Very short and simple. Took my Chopper into LifeStyle Cycles to get serviced. Granted there customer service there is good, great parts dept... But the actual Service Dept is truly crooked and I mean just SHADY. Take it from me, I was a Sales Mgr. For a large dealership for years. I know how service depts. Work.
Couple mistakes on their part. After running a quick diagnostic on my bike while I was there, they, Jr, Mike and another Tech informed me "Bill, it is either the Stator or the Regulator or your whole electrical system. We'll check it out first and then inform you on what we need to do".
I did receive a phone call about 2 hours later informing me that the good news was it was just the "Stator" and nothing else. Ok... So...$450.00 later, (not including labor) I get the phone call to come down to pick up my bike, that everything is good and the test ride went great. On my way down there, I received another call (From Jr.) on my cell... informing me that "Oh, uh. Bill, problem, it was also the regulator, that is an additional $200.00 dollars... (this time including labor). So of course I asked, so what or WHICH was the problem the "Stator" or was it the "Regulator"... This is where it all goes down hill from here.
"Uh, Bill, it was both".. And since I was pissed on the phone and that it seemed they were shooting in the dark at $400.00 a pop almost (well between the 2 supposed repairs), I had every right to be furious... They could tell too. I definately asked for all the parts that were taken off my bike. Jr. Then also informed me, because like I said he could tell I was pissed, that "Bill, when you get down here, I'll have all the parts out for you, you can have them and I'll show you what was burned out", kind of a stupid mistakeon his part and I explain why later on in this letter. When I went into Lifestyle Cycles to drop my bike off, I was about 100% positive it was the regulator. Just wanted to add that in... Stators do go out, after about 250,000 miles and 20 years, my bike is 2 years old with 5K miles on it, and was brand new when I bought it.
To the point, $750.00 later, I did take my bike and paid, I had a ride that weekend that was already paid for, had to go. Now, getting to the RIPOFF and the "Stator" I run a business so I am busy, it has been 3 1/2 weeks now and I finally got around to taking the "Stator" to a friend of a friend who is a Harley Certified Tech at Irvine Harley Davidson where they ran a quick and easy diagnostic on it (the stator). NOTHING WRONG WITH THE "STATOR" NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING, the Certified tech even said, cause I had wiped it down I guess and it looked clean or what ever "Is this the one you are putting in your bike, its perfect"... My friend mis-communicated why I was there and the tech thought I was checking out a kind of new / used replacement part for my bike or something. Nope, that was the one that was supposidly compltetely burnt out and bad from "Life Style Cycles TOP MECHANICS" who "RAN" a diagnostic on it.
Life Style was fully aware that there was nothing wrong with the Stator, the regulator for what ever reason went out on my bike and that did need to be replaced, but the "stator" as I said... Was perfect, and since I have picked it up, I have had all kind of electrical problems... I figured it out, they didnt ground the primary ground wire that they disconnected, and actually calling them on this, I just bluffed and asked them why my electrical went out... And told them what they had just repaired on my bike. Mike informed me.."Bill, when the stator, regulator goes out, the AEC Module goes out next, bring it in, I have one in stock... Only $350.00 to replace it" Just funny, his mind was totally made up before I brought it in... This is what they pulled before... Also. Obviously I didnt take my bike in to LifeStyle Cycles then or ever again... That whole storry about the ground wire is kind of irrelevant... Just throwing that in to show you have much of a "Money Trap" they are and the character profile. Proper way to diagnose over the phone and we all know this is you dont... Ie "Bill / Tom / John... Etc... I can't diagnose your bike, I think it might be a few things, but I will have to take a look at it to get it right, please bring it in at your convenience".. But... No... What they say is "GIVE ME $500.00 and We'll go up from there, CC # please".. FUNNY!
Back to the facts. Contacted my attorney, its one of those bonded ones that I have for the year for my business. So the business being in my name, I can also use this for personal, basically wont cost me anything out of pocket, I had the Certified Tech Sign off on one of there, I dont know, some like "test diagnostic" form and that everything on the part is fine. Only cost me $50.00 but... Im getting my $550.00 back from Lifestyle for the Stator that is in perfect condition and for the labor, since they new it didnt have to be replaced. This is a home run with a Certified tech with Documentation and the part in hand that is in perfect condition and the receipt from Lifestyle showing they replaced it cause it was burned out... Idiots.
BASCIALLY DONT GO TO THEM, I have no prior experience with Life Style Service Dept. But would love to hear from people that have had the same situation. Shitty part, I actually like shopping there for accessories, great parts dept.
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