In early may of 2014, I set-up my bike to have an oil and filter change, the original fuel tank replaced with one I provided , a Spiegler LSL Handlebar kit, and a Throttlemeister Cruise Control to be installed.
I was originally set to drop the bike of the first weekend of August, then they pushed it to the third weekend. Then they said the handlebar kit still wasn't in. Really, from the first weekend in May to the third weekend in August? So I waited. I then had to call regarding the last weekend in August, as was due to drop the bike off, good thing I did, no one was ready, and they weren't going to tell me apparently.
So, September 6th, I finally drop the bike off. Guess what, bar kit was still not there. "Well, you can certainly get the tank done then", I say. Which, to my knowledge they did. Two weeks later I have to call to get an update on the bike...should be done, right? Nope, more of the same, no one was going to update their client (one that had over $1,000 of work done on this same bike last winter). The new bars are hitting the windscreen--"no problem", I tell Lee Maxy, the way-over-his-head, but well meaning Service Manager. "I'll just put a different one on, or notch it with a Dremel, please continue."
Another week goes by, and nothing, so, somehow the custom made kit didn't have the hydraulic lines needed to complete the installation. Not sure why this is my problem, because this clearly was a manufacturing issue and/or something the shop should have known about several weeks ago had they been doing anything with my bike. After all, Lancaster Sport Cycle is a certified Spiegler Dealer...
Which brings us to Wednesday of this week...after having authorized the ordering of custom lines to be made (paid for by me I might add), somehow a fitting wasn't right, and needed to be sent out to Spiegler to have corrected (really, again, this is all about ownership, initiative and urgency, something whoever the Parts Manager is doesn't have and couldn't find with a flashlight. Understand, I was set to pick the bike up on Thursday, and had taken a vacation day to do so. Time wasted, faith lost, customer put on the backburner.
Saturday, 10/11/14 was the new date of pick-up, at 2:00 pm. I arranged my schedule, and my wife's to be able to do so. Then I get this call at 12:20 pm on 10/10/14; "Matt, Lee Maxy with Lancaster Sport Cycle, the lines still aren't back from Spiegler. They should be here tomorrow, but I might not be able to get the bike finished." At this point, I am past furious, and I would like to imagine most people would have gotten there well before I have.
I told, I did not ask, I told, Lee to put someone in car to Dayton, Ohio--Oh yeah, this whole time "Spiegler" is two hours away in Dayton, Ohio, and these people (again, clueless Parts Manager, and over-his-head Service Manager) have no independent thought to go and PICK UP THE PART, rather than continue to put the customer out days, weeks and months with this kind of ineptitude.
I then asked to speak with the owner. After being put on hold, I was told he was with a client. Based on the lack of customer satisfying follow-up, I hung up. I then called Lee back a minute or two later, and apologized for my tone. I then informed him that his shop we no longer authorized to work on my motorcycle, and that it, along with any parts previously removed, and needing to be put on were to be delivered to my house today.
Never in my entire life, have I ever had an experience as bad as this one. Note, the first time this bike was in the shop I had it in writing for them that the needed to add a Jet Kit. They returned the bike and were surprised when I told them that the bike ran very lean, and that I wanted to see the receipt for the Jet Kit. Shockingly, "the tech didn't think it would need one". Yet, as it turns out, no one test rode the bike, and no one put an air/fuel gauge on the bike to check, it was just wrapped up, and sent to the customer...got to love my optimism that the second time around (third if you count the bike being picked up for the Jet Kit installation) that my experience would improve. I guess it's true, "the second time shame on me". read more