Sorry you had such a bad dealer experience. We must be really fortunate here in Phoenix. Had a minor problem with my Majesty (found out after the fact you guys already addressed it on the forum). Being a fairly new owner of as used bike, I brought it to a local Yamaha dealer. Although they were more experienced with motorcycles, they treated the scoot with respect and care. When they couldn't identify the problem immediately while I was there, they told me they had a 7-10 day backlog. I left the bike. Three days later they called and told me it was fixed -- the seal on the speedo sending unit. Before they delivered the bike, they took it out on the highway to make certain there were no other problems. $80 minimum labor and shop materials charge. On another bike at an independent shop, the valve stem failed on a rear tire that had only a couple of thousand miles on it. They told me they should have replaced the valve stem when they replaced the rear tire, apologized, and charged me only half the labor rate when they had to take the rear tire off to check the tire(make certain it was the valve and not a tire failure). Also said they would change their practice and always replace valve stems with tire. When a shop admits a mistake and makes it right, there's no questioning their honesty. They'll keep on getting my bucks when I can't do things myself.

I've ridden cruiser cycles in years past, and have always had fair treatment from dealers. It's sad that a few greedy shops give the good ones a bad name.

 

I don't trust dealers either! In 2005 I owned a new Suzuki M50 that would always blow the ign fuse, everytime I took it to the dealer he always found something wrong that was never under warranty, he would replace 2 spark plugs and change the oil and charge me $130, or replace the fuse with a higher amp fuse and charge me $12 for the fuse.
Fustrated I did a short test with a paracitic load test and spend time and found the problem, found that the ign wire at the key switch was sandwiched on the frame, I repaired the wire connection, re-routed the wire and applied electrical tape and that solved my problem of the blown fuse and engine miss fire, everytime the ign wire was shorting out it caused the engine to miss-fire.
Later I get a recall notice from Suzuki for that same exact problem, I ignored it, later after that I took my bike to the Suzuki dealer to have new tires installed and he then told me he took care of the recall problem, I told him I already fixed that! He laughed at me saying hes the expert and i'm not, when I got home I took it apart, he cut and chopped the wiring harness, installed cheap butt connectors and made the wiring to the key switch longer, it was a hatchet job! I did a better job by bending the existing terminals and routing them out of the way!

 

The filters are oiled, and can appear appear dirty very quickly, depending on riding conditions (in just a few hundred miles). Any dust turns them to slime.

Sometimes a stripped screw can be removed with an impact driver, and then put back in. Of course, I'm not saying your filter was replaced (obviously I can't know), but that sometimes it's possible to remove and replace a stripped screw without further stripping the screw.

I replaced my filter screws with stainless hex-head screws & washers. No regrets! I wash the filters with detergent, dry, re-oil and ride. They're damn expensive to replace.

 

That's ok. I was just frustrated with the dealer. I believe most people will pay a high price as long as we're not being lied to. Now they are out of business and from what I hear, I'm not the first one who had complaints about that place. It's just very disconcerting.

 

They charged me for filter replacements but did not replace them. I thought I made that very clear. Whether I expected it or not, I got charged for them. If you read my post carefully you would see that I said I stripped a screw that would've had to be replaced if they would've checked the filter.

You did make it clear. I thought you had found a dirty air filter prior to the 600 mile mark but were surprised that it was dirty again at 2000 miles. I can now see what you meant.

You were very clear and I misread it. Sorry about that!

 

When I went to a dealer recently and discribed a problem I was having he gave me a blank stare and started thumbing through the book for some sort of a clue. While he was doing so I chatted with one of the guys that work behind the counter (who is also a long time friend of my sons) and was told since they don't really work on alot of scooters their mechanics really don't know how to troubleshoot. He sent me to a place down the road that as soon as I told him the same symptoms NAILED the cause right away. Most dearlers are trained to work on motorcycles. The schools don't cover scooters.

 

they charged me for filter replacements but did not replace them. i thought i made that very clear. whether i expected it or not, i got charged for them. if you read my post carefully you would see that i said i stripped a screw that would've had to be replaced if they would've checked the filter

You made to yourself clear, the other poster not sure what he is on about. Dealers are rubbish I have never had a good experience here in Ireland seems it is not unique.

Good luck with the screw.

 

They charged me for filter replacements but did not replace them. I thought I made that very clear. Whether I expected it or not, I got charged for them. If you read my post carefully you would see that I said I stripped a screw that would've had to be replaced if they would've checked the filter.

 

Sorry to maybe hijack but I have a dealer servicing related question...

When you do take your bike to the dealership what do you pay for?

I was hearing a weird noise (sounded kinda like a backfiring sound but nowhere near that loud) once and a while when i'd give it a lot getting out of a stop.

I brought the bike to the dealer to have them find out what the noise is...

Well they said they'd have to open her up to really see and after about 7 days and 4 hrs of labour they still couldn't tell me what's wrong.

I got them to put my bike back together so I could take it somewhere else.

Now my question is this. How much should I be ready to pay for this? The shop rate is 99$/hr.

 

Hang on a second. You were going "to check your air filters" at the 600 mile mark, but you expected them to replace them? If you now have 2000 miles on the scooter, how do you know that they didn't replace them? You also expected them to replace the screws even though you didn't mention that to them?

Wow. You expect your dealership to read your mind, too?