Modern Buddy

I read a handful of scooter forums and today was reading over at MV.There is a thread going on about top tier scooter brands.Anyway Genuine was mentioned as should be as a top tier brand.I continued reading the thread when I see this from a MV member:

"Genuine is definitely not a top tier product. I used to work for them in the warranty department here in Chicago. I believe Honda and Yamaha own the top tier followed by Vepsa and Aprilia"

My question is,does someone write this cause something may have happened you know that's personnel? Or is it something else? I just hate others discing Genuine scooters,especially without evidence of some sort offered.Also too,for people looking at a new scooter,the crap above could steer them away from Genuine.What do you guys think? Am I over reacting? Thanks...

Every company is going to have their unhappy former employees that feel the need to dis the company.

If someone takes the word of a former employee and does not buy a product based on that unhappy person's word, they are lilkely just looking for an excuse anyway.

He does not state why he feels that Genuine is a top tier beyond the fact that he is no longer in their employ, (or perhaps because at one time he was in their employ?) Seems like a flimsy reason to me.

-v

maybe he means that they are not nearly as big of a company, which is true. Honda is one of the top scooter sellers world wide as are the others mentioned. genuine is just a US distributer that in many ways is still run like a small business. Great company selling great products but if by top tier they mean cutting edge R&D department, a wind tunnel, and a huge design department that focuses mostly on world sales and a huge bureaucracy to boot, that's not genuine.

It seems like the "tiers" division is some subjective measure, unless they've got an objective measure and statistics to back it up.

Of course if you work in the warranty department you're going to think the product is crap; you're sitting around listening to failure stories all day. If you work in Honda's warranty department, you're going to spend all day listening to stories about Hondas failing.

beeporama wrote:It seems like the "tiers" division is some subjective measure, unless they've got an objective measure and statistics to back it up.

Of course if you work in the warranty department you're going to think the product is crap; you're sitting around listening to failure stories all day. If you work in Honda's warranty department, you're going to spend all day listening to stories about Hondas failing.

That's a very good point. Well said.

BuddyLicious wrote:I read a handful of scooter forums and today was reading over at MV.There is a thread going on about top tier scooter brands.Anyway Genuine was mentioned as should be as a top tier brand.I continued reading the thread when I see this from a MV member:

"Genuine is definitely not a top tier product. I used to work for them in the warranty department here in Chicago. I believe Honda and Yamaha own the top tier followed by Vepsa and Aprilia"

My question is,does someone write this cause something may have happened you know that's personnel? Or is it something else? I just hate others discing Genuine scooters,especially without evidence of some sort offered.Also too,for people looking at a new scooter,the crap above could steer them away from Genuine.What do you guys think? Am I over reacting? Thanks...

Yes, you are overreacting. It is called an opinion and everyone has them. It does not mean anything and in the grand scheme of things it really does not matter.

Myself, you must be high on crack not to consider Vespa a top tier.

Put a Vespa next to a Honda or Yamaha and it is obvious what scooter has more street cred.

beeporama wrote:It seems like the "tiers" division is some subjective measure, unless they've got an objective measure and statistics to back it up.

Of course if you work in the warranty department you're going to think the product is crap; you're sitting around listening to failure stories all day. If you work in Honda's warranty department, you're going to spend all day listening to stories about Hondas failing.

I was thinking to myself just this morning that Honda MUST have put an oilpan that will start leaking inexplicably at 100,000 miles. Every Honda I've ever owned, or others have owned have hit that same issue...

On the flipside, I personally think Genuine has a GREAT product. If they could just control the weather, I'd be happier with my purchase.

bunny wrote:

beeporama wrote:It seems like the "tiers" division is some subjective measure, unless they've got an objective measure and statistics to back it up.

Of course if you work in the warranty department you're going to think the product is crap; you're sitting around listening to failure stories all day. If you work in Honda's warranty department, you're going to spend all day listening to stories about Hondas failing.

I was thinking to myself just this morning that Honda MUST have put an oilpan that will start leaking inexplicably at 100,000 miles. Every Honda I've ever owned, or others have owned have hit that same issue...

On the flipside, I personally think Genuine has a GREAT product. If they could just control the weather, I'd be happier with my purchase.

+1

beeporama wrote:... If you work in Honda's warranty department, you're going to spend all day listening to stories about Hondas failing.

Hondas fail?

Genuine is just a distributor, and a tiny one at that. PGO is the manufacturer and they're a lot bigger than Genuine. You're very loyal to Genuine, which is great for them and an interesting study as they are only distributing another company's product (unlike Vespa, Honda, Yamaha).

BuddyLicious wrote:"Genuine is definitely not a top tier product. I used to work for them in the warranty department here in Chicago. I believe Honda and Yamaha own the top tier followed by Vepsa and Aprilia"

Uh, yeah. This is from an employee who got shitcanned. Take it as you will.

Genuine is just a distributor, and a tiny one at that. PGO is the manufacturer and they're a lot bigger than Genuine.

Just so we are clear.....Genuine imports from more than just PGO....Stella is produced by LML

The ModernVespa community, as a whole, is very positive towards the Genuines. In fact, I think the rest of he thread the OP linked to shows that. The Buddy was the #1 non-Piaggio/Vespa scooter at Amerivespa.

(In fact, as I've said before, I think I've experienced more negativity towards Vespa here than towards Genuine on MV.)

But, shitcanning aside, some folks are never going to like the (current) Genuine products. There are a number of reasons for this. First and foremost is probably the fit and finish issue. In my opinion, almost no company can compete with Vespa on this. Secondly, I think some people are still suspicious of Taiwanese products (whether or not they're aware of it or would admit it). Third, personal taste. Hey, I know SYM makes good scooters but none of them until the Symba had much appeal to me.

Finally, you just can't please everybody. Volkswagen makes good, reliable cars. Let's assume they're the most reliable cars on the planet. Why would anyone drive anything else? Why do some people have Toyotas instead of Hondas, or Acuras instead of Infinitis, and so on?

People sometimes just like what they like… then hate on everything else.

Well, it all depends if we are talking "tiers" of highest volume of sales, craftsmanship, reliability, value, aftermarket support, or just general quality... also depends on if you are talking in terms of 50-200cc scooters or 250cc+ maxi scooters. If they are talking about general quality and including both small and large scoots, then yeah, Honda/Vespa/Yamaha would definitely be the top 3. Aprilia does have a nice set of scoots as does Genuine, SYM, and KYMCO. Once Genuine gets that higher displacement scooter out I think they might be a more serious contender.

Clearly Why Red is Red.

I think I'm going to name my Roughhouse, Dexter. That way, I can just think about the fact that as far as I'm concerned, all those other scooters on the road might be more appreciated, more well liked, more high status and all that, but my little nerdy weird scoot is a killer in disguise.

I'm such a freaking geek.

I'd think about some other company for a maxi or something like that (I've been making eyes at the Citycom 300i). But as far as the 50cc to 150cc range, I've had such a great experience with Genuine, I wouldn't think for a second about going anywhere else. They've got my loyalty until they give me a reason not to give it to them. After Dexter slices up his last mile, I'll probably pick up something bigger for around town, and I'll get a maxi or MC for the long rides (Texas, Massachusetts, New York) before that happens.