store has closed up until August 15th for vacation, so I was sort of forced to go to the dealer, but I thought it might be nice to support the dealer this way every so often. I took my rear wheel off yesterday and this morning I headed down to the dealer.

To begin with, the service dept. head told me immediately he could only replace the tire with Metzlers since most of his customers use Metzlers and the shop doesn't stock any other kinds of tires. I had a kind of "What thu!!??" look on my face so he added that he could order the Pilot Roads and they would be in late next week.

I have no other options right now so I strode up to the parts counter to order the tires. The guy got my info and told me it would be $422 and some change for the two tires put on the wheel and with balancing. After wenching my jaw back up off the floor, I asked for the customary discount as a customer who bought my bike at that dealership. They said that discount only applies to BMW parts. Not tires or service.

I have been to this dealer many times over the last three years of my bike ownership and the owners are a very nice family who ride as well as sell the bikes. They belong to the Ga. MOA club and have seen me on at least 5 different occasions at club functions representing the club as the webmaster and one of the three forum organizers this past year. I walk into his establishment and he doesn't know me from Adam. I am about to drop over $400 on a set of tires that they don't stock and I can't get a token discount!?

The sign over the service desk said, "There will be a 15% surcharge on all parts installed that aren't purchased here. Loyalty goes both ways!"
Indeed it does!
I am now determined to buy the tools I need to install new tires myself and next time get the tires on-line.
I realize they have a narrow profit margin, but so do I. If I spend all my profits on tires I got none left for gas!
Maybe I'm just being a cheapskate. Maybe I need to switch to Japanese bikes. I dunno! But the experience just rubbed me the wrong way.

Rant over. You may continue with your regularly scheduled progamming.

Phil, it is tough to go back to the dealer when he gouges. Those tires could be bought online for $230. It doesn't cost him almost $200 to install those, unless his Tech is a Sloth and has only one speed, dead slow. Last time I bought tires at the dealer I got a resonable deal. $330 for the whole thing, 2 new Metzler Z6 tires mounted and balanced and out the door in an hour. If I hadn't taken advantage of the Pirelli deal (buy a rear, get a front free) a few months ago, I might have gone back to the dealer this time also. I like my dealer, and will give him business when I can. I don't mind paying a resonable mark up, but it sounds like your dealer was looking to lose your business. Maybe you should have offered up a pound of flesh too.
Don

That sounds expencive...I would have just gone to another motorcycle shop..there's no need for it to be a BMW dealer.

DJ

owldaddy wrote:Phil, it is tough to go back to the dealer when he gouges. Those tires could be bought online for $230. It doesn't cost him almost $200 to install those, unless his Tech is a Sloth and has only one speed, dead slow. Last time I bought tires at the dealer I got a resonable deal. $330 for the whole thing, 2 new Metzler Z6 tires mounted and balanced and out the door in an hour. If I hadn't taken advantage of the Pirelli deal (buy a rear, get a front free) a few months ago, I might have gone back to the dealer this time also. I like my dealer, and will give him business when I can. I don't mind paying a resonable mark up, but it sounds like your dealer was looking to lose your business. Maybe you should have offered up a pound of flesh too.
Don

Well this is the downside of BMW's upscale disigner dealership program.
I no longer use the dealership for service because of the $120 / hr shop rate. The old small dealership it replaced was charging about $85. It's a high rate to pay for simple tasks like 6/12 k service.
When you get a deal like we did on the Pirelli's, you can reasonably buy all the tools, do it yourself and still have enough to buy the lads a round at Starbucks. I saw the Metzler guys at one of the MOA nationals and they changed a mountain of tires. I think the usual tab was under $300 for both tires. Probably any MC rally has these tire change deals going on. On option in the summer anyhow, and an excuse to ride off to the rally. "Honey, these tires are just unsafe. I'll get them changed and be back in, oh, no more then 5 days."

I fretted over it for several hours and decided at 4:00 today to cancel the order. I telephoned the dealer and canceled the order for the two tires. They simply said 'okay' and canceled it. Then I drove down before they closed at 5:00 and retrieved my rear wheel.

I just placed an online order from SW Mototires for the same 2 tires for $237.
I will take the wheels to the Yamaha dealer or wait until my tire guy returns on the 15th. It can't possibly cost $185 to install and balance the two tires.

The dealer can cut his profit margin on someone else's deeper pockets.

I order online from http://www.ronayers.com
Great service. They have your tires for about the same price you got them.

My local "no-brand name" bike shop charges $20 / wheel for mounting and balancing. Shop around. Competition is good for the economy.

I have been dispointed on too many issues with my dealer like checking/fixing fuel clamps, missing screws (which they deny they lost) on the side panel after a $475 service, oil over fill, some issues they should have picked while the bike was still under warranty etc. WRT a light bulb for the license plate they won't order it unless I pre-pay, and they won't take my payment to order over the phone, I had to drive to the dealership so I can show them some ID.
My local BMW dealer maintains the police's BMW bikes, so I guess they don't care much about the little guys like me.

I am much happier with my bike after I started doing my own service.

Phil,

I'm surprised that someone in your Ga BMWMOA doesn't have a tire changing machine.

A number of the cruiser groups in my area buy tire changers for group use.

If I didn't have a local shop that changes tires for $15 each, I would buy a machine myself.

jb

geez they could at least buy you dinner first!! Bring your own Vaseline to that dealership...

My local mechanic put a pair of Z4's on my bike last summer for about $360 out the door and took him all of 4 business days to do it. Thats just a freaking pathetic way to treat a regular customer.

Pair of Z-6's installed last June for $299.00. San Francisco @ Subterranean Cycle.... Shop around.

popgazer wrote:I have been dispointed on too many issues with my (BMW) dealer like checking/fixing fuel clamps, missing screws (which they deny they lost) on the side panel after a $475 service, oil over fill, some issues they should have picked while the bike was still under warranty etc. WRT a light bulb for the license plate they won't order it unless I pre-pay, and they won't take my payment to order over the phone, I had to drive to the dealership so I can show them some ID..........

Wow! It seems to me your dealer has taken customer relations and motorcycle service advice from the Harley Davidson Motor Company.

I got tired of the expensive costs associated with motorcyle tires and broke down and got my own setup. I'll gladly do anyones tires, bring some beer and we'll have a good time talking bikes while doing it. I usually mail ordered my tires, mainly from Ron Ayers, but they've gotten a little slow on thier shipping recently. I used to take my wheels off and goto the closest dealer, for around $30 a wheel off the bike. The prices have gone up, plus with the time commitment, I'm better off doing it myself.

Phil, if you want, I'll be glad to change your tires but you're responsible for getting the tires/wheels to me.