Serpa (formerly Open Road) BMW in Newmarket

[azia]

I was expecting to demo a bike whether I donate money or not (I was not told it was mandatory or that the amount was mandatory) and that if I wanted to eat then I would have to donate and I was fully prepared to do this (hence charity bbq, not charity demo ride). Nobody told me before hand that I would not be allowed to demo a bike without donating to charity. I have done demo rides at other dealers for other manufacturers where they also had charity bbqs going on and I was never forced to donate anything (though I usually did and enjoyed some food).

Instead of being treated like the potential customer that I was, I was lied to.

It sounds like the premise of this event was donation to charity and the incentive was to demo bikes and eat BBQ if you donate. If you wanted to ride a bike for free, why not plan to take another day off from whatever you were doing so you can test ride the bikes at your leisure without taking from the bikes made available for donors at the charity event?

Think of it this way...a bunch of people came specifically to enjoy the rewards of making a donation but some guy just had to come on this one day of the year and test ride bikes while refusing to make a donation.

As well, if you really did say you did not have $20 to just "give away" then I wouldn't be surprised at the attitude you received back.

Sorry to hear you wasted your time but it sounds like there was some miscommunication on both ends.

 

[palmpalm]

You are missing the point. I had been trying to test-ride the bike for months and would have gladly come almost any day and, indeed, I tried to but Cray told me it would have to be on this day and he did NOT tell me I would have to make a donation to do it. Then when I arrived he lied to me claiming otherwise. That is my beef. I don't have a problem with charity events, geez. If he had told me beforehand how it works then there would not have been an issue. My issue is with being misled and then lied to (the way I was treated).

It sounds like the premise of this event was donation to charity and the incentive was to demo bikes and eat BBQ if you donate. If you wanted to ride a bike for free, why not plan to take another day off from whatever you were doing so you can test ride the bikes at your leisure without taking from the bikes made available for donors at the charity event?

Think of it this way...a bunch of people came specifically to enjoy the rewards of making a donation but some guy just had to come on this one day of the year and test ride bikes while refusing to make a donation.

As well, if you really did say you did not have $20 to just "give away" then I wouldn't be surprised at the attitude you received back.

Sorry to hear you wasted your time but it sounds like there was some miscommunication on both ends.

 

[palmpalm]

You are missing the point. I don't have a problem with charity events, I have a problem with being lied to.

I'm with you BimmerMike. Seems like the perfect win-win-win. Customers and serious potential customers get to ride some brand new machines and have a great day, the dealer helps a charity raise money, and the dealer gets a potential buyer testing the product and further down the decision path.

Yeah that's bad business. I'm heading over there tomorrow, I can't wait to bug Cray about this...Deceiving potential buyers out of money and giving it to charity!

 

[nfq]

$20 is a pittance if you're thinking about a BMW-anything, let alone motorcycle.

 

[SunnY S]

You are missing the point. I don't have a problem with charity events, I have a problem with being lied to.

Bud, is this your first potential major purchase?

Let me tell you something.......... I've been wheeling and dealing in buying vehicles and real estate for years.

Car dealers and Real Estate people are the worst people to deal with as far as trust issues go. I don't blame them as individuals, its just the environment that is thrust upon them.

These people are not there to be your "friends" but to make a sale off you. They will tell you anything you want to hear until its time to put the money where the mouth is.

Get over it.

.

 

[Thorvald]

Gotta agree Sunny, this guys name should be 'FacePalm'.... As that is what I felt like doing when I read the original post.

Could not afford $20 for a worthy charity? I was there for most of the day and demo'd two bikes including the S1000RR and yes I donated $40 (it was $20 per ride). Welcome to BMW Motorrad, people aree generally friendlier, on averge older and can afford to dip into their beer or Starbucks fund to pay for a ride.

The demo is organized by BMW Canada... Who do you think Richard and the others are there? So go ahead and complain lol.

Also Bimmers are typically not something you can easily demo, they sell like hotcakes and dealerships rarely let new bikes out unless they have demos in stock.

Come to the BMW Motorrad days this summer in Mosport, the demos are free (admittance to the track and event is not) but you have to get there typically at least one hour before each ride to have a hope for a spot. You can also test ride the GS offroad there.


On a side note, there is a saying... 'The only thing cheap on a BMW is the rider...'

 

[palmpalm]

You are missing the point. My beef is with having been lied to, not the donation itself.

Gotta agree Sunny, this guys name should be 'FacePalm'.... As that is what I felt like doing when I read the original post.

Could not afford $20 for a worthy charity? I was there for most of the day and demo'd two bikes including the S1000RR and yes I donated $40 (it was $20 per ride). Welcome to BMW Motorrad, people aree generally friendlier, on averge older and can afford to dip into their beer or Starbucks fund to pay for a ride.

The demo is organized by BMW Canada... Who do you think Richard and the others are there? So go ahead and complain lol.

Also Bimmers are typically not something you can easily demo, they sell like hotcakes and dealerships rarely let new bikes out unless they have demos in stock.

Come to the BMW Motorrad days this summer in Mosport, the demos are free (admittance to the track and event is not) but you have to get there typically at least one hour before each ride to have a hope for a spot. You can also test ride the GS offroad there.


On a side note, there is a saying... 'The only thing cheap on a BMW is the rider...'

 

[BradW]

I did the demo ride last year, and I was kind of put off by the experience. I had spoken with Cray several weeks in advance so I could try out 2 different bikes I was considering at the time. When he called shortly before the day, he confirmed the times and reminded me to bring my $20. When I was registering with the woman there, she told me that it was $40... I said that I was told it was $20, she then said rather sarcastically that it was $20 per ride. Unfortunately I only had $35 in my wallet, and a small amount of change in my pocket. When I explained this she told me that if I didn't have the money, I couldn't ride! I offered to pass by later in the day to drop in the extra $5 because I was planning on going to my bank after I finished . Nope, not good enough. So I paid my $20, rode one bike had some BBQ, then went home. The whole attitude just really turned me off.

I was also unimpressed by the rep from the BMW MOA, he spent more time trying to talk me out of buying a membership.

On the other hand, their parts department are quite good. I've dealt with Jeremy many times, and he is more than happy to get after-market parts in for me, and I don't pay any more or less than I would from another dealer.

 

[tavos1977]

It was very nice event. Donation of $20 ?! For nice day?! i just paid, and didnt think about it.

 

[yamamonster]

Dude, I don't for one moment think that they actually lied to you or anyone else for that matter. You didn't ask and they didnt need to say anything.....thats all!!!

I don't think they thought that there was going to be cheapass potential BMW customer that would argue or get bent over a $20 donation to ride a 20k motorcycle so it probably never crossed their mind to put it out there in BOLD and they shouldnt have to either. So there you have it I for one believe that what they did or didn't do was perfectly acceptable and no I can't afford a 20K Bmw....you are standing alone on this one...just let it go!!


Joe

 

[Ant118]

To OP: You first said that you cannot afford $20 because your a student in a previous post. So then explain to me how your going to pay for a $20k+ motorcycle. I was at that day had a blast. Went to a few other bmw demo days and yes they were all a small donation. If your going to huff and puff about them not SAYING to your face that there is a small donation to demo a bike you shouldnt be looking at a Bmw Bike. Go try and test drive a M car without a deposit... Good Luck. Also if you had to wait for months. Why didnt you take it apon yourself to call other dealers and ask when their demo rides are?

 

[palmpalm]

To OP: You first said that you cannot afford $20 because your a student in a previous post. So then explain to me how your going to pay for a $20k+ motorcycle. I was at that day had a blast. Went to a few other bmw demo days and yes they were all a small donation. If your going to huff and puff about them not SAYING to your face that there is a small donation to demo a bike you shouldnt be looking at a Bmw Bike. Go try and test drive a M car without a deposit... Good Luck. Also if you had to wait for months. Why didnt you take it apon yourself to call other dealers and ask when their demo rides are?

Hey genius, learn how to read, I clearly stated in my first post "I explained that I was a student and didn't have $20.00 to just give away which was met with a "then how the heck would you buy a BMW attitude." I then politely explained that I am in a professional program and that I already have a job arranged for when I graduate in August and thus am planning on buying a new bike in the late fall/early winter"

 

[IV.]

I can see your point however you are going to have a rough life if you do not see that they have the upper hand and have something you want. This will be the same issues you face at work.

It is IMPLIED that if you are coming to buy ANY motorcycle aka TOY that you should have at least $100 cash in your wallet.
They told you there is a charity event, once they told you it was $20 and you did not like that you should have just said thanks and leave.
You should have found Cray and said thanks for his time and leave.

You come across sounding like someone that is entitled. Your story said you took the day off of school etc...
Perhaps you should realign your priorities since you are just getting out of school and delay a NEW BMW bike for another year or two.

As a general tip, if you go INTO a store they expect you to have money hence the term window shopping.
You made yourself look cheap and lowered your value by trying to argue with them plus for $20 you seem to have wasted a lot of time and gas/TTC fees.

 

[palmpalm]

bull chit. I have the upper hand, they just lost a twenty thousand dollar sale and a potential lifelong customer who would, over a lifetime, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, and bring friends there as well, they in effect lost millions of dollars here by lying to me. They product they have is not unique or unavailable elsewhere.

I have test ridden bikes at lots of other dealerships and never encountered being lied to before. It's the being lied to that I am complaining about and posting here for others to know that Cray is a liar.

I did indeed leave in a polite and cordial manner, saying goodbye. Which is more than I can say for Cray.

Also, I did not take the day off school, I took some time off from a duty related to school and did it the next day.


The point here is I was lied to. I don't have a problem donating to charity. But then when you book me for the friggin ride tell me I have to donate 20 dollars to charity when I get there. And when I get there and say I didn't know/ you didn't tell me, admit your mistake and apologise instead of lying about it, claiming that you did. That is the issue.

I can see your point however you are going to have a rough life if you do not see that they have the upper hand and have something you want. This will be the same issues you face at work.

It is IMPLIED that if you are coming to buy ANY motorcycle aka TOY that you should have at least $100 cash in your wallet.
They told you there is a charity event, once they told you it was $20 and you did not like that you should have just said thanks and leave.
You should have found Cray and said thanks for his time and leave.

You come across sounding like someone that is entitled. Your story said you took the day off of school etc...
Perhaps you should realign your priorities since you are just getting out of school and delay a NEW BMW bike for another year or two.

As a general tip, if you go INTO a store they expect you to have money hence the term window shopping.
You made yourself look cheap and lowered your value by trying to argue with them plus for $20 you seem to have wasted a lot of time and gas/TTC fees.

 

[IV.]

Yes, you are right. They are going to go broke because you did not buy your bike from them. BMW will go out of business because of the millions of dollars in referrals lost from your friends.

You win.

bull chit. I have the upper hand, they just lost a twenty thousand dollar sale and a potential lifelong customer who would, over a lifetime, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, and bring friends there as well, they in effect lost millions of dollars here by lying to me. They product they have is not unique or unavailable elsewhere.

I have test ridden bikes at lots of other dealerships and never encountered being lied to before. It's the being lied to that I am complaining about and posting here for others to know that Cray is a liar.

I did indeed leave in a polite and cordial manner, saying goodbye. Which is more than I can say for Cray.

Also, I did not take the day off school, I took some time off from a duty related to school and did it the next day.


The point here is I was lied to. I don't have a problem donating to charity. But then when you book me for the friggin ride tell me I have to donate 20 dollars to charity when I get there. And when I get there and say I didn't know/ you didn't tell me, admit your mistake and apologise instead of lying about it, claiming that you did. That is the issue.

 

[nfq]

bull chit. I have the upper hand, they just lost a twenty thousand dollar sale and a potential lifelong customer who would, over a lifetime, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, and bring friends there as well, they in effect lost millions of dollars here by lying to me. They product they have is not unique or unavailable elsewhere.

I have test ridden bikes at lots of other dealerships and never encountered being lied to before. It's the being lied to that I am complaining about and posting here for others to know that Cray is a liar.

I did indeed leave in a polite and cordial manner, saying goodbye. Which is more than I can say for Cray.

Also, I did not take the day off school, I took some time off from a duty related to school and did it the next day.


The point here is I was lied to. I don't have a problem donating to charity. But then when you book me for the friggin ride tell me I have to donate 20 dollars to charity when I get there. And when I get there and say I didn't know/ you didn't tell me, admit your mistake and apologise instead of lying about it, claiming that you did. That is the issue.

nope. you don't sound entitled at all.

Take your millions to another brand, they'll appreciate it.

 

[palmpalm]

The difference here seems to be that I have self-respect and don't let people lie to me and screw me over. If you are okay with giving money to people who lie to you and treat you poorly. No one is stopping you.

I wrote this review to let people know about what happened to me so they would be forewarned.

If you have a problem with that, I don't care.

 

[nfq]

The difference here seems to be that I have self-respect and don't let people lie to me and screw me over. If you are okay with giving money to people who lie to you and treat you poorly. No one is stopping you.

I wrote this review to let people know about what happened to me so they would be forewarned.

If you have a problem with that, I don't care.

Sound like taxes to me

Good luck with your bike search and I hope that job thing works out for ya.

 

[Red695]

Sorry to hear this happened palmpalm. I have had a similar experience at a dealership and I won't ever go back there. Knowing what you have lined up for your future employment, they are losing a huge customer and a lot of potential referrals from a well respected person. Good on you for leaving.

 

[IV.]

Sorry to hear this happened palmpalm. I have had a similar experience at a dealership and I won't ever go back there. Knowing what you have lined up for your future employment, they are losing a huge customer and a lot of potential referrals from a well respected person. Good on you for leaving.

They sized him up. BMW does not care because someone looking to buy a BMW WILL buy a BMW.

WOW! Entitlement run rampant.
So he want to ride the bike for free AND have a free lunch.
You do know they have to PAY staff for those events and PAY for gas and PAY for wear items to maintain those bikes.
By essentially charging $20 they get rid of the cheapskates that spend valuable time going from test ride to test ride.

There are so many other areas to have issues with a Dealership but they DID tell you about the charity event before so when you arrived and they said $20 PLUS you are getting food and drink yet you keep harping on this.

I asked a friend about this who is in the business. Let me break it down for you.
$15 Staff - per 2 ppl per demo ride (30 min)
$2 for food and drink
$3 for the gas you used
-X$ for maintenance of bikes
-X$ for replacing parts

So what was the charity for again?