Next time I'll just sell the parts on E-bay...

[EX#996]

As part of team privateer from Lockhart Phillips, I must admit that the prices are fair.  However, if you ever have to return items....  Well, I think that they could use more help.

It took seven, yes seven, phone calls before I could get a return authorization.  LP has a 20% restocking fee and they won't refund shipping.  While I understand everyone has certain return rules, when they shipped you something that is an obvious error on their part, I would expect that they would make it right.

Well, another phone call today (this makes nine) to see if they will not assess the 20% restocking fee.  And I didn't even ask for them to refund the shipping both ways either!   ::)

Sheesh!

Dawn  

Oh BTW, they shipped us two digital temp guages and two push pull throttle kits in each in their own package.  So that's a total of five shipping charges (two for the parts that we ordered, two for the parts that we didn't and one for shipping the stuff back).

[LMsports]

I think Lockhart offers an attractive program to racers by offering dealer cost on products. But by doing so they often hurt your local dealers because it takes business away from them. Also now, just like with cheap mail order companies your customer service is lacking, and when you really need the help noone is there. Lockhart traditionally is always backordered for the product you want, and their customer service is just horrible. Just my opinion, but why not look toward your local dealer for some of these parts. When you have a problem you can talk to someone face to face and hopefully they will have the customer service necessary to take care of whatever you need to have done without the hassle of a dozen phone calls. What is your time worth? And most importantly, you will be helping your local dealer to stay in business and in turn provide you with years of good service. Being a local and trackside dealer I can't help but look on situations like this with a certain amount of satisfaction and "I told you so" attitude. In the future, think of those who take care of you, and take care of them. Hope you get it all worked out.

[spyderchick]

I've always had good working relationships with all of our local vendors. Yes, it helps to know tons of people, but if you can develop one or two really good relationships, they will generally get you good prices on stuff. And...no shipping.

Dawn lives in an area with no real major city within spitting distance, and so LP is convenient, I'm sure. LP really should improve it's customer service to their "sponsored" riders.

[EX#996]

Just my opinion, but why not look toward your local dealer for some of these parts. When you have a problem you can talk to someone face to face and hopefully they will have the customer service necessary to take care of whatever you need to have done without the hassle of a dozen phone calls. What is your time worth? And most importantly, you will be helping your local dealer to stay in business and in turn provide you with years of good service.

I agree, however where I live, there is no such thing as a 'local dealer'.  The cities with dealerships are Appleton (46 miles), Green Bay (48 miles), Oshkosh (47 miles), Wausau (I never tracked the mileage, but it's about an hours drive).  So any part run would be a 100+ mile trip. Plus, the times that I did check (except for stock Suzuki parts), these part needed to be ordered from LP anyways and the dealer wanted to charge us shipping.

Being a local and trackside dealer I can't help but look on situations like this with a certain amount of satisfaction and "I told you so" attitude. In the future, think of those who take care of you, and take care of them. Hope you get it all worked out.

At the track however, we are alway loyal to the trackside vendors and will often times wait to purchase items there (if possible) to support them.  I believe we have shown, even to yourself, this to be true.

Dawn  

[LMsports]

Absolutely! Yes you have been customers of ours and always a pleasure to deal with. Forgive me for my loudmouth opinions of lockhart and the mail order catalogs. I do understand that sometimes there is a necessity in ordering something from afar...I do alot of my business that way. Not alot of call for sportbike and roadracing parts in Northwest Iowa! In part I was using your post as a soapbox of sorts for those who rely mostly on sources such as Lockhart on a regular basis. Kind of the main street retailer vs. Wal Mart thing. Thanks from letting me shout from your porch.

[EX#996]

Rob,

No problem.

See ya soon,

Dawn  :)

[Chuck]

My local Dealer Sucks.  

Freedom Kawasaki Grandview, MO

They have screwed me in the past by not letting me know when parts where on back order untill I call them cause it's a week late.

Service department is incompitent, and their customer service sucks.

Prices are astronomical on top of everything else.  I have relied on companies like Lithium, LP, and powersports pro to give me good deals and parts on time or trackside.

[Steviebee]

Rob, if you were my local dealer,  i'd buy everything from you.

Unfortuately my local dealer not only has a higher price, but there are clueless about anything i need to ask them.  

For instance,  i went in to ask if they had the tool to tighten the steering head bearings.  They looked through thier catalogs for about 5 mins and then said no.  I then went looked on the shelf, found one from pro-motion and asked if it was the right one. (size  didnt know if there were different sizes)   He didnt even know what the thing was for.  Maybe if one of the other kids at the counter might have known but this guy didnt.   Just bugs me !!

Granted if i asked a motox question  they might know but they couldnt help me much for other stuff.  There just high school kids makeing 5 bucks an hour.  The onwer or manager might know but hes never around!

Still id rather try to support the track side guys,   they/you've helped me out when i would have been sol for the weekend.

[tigerblade]

I went to my local dealer for sparkplugs for the RC51 once.  I had the part # in hand.  They asked what size engine the RC51 has.  This is a Honda dealer...   ::)

Oh, also tried to charge me $21/each for the things.  When I informed them that they should be around $8 or $9, they told me their cost was more than that and I must have the wrong part #.  Bought them at a dealer 30 miles away for $8-something.  

I use both LP and the trackside guys.  I've had good experiences with LP ordering stuff before the season starts.  I use the trackside guys whenever I can after that.  

[LMsports]

Good points. I had a customer in here last week that said he visited the local Kawasaki dealer with a question about the slipper clutch in his 636. His dealer didn't even know what a slipper clutch was. But just as someone else pointed out here, if a dirt bike question was being posed he would have gotten more info than he knew what to do with. Most of you know me, and do business with me. I appreciate all the support that you have given myself and my company these last few years. Even when you aren't buying something but have a question feel free to call me. If I can help in any way I will. If Lockhart is backordered I'll tell you where you can find it elsewhere. If your local dealer doesn't have the answer I'll help. Thanks for everything.

[Super Dave]

Ah, herein lies so many truths.

LP is an interesting company.

They have marketed themselves solidly to the sport/race market, but seldom do they have what you need when you want it.

I'm going to generalize on my own experiences, a lot of them over a long period of time, but I usually go to the right side coast for my stuff.  Rather than go to LP, I'd call Street & Competition immediatley.  I don't understand why, but that's the way it is.  Seems as though a lot of the Republic of California stuff is based on a tanned smile and that's about it.  We use it because XYZ endorces it...well, that's fine, but do you actually have it...(and does it really get used.

Road Racing wasn't so popular many years ago compared to today.  Sorry to hear that the local dealers don't know much.  But how can they.  I mean, MX is pretty straight forward.  The bikes are actual race bikes while current road racers are sportbikes for street use that the manufacturer teams tout as being "very close to stock"...and they are...to a point.  

So, there is the place for the proper road race places to step in.  My personal choice:  http://4and6.com

Rob's there.  

Other good places too.

A call to those places might have allowed the opportunity to learn a bit more about steering head bearing tools...(still don't have one of those tools...screw drivers and maybe a Channel Lock still work fine...LOL)...and how tight they actually make them.

Real road race preparation isn't that far off, but, often, it isn't like a street bike.

Parts Unlimited has a good deal of stuff too.  Just a matter of getting the dealer to get out the catalog so that you can browse through it a bit to find what you need.  Usually in stock too.

[Super_KC124]

My local Dealer Sucks.  

Freedom Kawasaki Grandview, MO

They have screwed me in the past by not letting me know when parts where on back order untill I call them cause it's a week late.

Service department is incompitent, and their customer service sucks.

Prices are astronomical on top of everything else.  I have relied on companies like Lithium, LP, and powersports pro to give me good deals and parts on time or trackside.

Get a Suzuki and increase your dealer choices. ;D
Donnell's for me. ;)