Triumphrat

06-09-2005

Hi all

Now that I've aired this with other members of the group I think it's only right that every other member has the opportunity to consider their position when booking a service with MCS (Scotland) Ltd, Renfrew, Glasgow.

The first 6000mile service is now due for my Tiger - more or less an oil and filter change. MCS stated that it would cost somewhere in the region of £170.00!!!

I asked the dealer what he meant by "in the region of" as I wanted a specific price i.e. the price for a 6000 mile service should nothing else be required. I explained that I bought the bike from them at a set price, not "in the region of" and asked why a service price was any different to which he replied "I can see where you're coming from but we don't work like that."

However, he did advise that a previous customer had been charged £155 for the same service to his bike with no faults found. I then asked if £155 was the menu price to which he answered "depends if we find anything else wrong." Yes I know that but what is the set menu price!!!!!!!!

I am furious with the attitude demonstrated by a dealer who presumably wants future business and values his customers rather than sees them as a blank cheque book.

I phoned Triumph and they explained that the first 6000 mile service should take 1hr 15 mins and that it would be reasonable for a dealer to charge another 15min to ensure all the checks for this service are carried out. Triumph explained that their guideline hourly rate that dealers should charge is £47.50 an hour.

This would mean that the labour costs would be around £60 and oil and filter (using Mobil 1 and Triumph filter) around £30???? It's clear that this dealer is definitely extorting his customers. Triumph further advised that they do not have any leverage with dealers in this respect.

The only reason I am getting this service done by a Triumph dealer is for warrany purposes as I MUST use an approved Triumph dealer as advised by Triumph.

I have read that the European Union is now forcing car manufacturers (for purposes of maintaining warranty) to allow customers to have their servicing done at cheaper reputable servicing outlets as long as they use OE parts - three cheers for this.

I can't wait for the demise of the warranty next year as I'll be able to get on with my own servicing and know that the work has actually been carried out to a high standard.

Jim

:evil:

djr · 06-09-2005

I just checked back some old bills and the 6000m service on my Tiger cost me €200 (£134). Now this was including the loan of a bike while mine was done €18.76(£12ish) and 250ml of fuel gurad that he uses at every service to help clean through the FI system. Oil cost €58 plus €14 for the filter so I think you are way out on your guess for this. I should stress though that like you I would refuse to let the dealer near if he could not give an indication of cost - surely he has enough experience of fixing/servicing bikes to know that if all is well it should be +/- £x and even if he doesnt know all the bike s costs off pat it should be reasonably easy to work out.

My own dealer charges much less than £47/hr, in fact he doesnt even charge €47/hr!

I recon I would get a bog standard basic 6000m service for +/- £115!
Personally I would ask at some other Triumph dealers. I would not give these guys another penny if they are charging 50% plus more than I am paying here.

tango · 06-09-2005

Comparing costs between two different countries is pointless really,
much better to try and find out the cost difference between dealers where you are. In Scotland your choices are Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

You don't need to use a Triumph dealer for servicing, any decent motorcycle shop should be able to do it, and, irrespective of what your dealer or hand book says it will not invalidate the warranty, so long as o/e parts are used.

06-09-2005

Hi Davie

You seem quite sure that any dealer using OE parts for a service will not invalidate the warranty - how do you know this after all Triumph told me I had to get it done by a Triumph dealer?

I agree totally that this should be the case but I need to make sure

Jim

ipg · 06-09-2005

Jim I hate to depress you any more by telling you what the 12000mile service costs at MCS, I've just booked mine in along with a warranty claim for a second set of front discs, not bad ehh......... 6000mile per set of discs then they warp, must be made from plastic or something. :???: :???: :???:

Arrybash · 06-09-2005

I am not to sure exactly how the warranty works with bike manufacturers but I am reasonably up to date with cars and common law.

Most cars have a three year warranty. However there is common law that requires that the design of a product must be capable of performing to its design intent. A period of up to 5 years seems to be the generally accepted time.

I bought a new Landrover Discovery in 1996 (2 year warranty in those days). After 3 years the top of the dash board near the tax disc started to lift up. It transpired that this was happening to dozens of Discovery's. The car was serviced for 2 years at the main dealer and then by me. As the vehicle was outside of its warranty I contacted Landrover direct. There reply was as follows:

It is normal Landrover policy to cover all manufacturing faults at 100% of the cost up to three years old and 50% of the cost up to five years old, but only if the vehicle has been serviced by a main dealer. The caveat was challenged on the basis that ‘what has a dashboard got to do with servicing’, the response was ‘supporting the main dealer’. The reply was ‘The main dealer is supported through all the spares that are required to be purchased’. Landrover Customer Care refused to be persuaded.

Hence if I had got the vehicle serviced by Landrover I may have got it fixed without to much of a fight.

In the event BBC's Watchdog came to the rescue and broadcast the problem on the TV. The professional on the program pointed out the design liability law advising that Landrover were in the wrong to reject the claims as the problem was clearly a design fault.

The next day Landrover agreed to fix every Discovery with a peeling dashboard.

I also believe it to be true that EU law does not require a Triumph dealer to be used during the warranty period, but what if there is say an engine related problem during the warranty. Is it really worth taking the risk of using a non Triuph dealer?

I am not to sure how Triumph react to out of warranty claims, but if you go to an independent you are reducing the chances of getting Triumph to play ball in the event of a problem after 2 years.

The 5 year design law is on our side, but to fight Triumph should there be a design problem could prove expensive.

I will probably go with a Triumph dealer for 2 years and then service it myself and take a chance from 2 years on that nothing serious happens.

Chris

djr · 06-10-2005

Quote:

Comparing costs between two different countries is pointless really

Any time servicing has come up in the past with ref to costs there has generally not been a huge difference throughout Europe for costs. Comparing costs is not pointless as the basic work being carried out is the same. Yes VAT rates will be different (we pay more over here @21%) but basically the same is being done so costs should be similar.

Given that suilven was quoted pretty much the same as I pay from a dealer in Edinburgh kind of backs this theory up.

06-10-2005

Hi Chris

I have already decided to keep with Triumph dealers until the warranty expires as all a long running battle would do is put me off the bike and have to switch to something else - not for me as I've really fallen for the bike - well nearly as it's so tall - any tips on lowering? I've got the gel seat and at 6ft tall can just about get both feet down. I've asked a few custom seat guys if they would be able to assist with lowering/reshaping the seat - still awaiting advice from them.

Hi IPG

I have already had an "in the region of" £400 quote for the 12,000 mile service. I asked what was involved and he faultered his way through "valve clearances,etc. I phoned Two Wheels in Edinburgh and the gentleman advised that £250 would be about right for this service - much better (although still not that cheap)!! So I phoned MCS and explained this to them with the reply "how do you know they'll do the valve clearances?" to which I retorted "how do I know you'll do the valve clearances?????" No reply - funnily enough.

Anyway I'll give Two Wheels a try - it's all I can do at this time for warranty purposes.

Do you know anything about a custom seat company called Blazin Saddles in Paisley? I have contacted them about the possibility of having my seat lowered/reshaped.

Jim

lancashirelad · 06-10-2005

Woods of Abergele have a menu on their site for servicing prices. Even if you're not near enough to use them its always a good benchmark. It says £86.11 plus vat (ie £101.18).
I paid £100 at my local dealer so thats about right.

http://www.woodsmotorcycles.co.uk/pd...20Schedule.pdf

06-10-2005

LL

Thanks for the advice - prices are more in keeping with dealer in Edinburgh.

Jim