I just got a Geico insurance check for my recent tipover on the 14 and ordered all the parts online from a Kawasaki dealer in Michigan. They had a big website and the lowest prices I could find. I placed a $1400 order including upper, right center and right lower fairings and got a price quote of $43 on UPS Ground shipping. Then they call me back and say the fairings are too large and they are going to have to ship on a pallet with a freight company and expect much higher shipping costs. We're talking about maybe 10 pounds of plastic here. Can't these guys pack adequately so the items arrive safely? This sounds like BS, I'm thinking of cancelling the order and placing it with my local dealer, they don't charge freight and if it's damaged in transit, they eat it and order me another one. This guy was telling me if the stuff get's damaged in transit, I'll have to file a claim with the shipper and wait for them to pay before ordering new parts. What a freekin nightmare, my company ships aircraft parts all over the world on UPS everyday without incident, it's called adequate packing. Anybody else heard of such nonsense? OK rant off!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/17/2011 @ 7:29 AM *

Cancel!

Shipping came to $189...yikes. I ran the numbers and there was only a difference of $5 between ordering online and paying freight charges or ordering from my local dealer and paying state sales tax. It was almost a complete wash,
it seems like they're going to get you one way or another.

BTW , they have to be drop shipping this stuff out of KMC's California warehouse. There is no way even a large Kawasaki dealership is going to have all of these fairings and other parts in stock.

I buy a lot of stuff from my local Kawk dealer, they give me a discount for having purchased my bike there. Some things it makes sense to get from them.

I've gotten all the pads which stick inside the cowling pieces to protect them from engine heat from the dealer. I have also gotten a couple heavy things from them. They never charge me shipping costs.

I always check all the normal online sources, dealer gets my money anytime they are close. I want my dealer to stay in business.

Kruz,
I would not do business like that. I'd cancel. GL with your parts.

Yep... cancel the order. Don't think they're ripping you off, but giving one quote then changing it is an unexceptable business practice, IMO.

Patronize the local dealer. The box is then handed over to you. Look for any dents. Open the box carefully in front of the parts guy. In fact, open every plastic part you get. Note the condition of box it came it ~ is key, I know it well. It should be dent and wrink-less.

Since you both now inspected the part, find no damage, you look at all the tabs and any ripped packing plastic that may have caused it. You cannot come back now with a broken piece like you have no beef with the dealer or Kawi's packing; in other words.

Imagine the paper work and delay with outsourcing the shipper, the packer, the factory packed to them; in other words.
Dealer has like a 4-5 day wait from what warehouse? I know Honda has peppered a few warehouses in a few other states for parts distribution.

In other words, your local dealer my be the break even point with less hassle.

* Last updated by: Hub on 2/17/2011 @ 11:49 AM *

Right, I feel really stupid not ordering straight from the dealer. There is accountability there when you pick up your parts plus your supporting the dealer and local economy. When this stuff arrives, if it's busted up then the real nightmare begins. An insurance claim has to be filed and then the parts shipped back then wait for more parts to be shipped and then there's no guarantee they will arrive unscathed.

This whole thing has me pretty steamed, I think someone on another thread did warn me to watch out for high shipping costs at some of these places. They advertise low to draw you in, then rip your head off on shipping.

Too late, I called to cancel the order and they told me they had already placed the order with KMC and the stuff was on it's way to them. They would have to charge me a cancellation fee or some such. I went on line and there was a lot of complaints filed against this place for broken and missing parts and high shipping costs. I got screwed basically and all I can do now is hope for the best. I didn't need this right now!

Kruz

Too late, I called to cancel the order and they told me they had already placed the order with KMC and the stuff was on it's way to them. They would have to charge me a cancellation fee or some such. I went on line and there was a lot of complaints filed against this place for broken and missing parts and high shipping costs. I got screwed basically and all I can do now is hope for the best. I didn't need this right now!

Kruz

So just who is this company with the excellent customer service?... I will be sure to support them in the future.

Dogo, I purposely left out the name of the company, if my stuff arrives on time and in good condition, I won't say anything else about it. The restocking fee is 20%, that's $280 on a $1400 order, it seems once you are into their system, you can't get out. The rest of you guys please check out the rep of any online company you do business with before ordering. That's pretty basic advice and I forgot to do it. I'll let you guys know how this all turns out.

Dogo, I purposely left out the name of the company, if my stuff arrives on time and in good condition, I won't say anything else about it.

You should be alright... I mean they are "America's #1 Powersports Dealer!"

How did you find that out Detective Dogo?

ordered all the parts online from a Kawasaki dealer in Michigan. They had a big website and the lowest prices I could find.

You left clues.

I am with Privateer, I always give my local dealer a chance at the sale.

You left clues.

Hey Kruz. Any chance it might be worth the $300 restocking fee to wash your hands of this? If you think you're going to get damaged goods, you might want to cut and run.

KruzKan, "What does a camera and a pallet have in common?"

I'm dieing to know, Hubmeister.....

Well parts arrived quick and I have the bike back to it's original condition now:

Just Kiddin!

nice bike. do you work for Mary Kay?

We'll here's an update, the ordeal continues. It's been nine days now since I first placed my order and no parts. There have been no updates on their tracking site either with just the words "Pending". I finally e-mailed customer service (oxymoron) and got this reply, "One of your cowlings was damaged in shipment from California and we had to reorder. Your order will ship "soon". It's been nine days, soon could mean anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

A phone call to MasterCard to dispute the charges has been inconclusive thus far. The customer service agent at MC sounded like she was from Botswana or maybe Bangladesh. What the heck ever happened to hiring Americans. OK, rant off, I'm steamed, anyone have any good advice for dealing with the credit card company on this?

nice bike. do you work for Mary Kay?

There should be a law against doing something like this to a perfectly good motorcycle....I heard rumours it was painted by a guy named Bud Tuglee.