I made LT's (desmotimes.com) blog - Ducati.ms

JohnBoy · Mar 7th, 2007, 9:08 am

I really tried hard and didn't want to post anything negative about a retailer, but he drew the sword first by posting about me on his blog.

Blog quote:

"Now for a rant. I go out of my way to support the products I sell, and try to provide technical support where and when I can. Every once in awhile I get somebody who will ask me for a product/price, only to then ask me if I’ll price match with some discounter. Let’s set the record straight. I can’t compete with discounters. They order in bulk and blow things out to keep the cash flow going. But let’s see you get technical support from them, have them remember your name and have them stand behind the product. I can’t compete with discounters on price, but I’ll hazard a guess that they can’t hold a candle to my technical support and response. So, if you want to price shop, do me a favor and purchase it from a discounter. Don’t waste my time asking to match somebody’s discount. I’m not Wal-Mart."

Here's the scenerio:

Back in December I contact LT to try and find a carbon exhaust slip-ons for my ST2. 3 months later he contacts me to say that he's now going to be a Leo Vince dealer. I ask him what the price would be and he sends me this response: "$695 for carbon. I'll be ordering them today if they're in stock." I then start to look at Leo Vince's exhaust online as I hadn't really seen nor heard of their products for the ST's. I also visited a few online retailers and searched the archives here to get an idea of what these are going for, fitment and sound quality.

I find out that one guy on this site paid $575 from his local dealer, www.morepowerracing lists them for $685 and they give a 5% discount when ordering which brings down the cost to $650 and EVERY SINGLE online retailer that I came across, not ONE listed them at full MSRP of $755.

While researching this online I also see that the only ST's listed for these cans are the newer ST3's. I email LT regarding this fact with the following: "Are the ST3 pipes the same size pipe diameter as the ST2. Just curious as LV only lists the ST3 on their webpage. Do the LV's have a removable baffle? Riveted badge or a sticker?" I wait two days, don't hear from him until I email him again and then get this response. "John, not ignoring you, just waiting on info from them." Not a problem.....I wait another two days and then I get this response: "John, $755 for EVOII system in Carbon with removable DB inserts. No shipping. I'm ordering them today for a drop ship to you. Any fitment problems please let me know. :-)" So, I get NO confirmation from him that these will fit and properly work on my ST2 AND he somehow manages to jack the price quote back up to full MSRP, keep in mind that not ONE online retailer lists them at full MSRP. So I send an email back asking: "Are you willing to match More Power Racing's price of $685 (they do offer free shipping as well)?" and get this response: "John, go ahead and order from them. Please don't waste my time. If you want to bargain shop, then get it from a discounter." And hence I make his blog.

I just don't understand retailers that would rather not make a sale rather then cut into their profits to keep a customer. Not just that but someone who claims to only be in this business to help out fellow Ducatisti. Keep in mind also, that I've probably already spent over $500 from purchasing products from him in the past. I can also understand it if they just can't match certain pricing, but he was NOT willing to even negotiate at all AND he copped an attitude with me JUST because I asked. I use a local independent wrench for service and some parts for my Ducati and he is always more than willing to at least negotiate with the prices and there is NO WAY that he has more negotiating powers than LT does with his vendors.

I work hard for my money and always try to help the little guys in this world make a few extra $$'s, but $100 is $100. I'd read some things about LT and had heard of a few instances about dealings with him, but I don't form my opinions of others on what I have read or heard. Well, now I can confirm those opinions about him, first hand, and I'll never do business with him again.

I'm posting this just to give my fellow Ducatisti a first hand experience with this retailer. You can form your own opinions and shop where you like, but beware of "The Elitist Ducatisti" of desmotimes.com, he's not working for anyone's interest (so he claims) but his own, so he can build his new shop and pay for his new 1098.

Mike · Mar 7th, 2007, 1:45 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnBoy

I work hard for my money and always try to help the little guys in this world make a few extra $$'s, but $100 is $100. I'd read some things about LT and had heard of a few instances about dealings with him, but I don't form my opinions of others on what I have read or heard. Well, now I can confirm those opinions about him, first hand, and I'll never do business with him again.

I wouldn't worry about his rants, he uses his blog to vent off a little steam when he gets worked up. It's hard work running a business and it's bound to get frustrating at times. If he has to vent it's much preferable that he does it on his own blog rather than out in public.

**SouthsideDuc** · Mar 7th, 2007, 2:25 pm

I don't see the problem. He didn't name you or anything. He was simply making it clear that if don't want to pay his asking prices, then go somewhere else. It's his choice and by letting customers know his policy we can save him and the potential bargain hunters some time.

JohnBoy · Mar 7th, 2007, 2:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthsideDuc

I don't see the problem. He didn't name you or anything. He was simply making it clear that if don't want to pay his asking prices, then go somewhere else. It's his choice and by letting customers know his policy we can save him and the potential bargain hunters some time.

You may have missed the part where he originally quoted me a price and then jacked it up.

There was also no reason for him to be an a$$ with his curt response. A simple explanation of the facts was all I required. If I wanted to be treated like that I'd have dealt with my local dealer.

BTW....I still miss watching The Tick. I got my fix a few weeks back as Netflix has the first season on DVD.

JEC · Mar 7th, 2007, 2:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

I wouldn't worry about his rants, he uses his blog to vent off a little steam when he gets worked up. It's hard work running a business and it's bound to get frustrating at times. If he has to vent it's much preferable that he does it on his own blog rather than out in public.

Did I miss something? A blog is a pretty public way to express your frustrations.

DucatiMio · Mar 7th, 2007, 2:35 pm

How do you know for a fact he was referring to you? I agree that maybe his attitude in his responses to you could have been worded differently and nicer, but don't assume you are the only person that has ever asked him to price match a product.

Not judging him or you, just an observation.

rickmillertx · Mar 7th, 2007, 2:44 pm

I was self employed for many years and had I ever posted negative comments regarding my customers on the internet, I wouldn't have been in business long.

I think nothing good can come from venting about your business to potential or current customers.

JohnBoy · Mar 7th, 2007, 3:17 pm

My point to this rant wasn't that I had made his blog, I could actually care less about that fact.

The rest of the story is the point.

1. He changed his price quote. And keep in mind the fact that he doesn't even have a price for these listed on his site yet.
2. If he doesn't price match, that's not a problem. No reason to be a diquehead.
3. He views his customers as a waste of his time.
4. He tried to sell me something w/o the knowledge that it would indeed work on my bike. If he indeed did know for a fact that it would work, he failed to relay that fact to me after I asked him.

If you don't have a problem with the manner in which I was treated, then by all means give him your business. Just wait til you have to deal with him personally regarding any matter.

cagivaduc · Mar 7th, 2007, 5:36 pm

Do you think there's any chance he may have misunderstood you or misinterpreted something? I've only had good experiences with Desmotimes. He delivers his products super fast too.

As for his short comments, have you ever checked out his message board? Take a look. He tends to every topic, every post and very generously gives free advice. He's walked me through a number of mechanical questions and answered some of my really dumb questions too. He doesn't have time to hold hands but I (having never met him) believe he absolutely cares about the ducati community and how he can help. There's not alot of other resources out there for us. Give him another chance.

mad · Mar 7th, 2007, 6:12 pm

Actually, I think you missed LT's point...you must also realize that without face to face dialog you don't get intonations or the total message. He gave the answers he did because he was checking all the potential suppliers he buys parts from in an attempt to fill a valuable order for you. It was something he had been having trouble stocking or locating from his usual vendor but was willing to try, and, unfortunately was apparently unsuccessful. If he doesn't usually stock something then perhaps an inaccurate price quote was possible. Just my thoughts. He tries hard to please and gets pissed off at unreliable vendors. Give peace a chance.