what would you do? regarding shoddy work from a garage

[qpop]

(EDIT: Dates changed!)

Hey all had a bit of a thing with a local garage, I've written semi shorthand what's happened, removing names of garage as appropriate. Just looking for some advice.
Wed 17th June 4pm motorbike breaks down on road x., chains come off sprocket. Wheel the bike to local garage, xxx.

Conversation with man 1 at service regarding part of pivot on a link broken. He says he will check it out. Needs parts, clutch push rod + clutch seal. Parts ordered Thursday 19th, arrive Tuesday 23rd.

Wed 24th June 5pm man 2 calls to say bike has been fixed. Man 1 son in accident so no word from man 1. Work comes to £61.

Thurs 25th June 10.30am pay at xxx for work, pick bike up, tank is covered in grease/muck, chain looks unlubed, trust that work has been carried out successfully and leave on it.

Roughly 1.5km home and park Bike up.
Thurs 25th June 2pm take bike on way to work. Roughly 2km into ride chain snaps in two pieces on dual carraigeway. Wheel bike to side road, call xxx. Van sent to pick me up.
All gear left at xxx (helmet, jacket, mobile phone, mp3 player, boots, keys)
Man 2 says too late to look at it (roughly 4pm by this time) and will ring on Fri 26th to work out what to do, insists mechs tested properly and problem was fixed. I disagree.

Thur 25th June 4pm ring reception to explain MP3 player is in jacket, lady at reception says it will be locked away for me

Fri 26th June 3.30pm, no call from xxx. Call reception who say man 2 with customer, leave my details, will call back ASAP. No call as of 4.30pm

And here I am, no idea what's going on, out of bike for even longer eith no idea what's happenin with it or if they want to charge me.

What would you do in this situation, people?
This isn't a small garage either its accredited by multiple manufacturers and afaik has a pretty good rep!
____________________
Past: 96 P Aprilia RS125 - 97 R Honda CB500 | Current: 00 W Suzuki SV650s
Why tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death?

[tutton]

Get in there in person, and cause a scene, phone calls are all too easy to dodge and avoid. if your in there and your making a scene itll get sorted if there a reputable company that is.
____________________
Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[Doovy]

hiya

cant give much advice, but re-check the dates from Wednesday the 25th onwards! it was wednesday the 24th, all days a date out (just so you get it correct when issuing report to whoever )
____________________
Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[Valver]

You don't mention what happened about the partly broken chain link. Before riding the bike home i'd have asked what they did about the chain. If the chain was replaced (which is unlikely for the total of £60) or they convinced me the link was fine then i'd be happy enough but if they didn't mention it then I sure as hell would before taking my life in my hands and riding it home. I'm not saying you are at fault but i'd maybe of asked a few more questions. It's tough when you don't get continuity of staff though I know, this can be said for any business
I hope you get it sorted soon

[carlperkins00...]

go in there, demand your gear back. check its all there. insist the chain wasnt properly fixed! demand they re-do it free of charge, if they dont start shouting at the person on the desk. they will try to put up a fight but if they realise they nearly killed you they have no choice.
(exaggerate the second chain snapping, make it sound like you nearly died haha)
stick to your guns and dont back down.

its often that big companies just dont care as much as they already have a good reputation.
little companies need to build a good reputation so will often help you out more.

good luck.

[_sketch_]

go to xxx and insert man 1's head into man 2's arse hole (without lube as they didnt lube your chain)
____________________
A sucker for 2 strokes
Cagiva Supermoto project

[Tonka]

I guess it's a case of learning by making a mistake, not that you could have realised you were making one by using them. Very unprofessional to return your bike to you in such a state regardless of the fact that it wasn't fit for the road and not returning calls etc just emphasises this.

Personally, if I was you I'd probably take my stuff and my bike, go elsewhere and make sure everyone I knew didn't use them. I'm sure £60 is a lot of money for you to kiss goodbye, but I'd rather let it go than let them anywhere near my bike tbh. We're talking about your life at risk when your bike malfunctions - it's not like a car that just stops, you could be badly hurt or killed and god help you if you hurt someone else, as you would/could be held responsible.

Let them know in plain language how you feel, give them the opportunity to correct if you really feel the need, but don't use them again. Shouting rarely gets you anywhere, firm and polite is normally more successful and ultimately much more satisfying.

Just an aside. I use a small garage where they rely heavily on their good reputation and would never ever let something like this happen. You really need to find one near to you. Also, as far as leaving stuff with them is concerned I wouldn't leave valuables at the garage I use even though I trust them, as I would feel bad if something did go missing. I leave my leathers, boots, gloves and helmet tucked out of the way in their office, but always keep other stuff on me - it's just sensible, that's all.

Very glad you weren't hurt!
____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[Doovy]

dates still wrong!
____________________
Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[iooi]

[Doovy]

[Tonka]

[Skudd]

What did you exactly ask them to do? What budget did you tell them to keep within? For £61 I would expect not much to be done, I would not be looking at a new chain AND the clutch bits.
If I had a chain brake, and I have, I would be putting a new chain on which would cost about £90 for the chain, £130 for the full kit, fitting about £40, then you have the clutch bits and labour. For the job that sounds was needed it would be about £250 not a paltry £61. I think, in true BCF style, not all the facts are present.
____________________
Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[Doovy]

[iooi]

[Doovy]

[qpop]

ok, all of that was written on a Blackberry, thus the briefness!
Right....
I took it in because the chain had jumped off (due to my not tightening it properly apparently) I kept it well loobed though, so I dont think that was the issue.
For £60 they put a new clutch push rod and clutch seal on it, and refitted the chain. That was the charge.
They told me the chain was A OK and as I'm not the most mechanically minded of people I trusted them.

I had a chat to them yesterday, they're going to fit a new chain and sprockets with no labour charge and give my bike a good wash!

Although I think they still want me to pay for the chain.

I'm contemplating telling them I'll pay trade prices, or should I just take the no-labour offer?

The lack of continuity isn't something man 1 could have planned, his son was in a near-fatal car crash and afaik is still in a coma.
____________________
Past: 96 P Aprilia RS125 - 97 R Honda CB500 | Current: 00 W Suzuki SV650s
Why tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death?

[Tonka]

If I was you I'd accept the no labour and make sure the chain price was reasonable ie. they're not whacking on a massive mark up. Do a bit of research or ask on here for chain prices so you are 'informed'.

Glad all resolved to your satisfaction and sorry about the bad news down the garage - still shouldn't have let your bike go in an unfit state regardless imo.
____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[iooi]

[Skudd]