Andrew Grudge wrote on 05-10-2013

BE WARNED

Sorry to have to post a 1 Star review of JS Gedge, but on purchasing my last bike, my eyes where opened to their Sharp Practice and Poor Service! First off, I had always dealt with the son, Andrew and most of the time things went smoothly, but with my last bike I had to deal with the main man (Trevor) and this is where things went down hill (fast) and I was made to feel 'the bad guy' when I tried to raise my concerns and here is why. I traded in my one year old bike for a new model with a whole host of official extras and a date was set for me to pick the bike up and so I thought everything was going OK, but in the days leading up to the collection date NOTHING from JS Gedge - not one word as to how it's preparation was going or if in fact it was ready to collect? So I then turn up on the day and where is my bike 'Oh, it's still in the warehouse over the road - let me go get it' and so I waited & waited and just under an hour later the bike was wheeled across the road. Great it's ready I thought, so off I go to check it over and first thing I note is IT'S DIRTY (?) covered in dust and greasy hand prints [on a supposedly Brand New Bike]! Next I start checking the bike over, noticing a few scratches & marks and even a few panels that where not fitted correctly - so much for Quality Control? And so I comment and this is where my head is bitten off and I'm made to feel small. Mr Gedge starts off [regarding the poorly fitted panels] ''well we would not have removed them, it must have been Triumph''? And when I replied that firstly it had been through THEIR PDI check and not been noticed he GLARED at me, but when I then pointed out that the panels in question would have been removed to fit some of the accessories such as the Heated Grip wires & relays his face went red and he stormed off to 'find someone to correctly fit the panel's' and I'm sure he was muttering as he went 'b#### customers'? Then when I pointed out the fact it was filthy, had damaged/scratched parts he seemed to go into melt down - not ranting and raving as such but quietly standing staring at me whilst his face said it all and when he did speak his words surprised me totally ... 'what do you expect, prestige quality like Ferrari or Rolls Royce - these bikes are built to a budget and you get what you pay for'??? Well I was flabbergasted ...... having just spent over £11,000 on a NEW bike only to find it presented to me like an old second hand one was (to me) appalling and I very nearly stepped away refusing the bike, but then stepped in the son, Andrew who calmed things down and rectified the issues I had raised in a much calmer and better way than his father [in all honesty this should never happen and was really a case of Too Little Too Late to me]. On further pressing from me, I discovered they where Short Staffed (not my problem!) and as such they had not been able to fully prepare my bike. Where it should have gone through the workshop to have the £2000 worth of accessories fitted, they had in stead got their Part Time Saturday lad (someone with NO Mechanical Skills at all) to fit the parts to the bike, hence the problem with the poorly fitted panels and greasy hand marks all over the bike and then lack of final cleaning prior to my collection - Very Poor in my opinion. Once they had finished doing what they felt they needed to do, I once more checked the bike over noticing a few more problems, this time with some of the bolts & fixings and so I took out my own tool roll (that I carry in my car) and set about tightening up 8 Panel Fixings, 3 Bolts and even re-fitting the seat correctly??? [I ask you!] So where do I now stand with regard to JS Gedge - well at a bit of a distance to start. When I deal with them, I will only talk to Andrew. IF I take my bike there for a service (due to being in warranty) I will stay and make sure a TRAINED MECHANIC actually does the job and when it comes time to either trade in my bike or buy my next Triumph I will be seriously looking at alternative Triumph Dealers (though not any based in West Sussex???) - I think it's time to check out either one of the Kent or London dealers next! Such a shame and WHY have I chosen to post this REVIEW of my experience, well it because of something said to me as I was finally leaving the Hastings Showroom by the wife of Mr Gedge - someone (again) with NO Technical Knowledge of motorcycles and despite being involved in the bike trade for so long, a person with very little knowledge of actual motorcycles, how to ride them, care for them or how to fault diagnose them. I will not repeat what she said [but it was ill-informed and a pathetic attempt to stick up for her man 'Trevor'], but if I was not a gentleman I would have surely cracked her one in the mouth and I literally had to drag my own wife away as she almost did! The jury is still out on whether or not I will buy from Gedge ever again - for now I just want to enjoy my bike and put this appalling and unnecessary episode behind me, but note, It's NOT forgotten and being a member of several motorcycle clubs, my story is making it's way around for others to form their own opinion. One thing to remember IF you do buy from them (I'm not say you should not), be wary and check your bike out thoroughly before accepting it and riding off on it. --------- POSTSCRIPT One thing I did not notice is that they had not cleaned the brakes off before I collected the bike and as such the pads have become contaminated with the preservative spray Triumph put on the discs at the factory. Because of this I now have a Warranty Claim going through another Triumph dealer for new pads all round, which after a bit of legal toeing & froeing has now been agreed to by Triumph & I should have working brakes by this coming weekend [11/05/13] Read what I have written (with a pinch of salt if you wish), but be warned - do not expect First Class Service [especially after they have your money] and before you take your bike away CHECK IT OVER YOURSELF! Oh, and don't listen to anything the 'wife' says as honestly - she does not have a clue about anything to do with Motorcycles