Dealer experience

mrv64 · 08-05-2005, 11:12 PM

This is not vender related but if anyone in this area (Northwest Arkansas, Northeast Oklahoma, Southwest Missouri) is looking at using a Honda dealership I do not reccomend Heartland Honda. This is a copy of the letter I sent to American Honda.

I would like to share my experience with Heartland Honda in Springdale Arkansas. I took my 2001 Erion Racing 929RR in on 24 June 2005 for warranty repair because the fuel injection light and the malfunction indicator light was coming on. After three weeks it was finally ready to pick up, (they had to replace the ECM). I went down on 14 July 2005 before work to pick it up. I did a quick walk around and noticed a wiring harness sticking out between the fuel tank and seat, I then noticed the wiring harness to my grip heaters was unplugged also, I told the service manager that I was not happy with it and they pulled it back in the shop and fixed it. I put it on the trailer and went to work; when I got to work I went to set the alarm and it did not work so I left it till I could get home. When I got home I put my bike in the garage to check the alarm (ground wire was disconnected), when I took out the first seat bolt I noticed it was the wrong one, the other was the correct bolt washer. After I removed the seat I immediately seen the sub frame was all scratched up above the bolt holes apparently from sliding the seat around till it dropped over the frame rails. I then saw that the paint on the rear edge of the fuel tank was chipped (along the entire length of the back edge). The frame in that area was also chipped, as well as a portion of the frame below the tank on the left side was chipped as well as the paint on the tank. There were some chips on the front edge of the tank as well. The front tank bolts are also wrong, (silver instead of black) as well as the rubber isolators that go between the tank and frame on each side were missing. Needless to say I called the service manager the very next morning about these problems, he said he did not know what I wanted him to do, I told him I wanted it repaired he said he could put some touch up paint on it but he was not going to replace anything. He said that that was just part of the repair process, that things get damaged. He also said that it should not matter since the seat covers most of it. I called and talked to the store manager the next Tuesday since he had been on vacation, I explained the problems I had and he said he was going to talk to the technician that worked on the bike. I have yet to receive a return call as to what he is going to do about the problem. I am very upset with the professionalism of the employees at Heartland Honda. I have been a loyal customer and have sent everyone that ever ask about a motorcycle, atv or parts and accessories to them. I take pride in my motorcycle and get complemented on it daily, one for the appearance and two for the mileage that the bike has (over 42,000 accident free miles). I would think the dealership would take measures to insure the quality of work and make sure the customer’s property is returned to them in as good or better condition. Needless to say I will no longer take anything to them or recommend them to anyone again. I have since filed with my insurance and hopefully they can get them to take care of these problems. I do not feel that they represent the Honda name and hope you will investigate these problems.

CBRVFR · 08-06-2005, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrv64

He said that that was just part of the repair process, that things get damaged. .

I think that guy was lucky his front teeth didn't get damaged in the process..

Welcome to the .org, mrv.

sheepofblue · 08-06-2005, 12:13 AM

I have not seen the chips or scratches so I will reserve judgment. However taking parts off and either not replacing them or using the incorrect parts

I had a mental picture of a big pile of parts from multiple bikes.

SomeStrangeGuy · 08-06-2005, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

I think that guy was lucky his front teeth didn't get damaged in the process..

..yeah, thats a great ad slogan...I'm suprised they don't use it in advertising. "Welcome to Heartland Honda, come on down and experience our white glove service...you WILL be amazed!"
They just forget to tell you it's a white latex glove.

After sending the letter and burning their shop to the ground, I'd highly recommend you find a decent bodyshop that has done bike work in the past for when the estimation portion of things comes around.

Good luck, welcome to the org, and thanks for the info

...just to be sure, Dan Kyle didn't offer you your bike back at Laguna Seca and you refused it per chance, did you?

Bacchus · 08-06-2005, 12:51 AM

Welcome to the .org mrv

Wow! That is a sad story indeed! And what CBRVFR said. Hope you get it sorted - that shop should have its business license phucking yanked.

mrv64 · 08-06-2005, 3:01 AM

Well ther were no chips in my paint anywhere, I take great care of my bike. It looked like they just tilted the tank up without putting anything between the tank and frame. If I had a way to post the pics I would but that would take too long.

Bacchus · 08-06-2005, 3:10 AM

Posting pics doesn't take long at all - just do it!

phobiaphobe · 08-06-2005, 5:51 PM

This is why I won't take my bike to a dealer. They rush, miss things, round off nuts and use the wrong parts all over the place. I really think it's an inherent flaw with paying technicians on flat rate. They rush too much.

Robert3RR · 08-06-2005, 6:16 PM

them dealer tech f@#$ers have no respect for other peoples stuff...thats why I am trying to do my best to keep my bike away from them and as well their high price labor ....them F@#$ers

...

Robert3RR · 08-06-2005, 6:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

This is why I won't take my bike to a dealer. They rush, miss things, round off nuts and use the wrong parts all over the place. I really think it's an inherent flaw with paying technicians on flat rate. They rush too much.

I'm with you on that