The Ducati Dealer Experience

So I need to put the bad guys view across. I am a mechanic in Aus. Over here you don't void your warranty if all services are performed on time with quality parts and documented no matter who does the work. I had my own shop and yes we needed to make money but not by ripping people off. The rip off guys get a name and usually go out the back door. Honest good mechanics make plenty by always having work. We were booked out 4 to 5 weeks in advance. I only took on as much work as I needed so I could spend the time and consentration on one job at a time. Sure some jobs are on the side but those are the bigger stuff or non urgent. The insurance companies took plenty of money off us for public liability and workers comp. Consider rent in say Sydney is about $250 per square metre p.a. you need about 400 m2 for a decent shop, it all adds up. Start stocking parts for different makes and models, oils, and just normal shop supplies so there goes a fair bit of your profit. Now lets add special tools and equipment for the bikes your working on and up goes the hourly rate again. Hand tools need to be best quality so look at 7 ring open enders say 8,10,12,13,14,17,19 mm thats $250.00 I hope I'm getting my point across. Somebody said build a relationship with your shop, good point. Let them know where they stand. Say your lookng for a long term service guy, is he interested? if he's half smart he'll look after you. Yeah Quacker I know the reason in your case. The military blokes will come and go but locals make or break you. I dont agree with it but it happens. So now I do some work in my own shed. If you want a service you leave the bike for at least 3 days. I charge $50 an hour but only time on tools. I make bugger all on oil or parts. Don't like the price of oil the dealer is using supply your own. There are good shops and bad shops everywhere. Unfortunately the good ones get tarred with the bad guys brush.
Now my fingers are sore....
 
If any of you move to Florida keep an open mind to how one will need to change attitudes on locking doors and such and I live completely in the swamops and back woods and dirt roads.

Besides "some" dogs, gets "some" guns and a carrying permit. With the economy just getting worse seems as if everyone wants to carry off somthing from someone else. 3 months ago they took our bad dog with them! Really wonder if he went along socially or w/ a fight? Lord knows I was feeding him good!

I sure would hate to be facing a big Great Dane bare handed.....They are the Mister "Hulks"!
 
Wow, some of those experiences make me boggle my eyes.

Argyll Motorsports in Edmonton sold me my bike and they do all of my service. My first service was just the basics and they didn't try to tell me I needed anything special done at all ... and they could have because it's my first Duc.

I guess not all dealerships are crooks and if you live in Alberta I'd definately recommend them. The main Ducati salesman there(Derrik) owns something like 25 ducatis and he actually talked me into an 848 when I was going to buy a 1098 because he didn't think I was ready for it. Good guy, straight shooter and good shop.
 
Wow! Glad I live where I live. Doors could be unlocked but due to living where they can't be it has become a habit to lock the house. Other then that I have two excellent shops within about the same distance from my house, (about to change due to a move to an even safer neighborhood) Delano Motor Sports and Silverback Racing!

Silver is a little $$$ but they won't bullshit you ever. And Delano is just the bomb all around.

Hey Zman how far from Delano are you?
 
I live about 10 minutes from DSC.....and I haven't done any work on carbureted Monsters. Plenty of carb work on the ice bikes of course since jetting is crucial.....and all the other small engine stuff sittin' around.

I love fuel injection!!!!
 
Well, it seems to me you can believe what you want. And you can tell your dealer politely that you would simply prefer that they only follow the maintenance guidelines from Ducati, and that you only expect to pay for that which is called for at the recommended service interval. If anything else is really needed, then it should be a warranty item and they can take it up with Ducati.
 
Couldn't agree more Cav. Tell the shop that exactly. At 600 mls if the belt is stretched so much it must be faulty and you want it replaced under warranty. Ask if there is a service bulletin on the problem? I believe that if the pre delivery service is done properly there should be no need to top to toe the bike for loose bolts, nuts etc . Any shop that says the bikes are thrown together at the factory should be asked "why the f--- do you sell the shit then?"
 
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