BRP issues

[chillicpl]

My 08 RS has been in the shop for over 2 weeks now for a vibration issue. The tech/service manager at GVP is sure it's my rear tire. Ok no problem except we can't get one from BRP, they're on back order. So I picked up the rear tire from the dealer had a Falken installed and brought it back to the dealer. The service manager figured we might as well replace the bearings while the wheel is off. Sounds reasonable to me so they order bearings from BRP. BRP in their infinite wisdom shipped the parts for GVP in Chilliwack to a dealer in Quebec and vise versa. To me at this point and time the logical thing to do is for BRP to give the dealers either their DHL account number or the go ahead to reroute the packages via air to the correct addresses, but no BRP wants the packages returned to factory to be resent.

At what point and time does the getting the machines up and running become a priority to BRP? i feel sorry for all the counter staff who have to suffer at the hands of BRP's lack of logistical skills listening to the likes of me bitching about poor service . GVP tells me they have more issues w/ wrong parts being picked/shipped, incorrect shipping methods (ground/air), shipping parts to wrong dealers than ever before.

I can't say enough good things about the GVP Chilliwack store. They tried aftermarket bearings but thought they wouldn't hold up. I appreciate that effort. In an effort to salvage some sort of a relationship with me they offered me their Demo RT until my RS is done. That to me is customer service but BRP is not supporting them as they should be, it should never have come down to that. Someone needs to look at what's going on and find solutions now!!!

I've never had anything to bitch about before on my Spyder, it's my most cherished toy. But it's not doing BRP any good having it sit in pieces in a dealer's shop for 2 weeks. My biggest concern now is how i'm going to get my wife off the back of the RT and back on to our RS!

Cheers all and safe riding
Bruce

[warp10]

You may as well just trade in your RS and keep the RT you have now, that would keep her happy.

[Lamonster]

My 08 RS has been in the shop for over 2 weeks now for a vibration issue. The tech/service manager at GVP is sure it's my rear tire. Ok no problem except we can't get one from BRP, they're on back order. So I picked up the rear tire from the dealer had a Falken installed and brought it back to the dealer. The service manager figured we might as well replace the bearings while the wheel is off. Sounds reasonable to me so they order bearings from BRP. BRP in their infinite wisdom shipped the parts for GVP in Chilliwack to a dealer in Quebec and vise versa. To me at this point and time the logical thing to do is for BRP to give the dealers either their DHL account number or the go ahead to reroute the packages via air to the correct addresses, but no BRP wants the packages returned to factory to be resent.

At what point and time does the getting the machines up and running become a priority to BRP? i feel sorry for all the counter staff who have to suffer at the hands of BRP's lack of logistical skills listening to the likes of me bitching about poor service . GVP tells me they have more issues w/ wrong parts being picked/shipped, incorrect shipping methods (ground/air), shipping parts to wrong dealers than ever before.

I can't say enough good things about the GVP Chilliwack store. They tried aftermarket bearings but thought they wouldn't hold up. I appreciate that effort. In an effort to salvage some sort of a relationship with me they offered me their Demo RT until my RS is done. That to me is customer service but BRP is not supporting them as they should be, it should never have come down to that. Someone needs to look at what's going on and find solutions now!!!

I've never had anything to bitch about before on my Spyder, it's my most cherished toy. But it's not doing BRP any good having it sit in pieces in a dealer's shop for 2 weeks. My biggest concern now is how i'm going to get my wife off the back of the RT and back on to our RS!

Cheers all and safe riding
Bruce

You got to wonder why your dealer didn't have bearings in stock if they are going to recommend changing them when they're not bad. My dealer stocks wheel bearings, it's a pretty cheap part to stock and it is a wear item.

[Dragonrider]

It may be inventory vs payroll - this is NOT a happy time for toy dealers. Our largest local powersports dealer (has everything but BMW, CanAm, & Polaris) is moving into a facility that's 80% smaller than their current store, with a reduction in all inventory items. Pretty much anything you'll want will be a custom order.

It's a wonder how our BMW dealer stays in business - must be his service area, since it's by far the best I've ever dealt with. Even the Hardley dealer's showroom is empty..

Having said that, I stopped by Dunefest in Winchester, OR, on the way back from SITR, & you would never guess that expensive toys weren't flying out the door!! BRP was there in a big way too (Commanders & ATVs), but everyone stared & pointed at the Spyders. We were the only non truck road vehicles, and weren't towing an ATV....

[Firefly]

You got to wonder why your dealer didn't have bearings in stock if they are going to recommend changing them when they're not bad. My dealer stocks wheel bearings, it's a pretty cheap part to stock and it is a wear item.

I stock 2 sets of spare bearings for the rear myself--- dealer should have a dozen IMO...... same goes for tires. Perhaps BRP needs to lay down some guidelines or rules that dealers must carry a certain number of wear items IN STOCK -- tires, belts, bearings, bulbs, etc....

I just find it crazy a dealer wouldn't stock tires and bearings for the spyder......

[Dochands]

Firefly I agree with you. There should be some minimum standards to be a dealer in terms of inventory.

[Dragonrider]

If you haven't got the money for inventory, you haven't got it.. How many toys does the dealer carry that use wheel bearings? Then he has to stock them all?? Having a good dealer with trained techs is more important than inventory - you don't need to train inventory…. Perhaps you should buy all of the parts that you might need to replace, and keep them in your garage, just in case??

[MouthPiece]

It's my understanding that not all parts have to come from Canada. Well, let me take that back. They come from Canada, but are shipped to regional outlets in the U.S. so that when a part is needed, it comes from one of these regional outlets. I live in Flarda and our outlet is Hotlanta, Georgia. Most of the time these things can be over nighted. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Chris

[Firefly]

If you haven't got the money for inventory, you haven't got it.. How many toys does the dealer carry that use wheel bearings? Then he has to stock them all?? Having a good dealer with trained techs is more important than inventory - you don't need to train inventory…. Perhaps you should buy all of the parts that you might need to replace, and keep them in your garage, just in case??

An ATV or snowmobile is a bit different as it isn't generally used for daily transportation - and you basically don't ride 800 miles from home and get stranded - you trailer where you're going and ride from there.

I do carry tons of extra parts in my shop - because I do my own maintenance and I had a bad taste in the early Spyder days when my dealer didn't even stock oil filters-- if you can imagine that.

Perhaps if they don't have the money for inventory they shouldn't be in the spyder selling business......

[bikeguy]

I have to agree with Dragonrider that sometimes dealers just can't stock everything, even wear items. Enough dealerships have closed without possibly closing more because BRP required them to stock parts they couldn't afford. I don't know how it is everywhere but in this area most dealers are multi-brand dealers. Even the Harley dealer in Abilene also sells other brands. My Can-Am dealer also sells Kawasaki, Suzuki, Victory and Polaris. When you consider at least 5 brands and multiple models as well as multiple year models, even such minor inventory as bearings and seals can get to be expensive. I don't like it but I can understand why they don't stock everything I might need or want. I quit relying on local dealers for dirt bike parts years ago. At first I ordered them by phone and later on-line from national companies. Same with BMW parts since the nearest dealer was over 200 miles away.

While I haven't personally had a problem, it does seem that a number of people have had problems getting parts from BRP. Whether that is the dealer's problem or BRP's I don't know. Everything I've ordered through my dealer has arrived within 10 days or less which seems reasonable to me.

Cotton

[ARtraveler]

You folks are right in that selling & servicing dealers should have parts on hand to cover required maintainance and repairs. It is my understanding that dealers are supposed to carry a certain number of Spyders, have certain floorspace devoted to Spyder display, and carry a certain $ inventory of required spare parts. I do not have the exact $'s to provide you--but this has been my conversation with my local dealer.

When specific maintainence appointments are made--usually a week to two in advance--it seems that a good dealer would check which parts they may need and then make sure they are in stock or ordered so they arrive prior to the appointment. A lot of dealers have made the mistake of having the customer drop the bike off--and then take two to three weeks to get the parts and then perform the service. Sound familiar? Dealers that work this way--really should not be selling Spyders. Is BRP greedy and letting anyone sell Spyders, or are they lax in enforcing good dealer service policy?

I am sure there are some dealers out there that are in the process of dropping the line and that is why the parts and inventory are dwindling--they just don't want to let anyone know until the last minute. The arrival of 2012's is a good indicator that your dealer will be around for another year or so.

The sales & service network for Spyders--still needs a little work--I am guessing they are aware--since failure could have catastrophic consequences for BRP as a whole.

[Neez]

I can't believe that satisfactory crossover bearings are not available locally. Anybody know some alternate bearing makes?

[Spyder#353]

I bet after they change the bearings they'll say it's not the bearings ether. It's the kinifler blobly
So now you bought a tire all new bearings in the rear wheel. My experince is bearings grumble or growl not vibrate. Maybe I just never let the bearings get that bad to vibrate Lets see how many things they want you to change/buy at your expense before they get the correct item. I've been in your shoes.
My 2 cents!

[SpyderAnn01]

I went to my dealer on Friday for front tires for my RT. They only had one in stock but said they would order 2 on Friday and should have them in a few days. I'm going on a trip next week and really need the tires and an alignment before I go so I stopped there today to see when they thought the tires would be in. If they were going to be a while I was going to just get the really worn one replaced. Well I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the tires came in this morning.

[bone crusher]

My dealership is 'platinum' rated...I wonder if this designation means anything in regards to inventory, in addition to mechanic skill level? Apparently, the platinum rating is far and few...

[Sny]

There should be some minimum standards to be a dealer in terms of inventory.

There are... if they are a Platinum dealer...

[Sny]

My dealership is 'platinum' rated...I wonder if this designation means anything in regards to inventory, in addition to mechanic skill level? Apparently, the platinum rating is far and few...

It does... tho I can't quote the details (because I don't remember them) they are required to keep certain things in stock. This mostly means accessories and big ticket items, but I wouldn't be surprised if they also needed to keep maintenance parts and common repair items handy.

[Blue Star]

While I understand how dealerships would have to order the non-wear parts, as who can forecast when parts will go down. BRP could fix the wear issue parts by selling the dealerships parts on consignment. This way the dealership has the parts on hand, so they don't have Spyders taking up room waiting for the parts, and the customers are happy. True BRP has to put up the initial funds, they still will get the money from the parts in the end.

[boborgera]

It does... tho I can't quote the details (because I don't remember them) they are required to keep certain things in stock. This mostly means accessories and big ticket items, but I wouldn't be surprised if they also needed to keep maintenance parts and common repair items handy

Platinum dealer;
All sales and service trained to brp standers'
Promotes tasteful business practices'
Attends training'
Promotes brp product'
Participates in factory promotions'
Out grows industry growth in area'
Mantanes 85% customer satisfaction'
Completes warranty recalls'
Places qualifying order for current model.

[Bob Denman]

That sounds a bit like they are largely just Platinum tained in cheerleading for BRP...

[spyder3]

"Mantanes 85% customer satisfaction"

85% is good? wtf....So a dealer can piss off 15 people out of a 100 that enter the doorway to meet BRP standards .....

[Trickie Dick]

"Places qualifying order for current model."
This is the one that did in so many dealers in the last couple of years.

[boborgera]

That sounds a bit like they are largely just Platinum tained in cheerleading for BRP..
.

Exactly; Sell them first then worry about stocking parts and serving them in a timely manner.

[ARtraveler]

Does not sound like the BRP standards are very high. 85% customer satisfaction is pretty bad as far as I am concerned. Watch out for the 15% that are not happy. They can do enough damage word of mouth to destroy your business.

I do like the fact that they have to have trained techs and attend classes.

A qualifying order and cheerleading--to me--are not great paramaters for that designation. It should all be about customer service and satisfaction.

I guess we really need to be wary of dealers that are lesser than platinum. Watch out for the copper dealers.

[ld271]

im running into the same problem on an 09 se5 brp is telling shop is now my problem looks like this is going to cost me alot if brp wont help