Rant Mode: <on>

I’m debating on adding EBS. I know I can get the EBS unit but not sure yet if that is something I can do myself. I am already leery of my dealers "mechanics"....a bunch of young kids. No offense to the youngsters on this forum but it is very obvious to me that the kids at MY dealer don’t have a great deal of pride or professionalism in their work. It would seem that they could really give a rat’s azz as to the finished product. I had them install my Warn 2.5ci that was supposed to come with the purchase but it was out of stock. I intentionally held back from mounting my new front brush guard until after I took it back for the winch install so they wouldn’t have to strip it off. I thought that was nice of me! The dealer told me 3 hours to do the work so I took it up (45 minute drive each way) the night before and they said they would start first thing and I could expect it by Noon. I called at 12:30 to see if it was ready and the Service Writer said it was about finished but give him another 45 minutes to “make sure all the fingerprints were off of it.” I left my house about a half hour later and arrived at about 2:00, my Ute was still on the rack with loose, unconnected wires, front rack off, the switch not yet mounted, a no mechanic anywhere near it! The service guy was a little “surprised” when I walked in but he chased a mechanic down to get him on it so I could get on the road. I went in to the showroom and proceeded to buy just under $600 bucks worth of riding/protective gear which took a while. When I was done, they were still fastening the front rack and had the panels and seat off. I talked to the “kid” for a while as he turned his wrench and I got the run down on how he ran the wiring and where the solenoid and other bells and whistles went. As he put the panels back on I noticed they didn’t fit like they did when I brought it in. He said “that’s the way they fit.” I made him straighten them out and take a little more time on how he replaced them. This time the seams all lined up and I was satisfied.....at least with that dimension of his work.

I got home and decided to put the front brush guard on that night. It obviously required that I remove some screws and bolts on the framework and the front rack mounts. As I was doing so, I noticed that these were previously removed as part of the winch install. All of the bolts that held the front rack mount weren’t even bottomed out or tight! I wonder how long it would have taken before the front rack shook off allowing me to run over it! Several other fasteners were not nearly torqued enough considering the application. I was forced to go through and re-inspect every stinking bolt that kid had touched! Now I’m torqued! I’m going back early next week to pick up a set of Thor ATV Boots so I’m going to have a little discussion with one of the Principals of the company to let them know what is going on. What would you do?

Rant Mode: <off>

 

For me the answer has become "nobody touches my ATVs but me".
The only thing I let anyone else do is hardcore machine work that I don't have the tools for.
Even then I measure and inspect before installation.

Some guys out there are great but you just don't know if as soon as you leave your machine is in the clutches of "the new guy".

 

I would buy a factory manual and/or find another shop.

 

Talk to the owner and see what he is willing to do to make it right.

First, the service manager basically put you in a tight spot. What would have happened if you had another appointment after you had orginally planned to pick up your machine? Apparently you would have missed it.

Second, the mechanic should have taken better care to double check his work, Let alone try and blow you off when you asked about the panels not lining up properly.

Third, had you not rechecked the bolts, you are right in the fact that you probably would have run over your rack. That would have more than likely led to some sort of personal injury.

Seems to me, that is three strikes in one single trip. I would play a heavy hand. I would be prepared to take all of the $600 in merchandise you bought back and ask for a refund if the Owner is not willing to make it up to you. It is up to you however to determine what makes it worth your while to give them a second chance.

 

i'm not sure talking to the Principal will get you anywhere.....he must know what a bunch of hackers they are, afterall he hired them!

many ATV Principals don't give a $hit. all they care about is the botom line.....MONEY!!.......cold, hard greenbacks bud!

HELL, i bet that he would view your having to wait as a POSITIVE........didn't you say you droped just under $600 bucks worth of riding/protective gear while you were waiting for the tech to finish? LOL!

after hearing your complaint he may tell service to delay MORE people!!....and send them to the store to shop while they wait! LOL more money in HIS pocket!

FIND A GOOD DEALER and stop SPENDING your MONEY there! all you are doing is REWARDING them for ****-POOR performance.

there's my 2 cents!

-MT

 

Unfortunately the next closest dealer to me is nearly 2 hours away! I'm going to see their reaction to my issue and go from there. As for the money I spent....I intended on doing so before I had even got there. I needed riding gear and had been shopping it online and new exactly what I wanted and it turned out to be way cheaper there then online as they gave me a 20% discount on everything.

I will take the advice previously given and get myself a manual because I know I'm far more qualified to turn a wrench on this thing than the guys I would be paying to do it! Hell, warranty ain't for beans on these machines anyhow (timewise) so unless something bad happens in the next several months down the road, there isn't any pressing reason to send this to the dealer.

 

oh yea, i thought of one more thing...

don't forget about that CSI survey you will be recieving in a few weeks. be sure to give them the marks they DESERVE!!....and fill-in some comments to.

Polaris should know about these jerks.

sounds to me like Dealers are spread-out too far in your area. it's to bad.

 

It does seem to me that if you have the knowledge to go back and check everything they have done, then heck, do it yourself. Like beersmurf said, the only way I will have anything done is if I dont have the necessary stuff to do it with, and that is quite rare. I will borrow or rent something usually first if I can. Buy the good hard cover $60-$75 OEM manual, and forget the dummies from now on. As the old saying goes "if you want something done right, do it yourself".

 

I take pretty seriously the quality of work that leaves my shop . Most complete quads that leave my place get a once over my me . Double checking for properly ran hoses and wires , correctly positioned carb clamps ect . .

If a person is seriously into this sport most of the repairs and maintenence you could and should be doing yourself , it is part of the hobby . When a professional mechanic can't pay attention to detail enough to properly install body panels or tighten bolts they need a career change .


Rick

 

And thats the reason why none of us hesitate to recommend your services Rick.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]