It all started last Tuesday when I wandered in asking about a certification for my Yamaha R6. I expressed a concern on whether or not my after market lighting would pass. The mechanic informed me that there shouldn’t be an issue with it passing and quoted me $95 plus hst for the cert. I immediately agreed and made an appointment to come the next day. Upon booking, I expressed my concern about leaving my bike over night for a couple reasons, primarily because I commuted a great distance and would rather wait while the safety inspection takes place instead of driving back and forth several times.
The next day, I ride the bike 90 minutes to the shop. The mechanic had a look at the bike as I was parking it and told me that it would need tires and would likely fail because of this so there was no point going any further. He quoted me $700 to replace the tires and complete the certification which included the rubber but I told him that Royal Distributing was having their tax free sale and I would get the tires myself to which his response was that if I brought the tires, his installation cost would increase as he wouldn’t make as much profit on them. I wasn’t impressed with the scam but I agreed to move forward as I was eager to start riding my new bike. I then made an appointment for a weeks time to get the work done. At this point, I was confused because they were prepared to work on the bike that day but now, I was being pushed back a week. I didn’t pay it much more mind and agreed to return the following Wednesday. At this point I was becoming increasingly untrusting with them...
Fast forward to the appointment (Today/Wednesday). I arrive via truck and trailer, un strap the bike, park it and go inside. We go through the necessary booking formalities and the guy at the desk advises me that the work will be completed in several days time. I questioned this as I was very clear that I required it to be done in one day as this is why I agreed to drop it in the morning not to mention this was a weeks wait to get booked in. He explained that they didn’t have the parts and it would take a few days for them to arrive. I told him that he had a week to order everything. He then advised me that the tires aren’t ordered until the bike is in the shop. I pointed out that the bike very well could have been there earlier if they had requested it to be. At this point I looked obviously frustrated due to these series of events but instead of trying to make the situation better, I was told that I didn’t have to get the work done there. Instead of trying to make the situation better, I got a cocky look and a one liner.
I walked out immediately and will never return. As soon as I left, I called a few friends that have motorcycles to tell them of my experience and learned that I’m not the first and likely not the last to this infamous tire scam as they went through the same issues with their bikes and have taken their business elsewhere.
I have recently purchased the tires at Royal Distributing and have had the work done at another shop. All under $700.