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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Not only will I never purchase another Victory but I'll do everything in my power to make sure nobody I know does either. Here is the run down for anyone who really cares to know.
I had the headlite replaced 3 times already and the 4th is bad. It was reported on th factory warranty but for some reason got turned over to Polaristar. Basically the dealer got stuck paying for the last headlite and installation. The new one went bad in a month and Polaristar says they'll provide a new headlite in "good faith" but I'd have to pay for the install. So they don't even warranty their own, pathetic (this fight isn't over yet).
Second as most know I've had radio problems since day 1. I've played the game of this download and that with NO resolution to the problem. AGAIN the new radio was requested under the factory warranty, BUT again Victory said to wait for the new download which would correct my radio issue. HOWEVER if it didn't they would replace the radio. Well the download did NOT fix the problem and the radio has been dead for 2 months. The NEW radio was on backorder, due in on September 25th, with an AUTHORIZATION number. Well today it still was not in so the dealer called. You guessed it MORE RUN AROUND. Victory has passed the buck to Polaristar AGAIN, and added a new twist in that the dealer must go through the radio supplier. They want the radio pulled and sent to them. Once received WITH a check for $175 they'll send the dealer the replacement radio. Oh and they'll credit the ZERO deductable warranty the $175???
I'm done! I'll be getting a lawyer tomorrow, taking out an add in the paper telling my Victory story and Victory can kiss my butt.
In 40+ years of riding I have never had so much run around to fix what should be fairly simple stuff to get fixed.
For you folks that love your bike, haven't had an issue, great and I'm happy for you. But god help you if you ever do, what a cluster. Oh and anyone who says its the dealer; Sorry NOT the case. During every one of these gaggles I've been on the other end of the speaker phone listening in and it isn't the dealer, its Victory.
So if you are from Victory and you are reading this feel free to pipe on in or better yet give me a call. I'd love to hear how you cover your product. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | That really bites Teach. I'd be P.O.'d myself. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Maine | Sorry to hear about your plight. In Maine you wood quallify for the lemon law. Victory would owe you a new bike for being unable to fix the headlight after three tries as it would be considered a vital component for safe operation. Hope your State has a similar law. |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Northeastern Penna. | Sorry to hear that.I'd be pissed as well, to say the least. I hope something good comes out of this for you, whatever it may be. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 39
Brighton, MI | Its just me but if we all stick together and quit buying anything from victory or polaris for lets say three months... maybe they will get a clue so when this happens to one of us the rest of us can stand behind us.
(reality in numbers) Oh thats right we only like to talk the talk |
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Cruiser
Posts: 205
| Are you on the original factory warranty? Or is this an issue regarding the supplemental warranty extensions?
Either way, I am sorry for your headache. You probably will be better to fight a little, and then just vote with your feet....
I would be angry too if my radio did not work, it is a large part of the ride for me. What is the actual radio problem? |
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Tourer
Posts: 400
| Sorry to hear about your problems Teach. My HID has been out longer than it's been working. I was at a dealer one day, and an employee made the comment that there were known problems with the Vision, but Victory decided to release it in 08 anyway. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 33
| the radio is a joke and the speakers/amp are laughably bad (but I knew this when I bought so no real complaints)
when I asked my dealer if my Zumo 550 would work he said he'd have to ask Polaris, they gave him the runaround so I took my business to J&M. I suggest that anybody looking for trouble free music and communications give their website a look http://www.jmcorp.com/
Edited by HeyChessieFetchItUp 2009-10-05 8:02 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 170
Houston, TX | ez chair - 2009-10-05 5:48 PM
Sorry to hear about your plight. In Maine you wood quallify for the lemon law. Victory would owe you a new bike for being unable to fix the headlight after three tries as it would be considered a vital component for safe operation. Hope your State has a similar law.
I believe you would qualify under the lemon law in Texas also. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 226
on the edge of Los Angeles | All sucks for everyone involved.
In retail customer is King since they are the ones that spend the money. Especially now with the current economy!
Almost sounds like what I have come to terms with is a dealership that cant stand up to the manufacturer in support of the end user.
I feel at times that there is a controlled disconnect between the owner and the manufacturer for what ever the reason.
I love my bike but am a bit disturbed by how some of us have been treated, myself included during difficult repair issues.
That being said I have also been treated as a human and with respect and handled properly by one dealer that is not in my state.
The headlight is a big issue. To hate a bike cause of the radio is not fair. To hate a bike because of the support you are not getting is where this issue really lies and that I do understand.
The lemon law came out of issues such as this and I don't believe it started with Victory. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 115
Columbus, Ga | I have not had major issues with my bike but If I keep hearing stories like this I will be done with Victory as well. I love my bike but dealer network is weak, oil real exspensive, resale terrible, and if this is how warranty claims are handled then i got good reason to be worried that I dropped 20k on this bike. There are a lot of reasons already to not buy a Victory without them adding to the list with something they can control like customer service. |
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Tourer
Posts: 523
seattle, wa | You have every right to be upset. In my opinion they owe you full repairs to be made promptly and correctly but we see that didn't happen. They should just give you a new bike after all the headache you've had!
I should consider myself one of the lucky ones, so far I haven't had any serious problems.
Fuck em if they wont back up their product.
Is Victory(Polaris) just another company that jumped on the V-twin bandwagon? It's kinda lookin that way.
I always talk up Victory to people I meet, I try to send out a positive review of the product. I really want them to succeed in this market, we desperately need another american bike maker.
Like I already said, if they wont back their product, FUCK EM!
I hope they come to their senses and get their shit together otherwise not only will they be screwed, but so will we, the people that bought their product.
Good luck Teach, they need to make things right with you. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | 1) Victory is not going to take words written in cyperspace and do something by them.
2) You're doing exactly what you need to do, getting a lawyer.
hope all will be rectified in your case Teach. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
Lindale, TX | I love my Victory but Polaris needs to pay attention to forums like this because many potential purchasers will be swayed against Victory based on owner feedback. It's the internet age and I believe that most people who can afford $20,000 for a new bike will also take the time to research the quality of the service and warranties. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Do you mind if I ask what is up with your headlight? I had to replace mine (once) due to fogging and hair line cracks at the top. I got a call from a Victory engineer asking me a ton of questions about usage, etc. They know the headlight is a problem, so why they are denying your claim is beyond me. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 205
| Are you on the original factory warranty? Or is this an issue regarding the supplemental warranty extensions? What is the exact problem with the radio?
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Easttexasrider - 2009-10-06 10:18 AM I love my Victory but Polaris needs to pay attention to forums like this because many potential purchasers will be swayed against Victory based on owner feedback. It's the internet age and I believe that most people who can afford $20,000 for a new bike will also take the time to research the quality of the service and warranties. e.tx.rider, as logical as it might sound, even forums such as this one really is no more than venting and sharing and sharing of information that may or may not be substantiated. When I had a complaint with Victory, I went to my dealer and they were able to resolve it. But nothing can be resolved unless you go through the channels, and if that does work, folks such as BBB and lemon laws and laywers are there to work on a solution, not a forum in cyper space. At best this is no more effective then the ad in a newspaper where only a few people read it. And by the way, I'm curious as to why it can be assumed that about 10 or 20 disgruntled people on a forum out of thousands of satisfied owners that don't frequent the forum would make anyone change the way they do business. It doesn't matter if I talk bad about victory as there is 20 people that is talking good about the product and the company. And for the record, I'm one of the many that find Polaris, Victory and the Vision a superior product for being such a young company. In all honesty, I hope that when all is said and done, that those who have had problems with Victory will find themselves settled out with Victory and is satisfied by going to another product if that is what they chose to do. And one last point is, prior to purchasing my first Polaris product, the Victory Vision, I did internet searches on Victory, and despite any negative comments, the positive comments were overwhelming to the superiority and quality of the motorcycles. Of course, the Vision was a first run product that had not been fielded tested and I considered the "don't buy the first one" mentality. But you know what? I did and have never regretted it and even find it cool to be part of motorcycle history and have 54,800 on the clock and the bike is running fine. I even do my own maintenance when I can and do not find it intimidating. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 140
| Sorry, Teach. I hope the lawyer can help you get satisfied. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | Ok....whats a lawyer gonna do? How they going to help resolve this? They going to write a letter? For free?
I;m not trying to be sarcastic....I'm just wondering how going the lawyer route will work. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 141
| Just so you all know.......Polaris could give a rats ass about your complaints, unless you are so extremely vocal they can't ignore it (I know this for sure). And they are a horrid company when it comes to customer service....They have a great product, and piss poor service and support. Has been that way since I can remember, and that is at least 25 years.
I have had so many problems with my Vision I lost count...And it is truly frustrating. Many things I have just learned to live with, many were corrected after an adequate amount of bitching publicly...
Pretty amazing over here compared to the VMC site....Say you are having a problem over there and you get bashed for it....Over here you are getting sympathy and support. Wow. 
The Vision was truly not ready in 08'. Polaris has released shit over the years before it was ready many times. For those of you in the North, remember the Storm snowmobile in the 90's? How about the 2005 Fusion? Just a couple of examples. The difference was that the Fusion was SO messed up Polaris actually did do a mass appology and partial rectification.
As always, Polaris you suck dick! Keep making a great product, that is all you have. And shame will find you sooner or later, and it will always be with you after that.
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Is it possible that - as Chris says "that about 10 or 20 disgruntled people on a forum out of thousands of satisfied owners " - that maybe there are some 'bad Dealerships' out of maybe many 'good Dealerships'? I am fortunate that I have a VV that has been trouble free (maybe due to our mild climate - not too cold nor too hot) and my dealer here is well respected and I have not seen, nor heard any negative comments on them in the 1 1/2 years since my purchase.
Is it fair to "tar" all Victory dealers due to the actions of a few dealers? Is it fair to brand Polaris because of the problems of a few owners?
Pretty harsh, based on my experiences over a lifetime of dealing with many manufacturers and dealers. I hope you get some fair treatment - but attitude goes a long way in dealing with people and businesses - and I hope 'attitude' is not what this is about.
And I hope Polaris is tuned in to this thread.... |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 42
Orange County | I've been here reading the posts now for about 6 months now and I never heard of anything like this before. I'm saving up my denaro's to buy a Vision. Now I don't know................ I guess I'll have to see the out come of this event. Please keep us informed on your progress with Polaris. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Sparta, WI | I think Teach is pissed off. Take a a valium, a couple shots of Jack Daniels, chase it with a couple cold Old Style's and maybe check out a strip joint. It might take the edge off. It's worked for me. Good luck Teach. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Varyder, PA has no "bike" Lemon Law so you need a lawyer to get it done. Hope that answers that.
For those asking about the radio; It started by dropping reception from day one, in fact I have never been able to pick up weatherband unless I'm in just the right spot and if I move a couple feet its gone. Then it burned up my Ipod, dropped programming, wouldn't sync with the Ipod, etc.. Then it began locking out where it froze the display and no function at all. Then it went to a partial display, lockout, dropped programming, switch in programming and basically would do its own thing. Now I have radio about 10% of the time with nothing 90% of the time. During the 10% of the time it works, it does what it wants and there is either a bar code looking display or none at all.
The headlite for those asking are BROKE on ALL Visions, they come that way from the supplier. So if you have a Vision you have a defective headlite. Mine started with the small fractures in the lense, then the fogging on the top and eventually a leak and fogging of the entire lense. The stock headlite assy lasted 2 months, the 2nd 5 months but 3 of those were winter when it was parked, the 3rd lasted 2 months and the current one went bad within 30 days of being installed. I suspect when they install another it will be bad within 2 months. When I say "go bad" I am referring to when the water begins getting inside the lense, NOT just the upper edge and hairline cracks issue. The headlite I'm contacting NHTSA about a safety recall because I'm sick of pissing around. It is a KNOWN problem they have done nothing to address.
A call from the dealer today assures me the radio issue is handled, but I'm still going forward with a lawyer.
For those who are fence sitting about purchasing a Vision; My Vision has had more junk go wrong with it than ANYONE else on this site. It is just pure bad luck and there are many here who have NEVER had a claim of any type. The bad luck I can live with, the way it has been handled is crap. With all the bad luck the Vision has been a great machine in handling and general ridability, you won't find a more comfortable bike right out of the box, BUT Victory needs to get their act together when it comes to customer service. Far too many fingers in the pie. The Customer Service Hotline? What a joke, they can't/won't do a thing. If a dealers mechanic says its broke why do they need to convince Victory and get an authorization number? They shouldn't need to. Let the dealers fix the damn bike and quit the run around crap. It is micro-management of this sort that have created all the problems. Well that and the extended warranty isn't run by Victory. You made the bike warranty the damn thing. Parts changed under the factory warranty should be covered by Victory for a period of at least 6 months. Passing the buck to the extended warranty provider is bull. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 127
OHIO | Teach I feel your pain!!! While I have not had your particular issues, I've had enough of my totally incapable dealer! This is my families 5th brand new Polaris product and DEFINATELY THE LAST!!!!!! |
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