I just took my '06 Rancher to a the local dealer for warranty work (electronic shift mechanism snafu'ed). After dropping it off, I got a call from the owner. Upon returning, he asked where I bought it, and I advised him it was at another dealer out of state. He stated that he would not service the machine because it was not purchsased at his dealer, and he would not deal with "their" warranty problem (funny, I thought it was a "Honda" warranty problem). He said, "It's a business decision...if you buy it here, I'll treat you like a king. You expect me to put your's ahead of these other two that bought their's here (I never asked to be put ahead of anyone...I dropped it off with the expectation of having to leave it a week or two)." I asked about my other two Hondas that I bought used (not from him), if he would service them, "Sure".

I understand that it's his business and he can refuse service to anyone he please's, but I just can't imagine that Big H would condone that type of customer service when it comes to their products. I've never had any problem with my cars/trucks/bikes when getting them serviced at another dealer than where I purchased them. And not only did he lose my future service business (and what Mother Honda would have paid him for the warranty work), but I gave him back their business card with the quote for a new Can-Am Outlander that I had just looked at also.

Anyone else ever have this kind of problem of a factory licensed dealer refusing sevice because you didn't buy the unit there?

For those in the area (to keep you from driving there only to find out they won't work on your machine), the dealer in question is:

The Sport Center (Honda/Suzuki/Bombardier)
Cullman, Alabama
256-734-7636
Joe Quattlebaum - owner

 

Any dealer willing to treat you that way has just proven you were right not to buy from him in the first place. I would definately complain to Honda, and maybe a nice letter to the triple B wouldn't hurt either. If that were me, and the dealership took care of me, I would likely buy from them next time even if the price was a bit more. Get treated like that though, and I might just park my truck with a nice sign on it across the street from that dealership. Warranty work is warranty work, the dealer is getting paid to do the work either way. I hope you have another dealer close by that isn't such an idiot.

 

Id definently be on the phone with Honda service for ANY dealer that was refusing to do warranty work even if you did buy it out of state..... The dealers are held to a certian requirements to be a authorized dealer .....Kwb Im from Birmingham also, without mentioning the name of the dealer where was it located? Bessemer? Trussville? or Pelham?

 

I took a tire to a BRP dealer to have it changed and he refused to change the tire because I didn't buy the quad from him. I was quite simply shocked. He serviced my Outlander two weeks earlier but I think he was ticked cause I bought my DS from another dealer near my work.

 

Raidermike, that is also rediculous. Won't change a tire because you didn't buy from him? Do these dealers all drop out of school after the 3rd grade or something?

 

Raidermike, that is also rediculous. Won't change a tire because you didn't buy from him? Do these dealers all drop out of school after the 3rd grade or something?
>>>>>>>>>>

I don't know, my money is as green as the next guy's. Funny thing was the Suzuki dealer down the street said they would do it no problem but their shop tech. called in sick so they didn't have anyone but referred me to the BRP dealer and I was like "yeah, well they said no" and the lady looked at me and said "what" I told her the story and she simply shook her head.

 

From what I have been told when I bought mine from Southern Honda, if any Honda dealer tries to refuse service I was to call Southern Honda and they will handle it through Honda. I was told they (refusing dealer) can loose the license to sell Hondas.
It is a Honda warranty. Not a dealer warranty.

 

"Kwb Im from Birmingham also, without mentioning the name of the dealer where was it located? Bessemer? Trussville? or Pelham?"

I don't mind naming names...it might save someone a trip there only to be refused service. The dealer in question is The Sport Center in Cullman. I'll be making a call to Honda Monday morning and taking the Rancher to Icon in Trussville (which is where I should have gone to begin with).


"From what I have been told when I bought mine from Southern Honda, if any Honda dealer tries to refuse service I was to call Southern Honda and they will handle it through Honda. "

That's where I bought mine, and that was his main reason for refusing service...he was pissed that I didn't pay him $800 more for the quad. I plan on calling Southern Honda also, I figured they might be able to give me a contact for a Honda regional rep.

 

I would do all of the above, and one also write a letter to the Editor of your local news paper, it's free and alot more people buying new quads would know about the kind of Dealer they were buying from............just my 2cent's worth !!!!

 

Could it be the the dealers don't really care about ATV sales because they aren't as bit ticket as, for example, a Honda Goldwing or even a CBR? That is the only reason I can think of for someone pulling stuff like this as a "business decision".