Order a red icon in March, was told delivery would be mid-April, I did say I would only buy it if they could get it by end of April. I keep phoning them keep getting fobbed of with "we will let you know when it's in". They don't seem to have any contact with Ducati regarding delivery. Phoned today and the bloke on the other end of the phone didn't even seem like it wanted to talk to me. Now I am thinking of cancelling my order.
Not impressed by local dealer
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I understand your frustration but to be honest the Ducati order system gives very lil info to the dealer from what I understand. If it does not show on the system it likely still not been built.
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I was surprised that they throw your name into a Ducati database of some sort. I pulled my reservation at one dealer because my local dealer is getting a bike in that was unspoken for. When I called to pull my reservation, Ducati USA already listed me as the owner of the first bike in a database they keep. That's just from me having them run my credit card on the deposit. I never signed any paperwork or anything.
So my hunch is that your dealer should have some sort of status about the specific bike. The bike I am now buying was listed as 'on the water' last week when I was at the closer Ducati dealership. I think they get status updates such as on the water, in New Jersey, shipped, etc...
And the shop I'm going through is not a fancy boutique, rather a small shop. So if they can access this data, I would be surprised if your dealer cannot.
So my hunch is that your dealer should have some sort of status about the specific bike. The bike I am now buying was listed as 'on the water' last week when I was at the closer Ducati dealership. I think they get status updates such as on the water, in New Jersey, shipped, etc...
And the shop I'm going through is not a fancy boutique, rather a small shop. So if they can access this data, I would be surprised if your dealer cannot.
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103 Posts
Mine was the same. I mean they were friendly about it but they had no idea when the bikes were coming. When I ordered in January they said end of March. Then said definitely by the end of April. I'm finally picking mine up on Saturday. And they didn't know it was coming until this week. And they're a pretty big dealer in a very wealthy area. So strange that there isn't a better system set up between the dealers here in the US and the headquarters overseas.
Just remind yourself that the goal here is to get a scrambler, not to punish ducati or some dealership. Cancelling your order if you really want a red icon will only be hurting yourself. Some of us have had to wait nearly seven months since the date of our order. Hang in there and your scrambler will come. And if you're like everyone else here who has received their bike, you won't regret it.
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248 Posts
I used to think that this phenomenon (dealerships being largely incompetent/un-knowledgeable when it comes to their vehicles, ETA's, state of tune...whatever) was restricted to motorcycles...maybe because it's a smaller economy than say, the automotive industry. Alas, just bought a new car and having gone through a long evaluation process, many test drives and many sit-downs, can tell you that very few car/truck dealerships (with no relation to vehicle price) seem to have any idea either. I think it's just the "dealership" model that's broken.
I like to look at it like this:
Dealerships are tools you use, a necessary evil if you will, to gain access to hardware (bikes, cars, parts...). The less you can deal with them and the faster you can cut them out of the equation, the happier your motorcycling days will be.
There are RARE exceptions to this rule ("unicorn dealers") but if you at least go in with this expectation, you'll be way less frustrated.
I like to look at it like this:
Dealerships are tools you use, a necessary evil if you will, to gain access to hardware (bikes, cars, parts...). The less you can deal with them and the faster you can cut them out of the equation, the happier your motorcycling days will be.
There are RARE exceptions to this rule ("unicorn dealers") but if you at least go in with this expectation, you'll be way less frustrated.
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12 Posts
Guys I hear customers regularly asking the same questions about when will their bike be in the store and ready for collection.
I know how flustrating it can be because last year I waited for four months for my new van, I thought about cancelling but that would have been stupid as I really wanted it so my advice is just hold on it will be worth it in the end.
Geoff.
I know how flustrating it can be because last year I waited for four months for my new van, I thought about cancelling but that would have been stupid as I really wanted it so my advice is just hold on it will be worth it in the end.
Geoff.
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979 Posts
Does Ducati Corp have a database that every dealer has access to? The only reason I ask is that my local, small shop knew that I had ordered another bike from a different dealer because 'Ducati' reported that my name was already assigned to another bike.
So I mean it almost seems like the dealers themselves are just not computer savvy. As a dealer you would think they all had access to some sort of inventory information system, but perhaps are just not going to put in the effort to figure out how it works?
It would be GOOD customer service to know how to use this system so you could send updates to your customers as the status changes (like receiving a package in the mail and tracking it.)
I don't get why so many dealers have such horrible computer skills when the bikes are controlled by a computer and they're selling inventory from the other side of the world. I just don't get it.
So I mean it almost seems like the dealers themselves are just not computer savvy. As a dealer you would think they all had access to some sort of inventory information system, but perhaps are just not going to put in the effort to figure out how it works?
It would be GOOD customer service to know how to use this system so you could send updates to your customers as the status changes (like receiving a package in the mail and tracking it.)
I don't get why so many dealers have such horrible computer skills when the bikes are controlled by a computer and they're selling inventory from the other side of the world. I just don't get it.
From what I've seen this is all on Ducati's part. It appears that the dealer's have to enter a name for each ordered bike if it's "sold" versus an order for stock. Then Ducati sends them a notice through their inventory system when the bikes leave the port on the other side and then again when it leaves the port here in the US. With customs delays it's kind of hard for anyone ot really pin down when they will arrive. So, the info most dealers give us is as good as they have.
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644 Posts
check this out. waiting for a classic in so. California. put deposit down. bike is expected within 2 weeks. Meanwhile, a dealership farther away by 14 miles reports they have one in that they were surprised to get. just came in the lot of icons. 8 icons and 1 classic. I asked, "did someone drop out of their wait?" they replied, "nope, just happened to show up, we were expecting 9 icons!" Hmmm...could that one be mine? so my dealership where my 1k deposit and termi are waiting...is trying to find out if that one is mine. They called rep today around 930 a.m. and rep had not returned call by 530pm, which was the last time I checked. Now, we all live by our smartphones these days, yes??? No way did the rep not get the call. Not complaining, just sayin' Pretty weird circumstances huh? Seems like my dealer is getting the run around.
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115 Posts
I would suspect that the dealers with larger volumes are pre ordering bikes for stock by using false customer names and then selling them on when a customer walks through the door and puts down a deposit, as according to Ducati, customer orders are given priority over dealer stock orders. This would explain why some dealers are seemingly supplying bikes quicker.
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34 Posts
Really getting fed up with my dealer as well, was promised back in February that it would be a march build April delivery and last week was told that it should be shipped by the end of the last week and that they would send me confirmation. Still bugger all news. I don't mind if there is delays as long as they are honest and stop stringing me along. Anywho the day will come eventually.
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628 Posts
My dealer called me today to tell me that the petrol tank of the only Red Icon in their first batch of 30, which I had paid the deposit for, has been scratched by a visitor to their showroom today (I was hoping to take delivery tomorrow) and my options now are to accept the scratched bike as it is or wait for the next shipment. What should I do? Any thoughts? 
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1,104 Posts
Did you pay good money for a scratched tank? I dont think so! Thats crap luck....My dealer called me today to tell me that the petrol tank of the only Red Icon in their first batch of 30, which I had paid the deposit for, has been scratched by a visitor to their showroom today (I was hoping to take delivery tomorrow) and my options now are to accept the scratched bike as it is or wait for the next shipment. What should I do? Any thoughts?
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979 Posts
I'd complain and make them pay to fix it at your convenience.
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So far it's only the down payment (about US$4k). They have offered to try and get the scratch fixed. They are honest enough to admit that they have no tools or expertise for doing this in-house.
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498 Posts
Take delivery of the bike and get in writing they're going to order you a new tank and swap it out during the first service or something like that. My dealer pointed out some damage to one of my tank panels (which not only did I not notice I still can't even really see it), and they ordered a new set and will swap them out for free when I stop by next. Things happen - I certainly wouldn't miss picking up a bike because of a scratch as long as they're going to make it right.My dealer called me today to tell me that the petrol tank of the only Red Icon in their first batch of 30, which I had paid the deposit for, has been scratched by a visitor to their showroom today (I was hoping to take delivery tomorrow) and my options now are to accept the scratched bike as it is or wait for the next shipment. What should I do? Any thoughts?
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628 Posts
Thanks @DenverDuc, that's a great suggestion. Wonder why they didn't offer it in the first place? If my dealer agrees to this, I think I will go ahead and take delivery asap.
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@DenverDuc are you able to keep both seats and pay some sort of cheaper price for the damaged one? (Kinda like keeping your bike after a lower insurance payout?) It'd be nice to have a spare seat around to customize the padding and create a new seat cover.
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