Triumphrat

d3v1l6 · 04-04-2008

Any recommendations?

I currently know of Blackfoot in Calgary and Echo in Edmonton. I live in Edmonton, and although I've never actually had any dealings with echo cycle, I have been in there a few times with friends looking for bikes or quads. Not once was I or my friends approached by a sales rep, probably one of my biggest pet peeves when I'm in any kind of dealership. Don't know anything about they're service dep.

I've heard good and bad about Blackfoot, seems like they're prices are slightly cheaper according to their website, then again, I'm sure the OTD price is much different. Haven't heard anything about they're service dep.

Any input or other recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks,

ridergeek · 04-04-2008

I just bought an 07 Sprint ST from Blackfoot and had it delivered to Vancouver.

The transaction went well for the most part. The sales guy I dealt with was good and he specialized in Triumph sales(I think he rides a Sprint himself). His name is Jeff Bloomfield.

Where things weren't so good was from the finance/admin dept. not being on top of things. I had requested a couple of things, a tracking number for the documentation and that the documents be sent to my office instead of my home address. They sent the documents to my home and didn't supply the tracking number. I only found out they had been shipped when my girlfriend stopped by to pick something up and the courier arrived at the same time.

Shipping was good, only issue I had was the lot guys damaged the lower fairing when the crated it, looks like the bounced it off a support brace of the crate and it scuffed the paint off on the bottom of the bike. I've asked them to fix this so we'll see what happens.

Would I buy from them again. Yes, but I'd be riding them hard to ensure there was no screwups on the finance/admin side or the lot guys.

Hope this helps you out somewhat.

But I certainly am enjoying my new bike.

haggis95 · 04-04-2008

and Jeff has sold me a couple of bikes. He'll treat you right. He's also a Triumph fan and does indeed ride a red late model Sprint - he's also a good rider.

Comments about the finance and lot boys may also be true, but I had no prob with either of my bikes - a Sprint RS and a Bonnie Black.

You would probably have Echo service your bike even if you bought elsewhere though.

BTW, I've modded my bonnie and it rocks, I can also park in a parking lot full of Harleys, Ducatis and Jap bikes and people always come up to my bike and ask questions and compliment it! Not that that is the reason I ride the bike, but it's nice sometimes, especially since it cost about half of those bikes!

Calliway · 04-04-2008

I live in Edmonton as well and have to dela with Echo. I find them untrustworthy and overpriced. My 2005 ST cost me 10K without bags when I should of gone to Blackfoot 3 hours away and bought a new 06 with Bags for 12. The bike had a bald back tire, missing the manuals which they promptly charged me for, had the TOR taken off and replaced with a stock exhaust but the computer mapping was left with the TOR. Parts dept is the worst of the whole bit. They kept the hard bags for my bike, painted them and sold them to someone else, it took 2 months to get a side panel which was wrong when they got to me so another 3 weeks for the right one, they charged me 28 bucks for the heat recall foam and had to install it for myself. They don't stock oil or airfilters for my bike which are regular maintenance items.

Overall terrible dissappointed but love the bike. I am actually going to write a letter to Triumph NA telling them everything.

d3v1l6 · 04-05-2008

Thanks for the info...

Looks like my gut feeling was right, I'll be contacting Mr Bloomfield at Blackfoot shortly to see what he's got in stock. Fortunately I won't have to deal with the finance people, I will be buying a thruxton outright once I get back from the Stan.

Again, thanks. Might see some you guys on the road in October...on an 08 Silver/red Thruxton.

Cheers.

ridergeek · 04-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by haggis95

and Jeff has sold me a couple of bikes. He'll treat you right. He's also a Triumph fan and does indeed ride a red late model Sprint - he's also a good rider.

Comments about the finance and lot boys may also be true, but I had no prob with either of my bikes - a Sprint RS and a Bonnie Black.

You would probably have Echo service your bike even if you bought elsewhere though.

BTW, I've modded my bonnie and it rocks, I can also park in a parking lot full of Harleys, Ducatis and Jap bikes and people always come up to my bike and ask questions and compliment it! Not that that is the reason I ride the bike, but it's nice sometimes, especially since it cost about half of those bikes!

Jeff is indeed a class act. He called me yesterday to check up on the bike and to tell me they're going to cover the repairs/repainting of the lower fairing. I'm planning a riding trip to Calgary later this year so I'll definitely be stopping in to buy him a coffee or beer.

Any pictures of that Bonnie?

rsd · 04-06-2008

I bought an 06 America from Mark at Blackfoot. He's no longer there, but he gave me excellent service. Before he left though he did tell me that they were losing their preferencial dealer status, and were therefore losing a $600 perk per bike from Triumph. They were trying to take that from his commission.

Their service is very bad. I live in Lethbridge and was told that I could arrange to have the bike serviced on Saturdays. So I made an 8:30 AM Saturday appointment to have the 500K service done. I tried every two days for three weeks before the appointment to confirm, and all day the Friday before. Each time I phoned nobody was there to answer, I left messages, and my calls were never returned. So I left Lethbridge at 5:30 and when I got there I was told that they don't take Saturday appointments, that their policy had changed!

The left knee pad was coming loose, so I asked them to fix it since it was in for the service. The mechanic shoved goop in and used a knife on the paint to clean off the goop that oozed out when the pad was pressed back on. They did make good on this later, but I still can't get a Saturday appointment. I've been directly told I need to take time off work during the week to get them the bike.

I don't know how the he\\ they expect people from outside of Calgary to buy their product with service like that. As happy as I am with the bike, I can't recommend Blackfoot to anybody if they need any kind of service support.

OK, I feel better now....

Sort of...

Steve

Flat-Out · 04-08-2008

Blackfoot is like shopping at Walmart. No post sale customer service experience at all really.

You're really just a name in their computer.

They are too busy for their own good or for the customers good. I really hate dealing with them. Service is slow, often confused, disorganized and always booked up. The sales floor is a mess and accessories and parts don't know their ass from a hole in the ground.

There have been a few times when I wonder if it was worth it to buy my Triumph b/c of having to deal with Blackfoot.

Has anyone dealt with any indy garages in Calgary, like Universal Cycle for service?

d3v1l6 · 04-11-2008

Well, it's done. just put 2K down on one of the 3 remaining Silver/Red Thruxton's in Ab. Dealt with Rick at Echo, really nice guy. Can't wait to pick it up... in June.
Now I can concentrate what mods I want to do when I get home.

CoburnAndHughes · 04-11-2008

Congratulations on your new Thruxton. I really like that colour. I bought my Black Thrux from Jeff at Blackfoot. He was good. I have no complaints with the sales process.

Whilst the service department does seem a little disorganised, the actual work performed has been of a high quality. Yes. They are over busy, but I try and get my work done early in March/April before the rush starts.

Blackfoot like other businesses is a victim of the Alberta boom with service staff leaving but so far so good with Blackfoot.

d3v1l6 - Definitely get some TORs, what a difference!