What is wrong with Triumph?

[Ali in Austria]

an example was rob willsher suzuki in bursledon, prime ignorers if ever there was such a word, since being taken over by crescent and having a big showroom built i was in there with a friend to look at bikes for her and it took 5 seconds for a guy to come over to see if we wanted help. then spent the next hour moving bikes around for her to try out.

It was owned by Crescent for several years before a new showroom was built.

As Rob Willshers, owned by Tom Guilmont it was a very friendly family run business. Everyone was spoken to, free coffee offered and was used by bikers with no intention of buying but who just came in to socialise. All were welcome. A burger bar was introduced on Saturdays to encourage the social aspect, often at a loss as Tom had to pay a minimum fee if takings were down. Even if staff were busy with customers they would make a point of speaking to people.

On many occasions I have seen Tom agreeing to do work or replace parts free of charge that were not his problem and some would take serious advantage of his good nature.

Tom eventually had to sell out to Crescent because his policy of keeping the customer happy was not financially good business.

When Crescent took over staff had to fight tooth and nail to keep the coffee facility as Crescent didn't consider it necessary and didn't want the social aspect to continue. There was also never going to be the amount of goodwill given to customers under Crescent as there was under Rob Willsher. Most of the staff there were from the original Rob Willshers so nothing much has changed there. The reason it is welcoming is because of those staff. I always found Crescent Verwood to be cold and unwelcoming.

So to undermine Rob Willshers is a bit unfair. I first went to Willshers after being ripped off by another dealer in Southampton. I speak as a customer for over 30 years and as a part time staff member there for about 5 years under both Rob Willsher and Crescent until I emigrated a couple of years ago.

[gebrauchtwagen83]

I just think its a real shame. And I said to triumph cust serv, I'm a British fella, who would love to see triumph grow and expand, Christ we don't make enough things in this country anymore as it is. You go onto triumph.de and the website still proudly displays the union flag in the top left. But if a British guy can't seem to get a set of figures on which to deal, what hope is there ?
I bet BMW Motorrad in Germany make sure theyve got their domestic market squared away

[gebrauchtwagen83]

On the plus side, if any of the triumph dealers do decide that they want to sell a bike, I'm very much looking forward to telling them they can shove it up their arrows exhaust.

[garyr]

Had the same problem with bmw, phoned up about 2x secondhand gs800,s they had advertised, i asked for a test ride on one, no problem says the dealer and said how about next week, i said how about tomorrow, cant do that says he they will need checked over first but i will phone you back. Ok no big deal in the meantime i test a triumph tiger, walk into the showroom ask for a run on the bike sign a bit of paper, they check there is petrol in the tank and of i go. Simple. Still waiting on the bmw twat phone call. The bmw dealer sells cars and the bike side seems to me to be nothing more than a sideline, wonder if he would have looked down his nose at me if i was buying a 7 series!!!

[Tonibe63]

Well it seems to me that it's not the manufacturers at fault but the individual dealers, sometimes it's even down to the individual salesman.
A mate of mine said I was being harsh after a less than pleasing experience at a local main dealer (my first ever prospective purchase from a dealer). That was until his test ride was cancelled the morning he walked in the door on test ride day. After a couple of days he calmed down enough to ring to book another test ride but was then told that the bike he wanted wasn't available for 12 weeks. So he then rang another dealer 20 miles away who gave him a test ride no problems and then told him the bike he wanted would be 3 weeks, needless to say he has ordered it.
So he lives 3 miles from the factory and drives passed it every day, the main dealer is 15 miles away but isn't interested in his £13k but another dealer who is 25 miles away has treated him properly and is getting the sale.
If a dealer has a poor relationship with it's customers than the chances are he has a poor relationship with the manufacturers, in short he's just a w@nker whatever brand he's selling.

[LargeWayRound]

I'm sick of this, what is not black and white about the gear indicator flagging up the ECU warning light?

But of course, it'll be my fault for buying a bike too far from the dealers. I'll be glad to see the back of the Tiger.

EVERY time I point out I've had an issue with my bike there's plenty to start going on about it being my fault?

My mistake seems to be coming on to this forum and trying to let people know I've had problems with my Tiger. Would you prefer the bike's fine, no issues and I'm selling coz it's the wrong colour? So be it.

Sorry I agreed with anyone about some of the Triumph dealers being a bit lacking. I'll not post up any more on here. Obviously my mistake.

I am glad that you have stood up and told the forum over your experience with your *local* dealer , as its MY local dealer as well . And confirmed my fears that I will never use them to buy a new bike . Pity as they are the only Kawa,suzuki,triumph, dealer in our area. It is well known (in our area) that they are poor , when it comes to customer service and all about the money and take offence at anyone who would dare buy a bike Not from them then have the cheek to ask for servicing.

So I am glad you let the forum know your experiences .

Good luck with your new bike Jim..

[garyr]

I'm sick of this, what is not black and white about the gear indicator flagging up the ECU warning light?

But of course, it'll be my fault for buying a bike too far from the dealers. I'll be glad to see the back of the Tiger.

EVERY time I point out I've had an issue with my bike there's plenty to start going on about it being my fault?

My mistake seems to be coming on to this forum and trying to let people know I've had problems with my Tiger. Would you prefer the bike's fine, no issues and I'm selling coz it's the wrong colour? So be it.

Sorry I agreed with anyone about some of the Triumph dealers being a bit lacking. I'll not post up any more on here. Obviously my mistake.

I am glad that you have stood up and told the forum over your experience with your *local* dealer , as its MY local dealer as well . And confirmed my fears that I will never use them to buy a new bike . Pity as they are the only Kawa,suzuki,triumph, dealer in our area. It is well known (in our area) that they are poor , when it comes to customer service and all about the money and take offence at anyone who would dare buy a bike Not from them then have the cheek to ask for servicing.

So I am glad you let the forum know your experiences .

Good luck with your new bike Jim..

Well i have read enough of this drivel, I have bought a few bikes from shirlaws over the years and never had a problem with buying a bike, servicing or clothing. All this knocking a dealer, why. Lets get it right here africa jim bought his triumph from his local hick dealer who got it from team roberts (hundreds of miles away).The hick dealer Cant do any repairs on it because he doesnt have the necessary training /software/franchise for the bike (but if you go onto his website he will supply you with anything, he just cant service them)so he gets his money and tells him to go elsewhere, but no you cant knock him. So he has to go to the triumph dealer and knocks them when they dont stop work on there customers bikes and fix his straight away because he lives 70 miles away (big deal). Its pathetic childish drivel, and mostly of his own doing. IMHO.

[Redmurty]

You have the right to complain, also vote with your £ cheers Spud

[tiger800xc]

I again had the same experience with Bmw though.
I really wanted a 800gs,although after a number of phone calls etc to the dealer in chester I simply though sod it and went to look at the tiger 800 xc

Its really sad to see that some dealers are just not interested unless you are standing in there showroom, waving money in their face.

I put my name down at the Nec bike show (the ktm stand)to go for a test ride on the 990 still waiting for my invite.

[boboneleg]

Nothing wrong in anything you've said Jim, sit back and relax dude, some people on here just like to 'light the fuse paper' , probably got nothing better to do

I'm sick of this, what is not black and white about the gear indicator flagging up the ECU warning light?

But of course, it'll be my fault for buying a bike too far from the dealers. I'll be glad to see the back of the Tiger.

EVERY time I point out I've had an issue with my bike there's plenty to start going on about it being my fault?

My mistake seems to be coming on to this forum and trying to let people know I've had problems with my Tiger. Would you prefer the bike's fine, no issues and I'm selling coz it's the wrong colour? So be it.

Sorry I agreed with anyone about some of the Triumph dealers being a bit lacking. I'll not post up any more on here. Obviously my mistake.