Trackside Bon Lea Ind Est

[alanz955]

Iv been going to trackside for years, back when it was GB Bikes, always had a great experience Till NOW!
This was my 1st time using their services since Ted left, and its going to be the last! i thought i would drum up some new custom for them, so took my friends SV650 in for a service, cos it was overdue and sumtimes stalled at lights, also booked an mot for a scooter for nxt monday(iv now cancelled it)
The reason for this?? i feel that £160 for a basic service is a bit pricey, and when i asked why it was that much? their reply was 'Cos thats how much it is', no breakdown of costs just a bill in my hand, oh and an exta charge for a 'new battery'£30! Err i dnt think so i said cos i only put a new1 on last week! But it was pointed out that the new battery i had fitted was no good! and the problem was that the battery wasnt getting charged properly cos the lights are on all the time(you cant turn them off) So surley if thats the case fitting another new battery will not make the problem go away?? cos if 1 battery isnt getting charged then neither will another?? So i requested the battery was swapped back over! oddly enuf, the bike had always started with this new battery on that i had fitted, but when they put it back on it was flat as a fart and had to be jumped off!
His parting words were 'You wont get far on that' Funny tho cos i rode it home switched it off, had a quick cuppa, went out n fired it back up again! Sorry Trackside, but you have lost not 1 customer but 3 cos my mate and my sister wont use ur services again! Yes im sure you have plenty of other loyal customers so my rant wont make a difference but there you go!

[alanz955]

i was quite angry with their attitude, and the fact they must have thought they were talking to sum1 who didnt know owt!! but as i also pointed out, IF' it did need a new battery then a courtesy call saying it needs 'this part' would have been nice, not just come up n say £190 pease!! Or maybe im expecting too much for my ££? maybe that is the way to do it and its a 'fair' price?...

[alanz955]

well im sure they'll find out in time. maybe you just got a grumpy mechanic?....
It was the boss!!

[alanz955]

i was talking to a friend on Facebook last night, and Trackside tried the 'its ur battery' thing with them! it only went in for a puncture repair and when they went to collect the bike it wouldnt start! so sold a new battery, but 2 days later, it was flat, then aparently it was a relay?? expensive puncture! cos aparently befor it went in it had been starting fine even if it had been left for a week!!! so theres another lost customer!

[alanz955]

Is there a reason the replies on this post were removed???

[danath]

Personally I think the whole focus of the business has changed at Trackside.

I've been using them since I first got the Bandit and have remained a loyal customer. In fact, it was Ted that sold me the VTX, and Pete who has taken the business over sold me the GSX-R.

Tend to go in for full services on both the bikes 2-3 times per year, but enevitably end up popping down for bits and pieces every couple of months.

Since Ted left they've been working really hard to invest in the business and get themselves established properly as a hardworking garage with great customer service, and I've never experienced any problems with either the quality of the work, or the prices that they charge, though admittedly, things are rarely itemised.

I may be slightly biased as I got on well with Dave and the rest of the staff there way before I met Pete, and I'm currently designing and building their new website, so maybe there's a case of mates rates going on, but ultimately, out of all the garages I've used up here, the only people I trust to take the time to fix my bike up properly (and you're essentially trusting them with your life) are those over at Trackside.

[alanz955]

Yes i too had been a long serving customer of Trackside, and thats why i suggested to my friend that i would take her bike there, but it seems that if ur not a 'mate' then they dont care!oh and that knackerd 'new' battery i fitted is still running the bike perfectly.

[firebladepully]

What!!! posts deleted??? Didnt think that would ever happen on here.

[danath]

Ted seemed to operate a very laid back business, letting the work come to him and then cracking on himself, barely letting anyone else do anything substantial to the bikes. That was great as you got to know Ted, and you got to trust in his work (and by proxy the reputation of Trackside), but it wasn't really sustainable in the long term - not for the business and not for Ted working flat out like he used to.

Pete and the team that are there now are working to build up the brand of the business and actually build a reputation outside of those in the know, so I'm not sure I agree that it's just mates that they're catering for. They've put effort into branding and fliers, done some substantial building work to the office and got some furniture in, as well as sourcing some new equipment to handle the jobs Ted couldn't do (replacing a cruiser tyre for example) so they seem to be trying pretty hard to make a real go of it.

I'm not trying to defend anyone here, I'm certainly not making any apologies for anything Trackside may or may not have done and I'm trying to be totally impartial with this as there is a conflict of interest (both as a customer and with the commission), so I hope it doesn't sound like I'm taking sides. The business has certainly changed, but in many ways it's matured. Part of that maturity is knowing that you have to provide great customer service as well as great work and it's something from speaking to Pete that he really is trying to provide.

I guess you could always tell them you know Dan (me) in a worst case scenario and see if that helps any

[danath]

Posts may have been deleted by the person that wrote them, not necessarily by admin, but theres been nothing here other than Alanz955s' posts since I first read this thread this afternoon.

[alanz955]

I guess you could always tell them you know Dan (me) in a worst case scenario and see if that helps any


I do understand that he has invested time money and effort into Trackside, but treating ppl like fools(as i feel i was) and in my opinion grosley overcharging for a job, not providing a proper recipt of work done, and trying to charge for items that wernt needed, then having a 'i know wot im talking about and you dont' attiude, isnt a way to keep customers is it? and when i asked Why did it cost £160?, you dont want the cocky reply 'cos thats wot it costs', i would have eat humble pie if he had said pop into the office, and i'l show you the breakdown of costs! And i still think as JP commented(his replies have now been delieted for some reason) if any 'extra' items were required, he should contact the customer and discuss it 1st! then the whole issue of the 'new' battery wouldnt have cropped up? But iv said all i need to about it now. Needless to say i wont be returning there, but thanx for the offer of mentioning ur name Dan.

[alanz955]

Mar 26, 2010 17:41:14 GMT danath said:

Posts may have been deleted by the person that wrote them, not necessarily by admin, but theres been nothing here other than Alanz955s' posts since I first read this thread this afternoon.

id assumed that they were taken off by the person who posted them too, maybe a change of mind? they were on last time i looked thismorning?

[danath]

Sounds like you got a pretty bum deal, which is a shame. Ah well, it's certainly not my place to apologise for them.

The programmer I've hired has just rung to tell me the website should be live before midnight tonight (or at least most of it)... First proper commission since I started commercial freelance!

[chooch]

just as a side note if any mod or admin has removed a post it would be posted as a reason by a mod so if the posts have dissapered and no explanation put in there place you can presume the author has removed them but they should at least put a reason for removal as in "drunk when posted had second thoughts " etc etc no admin would remove without a explanation

[maverick]

got the web address so we can have a look later

[JP]

My posts were removed as I should remain netural in any discussions regarding site sponsors. This is my decision as I feel I am representing teesside bikers, and the admin team.

[alanz955]

i fully agree and understand JP!..i think enuf has been said on this matter now. iv more than aired my grievence. i just hope others have better luck

[JP]

I think every one has realised by now that I like a reet good moan! But I'm sure you all understand

[alanz955]

Trackside are at it again!!! signed for my shocker sent to them by mistake by Hagon, but are saying they havnt got it and never have and have NO record of it turning up!! Matter is in the hands of Hagon,and the couriers!...Yes i know they are a site sponsor, so for that reason dont you think they would act with a bit of dignity and give me my shocker back??

[seanzx9]

used to use trackside a lot when ted had it , been in once since to order a battery and customer skills are out of the window , still if you cant be polite and civil then i will take my money elsewhere , wont be going back again