A few weeks ago I called the local shop inquiring of the price of a chrome kit for the FXST and while the price was a little higher than the US (USD$600 plus shipping versus $1050 over the counter) it was here.

I went down to the store and asked the spares guy if I could grab it. The price is now $1,150...and its not in stock. Apparently none over east either. When he offered to have it shipped from the US I offhandedly replied I could of grabbed it myself from the US. He turned his back on me and went to walk away! I said hey there is some other stuff I am chasing too.

Mirror extensions or wider mirrors so I can see around my elbows...nothing in stock...Sundowner seat for the next down south adventure...in stock...wanders off for 15 minutes...comes back....not in stock.

This isn't going very well is it i comment.

I went into a dealer prepared to spend close to $2k and walked out empty handed and pissed off!

Obviously the local shops can't compete on price and they are a business and deserve to make a dollar BUT they can compete on service, convenience and the little personal touchs that bring a customer back. This would include in my mind actually carrying some stock in the shop...honouring a phone quote or at least attempting to go through the motions of honouring it...being polite and helpful...and having prices that encourage a customer to buy here and now rather than out of the US.

Ok I feel better now...thanks

cheers
Surly

Thats a real shit aint it Surly..........theres no excuse for that mate......just goes to show that this forum is a good way to warn others.......i feel very lucky that my local dealer bends over backwards to pleeze me.......so they get my money ...fair deal.....but the local MCA is a joke...anything i want i take the ride out to Parra store.....i wouldnt want to make the guy at Liverpool MCA have to stop reading his mag and help me out.....

Yep I got a similar story.
Rang the local Frasers after a rear tyre for my FXDF and was told none in stock, none on order, and can I order 1 for and it will be 6 to 8 weeks. Fuck I go, you been selling these bikes for 12 months now and don't have tyres in stock I find that incredible. I then asked to speak to the parts manager but got sick of waiting after 10 minutes so I hung up. Fuck em, will never grace their shop again.
I was there a few weeks ago to get exhaust rings, after I rang the day before to told "we got plenty of them in stock" when I got there the wankers only had 1 and none on order. While I was waiting one staff said to the other "don't worry about the customers waiting a long time to get served as they can wait because we are the only dealer in the city, they will wait" . Just shows how good the customer service attitude is there.
I'll go to Bunbury or get from over seas. As for the tyre looks like I'll go to a Metzler or a Bridgestone from Vic Park.

I have even tried their on-line system to get pricing.. never had a reply yet

using a local guy for my service now... incredible what he picked up that Frasers missed... different bike now....

PLEASE DO TELL UNCLE HO WHO HE IS AND WHERE

yep, please tell. 

you have too now........

I'll talk with the guy Monday and then let those local know. Couple of guys on here already know him

I went to the store in question this last Friday to get a helmet lock, you guessed it - out of stock. Great customer service, they can order one and I can pick it up in a week. Went to Blacktown yesterday and picked one up, also a new helmet and oil. I just don't understand how businesses can just watch $$$ walk out the door and not even give a shit about it.

 

I went to Frasers in Sydney while I was down there a while ago, I was just killing time and when they found out I wasn't buying anything they wouldn't even talk to me. I got my bike serviced at Bikes and Bits in Tamworth on the weekend and noticed they had about half the stock they normally carry and I wondered if it might have something to do with the economy ?

Have tried quite a few different shops on the Goldy and BrisVegas.
All seems a bit hard for them if they don't normally carry it and have to get back to you.
Had one finally get back to me a month after talking to them.
Told them I got sick of waiting and got it elsewhere.
So it seems if it's not a stock item, it's too hard and their not interested.
We are only small fry's to them and more hassel than it's worth.