May Be Time To Part Company With My HD Dealer

[JTJersey]

I'm overdue for my 10,000 mile service on my '21 Freewheeler. I've been trying for 3 weeks to set it up. I have a paid for contract covering 3 years of services with pickup and delivery. Rommels HD is down in Smyrna DE. I'm in NJ, a good hour and a half ride. Four times I've been told that they're messaging the driver to contact me for pickup scheduling. They have every phone number I've got and my email, yet no one has called. I even went down there in person to voice my displeasure and nobody understood why I haven't been contacted and they sent another message to the driver. I'm thinking they're trying to stick me on the contract and even if they do come get the trike I'm afraid it will sit there for weeks unless I can find a ride down to get it. I'm not happy with these guys. End of rant.

 

[rhino 2]

I'm overdue for my 10,000 mile service on my '21 Freewheeler. I've been trying for 3 weeks to set it up. I have a paid for contract covering 3 years of services with pickup and delivery. Rommels HD is down in Smyrna DE. I'm in NJ, a good hour and a half ride. Four times I've been told that they're messaging the driver to contact me for pickup scheduling. They have every phone number I've got and my email, yet no one has called. I even went down there in person to voice my displeasure and nobody understood why I haven't been contacted and they sent another message to the driver. I'm thinking they're trying to stick me on the contract and even if they do come get the trike I'm afraid it will sit there for weeks unless I can find a ride down to get it. I'm not happy with these guys. End of rant.

It’s a brave new world out there nobody wants to work people can make more money sitting home and collecting from the governments hand outs..I wanted the local Harley dealer to change the oil on my Triglide and he said the earliest he can take it in is the end of August and then It would have to sit around a day or two So instead of tilting windmills my son and I just changed it our self this afternoon in my garage.. well actually my son change it I just supervised…

most businesses say they can’t find anybody to work what they don’t say is that they won’t pay people enough to work…

 

[JTJersey]

It’s a brave new world out there nobody wants to work people can make more money sitting home and collecting from the governments hand outs..I wanted the local Harley dealer to change the oil on my Triglide and he said the earliest he can take it in is the end of August and then It would have to sit around a day or two So instead of tilting windmills my son and I just changed it our self this afternoon in my garage.. well actually my son change it I just supervised… most businesses say they can’t find anybody to work what they don’t say is that they won’t pay people enough to work…

I don't know what the techs get paid, but Rommel's has three dealerships in two states and has been around for decades. When I was down in the service department last week I saw at least 3 techs working on bikes. My first two services went fine, but now I'm thinking somethings wrong.

 

[rhino 2]

I don't know what the techs get paid, but Rommel's has three dealerships in two states and has been around for decades. When I was down in the service department last week I saw at least 3 techs working on bikes. My first two services went fine, but now I'm thinking somethings wrong.

People were holding on to their bikes and cars and trucks and ATVs longer than ever and They will need more Repairs .So guarantee three mechanics aren’t enough but why hire more mechanics when you could just make people wait…!

 

[Old Road Dog]

Never been fond of service contracts.

 

[rhino 2]

Never been fond of service contracts.

When everything is going good a Service contract is the best thing since shaving cream in a can..

But when things are going into the dumpster it’s like shaving with cold water..and a rusty blade..

 

[Jack Klarich]

JT, is your service contract portable?

Can you transfer it or cancel it?

I am not a fan of these kinds of contracts, you are held hostage and at the mercy of the dealership

 

[JTJersey]

JT, is your service contract portable? Can you transfer it or cancel it? I am not a fan of these kinds of contracts, you are held hostage and at the mercy of the dealership

It's not portable, but it is cancelable. I think that may be my next step.

 

[Jack Klarich]

It's not portable, but it is cancelable. I think that may be my next step.

IMO I would cancel that 4 sure

You are an accomplished tech you rode a Trouble head right?

Most all of the things needed according to your owners manual you should be able to do at home JMHO

 

[Notgrownup]

Don’t you have a way to drop it off yourself. I know they can pick up but is maybe the pick up part the problem. The longer you wait, the longer it will take.

 

[JTJersey]

Don’t you have a way to drop it off yourself. I know they can pick up but is maybe the pick up part the problem. The longer you wait, the longer it will take.

Don't know if the pick up is the problem. Wasn't before. Doesn't matter. I already paid for it in advance and I'm not prepared to drop $800+ on a trailer that the trike will fit.

 

[JTJersey]

Rode down to Smyrna GA and stopped at Rommel's HD and cancelled my contract with them. It went reasonably well considering my response when she asked me why I was cancelling. Immediately rode back 100 miles to Atlantic County HD near Atlantic City NJ and explained my situation. They said no problem, bring it in Wednesday at 9AM and we'll have you out before noon. Rommel's couldn't take me in 'til the end of August, maybe. Atlantic County HD is about an hour from me so if I do need to leave it for something it will be a lot easier and cheaper (no tolls) to get a ride home and back. Was a beautiful day for a 250 mile ride though.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Rode down to Smyrna GA and stopped at Rommel's HD and cancelled my contract with them. It went reasonably well considering my response when she asked me why I was cancelling. Immediately rode back 100 miles to Atlantic County HD near Atlantic City NJ and explained my situation. They said no problem, bring it in Wednesday at 9AM and we'll have you out before noon. Rommel's couldn't take me in 'til the end of August, maybe. Atlantic County HD is about an hour from me so if I do need to leave it for something it will be a lot easier and cheaper (no tolls) to get a ride home and back. Was a beautiful day for a 250 mile ride though.

I hope the best for you JT, as always keep us in the know

This may help others near you to sort this kind of problem out

 

[Notgrownup]

Glad you got it straightened out John. Service at dealers is always a bit iffy… Do you have any independent shops around maybe?

I do most of my own but I have a few good Independent shops around here that could help in a pinch.

 

[JTJersey]

Glad you got it straightened out John. Service at dealers is always a bit iffy… Do you have any independent shops around maybe? I do most of my own but I have a few good Independent shops around here that could help in a pinch.

Not many shops in my area unfortunately. There's a couple, but they are mostly Shovelhead and Evo guys still doing chopper stuff mostly and I've never seen a trike at any of them. Pretty much stuck with the dealers for anything current, which is fine. Atlantic County HD has a good rep as does Barbs HD in Cherry Hill NJ. I did just finish also cancelling an add-on equipment damage insurance plan that was only serviceable at the dealership I just fired. All in all, just because they couldn't/wouldn't schedule me a pickup it's costing them $2700 in cancellation refunds. All I wanted was my 10,000 miles service that I paid for.

 

[rhino 2]

Not many shops in my area unfortunately. There's a couple, but they are mostly Shovelhead and Evo guys still doing chopper stuff mostly and I've never seen a trike at any of them. Pretty much stuck with the dealers for anything current, which is fine. Atlantic County HD has a good rep as does Barbs HD in Cherry Hill NJ. I did just finish also cancelling an add-on equipment damage insurance plan that was only serviceable at the dealership I just fired. All in all, just because they couldn't/wouldn't schedule me a pickup it's costing them $2700 in cancellation refunds. All I wanted was my 10,000 miles service that I paid for.

And you'll find out that most Indie's do not have the room or space that a Trike takes up..

Just moving it around a cluttered garage is a headache for them..

 

[JTJersey]

So I changed dealers and got my 10,000 mile service completed yesterday with no surprises. Today the driver from the original dealership called to say he can pick up my Freewheeler this morning to get the service done. I explained to him what had been going on and he told me the owner of the dealership had sent him to Connecticut to pick up several bikes. He was gone for a week and the shop knew this, although I started calling them way before his supposed Connecticut trip so not sure what to make of it. Sounds like BS to me. Oh, well, doesn't matter now.

 

[New Orleans Kevin]

I'm overdue for my 10,000 mile service on my '21 Freewheeler. I've been trying for 3 weeks to set it up. I have a paid for contract covering 3 years of services with pickup and delivery. Rommels HD is down in Smyrna DE. I'm in NJ, a good hour and a half ride. Four times I've been told that they're messaging the driver to contact me for pickup scheduling. They have every phone number I've got and my email, yet no one has called. I even went down there in person to voice my displeasure and nobody understood why I haven't been contacted and they sent another message to the driver. I'm thinking they're trying to stick me on the contract and even if they do come get the trike I'm afraid it will sit there for weeks unless I can find a ride down to get it. I'm not happy with these guys. End of rant.

JTJersey, I would call down to the person who sold you that contract, probably the Financing and Insurance manager (F&I), and give him a nice friendly earful of customer service after the sale talk. You've paid a lot for that I'm sure and should get what you paid for. I'd also get his email and send him a follow up e-mail copying yourself to create a paper trail. If he doesn't fix it, I'd call the store GM. and then e-mail him with a chronological account of your troubles. In your e-mail outline your problem, your expectation and what the resolution should be. Ask for a prompt reply.

A call to your salesperson wouldn't hurt either. They made a nice commission selling you that Freewheeler and are hoping you'll trade it in in a few years.

I know here those contracts are cancellable but there is no monetary refund, they take it off the end of the loan.

Now, that said, everywhere is experiencing labor issues and huge supply chain issues. . My local dealer has two drivers picking up and delivering and they run two weeks out due to the volume of bikes. they also have 7 techs wrenching daily and are still looking for more employees in all positions.

Keep us posted

 

[Jarhead1775]

That's all very good information. I have 300 more miles to go before I go in for my 10K service. I too, have a service contract. If my chain gets jerked around like that you can bet, I'll be cancelling it Lickey split.

 

[Old Road Dog]

I'd rather attempt to stick a fire cracker up a bobcats ass then get locked into a service contract when I can change my own oil,filter, primary, adjust belt tension etc- oh and dont forget checking that tread depth and air in the tires. Yeah yeah the dealer will check for updates but with the screaming chicken software I can also do that myself.