What should I do Volume II

T

Tyler C.

New member
So I go out to Daytona to meet a friend, step into a Ducati Dealership to take a look around, come outside and there are several quarter sized oil spots beneath my recently serviced 1098. Fortunately my friend noticed them,before we headed out for a lenghty run plus 90 miles there and 90 miles home, could have been a huge problem to say the least. Any way long story short. when my 600 mile service was completed by another dealer my oil filter was not adequately tightend. Luckily the dealership that we were at had techs working on Saturday so they were able to correct this problem, took about 90 minutes. I suspect I didn't see the leak at home because I always put the bike up on a rear wheel stand so the oil was sitting on the lower fairing. When I used the kickstand the bike sits at an angle and this allowed the oil to drip down. So the million dollar question is how much Hell do I give my dealer for the poor service? Or do I just quietly accept this as one of those many little glitches we experience day after day after day...
 
I'd bring it to their attention and calmly elaborate on the possible consequences of their error. Maybe they'll offer you the next oil change on the house just to quiet you down. (assuming you'd let them work on the bike again) Unfortunately, not everything goes according to plan. Glad you caught it. Could have been ugly.
 
Middle path

Just make them aware of your discontent and as an added poke buy one of these for the mechanic who did the filter and present it to him
 
Something I didn't mention in my earlier rant. After my 600 mile service the dealership in question tried for two hours to turn off my service light after the service and were not able to clear it. One month passes and I had to remind them and politely threaten to call DNA, three days later they call me back and tell me that they are now able to turn it off. I planned on going in this Tuesday to have them turn it off, but the other dealer who tightened my filter turned it off for me today. So that will be another added poke at them when I tell them that I got it turned off by the dealer who tightend my filter. And they did give me an invoice so I'll be taking that in for my visit.
 
How about this one..
Due to their obvious ineptitude on two of the most simplistic service requirements. You are going to start using the dealer who.

A. Corrected their mistake.
B. Have the qualifications to take care of basic services.
C. Earned you as a customer.

I can understand the filter, sometimes chit just happens.. But not being able to reset the computer??

RC
 
I somewhat agree that chit happens... Not so sure I should take it so lightly though. I had put about 300 miles on the bike since the service and as I said in my initial post the bike sits upright on it's stand, so the fairing was catching the oil, so it went un-noticed. I suspect it was working itself lose and had it not been detected today it very well may have blown the seal and spewed significant oil onto my rear wheel. That would not have been a good thing. And yes I do periodically check my oil level, the leak was slow but that could have changed at any moment.
 
Stuff happens, there a good ones and great ones. Shake hands with them and be nice about it, if they screw up again you just learned your lesson.
Raising hell and making a major deal won't do you any good at all, you won't be getting any advantage of it.

I had a few weeks back a loose oil filter also, I did tighten it and just nicely told the mechanic about it so hopefully it won't happen again.
 
I never had any intention of raising hell, that just puts the other party in the defensive mode and then your attitude is typically reflected right back at you. However coming from the aviation community these kinds of mistakes are unaceptable. I will most likely reflect their attitude. Yes I just checked my first post and I did use the phrase "How much Hell do I give my dealer" I expect a geniuine apology and a small token to show their commitment to their customers. A free oil change would suffice. We shall see. Where is the great and powerful Oz the architect of the infamous poll. Oz what are our options?
 
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