Triumphrat

Dan in Cibolo

I've called the parts dept. several times, and this guy seems to be very ignorant ... got hung up on once, left on hold another time. My friend and I drove over there today (a 75 mile day), and I talked to him about some accessories (saddle bags, luggage rack, windscreen, etc.), and he really didn't show me a bit of intelligence, or customer care attitude. While talking to the salesman, later, I told him I'd buy my things online before I'd deal with their parts dept. Then he told me that the the guy I was talking to was their BMW parts man, and the Triumph parts man had quit, leaving the other guy overloaded, and very unfamiliar (but trying, apparently). I told him I was looking for a job, and he said it didn't pay much, to which I responded, "well, I don't work for nothing ... "

As I was leaving, I asked the same salesman how their service department was ... he said their mechanics were BMW guys. Well, a mechanic is a mechanic, right? NO ... I'm certain there are many specific quirks only a trained Triumph mechanic is familiar with. I told him I'd probably be using my shop manual on a regular basis, rather than have just anyone turn the wrenches on my Bonneville, or try to solve other problems that I may have.

I'm not feeling good about that place - the head salesman has always been helpful to me on the phone, before I bought the Bonneville, but service and service and service is all important to me. I don't like getting jacked around, and treated like some bum that just walked in off the street.

Opinions? Experiences?

rmak

Many tales of woe, including mine, about multi brand dealers who take on Triumphs, have six in a corner of the floor and don't take the marque seriously. Last time I bought something locally I waited seven days for the wrong part. I told the guy, "look, I'm trying to support my local dealer, can't you do better than that?" He just shrugged. I guess they can't.

Dan in Cibolo

Yeah, I hear that ... seems like the same story with almost any retailer - "screw the customer, and don't bother me with questions!"

Kind of makes a guy sick and (MAD).

Pokeyjoe

There are a few dealers here in the LA area. They are quite different in their abilities, too. One is absolutely great with twins, but no one likes the work they do on triples. Another one has the opposite problem (good with triples, not so much with twins).

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John
3-7-77
Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing. But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

koifarm

Very true, you really have to pick your dealer, I've seen ones with a few Triumphs that can never get parts, some just don't give a flying fig about what you want, it's no wonder some of them don't do a good business.
A dedicated Triumph dealer is hard to find but when you do, it's a breath of fresh air....although parts are still taking a long while to get back to you, a good mechanic, preferably one who has been to the Triumph School, is worth his weight in gold and darn far and few between.
For those of you who remember Mr. Birch in Daytona beach, he, at least to me, personifies one of those incredibly good mechanics. He would always offer you OEM parts or aftermarket, and if you chose aftermarket, he would give you one of those "over the tops of his glasses" looks and be quiet until you changed your mind. He was the best. Honest as the day is long and a straight shooter who knew British bikes like the back of his hand.

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road_dog

Alamo BMW/Triumph in San Antonio... bad.:

I went to aforementioned dealer once... and that was enough. I had decided to ride over to Alamo shortly after they moved and added Triumph. I needed a state inspection at the time but mostly just wanted to check the new place out. I met my Buddy along the way and we rode over on a Saturday morning. In short, neither of us were very impressed with their customer service manners. We left without my new inspection sticker or any intentions of ever going back there.


Lone Star BMW/Triumph in Austin... good. :

I only went to check Alamo out because it would had been a little more convenient for me to go there. I bought my '06 at Lone Star in Austin and they've been wonderful. They've had a few personnel problems in one or two positions, but the service has always been great. I say that because their service department manager that moved on was awesome, and it proved to be hard to replace him. But the vast majority of the staff there are familiar faces to me. They are friendly, helpful and really know what they're doing. Their Triumph mechanic even rides a Thruxton.

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History shows again and again how nature points up the folly of man.

propforward

You do have to pick your dealer - luckily mine (Belle Plaine Motorsports) while a multi marque dealer (Triumph, Honda, Yamaha) take the Triumph brand very seriously. I am happy with them, and refuse to order my triumph parts anywhere else. Anyway, because I bought my bike there, they beat any other store, even MADSS on price.

I wish you were all lucky enough to have a dealer like that.

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ocguyocguy

Southern California has many problems, that I will not go into here, but finding a good bike shop is NOT one of the problems here. I have at least 4 good Triumph dealers close by and the even the local Honda shop that is close by will order parts for my Triumph when I ask. It's cool but also odd at the Honda dealer they have an old very nice Triumph 650 Bonneville in the window on display...I look at it everytime I go there!
sorry you had a bad experience...you'll find a good shop.

Dan in Cibolo

road dog

Good report. Seems like my opinion of Alamo is common.

BTW, the '02 Bonneville I just bought about 4 weeks ago, was originally purchased in Austin, at "Lone Star." Among the things that came with my Bonneville, was the original "paper" dealer license plate.

I plan on driving to Lone Star some day soon, for lunch, and to just look around (accessories ).

road_dog

Yea... I think Alamo has yet to impress anyone with their knowledge of anything Triumph. It's too bad that Joe Harrison Motor Sports stopped selling Triumph. I would have most likely bought from them since they're much closer to me than Lone Star, and I've bought other (non-Triumph) bikes from them in the past. But, when I purchased my T100 in '06, Lone Star was the only Triumph dealer within 150 miles of me. As far as I'm concerned, they're still the only "reputable" Triumph dealer around here.

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History shows again and again how nature points up the folly of man.