Quote from: rosstermyer on August 22, 2008, 02:02:15 PM
~180

checked chain-cleaned and greased
changed oil and sent to oil analysis company
checked and inspected all major components of the bike

thanks!

where?

Quote from: Mduc on August 22, 2008, 02:09:04 PM
I paid about 190.00 for the 600 mile service. They also put on the Speedymoto sliders I gave them for free  on my 07S2R1000.

thanks!

where?

How much did I pay for the 600 mile service??  That was 60,000 miles ago!!

Quote from: Statler on August 22, 2008, 01:14:24 PM
by taking 10 minutes of time with the shop when you drop your bike off you can avoid 'being robbed' and begin and then continue a good relationship with your local dealer- something absolutely paramount to owning a Duc without being frustrated and irritated all the time.   

i disagre. I should be able to go to a dealer, tell them i need a servce, leave the bike and trust that without me saying anything, thay will be fair with me. If i go through the 10min talk, its more likely that the dealer will comeout with what the fair priceing should be, but not because he is honest; he will because he thinks you might know what you are talking about and figures out he cant screw you around too much...

that behaviour is even worst.

Simply knowing what people paid is not helpfull without knowing how they approached the transaction...a contractual transaction.  Educating ourselves will be better than complaining to DNA that we need their protection from these horrible dealers.

what i hope to do is to solve the problem and not find a way around it...10min talk and friendly smiles for the only porpose of hoping not to get screwed are not my style, im sorry.

most likely we will collect a bunch of complaints, send them to DNA and little will be done...

again, what really matters is that we as a comunity, share the information about dealers and make a choice being aware of what to expect.

also dont forget that several dealers do read this and other boards so possibly just by letting them know that we are concerned about some of them, will also help...


And when I have a piece vibrate off my bike, I like to be able to stop in and say "Hey, Mike, I lost a bolt...got an extra?"     If I called him a crook because when I brought my bike in the first time I didn't clarify what I wanted done and he did a ton more, what do you think his answer is?

...if you realize that he is a crook (IF infact he is) why would you go back anyways?...the hole point is to define who is being hones and who is not. And then STOP going to the dishonest ones and instead give the WELL DESERVED busyness to the honest ones.

So I prevented that from ever happening...looked at what needed service, talked to the shop about that versus what they thought and why, and had a written agreement we both liked.

I think it's exactly on the topic.

the reason for this thread is to try to solve the problem not t find a way around it...we most definitly should have a "how to avoid getting screwed by your dealer" thread...but this is not the intent of this one.

many people think that finding a way around a problem is like solving it. I dont think so. Mostly because the way someone finds his way around a problem is not a modus operandi that others feel confortable in following...

some folks just dont feel confortable discussing about something they absolutley dont know anything about (why should i know about what the proper service is? did ducati give us a booklet with the guidelines?) with someone that (IN GELERAL) has been known to be out there to screw you?...

i think its in the interest of us custumers but even more int he interest of the HONEST dealers, to try to build some awareness around this matter...im sure that the MANY honest dealers/mechanics out there are as pissed as i am at the dishonest ones that contribute to build mistrust and frustration around the cathegory.

But we can agree to disagree about how to fix the problem. 

we defenitly can  

Side thought:

A lot of the local forums have stickied threads about local dealers and who people recommend as good guys.

Those that don't should think about doing it.

It gets opinions of the majority of people in an area in a convenient place.

Nothing better than getting local food/drink/duc shop info from those who have been in an area for a while.

...yes, thats a good idea. 

Quote from: zedsaid on August 22, 2008, 02:15:31 PM
And as to my choice of dealership... Beverly Hills Ducati is 10 blocks from home which should be very convenient.  But they're pretentious and difficult to deal with.  Del Amo is blocks from my brother's place, so i get to drop the bike off, and spend the day with my niece and nephew.  And they give the impression of actually wanting to do the work.

Just an FYI, I think just about all of us SoCal DMF'ers have had some kind of dealings with Del Amo and probably about 1% have been positive.  You're more than welcome to take your bike wherever you, but if you want good CS and a competent mechanic, look elsewhere.  *FTR, I had to threaten to sue them and have DNA step in to get my bike back from them for warranty repairs (they had my bike for 8 of the first 10 months I owned it).

I had my 1098 R in for it's 1st service and for an oil change, (4 quarts of Mobil Synthetic Oil) , Spin-on Oil Filter, Crush Gasket, 2 hours of Labor ( have to take off the right side Fairing and put it back on ) and Shop Supplies  -Total $274.67

Labor@ $95 an hour = $190

Crush Gasket $.18

Oil Filter $14.00

Oil $59.80

Shop Supplies $10.69

Some would say this was a rip price. I might tend to agree to a certain extent.

There is only one Ducati Dealer within a 100 miles so I'm stuck for the most part.

Where I would take exception would be in the cost of the oil. I know they have to make a profit but they probably buy the oil for $5.00 a quart since I would imagine I could buy it for no more than $10.00 a quart.

I don't know how long it takes to take off a Fairing on an " R " and put it back on. Then there is an 8 mile Road Test.

The way I look at it . It shoudn't be back in unless I have a Warranty isssue until about another 6300 miles from now.

I wii have the brakes and coolant flushed when it's time , and new tires when needed etc.   Dolph           I should have voted $251-$300

Just to throw in another opinion here.
I spent the last 10 years working at one of the top Ducati dealerships in the country, we were number one for service four of those years. Did we break out the flat rate book when it came time for services? No.
The service rate was set by what the owner at that time, felt was a fair price to pay for the amount of work that he believed the bike would need. Was there a Difference with what Ducati wanted done? Often. If the shop had done everything "by the book" some things that were necessary would have been left out and a few things that we felt were not needed would have been done. I cannot say he was wrong as this what built the shops reputation of quality service at a fair price.

I tend to agree with what you are doing but fear the way you are wording things are making it sound like any shop that charges more is a crook. there very well may be some out there but there are also some that truly believe that an oil change alone is not enough of a first service on a Ducati. I would agree with them. As it has been said  before in this thread I think there should be a conversation that starts the relationship with a dealer. I personally believe that If you are expecting all Ducati shops to price the same AND have the same level of service you will be disappointed. 

I can understand your frustration at not getting a consistant answer from the cross section  of dealers you contacted. I wonder if you would find the same with a honda,BMW or ford? Ducati has a small dealer network compared to most motorcycle brands (japanese,bmw,harley) From my experience It is a very good company that is trying to sell a good product through a dealer network that is quite varied in its reasoning for selling Ducati's. Some dealers love the product, Some love the image it presents.

Oops! too late , time to get off the soap box .

600 mile service on my 2007 M695 cost $115 at a non-dealer shop (Nichols in Milpitas).

$75 labor, $35 parts, $2 disposal, $3 tax

Service included:
- oil / filter change
- check lights, mirrors, safety bolts, tires, brakes, chain, adjust as necessary
- compression test
- test ride

I had it rolled into the cost of the 12k service, which is when I had the 600 mile service done

2007 sr4s
600 mile service

1 oil filter - 20.79
1 washer 12x16x1.5 sbe-mr-ss/04 - 0.49
4 qts 00375 gps synbase 20w50 - 35.96
labor - 84.60
shop supplies - 6.77
env.waste fee - 3.00

total 151.61

not bad for an exotic....
and roughly equal to my 2006 speed triple...

Quote from: Statler on August 22, 2008, 04:04:30 PM
Side thought:

A lot of the local forums have stickied threads about local dealers and who people recommend as good guys.

Those that don't should think about doing it.

It gets opinions of the majority of people in an area in a convenient place.

Nothing better than getting local food/drink/duc shop info from those who have been in an area for a while.

But you still haven't set up a local board for us...



For my service I paid more for the beer than the parts, and the labor was mine and a few friends who were also wrenching their bikes.

Its just an oil change who can't do that?

oil
beer
Filter
Donuts
check lights, mirrors, safety bolts, tires, brakes, chain, adjust as necessary.

Job Done.

'07 Monster 695
Hahm's Motorsports Newport Beach
Approx $175, but I also had them look at my front brakes while I was at it. They made a buzzing noise I wasn't too clear on.

BTW, I accidentally hit the wrong poll number.

Quote from: ducvet on August 22, 2008, 09:30:07 PM
Just to throw in another opinion here.
I spent the last 10 years working at one of the top Ducati dealerships in the country, we were number one for service four of those years. Did we break out the flat rate book when it came time for services? No.
The service rate was set by what the owner at that time, felt was a fair price to pay for the amount of work that he believed the bike would need. Was there a Difference with what Ducati wanted done? Often. If the shop had done everything "by the book" some things that were necessary would have been left out and a few things that we felt were not needed would have been done. I cannot say he was wrong as this what built the shops reputation of quality service at a fair price.

I tend to agree with what you are doing but fear the way you are wording things are making it sound like any shop that charges more is a crook. there very well may be some out there but there are also some that truly believe that an oil change alone is not enough of a first service on a Ducati. I would agree with them. As it has been said  before in this thread I think there should be a conversation that starts the relationship with a dealer. I personally believe that If you are expecting all Ducati shops to price the same AND have the same level of service you will be disappointed. 

I can understand your frustration at not getting a consistant answer from the cross section  of dealers you contacted. I wonder if you would find the same with a honda,BMW or ford? Ducati has a small dealer network compared to most motorcycle brands (japanese,bmw,harley) From my experience It is a very good company that is trying to sell a good product through a dealer network that is quite varied in its reasoning for selling Ducati's. Some dealers love the product, Some love the image it presents.

Oops! too late , time to get off the soap box .

ducvet,

we can go on and on and on about what you think is necessary or not necessary to a 600mile service and what Ducati thinks about it. I personally know several mechanics who have worked and still do work for Ducati, and Ducati teams all over the world . In GP, World SBK, local SBK championship, Ducati monomarca, AMA etc etc. and have discussed about services, wear on parts, oils and specifically about the first service....

First service is basically an "check service" nothing more.

Even the oil change has only one purpose: check if there are residues in it...and you know it. (and im totally friendly while i write this   )

The point here is that if Nichols in Milpitas (for example) can charge 115$ for the service so can anyone else.

and THAT-IS-IT.

NO EXCUSES, nothing you can say or show me will ever, ever, EVER justify the fact that the same job was charged $350 somewhere else.

(we are of corse strictly comapreing same parts, same service)

And if you cant ferform an oil change in less than 1hr, you simply should not be working in a shop, you should be in tech school and practice.

The only reason why some charge less and some charge more is how much the dealer whants to make off of you.
Too many motorcycle dealer have taken advantage of the fact that a motorcycle is a non comon object to own and have and sitll do over charge us owners fo just about anything.

Explain this to me:

i paid $135 for an oil change on a Porsche Boxster (and for who does not know, a boxster has a pretty hard to reach engine=extra labour) and an oil change on a monster costs more or even the same?

or how about this:

dismounting-mounting and balancing a 22" tire on a 265 rim costs $25

dismounting-mounting and balancing a 17" tire on a 5" rim costs $45?

....the labour (phisical) on removing a 22" wheel from a SUV, stting it up on a lift, the machinery needed to do so, the bigger leds to balance..all the way down to how much floor space the SUV occupies and how big your garage has to be in order to host such vehicle....ALL that compared to what a motorcycle REALLY needs...

....yeah. How can you justify that?...you cant.

I would be glad to pay a little more if Bruno Leoni or Davide Manfredi were to wrench on my bike but...the reality is that they are not working on my bike and never will...so

...not saying you or other wrenches out there are not top mechanics, but to perform an oil change you really dont need to go to attend an Oil Change Master program...you sure do for other things (not trying in ANY way to diminish your work or skills) but not for an oil change...

Quote from: Lucazuma on August 23, 2008, 01:46:23 PM

ducvet,

we can go on and on and on about what you think is necessary or not necessary to a 600mile service and what Ducati thinks about it. I personally know several mechanics who have worked and still do work for Ducati, and Ducati teams all over the world . In GP, World SBK, local SBK championship, Ducati monomarca, AMA etc etc. and have discussed about services, wear on parts, oils and specifically about the first service....

First service is basically an "check service" nothing more.

Even the oil change has only one purpose: check if there are residues in it...and you know it. (and im totally friendly while i write this  )

The point here is that if Nichols in Milpitas (for example) can charge 115$ for the service so can anyone else.

and THAT-IS-IT.

NO EXCUSES, nothing you can say or show me will ever, ever, EVER justify the fact that the same job was charged $350 somewhere else.

(we are of corse strictly comapreing same parts, same service)

And if you cant ferform an oil change in less than 1hr, you simply should not be working in a shop, you should be in tech school and practice.

The only reason why some charge less and some charge more is how much the dealer whants to make off of you.
Too many motorcycle dealer have taken advantage of the fact that a motorcycle is a non comon object to own and have and sitll do over charge us owners fo just about anything.

Explain this to me:

i paid $135 for an oil change on a Porsche Boxster (and for who does not know, a boxster has a pretty hard to reach engine=extra labour) and an oil change on a monster costs more or even the same?

or how about this:

dismounting-mounting and balancing a 22" tire on a 265 rim costs $25

dismounting-mounting and balancing a 17" tire on a 5" rim costs $45?

....the labour (phisical) on removing a 22" wheel from a SUV, stting it up on a lift, the machinery needed to do so, the bigger leds to balance..all the way down to how much floor space the SUV occupies and how big your garage has to be in order to host such vehicle....ALL that compared to what a motorcycle REALLY needs...

....yeah. How can you justify that?...you cant.

I would be glad to pay a little more if Bruno Leoni or Davide Manfredi were to wrench on my bike but...the reality is that they are not working on my bike and never will...so

...not saying you or other wrenches out there are not top mechanics, but to perform an oil change you really dont need to go to attend an Oil Change Master program...you sure do for other things (not trying in ANY way to diminish your work or skills) but not for an oil change...

You can take your bike to the cheapest tech/shop out there.

I'll take mine to one of the best.

...and Luca...

the man said a 600 should consist of more than just an oil change...

I know he has the experience to justify that statement.

It's the same as Ducatis "new" valve clearance specs.

Did the motor change?...No.

It's marketing kids...

a Duc with closers at 2 thou will beat the half rings to death.

If you're that concerned about costs of ownership invest in the tools and learn to do it yourself.