Another "what would you do" post

[strat10]

First off, Im the proud owner of an 07 S4RS. Love the bike!

After researching S4RS for a month it came down to two bikes, one a private owner and one from the dealer. I ended up getting the one from the dealer

After a quick and easy transaction I rode off the lot and straight to the mountains. Huge grin on my face quickly turned to terror as the seat latch let go pulling out of a corner. After cleaning myself off, I re-latched the seat and rode off again, only to have it happen again. Riding home, I get pulled over by the Popo. Tail light was jacked and not working. After writing me a fixit ticket the cop said "beatiful bike" and let me go on my way. A few days later I took the bike to the dealer and they said it was due to the tail chop and said the tail light used was bad, and to tall causing the seat to not latch properly. After replacing the tail light and grinding down the light I was back on my way.
The reason I got the bike from the dealer is the promise of fully servicing their bikes, and checking them out. How do you miss a bad tail light?

The second reason for getting the bike was that it was owned by a personal friend of the sales guy and said the bike was meticuluosly maintained, and he had all the stock parts and will get me those. After a month I have not recieved any parts, and they have no idea where they are. besides this, they cannot track down the service history of the bike, and the service manager does not believe the 7500 service was done, but he is not sure.

So, now I have no rear pegs to take the GF on a ride, I have no idea if the oil was ever changed, and I need to take it in for a 1200.00 dollar service. The bike had 8200 on it when I bought it.

I absolutely love the bike, and not getting the stock parts in writing, I am letting that one go, but the service is a big deal, thats 1200 bucks on a bike I just paid 10 grand for.....Geeeez.

Headed to the dealer tomorow to start pregnant doging, any advise?

thanks

[duccarlos]

Never trust a seller, be it a private seller or dealer. Always give the bike a once over to make sure everything is working.

If the bike was serviced at the shop, they better have the records.

[strat10]

This is my first Ducati, never even dreamed of a 1200.00 service. On the dealer web site it says all bikes are serviced before selling.

[Heath]

If the seat latch still gives you problems you can add washers under the latch to bring it up a little.  Many of us have had to do that because of changing seats.  Never heard of it it from a taillight.  Although my taillight is very snug under the seat, much more than stock once I did my chop.

As for the stock parts I would keep pushing that.  I mean at least the passenger pegs.  
Always good to change the oil for peace of mind.  It is inexpensive and just too easy not to do yourself.

When you go back make sure they make it really clear on if it had the service. Have them contact the previous owner.  I doubt they do a full service on every bike before selling it. (oil, belts, valves, ect ect)

[He Man]

Never ever buy a used bike from a dealer unless you have no choice. Its not their bike, thye dont care.

If the website says it is, and they dont know if its been serviced, ask nicely for hte 7500 mile service to be performed for free.

if they refuse, then tell them you want the contact info for the orignal owner right then and there so you can ask him if the service was performed. DO NOT LEAVE until you get that information. If they say they;ll call you back, they never will. theres a milliono ther thigns going on, and youre the least of their worries. Maybe the owner did it himself. once you know if the service was performed, then you can either walk away and push for the pegs (i doubt youll get them anyway). Or you request they perform it for free. Let them know if you have to pay $1200 for service that should of been done as their policy states, then you have no problem hireing a lawyer and getting the bike returned and recovering the fees. OR they can just do the service. obviously the dealer did not service the bike.

I dont like playing games with dealers, and a $1200 service is a sizeable chunk of change, for me atleast and really, i would not hire a lawyer over that in real life, but it never hurts to strong arm them a little bit. it doesnt cost them much to service the bike anyway. As long as you dont come off like an asshole, and all you sincerly want is to get your bike serviced like they promised i think they will do you right.

At the end of the day its a buisness deal and there are no such thing as friends when it comes to buying a used bike. Have everything ready at the point of transaction or not. thats it. I would of shown up there with cash ready to buy the bike and if the pegs were not there, it would of been deducted from the sale price right there. or they can just pull it off another bike.

[strat10]

Yeah, I guess I fell for it big time. Ill update this after my trip to talk to the service manager tomorow. I really fell for the "I know the owner personally" routine. I guess thats why the sales guy is no longer there.

If the seat latch still gives you problems you can add washers under the latch to bring it up a little

did that, still pops out sometimes.

Let them know if you have to pay $1200 for service that should of been done as their policy states, then you have no problem hireing a lawyer and getting the bike returned and recovering the fees.

I guess the policy can be left up to interpretation, they claim all bikes are inspected and serviced by their world class service department. We shall see, but missing a breaklight being out doesnt seem to inspected by me.

[M1100]

The tail light "could" have went out after you drove off... you can kiss that one off.

The service is indisputable, they did it or the didn't. If they say they service the bikes and can't prove it was serviced to your satisfaction, then they should do it now for free.  Period. 

Then you make up your mind if they ever see your bike again...  service is the cash cow for dealers, and they shouldn't alienate you as a future service customer.   

I hope you can work it out.  Just be polite but firm and tell them what needs to be done--that always works for me!  Good luck.

[He Man]

what dealer is this anyway?

[muskrat]

This is my first Ducati, never even dreamed of a 1200.00 service. On the dealer web site it says all bikes are serviced before selling.

print this out and take it to them.  If they don't fess-up then send a complaint letter to the State Attorney General ASAP but do mention that to them - watch how fast they jump, if they care of course.

[duccarlos]

print this out and take it to them.  If they don't fess-up then send a complaint letter to the State Attorney General ASAP but do mention that to them - watch how fast they jump, if they care of course.

And BBB

[He Man]

AFAIK, BBB doesnt have the power to do anything on them. the Attorney general though. bazing.

but dont be an asshole agressive nature guy while you do this.

play the "i want to work with you guys and get this settled, but youre leaving me no choice" act.

[muskrat]

the BBB is a joke.  companies pay to become members, hence the outcome is never bite the hand that feeds you.  Attorney General and the licensing division should be your route.  I'm already an asshole so the above post was meant for me I guess. 

[herm]

i have found that my tail chop makes the bike more prone to having the tail light/break light bulb burn out. I suspect it has something to do with the vibrations, and the way the seat rests in the lilght.

and +1 on the washers. if its still not working, try a few more. usually, by raising the latch mechanism a bit higher, you can get it into the right position after a tail chop.

[strat10]

Thanks so much everyone. I am going into the dealer tomorow, and bringing my nice guy hat. I usually am to a fault anyway. I'll wait and see what they say. I would be very happy if I walk out with a tune, rear pegs and the service history.

[Raux]

is this a Ducati dealer? is there another dealer nearby? once you get them to do the service IF they do the service, have another Ducati dealer give it a once over.