Need advice Quick!

Ok, so my bike has been at a shop since may (motoradd in saint louis). They put on new intake boots, and cleaned the carbs. The reason it took so long is because the bolts broke off in the head and they were having trouble extracting them. I had to call repeatedly to find out the status of the bike even before this happened, and when they said they would call me back to let me know what was going on, they didn't.'

The cost breakdown is as follows:
350.00 for the carb cleaning
75.00 labor for the carbs
35.00 x 4 for the carb rebuild kit
42.00 x 4 for the intake boots

756.84 total after taxes

Now, when I brought the bike in, they quoted me at 500 at the most for all the work. The only reason I brought the bike into a shop was so I could ride it over the summer. Otherwise, I would have done all the work myself.

Does anyone have any ideas about what I should do? I don't feel like I should pay full price because they took so damn long to finish my bike. Are these prices reasonable? He is going to call me back in 10 or 02 minutes, so I need some idea about what I should say to this guy.

 

Was the quote just verbal or in writing? Wow that sounds like a lot of money.
I've never taken my bike to any kind of shop though.
Have you Google'd the company to see what other people may have said?

 

Unless you have a signed estimate that requires agreement to go above it I don't see what you can do other than to plead your case.

 

yeah ... i gotta agree with bill. Plead your case, make your points, but don't be a toolbox about it (i work in customer service, I hate people who come off with an attitude right off the bat). I've found most people are willing to be reasonable about these kind of things when approached rationally, but if you go in "guns blazing" you won't get a penny off most likely.

 

It was a verbal quote, and I am by no means going to demand anything from them.
I just talked to him, and he was pretty straight up with me. He knows that he kinda screwed up by not getting my bike back to me, but he also doesn't think I should put any more money into the bike (I agree). They haven't even finished the job yet! He offered me $500 dollars off a new Hyosung 250 or 650 (I know nothing about these bikes) and possibly a deal on one of the used bikes he has at the shop. It just kind of bugs me that I wasted my money. It was my first bike, and I made an impulse buy without knowing what I was getting into.

 

Not done? Man - what has he completed? If he can keep the new boots and anything else not installed see if he is willing to let you pay for his time and what parts you absolutely have to and finish it yourself. I don't know what you have invested but cleaned up and in good condition you can get a good price for the bike. You could part it out an do well. Carbs alone sell for close to a couple hundred in ebay.

I assume the $500 off or good deal on a used bike means keeping your bike?

 

Haven't finished the job yet? I'd say pay them for the parts that are ON the bike, maybe some for the labor already invested (I think $350 for carb cleaning is a bit much, unless it was at least a partial rebuild. Have they finished that yet?) and get your bike out of there. It's SURE nice of him to offer to let you spend even more money on a different bike.

I run a computer store and if I can't help the customer I don't charge them anything. I even eat the price of special order parts if they don't solve the problem(s) (think laptop power jacks, at times $25 each! And that is after at least two or three hours labor.).

I wouldn't say you wasted your money. It doesn't sound like the bike is dead. Caulk it up to lessons learned and move on. From what I've heard removing those bolts is a real PITA, but can be done.

I am a bit bias, I love my Maxim...

 

I live in the metro east( illinois side of STL suburbs) and take my bike to McGinnley Yamha, Kawasaki in Highland Illinois. They are awesome and are reasonable. I bought my 85 maxim 700 in August 08 took my bike in aftyer it sat for 13 years in a garage and they got it up and purring like a kitten in less than two weeks, With tires, carbs, tune up and oil change plus safety checks brake fluid etc they only charge me 800 dollars. My bike looked almost brand new with only 8232 miles on it but still after sittinf 13 years it all ahd to be gone through. Give them a call see if you can just get your bike back and go somewhere else.

 

I agree. It sounds like they didn't really want to work on it to begin with and would rather see if they can talk you into spending even MORE money with them. I wouldn't do it. Come to some sort of middle ground and get your bike back. Then either fix it yourself (that's what we're here for) or take it someplace else. The fact that Goss has found a shop (and in your area no less) that will actually TOUCH these classics, let alone be honest and reasonable is remarkable in itself.

 

Any updates chevy66?

 

I agree with these guys.
This shop is trying to pull something.
I paid $225 to have the carbs cleaned, that was 2 years ago.
You've got $425 into the carbs without parts.
I can't say for sure about yours but, most carbs don't need parts, just cleaning.
A rebuild kit for each carb seems unnecessary.
What Fitz said"The fact that Goss has found a shop (and in your area no less) that will actually TOUCH these classics, let alone be honest and reasonable is remarkable in itself."

 

I haven't talked to them again yet. I have been pretty busy with school lately.

I know that I don't want to buy a new bike. I can't afford that right now, seeing as I am in school. I also agree that the bike is worth more than $500 in parts. I think I am going to go up there within the next week. I will try to get back with an update about what happened.