Bad experience with a Triumph dealer

Phil68

.040 Over
Joined
Jun 17, 2008
Messages
66
Location
Camden County, New Jersey
I dropped my bike off at my local triumph dealer this evening. I was having the cold starting problem, oil seaping from one of the head bolts and also a coolant leak from an unknown location. My bike is a 2007 with 5k on the odometer.

I called them two days ago to ask about a tow. They said they'd call me back and never did.

I got the bike running this evening so I rode it to the dealership to drop it off. When I got there there they said that because I didn't buy the bike at their dealership he might refuse to do the warranty work because he's going to lose too much money! If thats the case, he told me he'd call me and tell me to come pick up the bike.

Sounds like bull---- to me! Is this typical with Triumph dealers? I was so pissed off when this guy was telling me this I didn't know what to say. Now I feel like if he does fix it he's going to be looking to screw me in the future with anything else I have to get done.
 
If they refuse service here's where I'd start:

Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd.
385 Walt Sanders Memorial Drive
Suite 100
Newnan, Georgia 30265

Main Telephone: (678) 854-2010

Customer Service: (678) 854-2010, extension 2064

Dealer Development: (678) 854-2010, extension 2046
 

Please share the dealers name, either PM me or put it here. I live in NJ about 20 mins from a dealer and I have heard mixed things about my dealer but haven't been in there yet.
 
On the small volume stuff the dealers really take a hit on warranty work. My bike was early on the major overhaul list at my dealer. I think it was the second one they did. It took them exactly double the time Triumph allowed for the job. Just inexperience really. They had to figure out a harness to hook the forklift to the bike to lift it off the engine. Lots of standing around scratching their heads.
Back at that time I doubt they would have run out in the street and pulled you in for a warranty problem if you had shopped the price of the bike and bought it for $100.00 less down the road. Maybe that's wrong, but it is human nature and the nature of a small business. It's hard to be generous when you are struggling. You also hear the ill advised quote of an employee who has heard the boss say, "f-this, I'm not doing another of these if they bought it from Joes Discount". But when the dust settles the dealer steps up and says "yeah, bring it in, we will be GLAD to take a look at it."
Stay cool and don't let it get adversarial.
I bought the mechanic a new Torque wrench for his struggles, especially since I rode the bike in, not thinking of the common sump, thereby allowing the bits of second gear to circulate all thru the engine. I am grateful for the effort he put in at getting all the metal out. I hope you get yours done and get it back on the road soon.
 
Good points. I hoping the guy was just having a really bad day. I think your right that the best bet for now is just keep a cool head and let a play out. I didn't want to post the dealerships name cause I can't take that back once said... now that'll change if he calls me to come pick up my bike because he doesn't want to honor my warranty. I come from a long line of small business onwners so I empathize with that theory of struggling, but I also realize that there's a cost of doing business. Thats a part of being a business owner and for countless reasons, not all businesses remain viable.
 
Wonderful bike, piss poor network of care providers. I had to move 900 miles to get near a decent one.
 
I had my warranty work done at Lynnwood Cycle Barn and they never even mentioned me not buying it there nor that they would lose money. They took care of the bike. Dragonfly bought his somewhere back east and had it shipped to Washington. Champions in Bremerton, WA, did a warranty rebuild on his bike without hesitation.
 
In Bremerton

Gasket, there's a Champion Cycle in Bremerton now? Do you have the address?

Couldn't pass it up. Figured you were pooped from that ride to Oregon today and meant to say Bellingham !

Did you win the raffle?
 
Re: In Bremerton

mitchcpc said:
Gasket, there's a Champion Cycle in Bremerton now? Do you have the address?

Couldn't pass it up. Figured you were pooped from that ride to Oregon today and meant to say Bellingham !

Did you win the raffle?

Excuse me, yes I did mean Bellingham. I regret that I missed the ride today. Have you been to the new Triumph dealership in our area? I understand it is down near Lacey, or close to it.