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Why does it take so long to do a 6000 mile service?! Or is it just my Dealer?

2.1K views 22 replies 10 participants last post by  Bill  
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#1 ·
My Ducati dealer has had my bike for 2 weeks and they have not even started servicing it yet. All I need is the valves adjusted and throw in an oil change. How long can it take. When I call them they do not even give me a time frame as to when it might be finished. I realize that they might be busy, but I would think that by this weekend they would have plenty of time to get to it. They have had my bike since Sept. 14th. I was there that morning waiting for them to open. I even made an appointment.

Is this common among other Ducati dealers?
 
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#2 ·
i'd be pretty p!ssed off... if you just dropped it off, then what could you expect if they're really busy. but the 6k service should be very routine and shouldn't take more than a day or two if you made an appointment. even if you needed a part replaced, with this being a routine service, your dealer ought to have any normally needed part in stock. it's time for an arse whoopin!!!
 
#3 ·
That's not right at all. My '03 M800 has almost 18k on the clock now and it's never taken more than 24 hours for a service. For the major servicing I drop it off the night before, so it has time to cool down, and they're always done by mi-afternoon the next day. I would be livid if it was my bike, but my bike is also my daily transportation...
 
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#6 ·
2 weeks is unheard of for a routine service! The thing that would tick me off the most is that they can't even give you an estimated date as to when it will be done!

If I were in your shoes, I'd be driving down there to pick up the bike and take it to a different dealer that will be more deserving of your money!

Hopefully, you have other dealers in the area.
 
#10 ·
Man, go pick up your bike. Talk to the manager on the way out and calmly relate whats going on. Tell him to have the service dept call you to schedule an appointment. You'll drop off the bike the night before and pick it up at the end of the day. If they can't comply with that then bring your business else where - no threats, just action. If they are busy I understand that. Not responding to you reminds me of the crap my boss used to do in the construction field - took on way too many projects and pissed everyone off by not showing up to their house each day as promised.
 
#11 ·
Hey I just checked your profile are you dealing with a Duc dealer in Alabama? Ducati.com lists two dealerships Big #1 Yam/Duc and Ducati Birmingham. Have you gone to both places (provided you are in Bammy and they are both in business).

Check around too. There may be a mechanic at another shop who can do a valve service - this ain't a great solution though. How far is the next Duc dealer? Many people up here in New England gladly drive 3 hours to BCM Ducati for service. Perhaps a similar solution could work for you.
 
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#12 ·
How many Duc shops are in your area? I took mine in for 6K service Friday night and it was done Sat. afternoon. It was a few hundred $$. Now I take it to private Duc Mech. He's awesome. Saves $$ and time!

When I needed the 12K service, the Duc shop closest to me (where I didn't buy the bike) said they had an opening in 3 weeks. I didn't even ask how long it was going to take!
 
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#13 ·
Re: Why does it take so long to do a 6000 mile service?! Or is it just my Dealer

Big #1 Yam/Ducati just recently stopped being a Ducati Dealer. I actually called them today and asked if they serviced Ducatis, but they don
 
#16 ·
Re: Why does it take so long to do a 6000 mile service?! Or is it just my Dealer

mn1028 said:
Big #1 Yam/Ducati just recently stopped being a Ducati Dealer.
 
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#17 ·
If you have no other dealers in the area, then I would seriously consider taking it to an independent ducati mechanic.
Since your bike is an '02, the warranty is most likely over.... no need to be loyal to the dealers anymore.

I don't have too many good dealers in my area either... been getting "mediocre" quality and customer service from the places that I have taken it. Anyway, someone on this board was able to recommend a great local wrench that had 30+ years of experience servicing Ducati's. Took it to him and saved about 1/2 the $$$ and he did an outstanding job on my bike.

From now on, he has earned my business. No more dealers for me until I find one that I am happy with.

It might be something for you to look into as well.
 
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#18 ·
a couple of weeks is easy in comparision to what i have heard about a local ducati dealer in syracuse.
i know for a fact that typically, you have to call a month early just to make the appt. (i think its because they are a little on the
slow side and from what little i have dealt with them thus far their customer service absolutely blows).
that is one of the reasons i have taken my bike to an aprillia/triumph dealer-they are well versed in the ways of ducati motors
and the service is excellent. plus their rates are very reasonable and pretty much tried to bend over backwards to get my business.

on the downside, a couple of weeks ago, i chatted with one of the mechanics and he said that the shop might be closing.

:'(
 
#19 ·
Waiting a long time for an appointment isn't the problem - in fact it's sometimes to be expected. At BCM I called in May at 0 miles to make my appointment for my 6K service 2 months later (I rode ALOT that summer - 14K miles). The problem is that the dealer has taken the bike and refuses to say when they will service it! I still say get the bike, tell the manager why you are taking your business elsewhere and then take your business elsewhere! They will either respond to your rational comments which is good for you or they will ignore in which case it won't matter cause you aren't a customer anymore.
 
#23 ·
I had similar problem with my local dealer, I picked up my bike and never took it back. I now go to a dealer 2 hours away, but they do great work and I never have to worry about my bike. It's unfortunate that so often it's the dealers who turn people off on a car or bike by sandbagging service customers.