Went to the Honda Dealer yesterday

[massey130]

I wanted to buy some Moly 60 paste. i found it online, but wanted to do some business locally. Well, i really did not want to wait on the shipping time.

 

The parts counter guy was friendly and helpful, but said they don't have any and the requests for it are basically nill, so they don't stock it.

 

I looked at him sort of funny and wondered what do the mechanics use? I said "Really? Well, alright then, i will order it online."

 

He said "Ok, man, sorry."

 

Since i have started riding again, I have been to all the motor cycle places in lake Charles, la and have been surprised at the lack of stuff for sale. Yes, you can find the basics. get a scooter, settle for an instock but not what you want helmet and an overpriced jacket and you are riding that day. (with approved credit!!)

 

Since I was there, I figured I would look around. I guess i was really disappointed when i was walking around the show room and did not see any GWings. A salesman asked if he could help and i asked where they kept the GWings. They had none. Ok, i guess all these crotch rockets are supporting the electric bill. anyway we chatted about this n that and i was on my way empty handed. I ordered some moly off flea bay after looking around the net.

 

I already knew that the Yama shop had no RSV's on the floor, so i didn't go by there to get some more of their inattentiveness. I went to home and cooked dinner.

 

So how is service and part stock supply in your home town?

anyone else get the same treatment?

[Aimhigh]

More of the same in Texas...I couldn't help but notice your map of states ridden...rather interesting. One state in the (far) north...and one state in the (far) south. now you need to fill in the blank spot!

[massey130]

Yea, i was wondering if anyone would say something about that.

my wife is from Minn and followed the casino down here. we met through a mutual friend and wound up hitting if off and are now married (13.5 yrs now). we take our vacation and go to Minn. this past trip we trailered the RSV and rode while up there. Debbie's brother drives a Valkyrie, so we made some day trips.

 

I thought about taking a 5 minute ride in each state as we stopped for gas so i could fill in the blanks, but that would be "cheating".

 

[massey130]

We always have a combination of Kids or Grandkids along so making the trip on the bike only hasn't been an option, but, maybe one year. I would need 2 weeks off for that. it would be tough to make the straight shot north and not stray into the side by ways.

[bassplayer]

Yes ,I have found the same here for the most part. Hard to find good honest people that work at most bike or auto shops any more. If you don't do your homework before you go to the dealer for anything. and know exactly what you need and how much it should cost and how long it should take to do the work. there gona spot you coming a mile away with $$ in there eyes.

[Skid]

If they want to sell motorcycles you need to have them on the sales floor.

Kind of hard to sell motorcycles from a catalog.....

[Snaggletooth]

Around here sales, service and parts all suck. Nothing on the shelves that ya need, (or want to pay their price for), nutting but rockets on the floor and the sales people all seem to act like they can't even see you.

 

Even at the HD dealer you need to have $100 bills hanging out of you pockets before they will come over to you.

 

The only dealer that even makes an effort to make a sale is the Victory dealer here. They darn near meet ya at the door.

[Yammer Dan]

Sounds like most of them in Charleston,WV

[LilBeaver]

I guess I kindof luck out here. My local Honda (victory, kawasaki, etc.) dealership is really good. Friendly, knowledgeable and always have 3-5 GW on the floor as well as a bunch of non-crotch rockets.

 

Everytime I go in there, the sales people are always very visible and greet me while not being obnoxious. The parts folks - for the most part, know what they are talking about and have been very open about pricing, stock, etc. Sometimes I will ask for a part and they will suggest I go to XX place and get it there because they have a better price. They have a healthy stock of parts, on hand and anything they don't have they get next day.

The service department has 3 service writers and a handful of mechanics. These folks are very knowlegeable as well and have won my business. The guy I usually work with actually knows me by name (he processed the warranty replacement of my Avon tires, as well as took care of tire instals on a few other bikes for me as well as some of my friends bikes - that I took care of for them).

 

Anyways, enough about that...

 

My Yamaha dealer, on the otherhand, is LESS than useless.

[RandyR]

I've found most of the dealers in this area friendly and with a good stock of motorcycles and parts. Closest is a Motoguzzi/Aprilia dealer; if I were to buy another MC now I would likely buy one of the NOS Guzzis he has some great deals on, also a good selection of accessories, and large selection of used bikes of all makes, also has a snack bar/ice cream shop with a cafe' on premise and a tire store out back where I'll be buying my tires and installation going forward. There are 4 Yamaha dealers within a 40 mile radius so I can find just about anything I want, including Ventures, but they don't discount much around here, I'm in the corridor between Atlanta and the mountains, with lots of bike traffic and business is good despite the prices. The mechanics at the nearest Yamaha dealer Moto400. about 10 miles away seems to have knowledgeable mechanics and a friendly parts dept with a good stock(so far).

[dmoff1698]

I have to give a shout-out to the Yamaha dealer in Shawnee OK. Walk in there and you are usually greated right away. The parts department usually has what I need and is very helpful. Not much personal experience with the service department, I've heard both good and bad.

 

Selection on the floor is sometimes limited (no RSVs last weekend) but they have the reputation of finding whatever you want and being able to get it at a reasonable price.

 

Things weren't always like that at this store.....I wonder if it has anything to do with the new Honda Superstore just down the street?

[slick97spirit]

Are you kidding? I won't even step foot in our local Honda/Yammie stealership. Back when I would go there, I've been on the showroom floor 20 times and had someone come talk to me maybe twice.

 

Besides the fact that as I was bringing a bike in to trade for a shadow they had on their floor and broke down on the way there. I called the owner and asked him if he would bring a trailer and pick me up (I was 10 minutes away) so we could deal for the shadow. He said he would then proceeded to leave me stranded there on the side of the interstate for over 2 hours. A kind gentleman finally stopped and helped me get my bike home.

 

Needless to say, when he finally heard from me he got an earful about how I'll never even buy a spark plug from him let alone trade bikes. I've since purchased two mc's and none from him.

[starrider60]

I wanted the moly lube so I went to the Honda dealer. Parts guy was real friendly. No moly in stock but he'd order it. Had to order 10 tubes to get one. I've since bought two and he has only three left. Said it was strange that he had never sold any until I had him order it. Whatta surprise!! The local Yamaha dealer is also great - friendly, always has the coffe pot on and willing to work with you on parts & service. Guess I'm just lucky.

[LilBeaver]

I wanted to buy some Moly 60 paste...

 

I looked at him sort of funny and wondered what do the mechanics use?

...

 

Sometimes service areas will use bulk order types of containers that are much cheaper and not setup for individual resale... So it is likely that they still use it but just not in the individual tubes that you were looking for.

 

Just a thought.

[wes0778]

I wanted the moly lube so I went to the Honda dealer. Parts guy was real friendly. No moly in stock but he'd order it. .

Hey DAVE!!! (He knows who he is...) Looks like you might have the opprtunity for some mail order sales... :cool10:

[massey130]

To LilBeaver - I figured the mechanics use bulk priced stuff to help keep expenses down, but then, if a person is ordering lube, why not order some for the shelf as do-it-yourselfers, like us may want some.

 

that's where my thinking gets me!

 

If i win the lottery, i am gonna buy the Yammy Dealership and give great deals to eveyone on this site!

[KiteSquid]

My local Honda motorcycle dealership does not stock Honda Moly60 either, but my local Honda and Acura Car dealerships do AND at a lower price.

 

I too wonder what the service department at the motorcycle shop uses..... BTW, they wont be servicing my bike...

[LilBeaver]

To LilBeaver - I figured the mechanics use bulk priced stuff to help keep expenses down, but then, if a person is ordering lube, why not order some for the shelf as do-it-yourselfers, like us may want some.

 

that's where my thinking gets me!

 

If i win the lottery, i am gonna buy the Yammy Dealership and give great deals to eveyone on this site!

 

I would tend to think that it would be in the best interest of the dealership to have that kind of stuff on hand - but that means more $$$ out for the shop, so

 

If you buy your Yammy dealership, you'd have my business.

[a1bummer]

I smell hat your stepping in. It seems like all us do-it-yourselfers are having a more and more difficult time finding what we need locally to get our stuff done. And as fa as finding someone behind the counter who has a friendly face or knows what their doing, that seems to be getting few and far between as well. More and more of my business is going to the internet. But I hate all that waiting. Usually if I'm in the middle of doing a job and need something, I need it right now, not two or three days.

 

Don't get me started with how much I hate Wally World, Radio Shack, and Menards!

 

[BigBoyinMS]

Just an FYI..

 

You can get Moly60 or at least have it ordered in 1-2 days at any Honda CAR or Acura dealer. Part# 08734-0001 and you should pay no more than about $10.

 

And some CAR dealers will have BG 44K for those that like it better than SeaFoam. Should be no more than $20 at a dealer.

Edited December 2, 2009 by BigBoyinMS

[massey130]

To Big Boy - my mind was thinking motorcyce. i did not think about the car dealership - and it was 2 blocks down. Helloooo. LOL

 

well, my now overpriced moly will last me quite awhile, so getting adding a cheaper tube of the stuff will only take up room on my lube shelf.

[craigatcsi]

Around here sales, service and parts all suck. Nothing on the shelves that ya need, (or want to pay their price for), nutting but rockets on the floor and the sales people all seem to act like they can't even see you.

 

Even at the HD dealer you need to have $100 bills hanging out of you pockets before they will come over to you.

 

The only dealer that even makes an effort to make a sale is the Victory dealer here. They darn near meet ya at the door.

 

This has been my experience here in the Omaha area as weill.

VERY sad.

craigr

[stroker ace]

The closest Honda dealer to me keeps the moly in stock, the Yamaha dealer here has always been above and beyond from my experience anyway. They support our local meet up group pay the club dues and let us hold our meetings at their store. The owner's wife even joins in on club rides when she has time. They also has a new RSV on the floor with a couple of used ones also, along with a couple of wings the last time we were over. They also price match any add. my

[oldgoat]

here where i live the nearest dealer is 25 miles from me either way. 2 of them same distance apart.. one yamaha dealer. has nothing but the rockets. and when the scooter age hit. tons of these little 50cc and up to 150cc. crap all over the show room. i went in there with the venture looking for some repair work to be done. just wanted it to run ok. and was told. that under no circumstances would they work on the bike. to old 1984? and the man said you cant afford to get it done right? ok maybe my looks frighten him into thinking im a bum. 5 ft 9 240 pounds hair middle of my back. and a full long beard. old jean jacket red white and blue helmet. maybe he thought i came right out of easy rider? the other dealer ship. was verry friendly and i will give ther name a boost here leopolds out of ottawa illinois. they can find ya some basic parts. like carb parts, and even a decent resurfaced rotor for the rear of my bike. brake pads ect. all these things are now sitting here as i got taken by a 40 a hour shop here in town that was going to install all the parts? then i blew out my knee. and that shop just kept putting my bike back in the back did nothing. i went down there and demanded my tires and my bike. as i paid for them. plus i wanted a refund as tires included free mounting and balance. he gave me my tires and 6 bucks? said im no longer wanted at his shop. because i wanted it done to fast. bike sat there for 2 months? he even said i should charge you storage. know i know putting on the rotors and new brake pads cant take to long seeing as the tires are comming off for. mounting . oh well enough. ranting. im going to find a repair manual some where and get down and dirty. just need to find a repair book. not the cd they sell on ebay.

[Yammer Dan]

To LilBeaver - I figured the mechanics use bulk priced stuff to help keep expenses down, but then, if a person is ordering lube, why not order some for the shelf as do-it-yourselfers, like us may want some.

 

that's where my thinking gets me!

 

If i win the lottery, i am gonna buy the Yammy Dealership and give great deals to eveyone on this site!

 

 

I want to be the 1st to place my order for a 1st Gen with a 2010 V-Max engine!!!And some ABS brakes, reverse and and ....