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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 16
San Antonio, TX | I bought my Vision about a year ago from Napalm Motorsports in Austin, TX. It's a 2008 and had about 10,000 miles on it. I asked if there were any warranties on the bike. The salesman, Ben Green, told me there weren't. Still, I loved the bike and decided to get it even if it was "As-is."
The bike was great and had no issues until riding from Willis, TX, to home in San Antonio February 26 of this year. The wife and I had been riding for about two hours when she told me she needed to stop and stretch her legs. Coming down the off ramp the rear tire locked up and we came screaching to a halt. I called radio teacher to discuss the problem and then called my father-in-law to take the truck down to U-haul, rent a bike trailer and come get us. (By the way, if you ever need a bike trailer, U-haul's trailers are awesome and less only about $20/day with insurance.)
I took the bike up to Kent Powersports in Selma, TX, on the 28th to figure out what the issue was. As a courtesy, they ran the VIN through Polaris' database on the off-chance there was a warranty. Guess what! There was! Some weired coding had my bike listed as having a NEVER expiring powertrain warranty. The service manager told me all I had to do was fill out a form and pay $25 to have the warranty transferred. I was ecstatic!
The form needed the seller's signature, so I sent it to Napalm and explained the situation. They responded by letting me know that the warranty would have had to have been transferred within 30 days of purchase and it was now far too late to do so. When I told Ms. Mellisa Sandejo that the salesman had lied about there being no warranty, she spoke with the owner and offered to sell me an extended coverage warranty at their cost. But, the $350 would do no good on the bike's current issue seeing as it was already in the shop.
After several conversations with Ms. Sandejo and one with the owner, they apologized for the problem caused by their employee, informed me that he had been let go for other such problems and even told me they were pursuing criminal charges against Ben Green (words specifically from Ms. Sandejo).
I thanked the owner for the apology and asked what he was going to do to make this situation right seeing as I was being handed a bill I never should have needed to incur. Again, he offered to sell me his warranty that wouldn't help my situation other than further lightening my wallet. I refused it and asked how he could allow such a thing to happen without taking care of his customer. Again he apologized for Ben Green's mistake. I told him thanks again, but at this point my frustration isn't just with his former salesman. The misrepresentation of warranties was severly affecting my opinion of his dealership and their practices. He refused to acknowledge any fault of his or his dealerships. When I asked him if a judge may agree with his position he hung up on me.
I'm not a guy who seeks lawsuits, and I don't know if I should pursue one now or not. When one of the dogs that engages sixth gear broke off in my transmission and brought about a $2700 bill that I later found out shouldn't have hit my pocket book; it makes one think about lawsuits.
By the way, Ron Roemer at Kent Powersports did a great job of keeping me up to date on the happenings and status of my bike for the two months it was in the shop. Yes, I had to go without the bike for that long. Apparently there are some specialty tools required for the teardown that Kent did not have because they had never had to tear down a 106/6. That should be encouraging to all you reading this. I would highly recommend to you all to take your bikes there for service. And, of course, I have strong feelings against Napalm Motorsports for obvious reasons.
If you have a good dealership, stick with them. I'm just a little saddened that I had to find out about Napalm Motosports like this. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 104
Plainfield Illinois | SO, you bought the bike as is with no warranties. Later you had a problem and heard that you have a warranty. Then you found out that you didn't have a warranty after all and you feel screwed. That about sum it up? |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 16
San Antonio, TX | When I brought the bike in to get it fixed I had absolutely no illusions that anyone but myself would be paying for it. I was fine with that. But, yes, I feel extremely screwed that there was a warranty on the bike that I was entitled to if only the dealership I bought it from had done the two second task of running the VIN through Polaris' database. Their negligence cost me $2700 when I'd have only had to pay $25 to transfer what they said didn't exist. You wouldn't be a little mad? |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Tony,
I am glad you are back on the road again. What a mess.
That really stinks. I think the blame goes to the dealership since the whole team at Napalm failed when it came to the sale of this bike. The manager and the person that filled out the original paperwork when receiving the Vision into inventory should have known about that warranty and the bike should have been displayed with that information.
Naplam hires idiots. Where is the sales manger or even the Manager? What a great selling point to say that "Buy this bike and add $25 and you can have the rest of the extended warranty!"
They might even sold the bike for more money!
I am glad you got hooked up with Ron at Kent Powersports. I knew that he is the man that wants to personally help out when there is an issue with service at Kent. He is truly a "The buck stops here" kind of guy.
From now on, I will recommend to everyone buying a used Victory to have the VIN run and request a printout. No printout! No Sale!
Sorry I haven't called you but work has been nuts...a change of leadership in my department is coming and there is a bit of chaos right now.
Ride Safe
Edited by radioteacher 2012-05-04 5:28 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 152
Litchfield Park, AZ | WillieByte - 2012-05-04 1:09 PM
SO, you bought the bike as is with no warranties. Later you had a problem and heard that you have a warranty. Then you found out that you didn't have a warranty after all and you feel screwed. That about sum it up?
Willie, Do you think he shouldn't be mad? He did his due diligence and asked the question at the time of purchase yes? He was told no, even though that was not true. Correct? He is now out $2700 that he shouldn't be yes?
I've never bought an extended warranty in my life, but if I could have one for $25, you can bet your tail I would buy that one. If I was screwed out of $2700 because a guy was an idiot I would be just a little unhappy. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| phoenix9 - 2012-05-04 5:56 PM WillieByte - 2012-05-04 1:09 PM SO, you bought the bike as is with no warranties. Later you had a problem and heard that you have a warranty. Then you found out that you didn't have a warranty after all and you feel screwed. That about sum it up? Willie, Do you think he shouldn't be mad? He did his due diligence and asked the question at the time of purchase yes? He was told no, even though that was not true. Correct? He is now out $2700 that he shouldn't be yes? I've never bought an extended warranty in my life, but if I could have one for $25, you can bet your tail I would buy that one. If I was screwed out of $2700 because a guy was an idiot I would be just a little unhappy. I don't know if it would be worth hiring an attorney unless you thought you could recoup his fees too. But I do agree with your frustration and I do not think you should be out any monies other than the 25.00 to transfer the warranty. I would tell you to call Polaris but after my experience with the factory I have to believe that's a dead end. |
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Tourer
Posts: 537
, FL United States | Hmm. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | tonloc...... your situation is a no brainer. Get a freaking attorney. How sad to hear of a another dealer that wants to ignore his legal corporate responsibility, not to mention his moral obligation. I had a similar issue and got a lawyer. I got my money and a litte more AFTER attorney fees. The Napalm dealer is clearly at fault. It was his employee, therefore his corporate responsibility whether he likes it or not. My lawyer sent a simple letter in my situation asking for EVERYTHING! The repair cost, loss of use of the bike (Yup, rental cost for the month I was without my ride!!) and more. It was about 20 times more than the repair bill. He also offered settlement of about 3 times the repair cost if paid in 10 days. It was paid quickly by the dealer.
Go see a lawyer and make an inquiry. Have all your bills and crap with you. Also all names, dates etc. You might find the lawyer says not worth it, then again.........
I'm sure there are many good dealers out there. But when one tries to screw you like this, it's just not right and you need to fight back and make it right. Me ......... I ain't bendin' over anymore!! Hell, this dealer didn't even offer you KY!
Edited by MaddMAx2u 2012-05-05 8:27 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I would agree, if everything is as you say it is, you should have recourse. It is nothing to the dealer to sign the form and move on, why they are refusing is confusing to me. If it is outside of a "legal" timeframe, then they should still go to bat for you, people to people until all is satisfied. If it takes a laywer to mitigate through it all, so be it, even if it cost you a little to do. Me, I'd be burning up the phone, and writting letters until they gave me what was right before I'd take it to a laywer, but it is your choice. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | It is interesting how things change...
Back in November of 2008 I had some warranty work done at Napalm (New map and Breaker tightened) and they found out that the now "out of business" dealer in San Antonio was lying to me. They were able to make my Vision run as it should with the correct map in the ECU. A map that the old dealer said was already installed but it was using a stock map. They even gave me a printout to prove the map was wrong.
At that time I could not be happier with Napalm.
Since that time i have met many Victory riders from Austin and very few have anything nice to say about Napalm. That always puzzled me because I had a great service call there.
Times have changed.
Now Austin Victory owners have a choice. The dealer ship in Kyle is owned by the same group as Kent Powersports in San Antonio.
Ride Safe |
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Cruiser
Posts: 104
| Whats the limit on small claims court now adays?? No attorneys that way. Just a thought. It was a limit of $1500 years ago...i'm sure it's more now. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | SMall claims court? It's much easier to have an attorney shake the trees and rattle the cage just by writing a letter. If that doesn't work, well, then it's time to decide if you want the expense of going to court. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 17
| That sucks. When we bought the wife's Vision (used 08 w/ 14000 miles) in November 2011 at Shark Cycle in CT, the owner (also the salesperson for us) told us there was time left on the Ext Warranty, then went and double checked. Came back and told us it was good until 4/2014. Then when we were signing the paperwork, the owners wife (who does the paperwork) had a problem with one of the forms and we had to wait an extra 15 minutes for her to reprint everything. For our inconvenience there was no charge to transfer the warranty, some free t-shirts, and a free oil change. Not a lot, but made us feel appreciated. They will get my business and referals.
Edited by xcrider 2012-05-07 3:13 PM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 21
| Some weired coding had my bike listed as having a NEVER expiring powertrain warranty. The service manager told me all I had to do was fill out a form and pay $25 to have the warranty transferred. I was ecstatic!
A never expiring powertrain warranty  someone was smoking some good stuff. I thing someone is full of B.S. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | What I find weird, I bought my used 2008 Vision from a HD dealer. Went to sign papers on a new Harley and came home with a Vision. But any way, that is a different story. I had the bike a while then took it to the local Victory dealer. They ran the serial number for me and found the extended warrenty. They gave me a paper, told me to fill it out and send in the $25 bucks. In a few days, I was back under warrenty! I am the 3rd owner if you count the HD dealer that I bought the bike from. I had no problem reinstating the warrenty. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 251
Mechanicsville, VA United States | handyhiker, he can still get the warrenty
($25) he just can't use it for what happened before the warrenty. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | I am wondering if he can sell it to the dealer for a dollar and they can sell it back to him for a dollar. In the process transfer him the warranty for $25.
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 16
San Antonio, TX | diamonbird - 2012-05-11 8:24 AM
handyhiker, he can still get the warrenty
($25) he just can't use it for what happened before the warrenty.
Actually, no I can't. The warranty would have needed to be transferred within 30 days of sale. |
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Bad deal(ership)