Yes. I dont side with any OEM, some of them e.g. Honda their weakest link is dealrships, mostly experienced incompetent personnel across 4 different locations. Ducati on the other hand, most 'big' showrooms have salesmen who treat you like shit. So no brownie points for this brand either. Even if one has money to throw I wouldn't just because of their attitude to their customers. This is across 2 dealerships so not an isolated incident. At the end gave my business to a 'small' dealership near me. Though they are non Ducati (who used to be a Ducati dealership once) - don't really care. If you have money to throw you shouldnt be worried about warranty anyway. (not saying I have but that's how the brand has been persued)
Ducati's largely are about passion, it must be because there is no way you would put up with the safety recalls, updates and belts every 2 years, it's about how you feel about the bike. Apply the germanic bean counter everything must conform, and you lose the soul of a ducati. They seem to be moving away from the the people with a passion to own a ducati, to a need for people who can afford a new ducati
My confusion and I work in the motor trade is why we have allowed the manufacturer to get as powerful as they have in this country - go to France and a Renault Dealership is in a barn or they have 5/6 brands in one site - not permitted in this country. To a degree we have all caused this by going to big groups ( I work for one ) and trying to screw the last penny out of the deal. The large groups work on reg bonuses on both new and used. As per another thread we expect retail money for a trade in and a discount on a new vehicle and wonder why a smaller site closes down rather than paying a little extra for service and the loyalty they try to give us. Unfortunately some have made their bed by expecting the dealers to do the job for nothing now will have to lay in that bed. Just my two pennies worth
Very true. I remember a local bike shop many years ago (now closed) who used to do Yamaha and Aprilia. Some bloke came in with his RSV mille when they first came out and was demanding immediate attention over a safety recall that had just been put out. The owner of the store, who spent most of his time in the workshop told him that there was a month wait due to volume. RSV rider began to say how this wasn't good service, unnaceptable etc. Dealership owner got a bit peeved with this line of argument, especially as RSV owner was playing to an audience of other customers in the store - me included. He poilitely reminded the RSV owner than he'd gone to him to test ride his demonstrators and then decided to go to farborough to Motorcycle city to buy the bike. If he was that concerned, why had he not taken it to City where he bought it? RSV owner replied to the effect of they're shit and I wouldn't trust them. He reminded him that he was putting HIS customers first, and wasn't saying he wouldn't honour the warranty recall but not before sorting out the customers who had bought from him. That shops mechanic still works out of the same workshop but even that is half its size now. I've used him for years to look over my stuff and yes, I could have saved a fortune at times by buying online and all that, but when I've really needed him he's been there, and I'd rather spend 50 quid extra on a set of tyres from him than see him go.
I was there last week and was confirmed that they will no longer be a dealer and it was intact Audi influence to make that decision . Big shame indeed .
I again popped in to Moto Italia at the weekend and good to see same old clique Took my boy with me to look at the “red bikes” as he loves them and was quite amused to see the demo V4s still sat there after I had phoned up twice about this bike and them never even bothering to get back to me. No big issue, I wanted to use a local dealer as I live in Lincoln. But, instead I just popped over to Nottingham Ducati and they sorted out a new one being delivered today. Good service from Ducati Nottingham, listened to what I wanted and delivered exactly that. Used Phill years ago and purchased one of the first 750 MV Augusta’s from him when they were based around the corner. Old style dealer now and no better for it.
Just facts from me, it’s not hard to spend £20 odd grand. I have run a business for almost 16 years, customer service is really not that difficult
No worries Anyhows after a lay off of 7 years from Ducati, my S1000RR has gone today to be replaced by a’19 V4s WHAT AN ABSOLUTE CRACKER! Life is good
Only my thoughts....I picked up a 2001 748r last year. I contacted the original Hampshire dealer that sold and maintained the bike from new. The guy at the dealer spent time happily talking me through all the detail on history, work carried out including mods and issues including warranty works and couldn’t have been any more helpful. That works nicely for me. I do work for Rolex from time to time. They have little interest in customer satisfaction. It’s about the brand above all else. Ducati are heading that way.
Ducati are in danger of pushing brand loyalty to far and customers will walk away other manufacturers are producing bikers as good or nearly as good that don't have the same maintenance and running costs
Well, i have a 1200R Monster, compared to say a 1000R BMW ,the BM is bloody ugly ! I had a good look at most of the other offerings and thought them bland and plasticky ,saw the Ducatis ,bloody stunning.
As new member of the forum this is my first post, so apologies for the length of it! I was disappointed to learn that Phil had decided to give up the franchise. I bought my first bike from Italia about 27 years ago and have bought a fair few from him since (including, once, a new Benelli!) I fully understand and appreciate Ducati‘s strategic marketing and sales stance, but the point they are missing is that people buy from people. Phil takes the trouble to learn his customers’ names. He has never changed. He has always been a lover of all things Italian and a true Ducati enthusiast. How many other bike dealers do the readers here know of that retain many of their staff for decades? I’m sure that Ducati will not lose too many sales by effectively freezing out the smaller dealerships who are unable or unwilling to make the regular and significant investment demanded. However, that leads only one way; a rapid turnover of sales staff who can’t make the high targets demanded and an impersonal service. I buy Audi and BMW cars every three or four years and I never see the same sales staff. It’s an impersonal and not particularly enjoyable process. A Ducati purchase is always special and has an emotional aspect to it. When I buy a bike, I want to buy it from an enthusiast who I know will remember me, greet me as a friend, know the product inside out. I’ll stick with Italia.
I went in last week and it was a bit sad to see the depleted new bike stock and clothing etc, but the welcome was warm and they supplied me with all of the parts needed to service my 25 year old monster. They will continue to supply parts and service bikes as they have done previously. And will continue to supply gorgeous preloved bikes. Good luck to Phil and the team.
They were decorating / relocating the accessories downstairs when I was in. Looked like a bomb had landed! The new premium RST range looked good though, liked that.
I'm having a nightmare with a new Ducati I bought from italia moto it's a 1299 final edition. It had a fault which italia was happy to fix before they gave up dealership but it's still got fault 4 and a half months later Steve Cox technical director for Ducati UK wouldn't allow Phil at italia to carry on trying to fix fault it's now been took to another Ducati service centre been there another 7 weeks still no clue what fault is no error codes on bike at all just spit balling changing parts on it have tried contacting Italy and basically been fobbed off. I asked for a refund or replacement bike and got no reply from anyone absolute joke off a company especially spending 35 grand and been treated like crap really
Which dealer have you taken it to now ? What's the problem with the bike ? If your not happy then contact your local citizens advice I suggest .
