Honda dealers open?

[Silent1]

So I’ve worked all the way through lockdown and with the weather getting better the Honda 0% finance deals look like a handy way to get a fire blade for commuting to work on.

My only flaw is the Honda dealers around me are shut, I don’t care for a test ride etc, I just want to buy the bike surely this is possible somehow?

[A500leroy]

Only service open as far as im aware, some may be selling online only.

http://huntsmotorcycles.co.uk/coronavirus.htm

[NS400R]

Avoid Hunts like the plague. Rochdale Honda are taking calls

[Jazoli]

Lings is open and will happily deliver you a bike.

https://www.lings.com/honda-bikes/

[Silent1]

ideal, I'll give them a call, Lings is better being in east anglia, but it looks like they're not doing the £1000 dealer contribution whereas rochdale are.

[trickywoo]

I’d be surprised if they won’t match the deal if asked nicely.

[A500leroy]

NS400R said:

Avoid Hunts like the plague. Rochdale Honda are taking calls

At least they are still Honda deals, Bob minion has switched.. To Royal enfield/sym, bit disappointing when youve not long brought a brand new Honda off them.

[shurm]

I've had half a dozen bikes off Hunts Manchester always great service ?

[Silent1]

trickywoo said:

I’d be surprised if they won’t match the deal if asked nicely.

I’ll get back to you once I’ve spoken to them 👍

[Trevor555]

Dobles have been delivering bikes through the lockdown.

[mad4amanda]

Maidstone Honda been open throughout the lockdown and doing contactless sales and delivery.

[NS400R]

shurm said:

I've had half a dozen bikes off Hunts Manchester always great service ?

It's the aftersales piece. There's reason why they're known locally after a term that rhymes with lady garden....

My experience was thus:

Third Strike and Out - Abysmal Customer Service

Hunts customer service is exceptionally poor largely due to the owner Mr John Brown. We had 3 poor experiences.

Bad Experience 1

When buying a new Fireblade from John back in 2017, he indicated that he was throwing in a Honda cover. He even sent me a picture of the bike in the cover - attached. When the bike arrived, no cover. I took it up with John, who claimed that nothing was agreed. As I had nothing in writing, I let it go. This was an introduction to his slippery nature.

Bad Experience 2

I took my son's CBR500R in for its first service. There was a small issue with a failed catch on the pillion seat. I asked for it to be sorted under warranty. The service advisor indicated that I could buy a new seat. I had to insist she speak to Honda as it was clearly a warranty issue. Every couple of weeks I would enquire, only to be told they were waiting on Honda. Eventually I contacted Honda who had heard nothing. So clearly I had been lied to all along. Honda resolved the issue for me with a new seat within days.

Bad experience 3

I had my Fireblade serviced last year along with some additional work. On getting the bike home and hooking it up to the battery maintainer, it became evident that the rear cowl had been cracked. Mistakes happen, it it is how they are resolved that is important. I took the damage up with the service advisor who initially started from a point of denial. When I insisted there was a problem and that the work done required removal of the cowl, all went quiet despite me enquiring as to the status and requesting to be kept up to date.

Eventually I contacted John Brown. He undertook to resolve the issue. If I brought the cowl in, he would change it there and then. The idea was to save unnecessary trips. Needless to say, this didn't happen. I took my cowl in and went away empty handed

I then got a call to come and collect a new cowl. I was handed a cowl in obviously disturbed packaging. I opened it up at the shop to be presented with a damaged used cowl. Here was a clear attempt to deceive. I immediately handed it back making my displeasure known. A new cowl was promised.

A third call came to get another cowl. This turned out to be the wrong item, so a third wasted trip. A replacement was promised but after a 2 week wait, I issued notice of intent to proceed against Hunts in the County Court. This resolved the issue within 2 days. Bear in mind I had initially complained back in December and it was now the end of February.

Throughout the third bad experience, John Brown only issued a cursory apology when I pointed out that he had never given me one. Throughout he was self congratulatory and clearly didn't care. Clearly the legal notice of intention to proceed to court focused his mind. This should not have been necessary.

So third strike and I won't be back. I've formally complained to Honda. What has become apparent in my discussions with other motorcyclists is that many avoid Hunts like the plague. I can now see why. My advice is to take heed and do the same. There are other Honda dealers out there.