...effort...
Actually, it's the complete lack of effort that has been my biggest gripe of the situation.
- Incomplete assembly/PDI (no test ride, flat tires)
- It was covered in the dust/dirt that accumulates on a bike that sits for a year when I picked it up. 60 seconds worth of effort to wipe down a new bike about to be delivered to a customer?
- Condition of the bike at re-delivery. Bill delivered the bike back once it was fixed, so he either didn't notice the waterspots, greasy handprints and crud still covering the rear wheel (not to mention the wheel scratches)...or thought it was an acceptable condition to deliver the bike. Again, just a couple of minutes of effort to clean it up would have shown me that there was a modest amount of interest.
- I appreciate the fact he delivered it back to the house for me. I was at work and told him my family would be there to meet him. Later, he sent a message and told me he had dropped it off. When I got home, it was sitting in my driveway with the key on the seat. Now we're back to a common theme...an extra two minutes of time to ring the doorbell so someone could open the garage door was too much to expect on my part? Luckily I live in a decent neighborhood where a motorcycle and key left unattended for several hours isn't (usually) in danger.
I think they're good, honest people and I don't think anything was done with malice. But if you're going to expect customers to come to your business (1.5 hour trip each way in my case) and spend their hard earned money, is it too much to expect on my part that they put in a couple of extra minutes of effort to seem that they want my business?
I'm generally pretty easy to please as a customer. I don't expect or want something for nothing, I don't want preferential or VIP treatment...just act like you want me to come back.
I'm not trying to discourage anyone from doing business with them, but merely relaying my experience and frustration. Again...after hearing from others, I believe mine is the exception. I have no hard feelings, and will probably give them the opportunity for my business again.