My fellow 170i riders... and the rest of you for that matter

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 3:48 pm

For those of you who have had your first service done on your scooter anyway... Would you mind me asking how much you paid for it to be done at a dealer? Or how much your dealer estimated it would cost to be done if it hasn't been done yet?
For those who have had it done, how long did the shop have your scooter?
...I feel like I'm being ripped off with the estimate that I have been given, especially since I am supposed to be receiving $50 off...

Chessy1 · Post by **Chessy1** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 4:08 pm

I purchased my little Honda at a big motorcycle shop and they quoted me $230 for a first service (I was laughing as that's almost 10% of what I paid for my scoot). With a little shopping around, I found another Honda shop which charged $160 for the same service (still overpriced in my book). When I was at the local Genuine dealer, they said they charge $89 for an oil change and service, which I thought was pretty high at the time, but now I'm thinking it's a bargain.

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:09 pm

Scoot Richmond charged Luna 128$ for hers. No estimate or guesswork, they have an exact list of what they do to any specific model on first service.

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:13 pm

Lokky wrote:Scoot Richmond charged Luna 128$ for hers. No estimate or guesswork, they have an exact list of what they do to any specific model on first service.

That's about what I was thinking was right. Another place somewhat close to me is asking $165 (w/ $50 off, so $115), and the one I spoke to this morning told me "$225 for the fuel-injected model" (w/ $50 off, so $175). Seemed a little ridiculous to me... For that price I might as well rent a truck and take the scoot to the other place that is somewhat close.
The other thing is, this is a Vespa dealer that I'm talking to, perhaps that's the flat price for the Vespas they work on... and they just don't differentiate between the models of scooter that they sell? Who knows. I just feel like I'm being taken advantage of.
I'm going to call around and see what I find. There are plenty of shops in NY, and surrounding states that aren't THAT far away. At least if I find enough competitors' prices that are drastically lower, this guy might get his head out of his keister and realize that I'm not some stupid girl that does whatever the dealer says, and pays outrageous amounts of money for stuff like this.
Anyone know of a way for a customer to contact Genuine directly and speak to someone there about it? They don't seem to have a phone number or e-mail address on their website.

Dean F · Post by **Dean F** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:17 pm

$95.00 and about a half an hour. Included in the price was an itemized list of mateials that included $14.00 for 2 quarts of oil at $7.00 each?????????????????????????????????? (2 quarts)

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:23 pm

I paid $148 for my 125. It took about 15 to 20 minutes. That included a $22 oil filter and a $10 quart of oil.

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:23 pm

Just for clarification, how many miles are we suppose to accumulate for the first service? I'm at 327 mi. at the moment. is it 400 or 500? The manual is in km.

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:25 pm

Drum Pro wrote:Just for clarification, how many miles are we suppose to accumulate for the first service? I'm at 327 mi. at the moment. is it 400 or 500? The manual is in km.

The sticker on the scoot said "300km," which is about 187 miles... But the general consensus that I've seen here is between 300 and 500 miles. I'm almost up to 400 now.

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 5:28 pm

Thanks!

scootavaran · Post by **scootavaran** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:35 pm

About $170 for my SH. took only 2 hours.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 7:12 pm

AWinn, I don't know if you are able to or not- but I think you should look at other places for service. I can't remember the numbers exactly, but I remember reading your thread when you got Serenity and thinking they kind of ripped you off on the purchase, too- even if we account for a higher cost of living where you are. I get the impression that something is just not adding up with your dealer.

Does anybody else here know/heard of/go to your dealer??

mattgordon · Post by **mattgordon** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:31 pm

Dean F wrote:$95.00 and about a half an hour. Included in the price was an itemized list of mateials that included $14.00 for 2 quarts of oil at $7.00 each?????????????????????????????????? (2 quarts)

The filters are $ 9.95, and 1 liter of oil is all you need (1 bottle, typically packaged in liter not quart increments these days even in the US....it's 2011 for petes sake) as well as 95cc of gear oil for the tranny on the first service. Thats about 1/10 liter of tranny oil btw, so don't let them charge for a liter of that.

FI doesnt require anything at first service that the carbureted models do, that so that dog doesnt hunt as they say.

The first service should be $100 bucks or less, which is still more than it's worth but the dealers need to make a profit and the owners need to realize that. To a point.

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:51 pm

SO I am clearly getting ripped off here.
I was trying to make a deal with this guy because I racked up the miles quicker than expected, and my bf just had surgery on his hand and put his motorcycle away for the winter already.
I'm going to call the Hudson Valley Scooter shop tomorrow, since I don't think the owner keeps up on his e-mail that much. It'll be a good 2-ish hour drive if we rent a truck, or 3-ish hours if I ride there. We'll see what happens!

heythere512 · Post by **heythere512** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:35 pm

I had my first service on my buddy 170i done last weekend, for $80 in Austin. I racked up 500 miles before taking it in, after reading everyone's suggestions. They suggested about 1k miles before the next tune-up.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:11 pm

First service on my Stella was like $90 or so. I had it done at nearly 700 miles, just because that was how many miles after 500 I racked up between scheduling appt and getting it.

2wheelNsanity · Post by **2wheelNsanity** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:14 pm

Hello,
I'm reading this straight from my Buddy Owner's manual.
First service:

I did all of these myself except the Engine Idle Speed and Carb(170i doesn't have one). Oil filter from scooter works $9.99 + shipping. Oil 1 liter of SAE15W40 at local store $3.98, Gear Oil Lucas $8.99. Turkey baster with ml measurements $3.98, Funnel $1.49, and shop towels $1.99.
Total cost was about $40 adding in tax and shipping, I already had the tools.

Now if I took my scooter to the dealer it would have cost me $70.00 to transport it plus the service cost, which from what I hear is in the neighborhood of $150+, making the grand total for the first service and other services $220+. OUCH!!!!

The reason I boought my first scoot

was to eliminate transportation cost

.

I just did some quick comparisons between my car and the scooter based on 1 year usage 10,000 mi. (I know these numbers are going to get critisized but its what I came up with)

Statistics always lie, according to my biometry professor, its how you use them that makes your point. I feel I was very conservative with my math.

I guess my point is a 15 - 30 minutes service on a scooter should never cost $150+.

Sorry for compactness of the text I tried to create tables but this text engine smooshed it all together eliminating my spaces.

mattgordon · Post by **mattgordon** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:28 am

2wheelNsanity wrote:Hello,
I'm reading this straight from my Buddy Owner's manual.
First service:

I did all of these myself except the Engine Idle Speed and Carb(170i doesn't have one). Oil filter from scooter works $9.99 + shipping. Oil 1 liter of SAE15W40 at local store $3.98, Gear Oil Lucas $8.99. Turkey baster with ml measurements $3.98, Funnel $1.49, and shop towels $1.99.
Total cost was about $40 adding in tax and shipping, I already had the tools.

Now if I took my scooter to the dealer it would have cost me $70.00 to transport it plus the service cost, which from what I hear is in the neighborhood of $150+, making the grand total for the first service and other services $220+. OUCH!!!!

The reason I boought my first scoot was to eliminate transportation cost .

I just did some quick comparisons between my car and the scooter based on 1 year usage 10,000 mi. (I know these numbers are going to get critisized but its what I came up with)

Statistics always lie, according to my biometry professor, its how you use them that makes your point. I feel I was very conservative with my math.

I guess my point is a 15 - 30 minutes service on a scooter should never cost $150+.

Sorry for compactness of the text I tried to create tables but this text engine smooshed it all together eliminating my spaces.

A/F adjustment?

atlantaM3 · Post by **atlantaM3** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:34 am

had the first service on the 170 done today. I had the service and fluid changes done, I also bought 4 oil filters, a gallon of 5w40 Motul, and a quart of 75w90 Motul. All of that cost $208, so I think they are quoting you a bit high!

2wheelNsanity · Post by **2wheelNsanity** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:52 am

I noticed you said 5w50 oil, the owners manual says 15W40. Is it ok to go with the "heavier" oil?

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:33 am

AWinn6889 wrote: Anyone know of a way for a customer to contact Genuine directly and speak to someone there about it? They don't seem to have a phone number or e-mail address on their website.

^^^^ When I say this I am really NOT trying to be rude...But, that should be a clue.
Genuine WANTS you to go to your local dealer. That IS what they are for. Genuine really doesn't want every customer with a bike calling them. They are the manufactorer. The "dealer" is their representitive. Thats how its supposed to work. Even with the invention of the internet

This is to EVERYONE. Find a shop you like and frequent it. Get to be known, after a while...you wont pay "retail" and you won't even have to ask. I have been going to the same gun shop for 20+ years, I buy my car tires from the same guy 14 years now...and I get a better deal than most people will after searching the web for hours on end...Sometimes not, but thats okay,too. I want Brad and Tom to be there next year when I need them.

>>>> end friendly rant <<<<

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:38 am

AWinn6889 wrote:SO I am clearly getting ripped off here.
I was trying to make a deal with this guy because I racked up the miles quicker than expected, and my bf just had surgery on his hand and put his motorcycle away for the winter already.
I'm going to call the Hudson Valley Scooter shop tomorrow, since I don't think the owner keeps up on his e-mail that much. It'll be a good 2-ish hour drive if we rent a truck, or 3-ish hours if I ride there. We'll see what happens!

^^^^ If that shop turns out to be decent...Once its warm...ride there, drop off scoot for service (next time), and ride back on bike with boyfriend...How's that for a plan?

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:07 am

@ 2Wheel. I plan on doing all services on the scoot AFTER the first one is done by a dealer. I have heard from several people that this first one is the most important... blah blah blah. Otherwise I would do it myself and save a crap ton of money (just like I do with my car). I haven't had much luck trying to find a manual for it either (only 125 and 150). Big pain in the butt.

@Viney. It doesn't help when your local dealer is a bunch of d-bags with their heads up their rear ends. If I knew I was going to have to deal with this garbage, I probably would have pushed to get a Kymco (one of the 200s) from one of their local guys much more diligently. Also, the bf's bike is away for the winter as he has had two surgeries on his left hand last week, and will be having surgery on his right hand on 11/9. That was originally the plan, but now it's not exactly possible... not to mention we will probably be having snow on Thursday.

viney266 wrote: ^^^^ When I say this I am really NOT trying to be rude...But, that should be a clue.
Genuine WANTS you to go to your local dealer. That IS what they are for. Genuine really doesn't want every customer with a bike calling them. They are the manufactUrer. The "dealer" is their representitive. Thats how its supposed to work. Even with the invention of the internet

I figured this, but I'm kind of s.o.l. here. If Genuine is being represented as horribly as they are here at the ONLY dealer in the NY capital region, they should probably know about it. I know that they are all about taking care of their customers, but doing it through this a-hole has not, and will not get anyone anywhere, and it just plain makes them look bad for letting this guy treat customers the way he does.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:48 pm

^^^ Yeah, I do hear you...I have been in a few shops that plain sucked, but I always had another choice...If he/she is the only game in town, that blows.

Mtlgrlie · Post by **Mtlgrlie** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:07 pm

yep, 225.00 in Hudson-ish, 165.00 in Schenectady.

I like the guy further South, but whew. 1 hour in the car vs. 3.....whew.

but I also think he adjusts the valves. Not sure if Schnectady does. He was vague in his email.

like most of you, doing all my own after this one!

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:19 pm

Shops have to learn that people don't like feeling ripped off. If you charge us a reasonable price you'll develop loyalty. If you gouge us we'll leave you in a second. When I saw I was being charged $22 for a filter and $10 for a liter of oil, it pissed me off. Especially since I know you probably pay somehwere between $3 and $5 for the filter. When you were done in 15 minutes, I knew you didn't check my valves or anything else. You probably just changed my oil. When you charge $100/hr for labor it pisses me off. Especially when my Mercedes dealer charges the same and my Honda dealer charges $60/hr.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:48 pm

AWinn - If you _do_ want to wrench your own first- or subsequent service, here's the goods for the 125/150, most of which should be the same for your 170, except for the electrical bits and bobs:

Genuine's dealer first-service video:
http://vimeo.com/5377019

Tech manual for the 150 - has torque specs and stuff up front:
topic17349.html

I found the video pretty informative.

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:11 pm

Mtlgrlie wrote:yep, 225.00 in Hudson-ish, 165.00 in Schenectady.

I like the guy further South, but whew. 1 hour in the car vs. 3.....whew.

but I also think he adjusts the valves. Not sure if Schnectady does. He was vague in his email.

like most of you, doing all my own after this one!

Schenectady was the one that told me $225!!!
I'm waiting for a return call from Hudson Valley!

Peter (Schenectady guy) is such an awful person when it comes to customer service and dealing with "his" business and school. He has lied to me about various things time after time after time, even tried to claim that the scooter swag I received from Genuine was from him! Like he was sending me a "free t-shirt" to be nice! (He didn't even know what else came in the package when I told him that I received it! and STILL tried to insist that he was the one that sent it to me! Chicago and Schenectady aren't exactly the same place, DUH)

Honestly, I wouldn't trust the guy with my nephew's tricycle. I recommend you make the trip elsewhere.

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 11:21 pm

PeteH wrote:AWinn - If you _do_ want to wrench your own first- or subsequent service, here's the goods for the 125/150, most of which should be the same for your 170, except for the electrical bits and bobs:

Genuine's dealer first-service video:
http://vimeo.com/5377019

Tech manual for the 150 - has torque specs and stuff up front:
topic17349.html

I found the video pretty informative.

Thanks for this PeteH, I'm just not completely sure about the other differences that the Fuel Injection brings with it, I want to make absolutely positively sure that I do everything that needs to be done, and I do it correctly.
Give me a VW, I'll fix it in a couple minutes, or at least come up with a parts list and solid explanation on how to fix it, anyway... this thing is based on the same principles, but it's still a whole different animal. I just want to be completely and totally confident that everything is in tip-top shape when I'm done with it.