Name and shame?

[venners]

Hi all just wondered if it was ok to name and shame a so called bike dealer who has ripped me off.It may save someone else alot of money and hassle.Would this be against forum rules?

[lihp]

back story?

[CaNsA]

Real story, not the "missing bit outs" version.

If we decide it is valid then the BCF Mafia will allow the name of the dealer to be posted.

[Nick 50]

[venners]

Well here goes.... I'd been looking for a Yamaha Virago for sometime but couldn't find one in my area so looked on the internet.After a few weeks I found one however It was in S'hampton and I'm in Felixstowe It was around the right price I examined the photo's ( I got the IT dept where I work to blow the photo's up) it looked good for the year 98.
I rang the dealer he described the bike to me, it had a years m.o.t and he said he would deliver it for £80 which seemed not bad to me.The bike arrived a few days later it came on the back of a pick up truck the guy who brought it showed me around it and started it but only briefly which should have been a warning to me but at the time I didn't register it.The guy just wanted to get the money and paperwork done and he was gone.Then the trouble started I rode the bike about a week later(waited for insurance docs as the bike had no tax) I noticed a hesitation and slight misfire so decided to get the plugs out and found that the plugs were black so decided to clean them ran the bike but no real improvement,I thought that the bike may have had a bad previous owner who didn't overwinter it very well so went to work on it hoping that fresh petrol would help clear the misfire.Got to work all seemed ok but still had hesitation. Finished work got on the bike to my horror ignition wouldn't come onspent about 20 minutes turning the ignition on and off the neutral light flickered and eventually came on bike started after a few cracks of the elctric starter switch and I rode home.Next day went to work the bike started to lose power on the way but I geared down and let out the throttle and it picked up and I got to work ok.However I was still having trouble with the starting.Next day went to work half way there bike lost power geared down but kept losing power and bike died and wouldn't start agai I pushed it home.I striped the carb found that a couple of O rings were knackered replaced them bike just started but ran badly and at really low revs.To cut along story short it went to a local bike garage they were amazed that it ran at all it had the following faults: carb inlet o rings perished,carb heaters were constantly on and dangerously hot,carb not seated properly on rubber manifold(sucking loads of air) plug leads too long,diaphragm brittle and holed.
To add to that I found that the rectifier/regulator is overcharging the battery and the thermo switch was faulty (probably causing the carb heater problem) I have since cured the starting problem by taking the ignition switch apart and resoldering some contacts.I rang the dealer who sold me the bike but was told I would have to pay him to come and pick the bike up and also pay him to return it!To which of course I refused stating that it was sold with warranty but he refused to budge I have informed trading standards so far.To date the bike has cost me £50 (half a days pay) and a further £200 in parts and labour not to mention hours spent on it by myself.
I hear what your saying but I don't do fairy stories I deal in facts as I encountered them the dealer will probably dispute this but I have recipts from my local garage to back me up and have also got a ref number for trading standards who have given me advice of how to proceed but I think this is going to be fruitless.

[groovylee]

hate to say it, but you should have contacted him first, before you spent the money, and given him a fair chance to rectify the issues.

now, you could struggle a bit to get the money back. happy to be proven wrong though.
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Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[venners]

I did contact him In the first instance he refused to come get it without paying him it's all in the post.

[Quornholio]

Should have gone to him first, however, you *should* have a decent case for small claims.

[Easter Bunny]

I think you did need to contact him first to allow him to rectify the problem.
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The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!

[venners]

The dealer refused to even get the bike without payment the law states that if something is unfit for purpose which I'm advised relates to my case the dealer must rectifiy replace or refund he refused to repair without payment which I'm told is against the law.

[groovylee]

[Walloper]

A Shovel, a 1/2 bag of lime and a bit of desert should sort the fucker out.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[Darth]

The dealer didnt say he would charge to fix the issues - only that you would need to pay for transport. I am no lawyer but i wouldnt have expected this to be covered??
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Harold_Shand wrote: I suppose it's like anything, you get your fingers burned when you start out, you learn from it and eventually become a complete arsehole about the whole thing.

[pendulum]

You've probably blown the right to repair by taking the bike to bits and tinkering yourself, you also denied him the chance to fix the faults (he's allowed to offer a collection/drop off service; you should've taken it if you couldn't get the bike to him by your own method to be fixed under warranty)

You could have rejected the goods within a short space of time as faulty but not after taking the bike to bits

[Shaun]

What the hell is wrong with this forum?

The guy got ripped off by some 2 bit dealer that knowingly delivered him a bike with far too many faults for it to be an over sight and all you lot do is jump on him for trying to get his new bike working?

Jesus christ.

From experience the bike isn't fit for purpose as trading standards have told you. Send them a letter recorded delivery (keep a copy for yourself) stating you wish the faults to be repaired and this should be done at no cost to yourself.

If they refuse then you may be able to ask for a refund as you haven't had it long, only contact them in writing though so it's not your word against theirs.

Don't name and shame yet, keep that back so he can't blame you for damaging his business... at least until this has been resolved.

[Noxious89123]

And this is why you shouldn't buy a bike without seeing it, giving it a good look over and testing riding it. Especially if the place isn't local.

But then we all make mistakes. Live and learn! Hope you get it sorted

Btw, what virago is it? 535? 750? 1100? They sound ace with Remus slash cuts
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[Ichy]

I sort of agree with the sentiment Shaun but can the dealer be expected to accept complete liability when the op states:

[venners]

Firstly thanks Shaun you seem to understand where I'm coming from. The point of this post was to let all of you know that there is a rouge trader about and I wouldn't want any of you lot getting caught out.I bought the bike mainly for the daily commute it took the last of our savings to buy.
I wouldn't complain but as I have been legally advised if a product is delivered and it is NOT fit for purpose it is the LEGAL duty to repair,replace or refund if it has been
delivered it is also the dealers duty to retrive the item and redeliver it-trading standards.I would also like to point out the dealer has had 2 letters delivered recorded delivery and chosen to ignore them what a reputable bloke!

[Polarbear]

I feel for you. I have bought long distance from a dealer and had problems (a 600 divvy for the wife). I bought it with a credit card and got them involved. Credit card companies are actually quite good as they don't like negative karma (not BCF version, lol)

I think you are doing OK. Get your local trusted garage to sort it out and then go to the small claims. Now I don't know the rules, but if you buy distance and it wrong, surely the seller has to cough up for the collection.

Whatever happens, hope your bike is OK now
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Efes123]

I don't think we've quite got all the info here.

[Vincent]

Not much doubt that the dealer has sold you a lemon but you didn't do yourself many favours buy buying from one so far away. There's not many dealers would deliver a used bike nearly 200 miles, (if using the M25), for not much more than the cost of fuel so that would have made me suspicious for a start. Buying the bike without viewing it only compounded the problem. I'm not blaming you for the state of the bike but there must have been one nearer
At £200 for the work done, the second garage don't seem too friendly either.
If you think the bike's gonna cause more problems get it back pronto, if not fix it up and chalk it down to experience.
I do feel for you though - it's a jungle out there and I reckon as much as 50% of bike establishments are on the make I've only ever bought one bike from a garage, I always go private, sometimes the other end of the country, but always private.
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Space Is Deep

[Ichy]

[venners]

I bought the bike from the place I did because it was the NEAREST I could find at the time I tried local garages and dealers but they didn't have what I wanted I was also quoted what I thought was alot for finding a bike that I could find myself. Cars have been delivered for years so I thought why not a bike and car dealerships and dealers DO recover vehicles that don't run for no fee I used to work for Volvo my father in law works for Honda so I know this to be true.At the end of the day I feel hard done by I don't want a debate lets not worry about it I'll post on other sites.

[P.]

[Vincent]