GBM - greater boston motorsports

[nhbubba]

Vee storm?! Never heard of it. Who makes that? Kawasaki? I don't know if we can get filters for those anymore..

[scottieducati]

Faulting him for TRYING to use a local dealer, nice. He did try. They f'ed it up. THEY could of double checked when he questioned it. It has nothing to do with their patience. You once again are letting emotions validate poor business decisions.

Again, I fail to see how they fucked up, and neither did he, since he didn't stick around long enough to get an actual answer. And yes, I get pissed off by these types of rants, especially from someone like Jay who should know better, and especially over a $20 fucking plug that he could have easily ordered thru the website and waited for an email to go the 2 miles and pick it up. No matter what he was quoted by the guy when asking for "a spark plug for my CRF250," the only FACT presented in this entire discussion is right here: 31911-KRN-731 for $19.72 through GBM Parts, which completely contradicts OP's claims.

[Awesome]

I have no idea because he didn't fucking care to look into it. Instead of leaving I should have stared at him while he did nothing. Scott, you're the only one that shares your view here.

[breakdirt916]

that place is awesome!!!

those guys really know their stuff, best prices on parts, and even better pricing on new and used bikes!!!!

great place to hang out and bring your friends to buy stuff too, if you need some place to spend some time - that's where you want to go

[scottieducati]

Jay, I'm not arguing that you got an incorrect price for a common part. I'm arguing that you did nothing to resolve it, showed no initiative to develop a relationship with your one and only local dealer, and got butthurt over a LESS than $20 misunderstanding which you're willing to badmouth a dealer over, give up on any face to face relationship with said local dealer, and start an internet rant over it.

Grow up and learn how to deal in the real (non interwebz) world. There's a REASON dealers have MANAGERS to help CUSTOMERS in just such situation.

And no, I'm not saying they're the best place ever to hang out and get killer deals. The entire point to *my posts this thread was that if you're going to order from a dealer, especially your LOCAL dealer, you should a) get to know the parts people, and b) come prepared with part numbers to make their life easier. You follow these two points of advice, and you'll have success getting what you need at ANY dealer. Cars, bikes, what EVER.

If you don't, well good luck, have fun ordering online.

Dealers are dealers, they have to find a way to make money in this shitty industry. Yes, the motorcycle industry, particularly in New England where it's a half-the-year-thing, sucks. It's shit. You need to make money any way you can. But when OP asserts he's getting ripped off, like they are trying to charge people double, is laughable. Keyword meaning TRYING. Did they mess up and net result was a quote for double? Yes. Are they actively trying to charge 2x cost for plugs, I highly, HIGHLY doubt it.

[PinHead]

Why the fuck should anyone have to go into a specialty store, (bike shop) with all these print out's etc. to get a spark plug? Or ANY part for that matter. THEY, are suppose to be the specialists here, no? No one should have to go into one of those shops with more than bike model and year, maybe a VIN# to get what they need, period!
THEN, when the salesperson is questioned on price, he didn't even give a rats ass to even bother double checking the price he found the first time. Could it have been a mistake? Sure, but if the salesperson is too fucking lazy to even bother checking, NEXT! Not a place I want to spend my money at.
Guess I am lucky, the small shop not too far from me will check multiple vendors for stock and price as well as ask me any other questions that he may need before placing an order or handing me something off the shelf. He is usually pretty close to internet prices, or close enough for me to buy from him and not the net. So yes, He gets all my business and I don't mind paying him the little extra if I have to, I do prefer to stay local if I can. And, he stays pretty busy selling parts because of his customer service, customer service is EVERYTHING! And he knows it and treats you accordingly. Plus, if he says that the part will be in on Thurs., it will be in on Thurs..

[Pittenger5]

Ya'll motherfuckers need Jesus.

[G21forme]

Ya'll motherfuckers need Jesus.

You are over using that line and ruining it's funny, stupid gingers...

[Awesome]

Oh I get it now, I went into a rage because I don't have $20 to spare, before he even finished telling me the price of the part that I asked for, which was the part that he looked up, which I should have had printed on watermarked paper, I ran out the door waving my arms above my head screaming and all this while he was trying resolve the issue, then I 'bitched' all over the internet. I had no idea that's what happened. Man, do I have egg on my face.

[scottieducati]

Why the fuck should anyone have to go into a specialty store, (bike shop) with all these print out's etc. to get a spark plug? Or ANY part for that matter. THEY, are suppose to be the specialists here, no? No one should have to go into one of those shops with more than bike model and year, maybe a VIN# to get what they need, period!
THEN, when the salesperson is questioned on price, he didn't even give a rats ass to even bother double checking the price he found the first time. Could it have been a mistake? Sure, but if the salesperson is too fucking lazy to even bother checking, NEXT! Not a place I want to spend my money at.
Guess I am lucky, the small shop not too far from me will check multiple vendors for stock and price as well as ask me any other questions that he may need before placing an order or handing me something off the shelf. He is usually pretty close to internet prices, or close enough for me to buy from him and not the net. So yes, He gets all my business and I don't mind paying him the little extra if I have to, I do prefer to stay local if I can. And, he stays pretty busy selling parts because of his customer service, customer service is EVERYTHING! And he knows it and treats you accordingly. Plus, if he says that the part will be in on Thurs., it will be in on Thurs..

GBM is not a specialty shop. They are a multi-line dealer for Honda, Kawi, Yamaha, Suzuki, BMW and now do Ducati parts. You are talking about the ONLY multi-line motorcycle dealer anywhere near Boston.

The key here, is you have a RELATIONSHIP with someone at your shop. You can foster the same from a big dealer, but not without putting in effort. When you're waiting in line, with 5+ customers being helped already, at a very busy dealer, it pays to have your sh*t together and help make their job easier with part numbers. I always have them for what I know I need, and usually end up working with whomever's at the counter to get what else I need. I expect very different things from small shops, and large multi-line dealers.

[Awesome]

You are over using that line and ruining it's funny, stupid gingers...

It's typical of all the funny stuff I say, don't get so upset about it.

[G21forme]

It's typical of all the funny stuff I say, don't get so upset about it.

Obama!

[Pittenger5]

You are over using that line and ruining it's funny, stupid gingers...

To be fair, it was never really funny.

[Awesome]

GBM is not a specialty shop. They are a multi-line dealer for Honda, Kawi, Yamaha, Suzuki, BMW and now do Ducati parts. You are talking about the ONLY multi-line motorcycle dealer anywhere near Boston.

The key here, is you have a RELATIONSHIP with someone at your shop. You can foster the same from a big dealer, but not without putting in effort. When you're waiting in line, with 5+ customers being helped already, at a very busy dealer, it pays to have your sh*t together and help make their job easier with part numbers. I always have them for what I know I need, and usually end up working with whomever's at the counter to get what else I need. I expect very different things from small shops, and large multi-line dealers.

Oh shit, there were five people in line? In front of me and behind me? I wasn't the only person in the store that didn't work there? I had no idea, tell me more about how it went down?

[scottieducati]

Oh shit, there were five people in line? In front of me and behind me? I wasn't the only person in the store that didn't work there? I had no idea, tell me more about how it went down?

Can't you see this post is about you, about you.... geeze all I needed was one internet thread to realize I'm charging you double. Guess GBM picks up on that quicker than I do...

Doesn't change the fact that you're whining about something that could have been resolved in 5 minutes, should you have chosen to do so at the dealer.

[Awesome]

Can't you see this post is about you, about you.... geeze all I needed was one internet thread to realize I'm charging you double. Guess GBM picks up on that quicker than I do...

Doesn't change the fact that you're whining about something that could have been resolved in 5 minutes, should you have chosen to do so at the dealer.

You mean like I did when I asked why it was double MSRP? Right after I asked for the part that I wanted to buy? Man am I unreasonable.

[Awesome]

Like I've said before, I'm an asshole for telling someone when they're being an idiot. I'm fine being an asshole, at least I'm not an idiot. You have noticed that everyone here says you're being ridiculous? Even your teammate and business partner.

[scottieducati]

And if I had been the sales person, had looked it up (maybe punched a key wrong, or got a quote based on what parts unlimited or whomever offers) and saw $43 on the screen, I'd think you were crazy too.

I've personally experienced something similar, ordered a part, one part # was transposed, cost a few days and had to re-order, and eventually it was resolved. See things like this happen in the real world, where people make mistakes. The point is, if the salesperson wasn't helping, that's what a manager is for. You haven't mentioned ONCE seeking someone like a manager out to resolve this. Your resolution is to make this thread here and bitch.

No matter WHAT happened, how bad you were treated, etc. You failing to take one proactive step AT the dealer to resolve the issue pretty much invalidates your ability to make a claim that the dealer fucked you over, or the dealer sucked. You had one bad experience on what should have been a simple transaction, didn't seek to remedy it there, didn't bother checking their own website for that part, didn't do a host of things that would have been more productive than this thread.

[Awesome]

And if I had been the sales person, had looked it up (maybe punched a key wrong, or got a quote based on what parts unlimited or whomever offers) and saw $43 on the screen, I'd think you were crazy too.

I've personally experienced something similar, ordered a part, one part # was transposed, cost a few days and had to re-order, and eventually it was resolved. See things like this happen in the real world, where people make mistakes. The point is, if the salesperson wasn't helping, that's what a manager is for. You haven't mentioned ONCE seeking someone like a manager out to resolve this. Your resolution is to make this thread here and bitch.

Yup, I'm bitching, not telling the story of my experience in the section of the forum for stories about experiences, and your hypothetical situations, with a biased opinion are more valid than what actually happened. I'm starting to get it now.

[scottieducati]

What bothers me most about this thread is that GBM was a shit show maybe 10 years ago? They hit rock bottom shortly after Billy left. Then he came back (after trying Parkway which he couldn't stand) and GBM has turned around since in many ways, at least in parts. Can't speak for new or used sales, but it seems its the same song and dance routine (worksheet, pitting sales mgr. against customer and using salesman as the "good cop") which is why I left. I don't agree with selling bikes that way, but it clearly works for them and is how they have to operate to stay in business.

What I do know, is at least one of the guys in parts tries, and has transformed the shop. So yeah, it pains me to see a thread like this because they're my local dealer too and I'd be porked if I couldn't run 5 mins up the road when I need something. What you're missing in all this Jay, is that you clearly saw value in that and went in to give them a chance. You had a bad experience which you admit could have been due to X, Y or Z... but instead of revisiting it, talking w/ a manager, or some other internal resolution that would have resulted in them knowing you better, realizing how much you ride and are active locally, etc.... and decided to make a thread bitching about it.

How does that help ANYONE? If local enthusiasts don't tell a shop they need to improve, who is going to?? You bet your ass I'll let Bill know about this, and see what he has to say. But he has taken care of me and any of the 5 people I've sent there in the past season alone, even those I sent and didn't introduce were treated well. So your experience seems to be a rare one, and likely would be a rare one if you bothered to stop in more and chat, pick up small stuff you need, etc.

[j4eric]

Like I've said before, I'm an asshole for telling someone when they're being an idiot. I'm fine being an asshole, at least I'm not an idiot. You have noticed that everyone here says you're being ridiculous? Even your teammate and business partner.

its your fault...you should've known at first glance the salesperson was having a bad day....it takes two to build a relationship you know....
now go to your room...no dinner for you tonight...

[scottieducati]

Keep up the sarcastic comebacks and devaluing of what I'm trying to say. Because my situations are hypothetical or ones I've experienced makes them no more or less valuable than yours, which clearly has it's own bias as well.

Again, for what, the 5th time? You did jack shit to help your cause AT the dealer. You just left, whined, and started this thread.

Even after I offered to introduce you or help work things out, this is how you chose to make your point. So be it, good luck getting your Honda parts via online ordering.

[Awesome]

Maybe you missed the part about me going there to support the local shop, and telling them I was trying to support the local shop. I should go there more and tell them, no really, I want to support the local shop. I don't want to hang out and chat and be buddies with Billy. Sorry, I have other things to do. I'd like to buy a part and have the correct price and reasonable attempt at customer service. There's one person who's "butthurt" here. Whatever that means. I have the spark plug I needed at a reasonable price. I'm a bitchy asshole though because of my reasonable expectations, and the fact that this thread is a negative review of your friend's business.

[scottieducati]

I didn't say tell them you're supporting a local shop, I said communicate your experience with a manager. About 15 times. You've never once said you tried to resolve the issue via any internal means. So you had a bad experience with one guy, not the dealer.

And like I said, I don't have a horse in this race other than being a responsible member of the community and expecting that a negative thread on a public forum would be the last method of recourse if I had an issue with a vendor. Like any sane, normal person in the real world I would go to management for a resolution. If their response didn't help, then I'd think about whining on the interwebz.

[MysteriousR1]

I didn't say tell them you're supporting a local shop, I said communicate your experience with a manager. About 15 times. You've never once said you tried to resolve the issue via any internal means. So you had a bad experience with one guy, not the dealer.

I know for me, if it gets to the point where I have to call a manager in, I am going elsewhere.