Ducati Monster Forum

So yesterday dropped off my wheels and tires to be mounted and balanced at the local dealer, they said they would done in a day or two. today I get a call my wheels are done, so I go pick theme up  and I am handed a 153.00 bill!! WTF!! I asked why it the bill is so much and I am told that it took a hour and half to mount and balance them.
   I've had tires done at other ducati dealers in the passed and paid less that half that. Lesson learned I will taking my business elsewhere.

Are you kidding me? That's horseshit! I would definitely complain to the manager. Is this a Ducati Authorized Dealer? May want to let DNA know what they are charging for services...

Ouch! That's pretty steep even if they had to take them off the bike. Jeez... :P

NO, I'm not kidding and the sad part is that I liked doing business with them they always had the parts I needed or got them quickly. This was the first and last time they did any type of service for me. 

Had rear replaced and ride adjusted for my weight for $45, Thanx Modesto Ducati [clap] [cheeky]

I am assuming you brought in your own tires purchased elsewhere when you carried in your wheels?

Yes I purchased the tires from Motorcycle superstore and the dealer was listed as one of there preferred installers

Maybe they read the thread about the scratched BST wheels, and took their time so as to not scratch your wheels.  ;D

since when was changing tires an HOURLY job? Thats like saying, where going to let the slowest man do the simplest task and charge you a left nut for it.

wow. my dealer charges $31/wheel for tire changes with wheels off the bike.
i think it's $54/wheel for wheels ON the bike, or something around there.
this is absurd.

hell, it made me sick to fork over $37.95 to have a front tire mounted and balanced. It's time to buy a nomar tire machine..

you should get soem friends together and pool in for one. unless you go through tires like the cookie monster does cookies.

wow. you have to pay it but, you don't have to go there again. i wonder how much they would charge for a fluid change?

i

$100 an hour to change a tire is excessive, at best. 

depends blinker fluid costs more than clutch fluid, but they might persuade you that its a cable clutch and try to lube it instead.

why do people keep dropping off their stuff with dealers having no idea what they will be billed and then get all pissed about it?

written estimate.

signature required if over 'X' amount.  verbal approval by phone if over 'Y' amount.

it's not that difficult and any reputable shop will do it with you.

If someone posted up about home repairs; having a crew come in and do work with zero idea how much it would cost; and then getting raked over the coals, we'd have a field day giving them shit.    But when it comes to bikes we all say 'oh that's horrible'

 

^^ +1

Dam

That is the price of buying the tire.

I go to super tire guys. I forget what they charge but its not even that noticeable above the cost of the tire itself.

But yourself a set of tire irons and do it your self.  I do the rear tire, from on the bike, on the ground, to back on the bike, on the ground in about 25 minutes.   Of course, someone has to put the owners kid through Stanford or Harvard Law School, it might as well be you. 

That's insane - paid $50 the last time.

"$10 Wheel off/ $20 Wheel on/ $40/Wheel on; if tire provided"

My Dealer charges by the 1/2 hour or hour to dismount and mount wheels and change tires.

Dolph.... :)

they should have their prices posted on the MC superstore preferred installer listing.   What was their listed price for install?   Was it different than what you paid?

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/cycle-hill-motorcycle-tire-changer/ (http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/cycle-hill-motorcycle-tire-changer/)

HERE'S YOUR ANSWER!

Update, after stewing over this all night at work I called the dealer this morning and spoke to the manager. (what I should have done yesterday, if I wasn't already running late for work)  She looked into it and said that there was a billing error and that it should have been 45.00 per wheel which is a bit more than I have paid at other dealers in the passed, but I can live with that.
     As to the OP about getting a written estimate, you right you should and I normally do for any major work but this was a simple tire mounting and balancing and I didn't think it was necessary lesson learned.

so...what are hey prepared to do for the difference they charged you?...are they returning the money? or are they giving you a store credit towards your next purchase?

FYI....
B.A.R. rules apply to moto dealerships as well.

They are crediting my card.
bobspapa, what are B.A.R. rules?

Bureau of Automotive Repair.  it's a Cali thing but I'm pretty sure most states have something similar.   http://www.bar.ca.gov/ (http://www.bar.ca.gov/)
 
its a set code of ethics for licensed repair facilities.

Thanks, I'm not sure Mass. has that but I will look into it for future reference.

That Cycle Hill Tire changer is the ticket  [thumbsup] $365.00 is not bad especially if you have multiple bikes.  I could see it paying for itself pretty quick, and the convenience alone is worth alot in my book.

Be prepared to mod that a bit lest you scratch the make the beast with two backs out of your rims.

Edit:  Ehh...maybe not.  Apparently made by NoMar, and looks pretty good except for the bead breaker.

for which they offer an upgraded one on their website that has no mar stuff afixed to the blade...

I dropped my bike off for new tires and it was less than $100 to get the new rubber installed. I'll do the next sets myself, but I didn't have stands last month. Now I do.

That would just be too simple and reasonable.

I built my own changer out of some scrap wood and a 14" aluminum rim. Total cost $7.50. Works like a charm. Only problem is I now have a pile of tires in my backyard.