Author Topic: Thieves thieves thieves (Read 2565 times)

Hush · « **on:** August 27, 2009, 10:12:14 PM »

This guy put his bike into a bike shop and asked them to fix a few problems he had, when he got the bill he decided he didn't want the bike anymore.
The bike shop is selling the machine to "recoup" costs, what do you guys think, was their charge fair?

Frankenkit · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2009, 10:19:02 PM »

holy crap no. wtf? The master cylinders are, what, $60? That's highway robbery.

MoTo-BunnY · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2009, 10:29:05 PM »

OH yeah - that is complete and total theft/fraud right there. .. .no way is that legit.

I would be immediately contacting law enforcement and/or lawyer on that sh!!t - brand new MCs are all over the place for under $100

Those are some HELLA spendy sparkplugs too (maybe platinum? like solid f**king platinum? LOL) . . . .and double any reasonable price on that brake lever.

Is that in USD or Pesos or something???

Frankenkit · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2009, 10:31:29 PM »

I know, right? Even my iridium plugs cost less than that. wtf?

coldright · « **Reply #4 on:** August 27, 2009, 11:02:13 PM »

Anyone who gets work done without getting an estimate based on time and materials, ought not be surprised when the bill is ridiculous. I'd ask them to break it down into said time and materials before letting the bike go. And I'd challenge the bill until they gave a fair price simply by being a tenacious pain in the a$$.

/edit: How does Kiwi currency compare to the dollar? I know, I'm lazy and could look this up to translate, but Bunny brought up a good point.

azuredesign · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2009, 11:42:52 PM »

At the very least, the name of the shop should be published in newgroups like this one so that folks are warned about dealing with them. Do you think there's any chance that your friend did something to piss the shop off. I can't quite fathom why anyone would try to get away with charging those prices.

bucky katt · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2009, 11:45:17 PM »

thats the work of the assrape fairy.

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2009, 01:32:37 AM »

Which bike are we talking about?

It could be parts for a modern sportbike, and if we are talking Brembo or Magura, that price woudn't be that unreasonable.

chips1953 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2009, 02:17:00 AM »

My son lives in Christchurch, rides a Blade, hope this place is nowhere near him!!!

tramp · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2009, 02:53:11 AM »

maybe it was made of gold?

Hush · « **Reply #10 on:** August 28, 2009, 03:17:49 AM »

Kiwi $ is at about 67c in the U.S. dollar.
The bike is a Honda CBR250RR 1990 model so nothing special and parts are cheap as even here in Godzone for these older pocket rockets.
Dunedin/Otago so close to your son Chips.

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 28, 2009, 04:09:12 AM »

http://www.cmsnl.com/products/cylinder-assy-fr_45500kaz006/

cmsnl.com lists the complete master cylinder at 204.50 euro. at 1.40$/euro, that makes 286,3 US$. divided by 67c, makes 427,31 NZ$. If the prices includes the labor, postage etc, it wouldn't be that far off.

Hush · « **Reply #12 on:** August 28, 2009, 04:17:11 AM »

Hi Raul, yes I guess if they wanted to use stock original brand new parts on a 20 year old bike it probably would cost that, but who would be crazy enough to spend that kinda money when they could easily have used a cheaper but just as efficient reproduced part?
And did you see the price for plugs and a brake lever, damn those guys know how to charge!

bill440cars · « **Reply #13 on:** August 28, 2009, 04:29:51 AM »

Don't know about the cost of the brakes vs. the type of bike and all, but my sparkplugs, for the GPZ, are like $2 each, was that a multi-multi cylinder bike or what?

AND, had they not heard of the old "Estimate" to let a person KNOW what to expect?

74cb750 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 28, 2009, 06:28:00 AM »

The bike shops around here charge $65/hour labor for new bikes,
and $82/hour for bikes more than 10 years old.

So, maybe the prices were right on, except for the spark plugs?

SD750F · « **Reply #15 on:** August 28, 2009, 07:05:46 AM »

any good shop would list labor as a separate line item. This way there is no question where the money is being spent. And prevents the bad shops from hiding their shop rates in the materials.

Industrial Rat400f Killer · « **Reply #16 on:** August 28, 2009, 08:47:31 AM »

Sounds like there was some bad communication on both sides to me. Did he just say fix it with whatever you think is best and they used all brand new upgraded replacement parts? Then he comes back and says WTF? Is the labor for changing the plugs built into the price?
I don't think we have enough info to place judgment.

Frankenkit · « **Reply #17 on:** August 28, 2009, 08:51:20 AM »

Oh, Hush... I'm sorry, but I can't see that title without this popping into my head:

lrutt · « **Reply #18 on:** August 28, 2009, 10:06:40 AM »

depends on the bike.

There are some GP style radial MC's that do cost major big bucks. Usualy on hi end bikes though that would not be let go for $700. Would be nice to know the whole store.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #19 on:** August 28, 2009, 10:28:46 AM »

All depends.

Always best to ask for estimates first or at the very least to ask for a call with pricing after a diagnosis. Another option would be to put a limit on what you are willing to spend without authorization from you. At this point you have a decision to make but not after the fact. The mistake has been made. In the states I believe the solution would be to take it to our small claims court or hire one of our millions of attornies to at least write a threatening letter.

I've been collecting new and NOS parts for the restore of my beloved 75 750F for 2+ years. I do anything that doesn't require machine work. Some examples of NOS parts prices I have willingly paid. NOS tach $85. Just found NOS speedo $450. It's getting close to rebuild time and I truely believe it is the last one in the whole damn world! Averaged out a little so I'm not crying so much. NOS swingarm $55. WOW! NOS Rear master cylinder $15. Another WOW! NOS front master cylinder $250. Again they averaged out. Pair of NOS sidecovers $500+ a little. That hurt but has anyone seen 1 NOS sidecover nevertheless a pair?! The last of 4 NOS turn signals $95. The first of 4 $15. All these are unavailable as new anymore. As far as the new stuff thats still available I get these for ~20% off MSRP.

These are examples of what I knowingly and willingly paid. Again, it all depends.

Operator · « **Reply #20 on:** August 28, 2009, 10:55:06 AM »

Did they charge a full hour of labour to put in a spark plug??

Hush · « **Reply #21 on:** August 28, 2009, 02:58:42 PM »

I just know that if someone brings me a 19 year old bike and asks me to fix it for them (I do this for free)

I use parts from the wreckers of the same era so a master cylinder would have cost me $30 max for that bike, the plugs from Supercheap $20 and the brake lever $10 (new).
What time do plugs take to replace when you aren't cleaning the old ones?
I'd give it half an hour with removing stuff to access the old ones.
Brake lever fitting 10 minutes.
Master cylinder, OK this will pick up a wee bit of time as I would be using something from the wreckers and if I'm fitting a new seal kit ($20 including postage), using my brake fluid, cleaning and testing, bleeding etc I'd give this a good 2 hours the way I piss about some times.

So my repair would be $80 parts and say being generous to myself $100 in labour =$180.
OK I don't have rent on a shop to cover or pay GST (tax) on anything I do but I just feel that a young guy got ripped and put off owning a bike due to some pretty sharp practices, I guess the recession makes some shops more keen on squeezing the last dollar out of a customer.
I guess this is why most of us on here like to do our own repairs, not only do we know it's been done right but we can deinitely keep the costs down to a bare minimum.

jtb · « **Reply #22 on:** August 28, 2009, 06:11:54 PM »

Hush, you need to pull up there with your red light turning, and put 'em away.

Hush · « **Reply #23 on:** August 28, 2009, 08:08:32 PM »

Well they are thieves afterall!

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #24 on:** August 29, 2009, 08:36:22 AM »

Fools and their money...

Operator · « **Reply #25 on:** August 31, 2009, 06:46:13 AM »

"not only do we know it's been done right but we can deinitely keep the costs down to a bare minimum."

Done right..........yer funny Hush, and you've obviously never worked on a bike with me......it gets done, but I am about as mechanically inclined as a rock, but I do have fun

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #26 on:** August 31, 2009, 08:55:30 PM »

Actually, I'm guessing that those prices are probably MSRP for NZ?

Don't get too excited about what an item's MSRP in the US is compared to New Zealand either, I wanted to buy a new genuine Triumph clock for my new Rocket 3 and on the UK Triumph site the price was 65 British Pounds (about $130.00 AUD) but when I clicked on the Triumph Australia tab, the price was a whopping $330.00! (155 British Pounds)

Sad to see someone you know got ripped off Hushy, but as you haven't swum to Oz yet I'm guessing that you enjoy your freedom to have sex with sheep way too much, so it's just one down side of living in "Middle earth", ha ha! Cheers, Terry.

Hush · « **Reply #27 on:** September 01, 2009, 01:34:59 AM »

A box of "fireblight" apples heading your way Terry.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #28 on:** September 03, 2009, 05:26:15 AM »

Mmmmnnn, fireblight apples with spray on American cheese, yummy!

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Author Topic: Thieves thieves thieves (Read 2565 times)