Ok check this. I had a few things I wanted done to my P650 before I go riding this weekend. The things I wanted done should have all been warranty work, but according to them its not. Anyway let me start out the story from the beggining. My P650 shifter linkage has always clicked, but never really bad so I figured I might as well bring it in and have them adjust it. So I loaded up the bike and brought it to the dealership. I went to the service area and said I got a bike that i need some warranty work done on and they said, sorry we're booked...your going to have to make an appointment. So I called the next day and set up an appointment that was 2 weeks away from the day I called. So 2 weeks passes and I bring my bike in and drop it off. This was on a thursday. 1 solid week goes by and no call, so I call them up and they r like "ohh yeah, we havent even looked at it yet." I was like WTF...! So I just let it be and I called them the following monday, so now they have had my bike for 1 week and 4 days. I call on monday and they told me the same thing... They havent even looked at it yet. So this time I started to complain sayin i was going riding this weekend, blah blah blah and said that seriously there is only like a 1/2 hours worth of work to be done and WTF is taking so long. Well todays thursday again and they r finally done and I can pick it up today. So 2 weeks prior appointment and 2 weeks at the dealership and finally its done. BUT..! thats only half of it. Heres what I wanted them to check/do:

**Adjust shifter linkage
**Change oil/filter (i'm lazy, but I did do the hitch, go figure)
**check on the boot that goes between the engine and the swingarm. ( I went riding one time and after the ride it was off..? I think from the factory the clamps werent tight)
**Listen to the engine cause i thought i heard a knock.

Ok so all that seems simple right...? Well I called them yesterday and I figured the bill would be low cuze everything is warranty work except the oil change..well hes like "sir your total is 130.00 dollars." I was like WHAT....!!! he said that the shifter linkage adjustment isnt covered under warranty and he charged me for 1.5 hours of labor on that..!!! He also said the boot between the engine and swing arm isn't covered under warrant, but he didnt charge for that cuze there is nothing wrong with it, its just kinked.

Well i have to go pick it up today after work and I have to talk to their warranty guy. Sorry this is so long I just wanted to tell my story about how BS dealerships can be and i spent over 10G there I should get royal treatment damnit..!!! =)

 

I know your pain. I suffer from can't-stand-other-people-working-on-my-stuff disorder. I do know of a good dealer around here. The honest ones don't seem to make as much money as the gougers for some reason.

The experience you described would make me sick.

I seem to feel violated every time I take the truck to have someone do a safety inspection. They don't torque the wheels on right. They get my seat greasy. Their lift hits the exhaust before reaching the frame. And those are the good guys. The bad guys bend your brake hoses until they crack.

Due to the fact that the 650 is a lot easier to fix than my truck, I probably won't ever take it in.

I really hate to have to fix it myself, and buy any special tools that I can't do without. But I get so frantically irate when I feel a dealer has done nothing for me, charged me for something I didn't ask for, or charged a lot for simple stuff. It is just not worth the hassle for me.

If I hafta by tools, even if I sometimes replace parts that do not need it, I still am money ahead of going to the dealer ($52 per hour). Plus, I am a lot more forgiving if I don't do a good job, since it was free and I did not have to haul it anywhere to fix it.

 

After doing damage to my 650 last weekend, I called the dealer for a repair estimate. They said it would be a week before they could do the estimate, but it would be 2-3 weeks before they could get to fixing it. I will just fix it myself...at least it will be done right.

 

AMEN! The only thing they have over us is the tools!!!

 

Yup I agree with all you guys. I can't stand dealerships. i know I am going to get ripped off one way or the other. I can't help but think they fool with things they don't need to to keep you coming back if you know what I mean. I haven't really fooled around fixing automobiles or engines since a tuneup involved Changing the plugs points and condenser. But Ill tell ya unless its covered by warranty the scumbags are not getting my 650. Ill fix it myself. I got my service manual. If only I could make the parts myself. Best of luck and thanks for letting me vent.....

 

I have one for ya!

Had my bike out about a month or two after I bought it and the 4 wheel drive wouldnt engauge, so naturally I loaded it up and brought it in! Got there unloaded the bike and drove into the service area when the shop manager came over, I asked if it would all be warranty work and he said yep all but the wash job (He wanted 50 Bucks)! He claimed my bike was to dirty for his service area! The bike had just been washed, cleaner than two other bikes in the area! Talk about mad!!! Loaded the bike, washed it, and brought it back to him. A week later with no call from them, I called! Shop manager told me my bike had been ready the day after I dropped it off, Forgot to call me! These people kill me! Also, I had no complaint with my belt and the fools pulled the cover and inspected the deflection(Supposedley), ever since the darn thing had been howling (coincidence I guess). Manager told me my belt needed replacing but it wasnt a warranty item, for a fair price of $130 he could have me a brand new one on it! I told him if the machine needed a new belt with only 30hrs. on it he could keep it! Well I quit for now on the Dealer service topic! Sorry....

 

**UPDATE**

Well I went yesterday and picked up the ATV and it was pouring rain out. I was all upset cuze I would have to tow the ATV home in the rain well that really didn't matter cuze my P650 was already sitting outside soaking wet...!!!! They had it for 2 weeks and it rained out basically everyday and I bet it was sitting outside during those days too. Boy was I mad...!!!! Then I get the bill and they did charge me for the shifter linkage adjustment and to listen to the engine....I tied to explain it should be under warranty and they said no and I would have to call this number and talk to kawasaki. So today I did and then I called them back and he said it still isnt covered. I started to really bitch then and he understood the points I was making and hes giving me back all the money. I know for sure even though they refunded me the cash I will never go back to that dealership. And I still need to call up and complain to the store manager about leaving my bike outside....but thats another post hehe =)

 

Its too bad its not just dealerships, have anyone do work for you.

I have been very fortunate and have not had to take nmine back to the dealers yet. So far I have done all my service including the 1200 mile which includes valve adjust ect. Several of my friends have told me the deler I bought mine from is OK, Steadmans in Tooele, UT.

I have heard all the same stories about all the others. A friend has two 1991(?) Polaris 350 2 stroke liquid cooled 4X4 automatics with less than 1200 miles on them. He wanted to have the belts replaced because they are 10 years old. They run like new and look like new. I would love to have them myself. The dealer called with a list longer than John Holmes. My friend said he would be down shortly. Picked them up and left. The next dealer could not verify any of the problems the first dealer recommended.

I know my ATV is built to sustain the weather. If someone left it out in adverse weather I would have to blast them.

I will care for mine as long as I can and hope they never brake (wishful thinking) because I don't look forward to the experiense that everyone seems to go through.

Enjoy the ride![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I was planning to buy a ATV soon...but when I hear about service problems like this ..It really makes me think twice ...do I really want this bull$%$#....People should post the dealers names and the problems they had with the dealer..that way people would not deal with the person...then maybe they would change the attitude..Too bad there wasn't a independent repair shops to give them some competition...Sounds like a good job for somebody...

 

when i first got my 650 and had to take it to the dealer, it seemed like they were crappy also. but now all of a sudden(a couple months ago) i take the 650 there to get the front diff cleaned out(whole other story), new cv put in, and got EPI springs (black, red) put in, AND adjusted deflection(warranty work). they also replaced some seals and whatnot. I took it in with 28's on and the transmission snorkle, and the service guy said that it would be 4 hrs labor(3 on front diff, 1 on tranny). i asked, "i just want to get out of here for less than 200 bux" and he said "can-do".

skip to when i pick it up, turns out its LESS Than what they said, 3 hrs labor, total cost was $145.

However, today i tipped over again(have a problem keeping all 4 down) and sucked a little water in. anyways, i check the front diff(the one they were supposed to take apart and clean) and it looks just as bad as it did before i took it in. I was EXTREMELY pissed, so i waited a few mins before i called the dealer, and then called. he said that they would take care of it, free of course.