Cracked HM windscreen, no warranty - Ducati.ms

josephvman · Apr 8th, 2008, 1:48 pm

Sunday I was cleaning the bike and noticed that my DP windscreen was cracked on one side where it meets the cluster. I was very careful not to overtighten it when I put it on, and checked the bolts again to find that they weren't very tight at all. I called the dealer I bought it from, and after spending fifteen minutes on the phone with a completely clueless person who just started working there, and telling me that all of the parts guys who worked there two weeks ago had quit, I spent another ten minutes on hold waiting to talk to a manager. The manager told me that there was no warranty on the shield since I didn't have it installed by an authorized dealer, and that it was my problem. Of course I was never told this when I bought it, to which he replied that something must have hit the shield and it wouldn't have a warranty anyway, even though it's cracked behind the cluster. The time I wasted on the phone was worth more than the cost of the shield, but now it's got me a bit pissed. The dealer is actually a sponsor of this forum, and i'll refrain from posting the name until I get some feedback or satisfaction. I would expect more than three rides use after paying north of a bill for a piece of plastic. Am I being unreasonable here? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

reitsmjo · Apr 8th, 2008, 3:04 pm

The least he could do is take the broken unit and send it off to DP for a look. There is probably a flaw in the plastic where it cracked. Just can't be bothered giving good customer service I guess.

Brainfry · Apr 8th, 2008, 5:52 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by josephvman

Sunday I was cleaning the bike and noticed that my DP windscreen was cracked on one side where it meets the cluster. I was very careful not to overtighten it when I put it on, and checked the bolts again to find that they weren't very tight at all. I called the dealer I bought it from, and after spending fifteen minutes on the phone with a completely clueless person who just started working there, and telling me that all of the parts guys who worked there two weeks ago had quit, I spent another ten minutes on hold waiting to talk to a manager. The manager told me that there was no warranty on the shield since I didn't have it installed by an authorized dealer, and that it was my problem. Of course I was never told this when I bought it, to which he replied that something must have hit the shield and it wouldn't have a warranty anyway, even though it's cracked behind the cluster. The time I wasted on the phone was worth more than the cost of the shield, but now it's got me a bit pissed. The dealer is actually a sponsor of this forum, and i'll refrain from posting the name until I get some feedback or satisfaction. I would expect more than three rides use after paying north of a bill for a piece of plastic. Am I being unreasonable here? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Personally, I'd love to know who the dealer is if they don't rectify the situation.

B

DucDoc2 · Apr 8th, 2008, 6:05 pm

OK, I'm new to the site but not new to Ducati. This is my 4th Ducati and I love it so. Put on my new DP windshield myself a couple of weekends ago and on the first ride, hit a pot hole at maybe 65, and it snapped off at the instrument cluster level; an obvious weak point. Sonny, at Ducati Seattle, replaced it for free. Told you they were the greatest. I have mounted the new shield with the addition of two well nuts and bolts in the middle of the base of the shield. Yes, I had to drill two small holes in the instrument shroud. That should solve the breakage problem. TBA.

josephvman · Apr 8th, 2008, 6:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brainfry

Personally, I'd love to know who the dealer is if they don't rectify the situation.

B

I'm going to discuss it with the owner of the dealership first, and Ducati NA. If nothing is resolved I'll likely post the dealer's name.

BMW once replaced a screen on a bike that was a couple of months out of warranty when the bike was being serviced and the dealer noticed a minor crack at one of the screws. I didn't even know it was cracked, nor would I expect them to do so, but there's a big difference between three years and barely two weeks with this Ducati screen.

gp637 · Apr 8th, 2008, 6:21 pm

consider it a sign. Now rip that silly looking windscreen off the bike and pretend none of this ever happened.

johnchypermotard · Apr 8th, 2008, 6:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by gp637

consider it a sign. Now rip that silly looking windscreen off the bike and pretend none of this ever happened.

damn ... that's some harsh poop!

parkcrf · Apr 9th, 2008, 12:06 am

That is absolutely ridiculous. Sorry to hear about this. Interested who that dealer is - what a retard!

I haven't put mine on yet but if and when it cracks it'll be going back for a new one, then another new one if that cracks and so on. When you lay down this kind of money for a bike customer care is paramount. This type of crap is becoming commonplace way too much.

I tell you- dealer customer service is acenine at times. I wonder how some keep the doors open.

Keep us posted

AXE · Apr 9th, 2008, 1:33 am

If you can't get the dealer or Ducati to come correct here is a suggestion. If you drill a small hole at the end of the crack it should prevent further cracking. Take a Dremel tool and remove a small amount of material along the crack. At that point, you can buy some Devcon plastic epoxy and apply it on both sides of the crack. Finish sand the epoxy and spray a coat of Krylon Fusion black paint on the screen and you are good to go. That will probably take some time and cost about $10 in materials, but it would do the trick.

Out!

shabek · Apr 9th, 2008, 7:47 am

Time to find another dealer.