Saturday July 4th, 4:30am at work, I come across this ad on Facebook for a
1999 BMW R1100RT from Apex Cycle in Cambridge, Ontario. Only 60,000km (36,000mi) and asking about $6000 CAN. Well that's interesting I thought. I txt'd with my older brother (who used to work for BMW CAN) and he thought it was worth checking out. After work I showed it to the wife "Oooohhh!! I'd go for a ride with you on that! I'll pay half!"
WHAT?
(She doesn't like my FJ anymore
but I looked at it as an opportunity to spend some time mending/upgrading the FJ). So I call them that morning and arrange to see it on Tues the 7th before the wind changes direction and she changes her mind. I call them again on Mon 6th afternoon to make sure...
"The battery was dead and won't hold a charge. We'll have to order a new one which will take a few days." ❌ Ok things happen (though you'd think they would have the bike prepped for sale), so I re-arranged it for today (Wed 15th). Called the sales guy last Fri to confirm. He said it would be ready - but he was going on vac'n and a 2nd guy will be there for me, just call him on Mon. So I call #2 on Monday and re-confirm everything for today. Said we'd be there noonish, got their 1130 cuz traffic was ok during the 100km (60mi) trip.
Wait around... talk to #2... he gets the bike out. I used to own a 97 1100GS so I'm familiar with the basic bike. I do an initial vusual inspection, (tires 8yrs old - left integral mirror housing cracked from being dropped). Just means a better deal for me I think... so just have to take it for a spin. He puts in the key - no battery. ❌❌
"Oh I'll get them to put it in right now..." 20min later....
'Well it'll be another 45min..." I give them an hour. Still not done.
I begin to lose it - I can feel my BP rising.. it's 1:15pm by now. "I've arranged this for the past 2 wks, and it's still taking another 2hrs to install a battery. WHY?!" #2 says -
" uhhm-uhhh..." I ask, "Who runs this place? Can I talk to him?"
The manager comes out and I explain the situation. "Yeah I'm sorry about this blah blah blah - let me check"..... "Can you wait another 20min?" ❌❌❌ My voice begins to rise to the 8pt Small Caps Bold level
"AGAIN THIS HAS BEEN ARRANGED OVER THE LAST 2 WEEKS. YOU KNEW I WAS COMING ALL THE WAY FROM SCARBOROUGH. HOW DOES IT TAKE ANOTHER 2 HOURS TO INSTALL A BATTERY??!!!" "Oh it was on the schedule but they didn't have time - we've been real busy - (and the kicker) they had to take a side panel off - but - but - but -" "ONCE AGAIN YOU HAD TWO WEEKS!! YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M NOT IN A VERY GOOD MOOD FOR TEST RIDING A MOTORCYCLE RIGHT NOW." "Yes I understand and I'm sorry this happened. We wouldn't want you to ride it angry also. Would you like to rearra------- GOODBYE. 30 yrs of riding a bike and I've never come across such incompetence and indifference.
Was I too short with them? I don't think so. They are a KTM/Yamaha/Honda/Indian dealer. It was a trade in, so you'd think they'd want to unload it ASAP. Two weeks to get a battery installed? WTF is that??!!
Rant over. Everything's fine now.
