Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Is my dealer running me around?

So I picked up the new America, but when I got home and opened the package, neither the spare key nor either of the steering-lock keys fit the bike. Obviously I have someone else's keys, and someone else has mine. After two weeks of "supposedly" phoning his other '08 America customers to track them down, the dealer tells me the keys have gone poof!

Am I out of line if I request (read that as "politely demand") that he re-key the steering lock?

In fact the whole buying experience was a little off-putting - promised dates not met (but not missed by much), a $900 invoice error on delivery (but quickly reversed after we pointed it out), an empty fuel tank as the bike was presented (owner said it was full, salesman filled it later when we found it empty so kudos to Jeff the salesman), and no safety/controls/operators run-through with the customer (any other dealer has alway done this with me). Perhaps I'm too demanding. Opinions?

But in spite of it all, I LOVE the bike.

So...,car dealerships aren't the only ones that do that?

The best thing to do is post the name of the dealer. I am a well respected rider in the area in which I live, and have found that word of mouth more than anything else, will not only cure the problem, but will in time put this dealer out of business. I have done this. Its your best chance to take a wack at him.

I don't know about Hornet's approach but I would politely request that your dealer at least rekey the steering lock and get you a genuine copy of your ignition key as well. That's how they are supposed to be, that's how it should be!

Is that the new Kelowna dealership? I'd ask politely and then failing that I'd pitch a fit. Then I'd flood anyone I could find/think of at Triumph corporate with emails and/or phone calls. That's bogus. They're a new dealership and they can't afford any negative publicity.

As a last resort, I'd send Dwight's mommy down there to give them "the look."

I would geve them the chance to rectify the problem, then just ask them outright to supply replacement keys. If no joy I would then get intouch with Triumph warranty and ask them to supply new keys. or just fax Triumph headquarters at Hinckley UK and let them know about your experience

Thanks Dwight, but no, it's the wrong key. Had the dealer check it.

Went down this afternoon for the 1000 kms service, and I've gotta be fair to the dealership - they went out of their way to start making this right. Did a full service for a reasonable fee and threw in a spare ignition key and re-mapped the EFI to reduce backfiring, no charge, and loaned me a new Ducati Multistrada for two hours while they did the work. They're still trying to locate the steering keys (I'm sure another customer has 'em and just isn't calling back) and they've volunteered to re-key the lock. So, all in all, after a shaky start I think they're trying to make up lost ground. So far I'm satisfied and feeling a lot better about them.

Yes FrianJohn, it was the Kelowna dealership but I didn't want to name them when I was unhappy with them, but don't mind naming names now that they're doing such a good job.
Thanks for the suggestions, fellas.

(BTW, the Multistrada was a hoot but rough around the edges compared to the America. Apples v.s. Oranges).

Forget about the steering lock-it won't work anyway! Stupid design.

Jack, it's an existing dealership that added Triumph last year. But they're trying (I think) to be fair with me so no bad-mouthing from me. I'll watch carefully though.

Kaiser, I agree about the forklocks. Most of them will snap with a good heave on the bars. BTW, are you the same KaiserSoze that Kevin Spacey played in "All the Usual Suspects" - if so, you a bad dude.....

Jack,
I was up in Kelowna this past March while visiting "Ma", and I made a stop at that dealership there, and yes, they have just picked up the Triumph line within the past year. I asked them if they had any Triumph T-shirts with their name on it, and they told me that because they had just started selling Triumphs, they didn't have any printed yet.

(they already sold Ducatis, and I think Victorys also, if I recall correctly)

Seemed like a nice bunch o' folks.(but then again, Canadians tend to be that way anyway, ya know)

And Pedro,
I'm glad you seem to have found them much more facilitating than you first thought!

(BTW Pedro, I'm headed up that way again on the 15th of this month. If you'd like to ride over to Kelowna, I'll buy ya a beer there!...PM me your phone number if that sounds like a plan)

ask nicely to have new keys made at their cost if they say no then demand it since you should have all your keys for a new bike at no extra cost to you. I also would say that having all the locks changed wouldn't be out of line since there would be someone else out there with keys to your bike.

I dont think having new keys made is the answer that should be cheep anyway. Some one someplace has a set of keys to this mans bike. And its the dealers fault. Lock and ignition should be replaced entirely AT THE DEALERS EXPENCE.

Just be glad you have a dealership...we, here in Atlanta have lost 2 out of 4, and rumor has it that we may lose one more very soon, that will leave us with the Douglasville dealer, which is really a Honda dealer anyway, and Triumph is not well represented at all....and getting your bike in for service there is next to impossible...Parts department there in Douglasville seems to be pretty good...

Go with mattfromomaha's suggestion, if no results, then definitely go with hornets.

The dealer had no problem taking your money, so you should not have to live with their mistake! If they don't want to fix the problem pass on their name and email/phone numbers to all of us. If they start getting "input" from a bunch of Triumph riders they might "wake up".

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we, here in Atlanta have lost 2 out of 4, and rumor has it that we may lose one more very soon, that will leave us with the Douglasville dealer,

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How bout the one in Ashville, N.C.? They are the closest one to me (other than Atlanta which I don't like---Atlanta, not the dealership). Anyone have any knowledge of their service dept. and reputation in general?

Guess I was spoiled with the Cumming dealer. Never had the first problem with them. Always took care of things, and treated you great.

Paw

Sorry, Dwight - I'm gonna be riding in the Olympic Peninsula / Port Townsend WA area from the 14th to the 18th. Have to catch up later. I have some fine 15 yr old MacCallan just aging for my fellow scotch-lovers.
Pedro