laxer wrote:
Q-How many pancakes does it take to shingle a doghouse?
PS-have you talked to Genuine directly about this dealer. If they are a Genuine authorized dealer, I'd bet that Genuine would want to know the details of this...
Too many variables. But the quickest answer is along the same lines as the jet issue. Pancakes are also not good for shingling. The list of things that pancakes are good for is a lot shorter than the list that they're bad for. Just an FYI.
how about a modern buddy battalion email blast? Using their website mailto!
As in "I heard you sold a demo bike as new and then screwed it up by drilling holes in the air box and reaming out the jet instead of doing a proper repair job. And I heard you are not doing a damned thing to make it right..."
If all this stuff happened as explained on this forum; who knows what else has been done to this scoot; how many actual miles is on this scoot, and what other experiments were performed etc. Demo’s are not to be tampered with, other than typical routine maint..
I wouldn’t ask for compensation, I would demand a brand new Black Jack.
If they are reluctant to compensate you to your whishes, you should file a complaint with the BBB, http://www.bbb.org/ ; it is easy to do and they do follow up on complaints and if anything the BBB will have a record of your incident.
My Wife received a call from the original mechanic (as prompted by the dealer). He said that he now realized that I was not present when the holes were made (I was with my Wife in the waiting room). He apologized for how everything turned out and that he couldn't fix it.
My Wife and I discussed it and we decided to end the fight. I know there will be many who say we wimped out...that may be true. I would probably advise others to fight too, but when it's you...it's a bit harder. We base our decision on the following:
1. I cannot prove when the holes were made or the jet modified. I believed it was when I bought it or soon after. The mechanic said it was after I bought it. I discovered the holes in September. I based my assumption since the gas milage was always poor and it ran differently than my Wife's. The most I could prove was that the mechanic was unable to fix it, doing proceedures that are not authorized by Genuine.
2. It would be difficult to produce proof of damages. I could claim at least 10 trips (18 miles each), but there again since I was too lazy to document each trip, how can I prove it? I could try to prove that I lost a certain amount of money due to poor gas milage...but how can I prove gas milage? How much would my time be considered for reimbursement...I don't know?
3. Genuine stood by the warranty at the new dealership. They replaced the jet, paid for a new valve check and other diagnostics. They also replaced the exhaust system on my Wife's scooter (we think it broke because of her shock issues...a long story. But Scooterworks gave us many freebies because of the problem.)
4. The scooter is now working properly. If the problem is resolved, any further action would be an attempt at punishing, rather than resolving.
5. Upon reflection we realized that we didn't need their money...we did want them to admit that they screwed up and that the mechanic needed some serious training from Genuine. The mechanic did so, politely without excuses.
I have stood out with signs at an auto dealership once when they refused to fix it under warranty. It did work, but it was nerve-racking, stressful and a last attempt at retifying it. I would advise it, if there is no other way to get satisfaction.
Now for me to try to humiliate, punish, degrade and hassle the dealership at this point, might degrade my relationship with the Genuine Company itself...which has responded to the problem and even called the dealership on my behalf. I have found a new Dealer in Holland which I was very pleased with their expertise, helpfulness and honesty. Although it's farther to ride...it will be worth it to get things fixed properly.
Once again thanks to all that have followed this thread and given helpful insights and suggestions. Some will probably say that I gave up...but this has been a long ordeal and we would like to get back to what we bought our scooters for...enjoyment. Although old man winter will slow us down for awhile.
kcscooterfan wrote:The scooter is now working properly. If the problem is resolved, any further action would be an attempt at punishing, rather than resolving.
Punishment is good, I like that. It'll work.
Yes, it is time consuming and nerve wracking. Glad you're satisfied with Genuine. Keep an eye on that dealership. Wonder if Genuine will cancel them?
Well done. Genuine is aware of the dealer issues and you have a scoot that works right. Anything more is a waste of time and energy. I appreciate your outlook on this.
I suppose I should be upset, even feel violated, but I'm not. No, in fact, I think this is a friendly message, like "Hey, wanna play?" and yes I want to play. I really really do.
Glad to hear you've got the scoot running well KC. Hope there is still a good amount of season left for you to run up some miles!
Regarding your concern about MPG, your scooter is still young. Your MPG (and max speed) will continue to improve as the scooter breaks in.
Also, in my one side by side riding experience with both my St. Tropez and a Blackjack with the Prima pipe installed, we rode from LA to Los Gatos 90% WOT highway riding. I was getting close to 2x the MPG as the Blackjack. Notable differences were my scooter was broken in, the BJ was not, the BJ driver was a bit bigger and heavier than me, and also the Prima pipe really contributed too.
So if I am getting 76+ mpg on my St. Tropez, from what I have observed, anything 55+ mpg would be pretty good for a new BJ with the Prima pipe installed. You won't start getting max top end speed until you have around 1500 miles on the bike.
No doubt though, there could potentially be numerous other variables in individual situations...
kcscooterfan wrote:Once again thanks to all that have followed this thread and given helpful insights and suggestions. Some will probably say that I gave up...but this has been a long ordeal and we would like to get back to what we bought our scooters for...enjoyment.
Glad to hear that both your scoots are running good. It is easy to give tough advice while sitting in an easy chair, but I think I would have ended up where you did. Genuine delivered, you have two scoots that run well which is all you ever wanted, and both Genuine and the first dealer know there were serious service problems. Case closed. Ride and enjoy.
(Ah, it wouldn't hurt to post the name of the dealership that dragged you through the knothole. No reason for any of your fellow MB'ers to have a similar experience.)
If I continue to get 65 mpg, while running it pretty hard, I'll be very satisfied. I heard that the prima pipe cuts the mileage a bit. But it's so worth it, when people think you got a little 50 cc and you roar away. It sounds different than it did, now that it is fixed. The only way I can describe it, the sound isn't as "fat". It sounds leaner...like my Wife's. It doesn't constantly backfire either, just a little pop now and then. We wanted to ride a little today, but it was real rainy and windy. Maybe we can brave the elements tomorrow.
Good call. Who knows what really happened (aside from the clear fact that they done you wrong), but you now have a good relationship with Vespa Holland, so just run with that.
Dooglas wrote:(Ah, it wouldn't hurt to post the name of the dealership that dragged you through the knothole. No reason for any of your fellow MB'ers to have a similar experience.)
Since I live in the same area and have the same shops to choose from, I've asked him in PM to name it, but for some reason he won't. However, the only place that fits the description (Genuine dealer in the city of Grand Rapids MI) is Woodland Travel, an RV dealer which has also gotten into scooters recently. For what it's worth, I brought my scooter to Woodland once for routine service and had no complaints. Hopefully they've learned from this. If not, I know there's another scooter dealer in town (same owner as Vespa Holland) who'd be happy to add Genuine to their line-up, and there's also a motorcycle dealer not too far out of town which is Genuine-authorized.
Dooglas wrote:(Ah, it wouldn't hurt to post the name of the dealership that dragged you through the knothole. No reason for any of your fellow MB'ers to have a similar experience.)
Since I live in the same area and have the same shops to choose from, I've asked him in PM to name it, but for some reason he won't. However, the only place that fits the description (Genuine dealer in the city of Grand Rapids MI) is Woodland Travel, an RV dealer which has also gotten into scooters recently. For what it's worth, I brought my scooter to Woodland once for routine service and had no complaints. Hopefully they've learned from this. If not, I know there's another scooter dealer in town (same owner as Vespa Holland) who'd be happy to add Genuine to their line-up, and there's also a motorcycle dealer not too far out of town which is Genuine-authorized.
I recall him once saying that it was an RV shop so you likely figured out on your own.
I really don't see why one would need to prove or disprove that they knew of the holes, the jet or anything else. The scooter was used and abused and sold as new. He was jerked around for the entire riding season in MI. It's true, if it's not worth it to you to fight, then don't. I just don't think "proof" as listed is needed to be given some compensation for the total pain that was caused. In the end if this fella and wife feel like everything is a-ok than it is
Kudos to the OP for documenting his ordeal and for letting us all follow along. Kudos to Genuine for coming through for him. Too bad the whole thing had to happen.
Want and need divide me. Mekka-lekka hi mekka hiney ho!
