Lousy customer service at Victory BMW, Chandler Arizona

[fnfalman]

I sent my sister-in-law there to check out some F650 and riding gears. One of the salesmen there didn't give her the time of day. Well, she's an owner of a KTM 640 Adventure and a customer of Cycle Gear now.

It's hard for me to comprehend that a BMW Motorrad dealership would have this sort of sales representative, but I suppose it does happen. So sad, too bad, Victory BMW. You've just blown about $13,000 worth of sales.

[Deans BMW]

Sad as it to say, not an uncommon occurance there.

The best dealership in Arizona and one of the USA's best is Iron Horse in Tuscon

[fnfalman]

I've heard about Iron Horse in Tucson. But she, being a female and temperamental, went and bought the KTM instead. Oh well, it's a better bike than the 650GS.

[big papa]

Suprise, suprise. Although, my best times looking at bikes, are when no one bothers me at all...

[JCsman]

Do you suppose this is sexism in action or just a stupid salesperson? I see women ignored at car dealers a lot. My wife happens to be a better hard-ball negotiator than I could ever be. It's sad and amusing to watch them try to refocus on me when we are car shopping. Eventually they learn...often to their regret.

But I've experienced the "who cares" about the customer attitude at H-D dealerships. In fact I was considering a new Sportster when I bought my R1150R. I'd been riding a Sportster (I was "storing" it for one of our kids. And I liked it except for the vibration. Also, the only BMW dealer in the whole state is 90 miles away.

The new rubber mounted bike seemed like a decent prospect to me. Not one, but three H-D dealers acted like I was imposing on them when I asked about the Sporster. I guess if I had asked about leather tassles (for the bike, OK) and chrome studded collars (for my dog?) I'd have been welcomed with open arms.

I was welcomed by Bogart's BMW. Of course I loved the R1150R on a test ride (I wasn't even aware of the Roadster before that day). But the sale would never have occurred if Bogart's had treated me like H-D.

[fnfalman]

She went and sought out a salesman to help her answer questions about the 650 Dakar and she told me that the guy acted like he was disinterested, so she left and went to KTM and bought the other one.

I think it's probably sexism because I've been to that Victory BMW dealerships a couple of times and I was treated like any other respectable BMW motorcycle dealership.

But sexism or attitude doesn't work when you're making a living off sales. I guess this guy must not have thought that much about his commission from selling a bike to a woman. Too bad for them because she spent her money elsewhere. You snooze, you lose.

[jonothan]

My advice?

Write a letter to the dealer principal at Victory BMW and outline what happened. Include a description of the disinterested salesman or better still, his name.

Explain she now has a KTM and all the purchases therein associated.

If nothing else, the salesman will get a bollocking. Which he richly deserves.

Don't tell me about salesmen and women. My wife was royally stitched up by the Chrysler dealer in Hull. She had always wanted a PT Cruiser. By the time I'd finished with them, we got a brand new car for £1,000 less than the 1 year old car they had initially sold her.

J

[AZ1150]

I'm guessing I know who that salesman was, as they mostly only seem to have one these days.

Victory's approach to sales seems to be very laid back. I remember my first purchase there, I had to hunt down a salesman. Some, like BP, appreciate this approach, others prefer the more attentive type.

Not to defend Victory, I've certainly had my share of issues with them over the years, but this seems to be their approach to sales. If its the salesman I suspect it is, I doubt it had anything to do with her being a woman.

[fnfalman]

There's a big difference between being laid back and being unhelpful. I wrote the general manager and he finally answered me, apologizing for the unfortunate event and wanted for my sister-in-law to call him and describe the salesman to him. I forwarded the message to my sis-in-law and let her do whatever she wants with it.

I was at Victory once while shopping for my Rockster. I didn't buy from them but the salesman that I spoke with was very professional and knowledgeable. He congratulated me on my purchase even though he didn't make that sale. I don't recall his name but he was a black guy. My sister-in-law said that the one that helped her, if I could be generous enough to use the word "help", was a white guy.

[ProductUser]

I went to Victory when I was shopping for my '04 R back in 2003. The sales manager, who is no longer there, was really helpful and took the time to explain the bike to me. When I finally decided to buy the bike, he had left Victory. The salesperson I spoke to was awful; he treated me like I was a complete idiot. I ended up buying the bike from another Phoenix BMW dealership. All of my service is done by Iron Horse in Tucson (Victory and their service department is another story).

ProductUser

[wncbmw]

I was treated badly by a Toyota salesman and his manager years ago, when I refused to bite on their "final" offer. Insulted me by saying I wasn't a buyer, just a looker.

Later in the day, I stopped by the dealership in my new Toyota, purchased from a rival dealer.

That was fun!