Does anybody know h=ow to get BMW customer service to return a call?

[PAUL4820]

Does anybody know how to get BMW customer service to return a call?

[greyboyfan]

Ya might try a registered letter.

btw, it's 1:25 pm as I type this, with one hand, all the while, the phone is stuck to my ear while I await AT&T customer service to answer me for 4 hrs now.

[PAUL4820]

Take there garbage bikes and 2 customer sevice people and ship em back to Germany.
Think I'll drive it to Montvale NJ park it their lawn.

[kat569]

Three words that work magic for me, any time I need a company to stand behind their product or service and help me:

SMALL. CLAIMS. COURT.

[murphyshuman]

Try a breach of warranty suit. That one will get their attention. Leave a message that if they don't return your call your next step will be breach of warranty.

[hogcowboy]

The only way I ever got anything out of them was through the dealer. But I had a good dealer. That in it's self is amazing.

[PAUL4820]

Breach of warranty got them to offer a minor amount of $'s and I would have to realease them of all responsibilty.
Sorry rather bash them here!

[Hawkeye]

Congrats, you are 12 again. Now grow up a bit and think for yourself. BMW service is difficult to work with at a dealership, but BMW NA does an amazing job fixing problems. How about you stop whining like a baby and do some proper research. Very simple solution.

[PAUL4820]

Your the one who needs to research...my conclusions are based on hours of professional paid research.
BMW NA are second rate, with no follow up.
They DO NOT stand behind thier product.

[murphyshuman]

Originally Posted by PAUL4820

Your the one who needs to research...my conclusions are based on hours of professional paid research.
BMW NA are second rate, with no follow up.
They DO NOT stand behind thier product.

Dude, Give it up already, we get it, you got a lemon. You could keep whining to us, which we will quit listening to, or you can do something productive. Grow up and get over yourself.

[mitchberry]

i like the breach of warranty suit idea...

but realistically, you can take it to your dealership to make them fix whatever it is that went wrong... that's the obvious idea...

second idea is to sell the bike before **** really starts going wrong with it.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by PAUL4820

Your the one who needs to research...my conclusions are based on hours of professional paid research.
BMW NA are second rate, with no follow up.
They DO NOT stand behind thier product.

Professional paid research? Please don't tell me you were dumb enough to pay some idiot to "research" this and they didn't get an answer. I just told you the answer. From personal experience as well as through the experience of others on my BMW specific forum, I know that BMW NA does a good job at fixing problems.

The reason dealerships don't is because they need to get everything approved by corporate before they can get any money for services and it is a pain for them. You just need to know the right things to say or the right people to complain to.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by PAUL4820

Does anybody know how to get BMW customer service to return a call?

The docket number of the small claims case you just filed against them will often get their attention..... the local news stations usually have an "action line" that will threaten to run a program on a dealer who is screwing it's customers.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by murphyshuman

Dude, Give it up already, we get it, you got a lemon. You could keep whining to us, which we will quit listening to, or you can do something productive. Grow up and get over yourself.

Your argument is that the guy who got screwed with an overpriced lemon whose builder won't fix should stop "whining"?

You don't want to know what my answer would be to that line of non reasoning.

The power of the internet is that a single screwed customer can take his pound of flesh out on the net.

If BMW NA had already tried to fix it, the guy wouldn't be here.

maybe I am old fashioned, but IMHO, a person who drops more than $10k on a bike shouldn't have to beg for it to work.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

The reason dealerships don't is because they need to get everything approved by corporate before they can get any money for services and it is a pain for them.

They also don't get fully reimbursed for warranty work in many cases, they agree to the ripoff as part of being the dealer. No honor among thieves.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by PAUL4820

Breach of warranty got them to offer a minor amount of $'s and I would have to realease them of all responsibilty.
Sorry rather bash them here!

Did you not read this one bountyhunter. They already offered $ to try and fix the problem. He just thought whining would be a better solution.

And I can almost guarantee you that he either does not have a legitimate problem or has not contacted BMW NA yet. They are very proficient in making sure their name is not slandered on the internet.

One guy on my car forum had a slight bogging on accelleration and no help from the dealer. Complained on the BMW specific forum (that apparently BMW NA looks at sometimes) and got contacted by them. He ended up getting a new engine and tranny cause they couldn't figure out the problem. I guarantee you that was more $$ than Pauls entire bike.

I agree, the dealerships suck. A lot. But BMW as a company has done a respectable job keeping their name clean.

[murphyshuman]

Originally Posted by bountyhunter

Your argument is that the guy who got screwed with an overpriced lemon whose builder won't fix should stop "whining"?

You don't want to know what my answer would be to that line of non reasoning.

The power of the internet is that a single screwed customer can take his pound of flesh out on the net.

If BMW NA had already tried to fix it, the guy wouldn't be here.

maybe I am old fashioned, but IMHO, a person who drops more than $10k on a bike shouldn't have to beg for it to work.

Maybe you should read back to where the OP was offered suggestions and stated he would rather complain here than try any of them. So yes, stop whining if you're not going to make the effort.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Did you not read this one bountyhunter. They already offered $ to try and fix the problem. He just thought whining would be a better solution.

Yes, I read it. They low balled a cheap settlement offer to buy an unconditional liability waiver. That is standard procedure in every case where someone is wronged and has a valid case. If it was enough $$$ to fix it, he would have taken it. Obviously, we always prefer to refuse money (?)

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by murphyshuman

Maybe you should read back to where the OP was offered suggestions and stated he would rather complain here than try any of them. So yes, stop whining if you're not going to make the effort.

Yes, I read it and actually comprehended it:

Breach of warranty got them to offer a minor amount of $'s and I would have to realease them of all responsibilty.
Sorry rather bash them here!

If you are bashing him for turning that down, clearly you have no clue.

[PAUL4820]

this is all pretty ironic...low and behold BMW NA reached out to me today to discuss my issues.
As I have not osted all details here, BMW NA now wants to work with me.
I do not want something for nothing, just want to be able to hop on my new expensive bike, and know it will not strand me 1000 miles from home.
Power of the internet seems to have worked.

[Tankhead]

Curious why you think your actions created their attempt to reconcile instead of them just wanting to do the right thing?

[PAUL4820]

Not sure, timing seems coincidental

[shubonker]

You have to star in a bunch of star wars movies and ride around the world on a GS.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by PAUL4820

this is all pretty ironic...low and behold BMW NA reached out to me today to discuss my issues.

Doesn't surprise me. I was posting on a gun forum some years back and mentioned the low quality of some of the piece parts I found in my brand new (and very expensive) Para Ordnance 1640. I wasn't irate, just commenting on the poor quality of piece parts in general.

Next day I had a private message from Para Ord's parts director asking if I would like him to send me a set of replacements. Nice guy, I took him up on it even though I had already procured new (better) parts.

Believe me: THEY READ THE FORUMS, and they have other people read the forums and alert them to issues that give them a bad name.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by Tankhead

Curious why you think your actions created their attempt to reconcile instead of them just wanting to do the right thing?

My dad always told me that you can talk reason to anyone, but sometimes you need to get their attention first.... like a two-by-four between the headlights.

[Tankhead]

Originally Posted by PAUL4820

Not sure, timing seems coincidental

Honest answer. Hope it all works out for you.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by PAUL4820

this is all pretty ironic...low and behold BMW NA reached out to me today to discuss my issues.
As I have not osted all details here, BMW NA now wants to work with me.
I do not want something for nothing, just want to be able to hop on my new expensive bike, and know it will not strand me 1000 miles from home.
Power of the internet seems to have worked.

Originally Posted by bountyhunter

Doesn't surprise me. I was posting on a gun forum some years back and mentioned the low quality of some of the piece parts I found in my brand new (and very expensive) Para Ordnance 1640. I wasn't irate, just commenting on the poor quality of piece parts in general.

Next day I had a private message from Para Ord's parts director asking if I would like him to send me a set of replacements. Nice guy, I took him up on it even though I had already procured new (better) parts.

Believe me: THEY READ THE FORUMS, and they have other people read the forums and alert them to issues that give them a bad name.

Isn't this exactly what I said half a thread ago? You don't have to be a complete dick and bash everything about a company cause your service station sucks. Like I said, and I will say again, BMW NA is really good about fixing problems. Guess I was right, eh?

So that paid professional research into BMW NA and you supposedly contacting them and them still not doing anything was complete BS after all. Go figure.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Isn't this exactly what I said half a thread ago? You don't have to be a complete dick and bash everything about a company cause your service station sucks. .

No, the point is (or was) I am a trained gunsmith. When I got a doggie (brand new) $1200 pistol I had the ability to fix it and I did, but it took a lot of work.

The point is the OP was getting jacked off by the company, nobody was supporting him or making a good faith effort. Try reading the posts:

Breach of warranty got them to offer a minor amount of $'s and I would have to realease them of all responsibilty.

When a company is sticking a "full and final liability waiver" out before they will proceed, the message is: they know the flea bitten dog they sold you is a loser and they want their name off the list of future plaintiffs.

That is disgraceful.

If they had been making good effort and coming up short, that's different. They weren't.

If they read the forums (or have software that flags key phrases for them) and finally got going all I can say is:

RIGHT ON. THE INTERNET WORKS.


The point is that people running companies are often times major dicks. I bought a Vega Summit (BRAND NEW) helmet online a couple of years back. OK helmet, has the flip up modular front... but the release mechanism is flimsy and broke first season. The little metal release wire just snapped. I'm an engineer, I could replace it no sweat so I just called the company and asked to get a wire from them..... even offered to pay shipping.

The people there acted like I was trying to rob them. "We don't supply parts", "don't expect us to blah blah blah", "you have to return it to the original seller".......

For a $1 piece, I was supposed to spend $25 shipping it back and be without a helmet for two months? Yeah, what a good solution. I just got a new helmet. After all, that release might break again with it snapped on my head and the damn thing would have to be cut off.

Point is, we all make our choices. The one Vega made sends the message loud and clear: we take the money and don't support the customer. Don't expect us to help because we can't be bothered. And thanks to the internet, I will be "redeeming" the $150 they ripped off from me for the rest of time on the forums.

[Hawkeye]

I understand this is hard for you to comprehend so I will say it one word at a time.

The. Dealership. Is. Not. BMW.
BMW. Does. Stand. Behind. Their. Product. If. You. Contact. Them. And. Sometimes. Even. If. You. Don't.

This noob was complaining before trying to go to the actual company to get resolution. He claimed he paid some professional to contact BMW NA which was obviously a lie.

MY point is that you can call out a poor company for poor service. Just don't call out a good company cause you are too lazy to do anything else.

[PAUL4820]

Hawkeye,
You are making inccorect assumptions.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I understand this is hard for you to comprehend so I will say it one word at a time.

The. Dealership. Is. Not. BMW.
BMW. Does. Stand. Behind. Their. Product. If. You. Contact. Them. And. Sometimes. Even. If. You. Don't.

This noob was complaining before trying to go to the actual company to get resolution. He claimed he paid some professional to contact BMW NA which was obviously a lie.

MY point is that you can call out a poor company for poor service. Just don't call out a good company cause you are too lazy to do anything else.

Legally, companies are liable for the actions of their chosen representatives. It is up to BMW to do business through competent sales/service centers or they will have to absorb the heat. I don't know if this dealership is any worse than the auto/bike dealers I have seen in my lifetime, nearly all have been cess pools infested with thieves and incompetent morons. The point is that a car or bike maker's public face is defined by what the customer gets done to them by the dealers who bear their name.

PERIOD.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by bountyhunter

Legally, companies are liable for the actions of their chosen representatives. It is up to BMW to do business through competent sales/service centers or they will have to absorb the heat. I don't know if this dealership is any worse than the auto/bike dealers I have seen in my lifetime, nearly all have been cess pools infested with thieves and incompetent morons. The point is that a car or bike maker's public face is defined by what the customer gets done to them by the dealers who bear their name.

PERIOD.

Legally the companies are not liable for the actions of an independent dealer whether it sells their product or not! That is complete rubbish. If I take my car into a BMW dealership and get it worked on, and the idiots drop it off of the lift totaling it, that is not BMW's fault or their legal responsibility. It is that of the dealership. I know this for FACT because it has happened and that is how it plays out.

A dealership can refuse to do warranty work if they chose to. They may not be a certified dealer much longer when you complain to the company but it is still within their rights unless contractually obligated by the company, in which case they would be in legal trouble, but not from you.

If you judge a brand by a dealer you are an idiot. By looking around you can find dealers for any company that are completely useless and full of thieves, yes. But if you look around you can always find a dealer with a good reputation that is willing to help you out that represents the same product.

And PAUL, if I am making an incorrect assumption please enlighten me. How did you contact BMW NA to tell them of your issues?

The reason that I disagree with you on this topic is because I know from myself as well as many many other people on my BMW car forums that BMW itself is a great company. I also know that 90% of BMW dealers completely suck. People complain about them all the time. BMW NA almost always steps in to correct the issue.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Legally the companies are not liable for the actions of an independent dealer whether it sells their product or not! That is complete rubbish.

Right. What a waste of time. Do some research. For example, insurance companies have been held legally liable for insurance THEY WERE NEVER EVEN PAID FOR when the agencies selling their insurance pocketed the premiums cash and never wrote the policy. law said that the customer who bought in good faith from the agent of the company WAS COVERED even though the company never heard of them or received any kind of payment.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

If you judge a brand by a dealer you are an idiot.

If you purchase a $20,000 item without considering the kind of service available for it, you're a much bigger one.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by bountyhunter

If you purchase a $20,000 item without considering the kind of service available for it, you're a much bigger one.

Most brands have good service somewhere, as I said above. What exactly are you getting at?

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by bountyhunter

Right. What a waste of time. Do some research. For example, insurance companies have been held legally liable for insurance THEY WERE NEVER EVEN PAID FOR when the agencies selling their insurance pocketed the premiums cash and never wrote the policy. law said that the customer who bought in good faith from the agent of the company WAS COVERED even though the company never heard of them or received any kind of payment.

I'm gonna go ahead and call BS on this one. If the insurance company never heard of the agent and never received premium, then there is no basis for them to be sued.

I would like to read an article if you can dig one up though.

[murphyshuman]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I'm gonna go ahead and call BS on this one. If the insurance company never heard of the agent and never received premium, then there is no basis for them to be sued.

I would like to read an article if you can dig one up though.

Have to agree with this, let's see some proof.