LifeStyle Cycles Service Ripoff ALERT!! Anaheim California
Very short and simple. Took my Chopper into LifeStyle Cycles to get serviced. Granted there customer service there is good, great parts dept,...but the actual Service Dept is truly crooked and I mean just SHADY. Take it from me, I was a Sales Mgr. for a large dealership for years. I know how service depts. work.
Couple mistakes on their part. After running a quick diagnostic on my bike while I was there, they, Jr, Mike and another Tech informed me "Bill, it is either the Stator or the Regulator or your whole electrical system. We'll check it out first and then inform you on what we need to do".
I did receive a phone call about 2 hours later informing me that the good news was it was just the "Stator" and nothing else. Ok... so...$450.00 later, (not including labor) I get the phone call to come down to pick up my bike, that everything is good and the test ride went great. On my way down there, I received another call (From Jr.) on my cell... informing me that "Oh, uh..Bill, problem, it was also the regulator, that is an additional $200.00 dollars...(this time including labor). So of course I asked, so what or WHICH was the problem the "Stator" or was it the "Regulator"...this is where it all goes down hill from here.
"Uh, Bill, it was both"..and since I was pissed on the phone and that it seemed they were shooting in the dark at $400.00 a pop almost (well between the 2 supposed repairs), I had every right to be furious...They could tell too..I definately asked for all the parts that were taken off my bike. Jr. then also informed me, because like I said he could tell I was pissed, that "Bill, when you get down here, I'll have all the parts out for you, you can have them and I'll show you what was burned out", kind of a stupid mistakeon his part and I explain why later on in this letter. When I went into Lifestyle Cycles to drop my bike off, I was about 100% positive it was the regulator..just wanted to add that in....Stators do go out, after about 250,000 miles and 20 years, my bike is 2 years old with 5K miles on it, and was brand new when I bought it.
To the point, $750.00 later, I did take my bike and paid, I had a ride that weekend that was already paid for, had to go. Now, getting to the RIPOFF and the "Stator" I run a business so I am busy, it has been 3 1/2 weeks now and I finally got around to taking the "Stator" to a friend of a friend who is a Harley Certified Tech at Irvine Harley Davidson where they ran a quick and easy diagnostic on it (the stator). NOTHING WRONG WITH THE "STATOR" NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING, the Certified tech even said, cause I had wiped it down I guess and it looked clean or what ever "Is this the one you are putting in your bike, its perfect"...My friend mis-communicated why I was there and the tech thought I was checking out a kind of new / used replacement part for my bike or something. Nope, that was the one that was supposidly compltetely burnt out and bad from "Life Style Cycles TOP MECHANICS" who "RAN" a diagnostic on it.
Life Style was fully aware that there was nothing wrong with the Stator, the regulator for what ever reason went out on my bike and that did need to be replaced, but the "stator" as I said....was perfect, and since I have picked it up, I have had all kind of electrical problems...I figured it out, they didnt ground the primary ground wire that they disconnected, and actually calling them on this, I just bluffed and asked them why my electrical went out... and told them what they had just repaired on my bike. Mike informed me.."Bill, when the stator, regulator goes out, the AEC Module goes out next, bring it in, I have one in stock...only $350.00 to replace it" Just funny, his mind was totally made up before I brought it in.... this is what they pulled before.... also..obviously I didnt take my bike in to LifeStyle Cycles then or ever again...That whole storry about the ground wire is kind of irrelevant...just throwing that in to show you have much of a "Money Trap" they are and the character profile. Proper way to diagnose over the phone and we all know this is you dont...ie "Bill / Tom / John...etc... I can't diagnose your bike, I think it might be a few things, but I will have to take a look at it to get it right, please bring it in at your convenience"..But...no...what they say is "GIVE ME $500.00 and We'll go up from there, CC # please".. FUNNY!
Back to the facts. Contacted my attorney, its one of those bonded ones that I have for the year for my business. So the business being in my name, I can also use this for personal, basically wont cost me anything out of pocket, I had the Certified Tech Sign off on one of there, I dont know, some like "test diagnostic" form and that everything on the part is fine..only cost me $50.00 but...Im getting my $550.00 back from Lifestyle for the Stator that is in perfect condition and for the labor, since they new it didnt have to be replaced. This is a home run with a Certified tech with Documentation and the part in hand that is in perfect condition and the receipt from Lifestyle showing they replaced it cause it was burned out... Idiots.
BASCIALLY DONT GO TO THEM, I have no prior experience with Life Style Service Dept. but would love to hear from people that have had the same situation. Shitty part, I actually like shopping there for accessories, great parts dept.
Bill
Orange, California
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Scott Davis
Dana Point,California,
Certified Technician???
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, January 06, 2015
I want to start off by saying that I use to work at Lifestyle Cycles. I haven't been there for a few years now but I definiitely know the type of characters that are running the place, just a little. Your accusations of them being fraudgulent, or trying to rip you off is absolutely ridiculous ! Let's start off with one simple fact, "customer", you came to them to figure out why your motorcycle (that you bought from a company know for making camping equiptment) is not running correctly. You talk about your buddy's good buddy at Irvine H-D, but still you didn't bother to take your bike to him originally because??? Oh yeah that's right, if it doesn't say "Harley Davidson" on it, they most likely won't touch it with a ten foot pole. Just a note, I use to work for them also. I BEG you with all that I am for you to find me one certified or not, American V-Twin mechanic out there that will tell me that they can bech test a stator and tell me that their test is 100% positive while testing an electronic component on a bench. You may be able to see if it has continuity, but YOU CAN NOT TELL IF THE component is grounding out to the motor while bolted up.
In short your a PUNK for not using your real name, and you just sound like you know enough about things that you read on the internet(which is ALWAYS correct) to be dangerous to yourself and anyone crazy enough to ride with you. If you don't really have a corporate attorney, that just happens to take care of your personal stuff cuz.... he just that type of Attorney. I would seriously look into putting a retainer down on one, a very expensive one!!!
SIGNED: A concerned citizen
P.S. Yes buldog did have a computer module that was so under protected and as I remember, used little spade fuses to protect it from things like a regulator going out and the stator that was putting out so much voltage to the battery , it almost always cooked the ECM. I dont think that "Mike" was trying to swoop you back in the shop to make more money off of you, rather using years of knowlege of dealing with these camping stoves, my bad, motorcycles, to present or prepair you for what the possibilities might be. If your claim of the "Main" ground was left off by them, your bike would have never made it ten feet, much less weeks down the road.
In short, you really should know what your talking about before you try to open your mouth again, about anything. If there is one thing that I have learned through my 20 years in the motorcycle business, it is that I've met more people that have forgotten more crap than i will ever know. Go Umpaloompa
Lifestyle Cycles
Anaheim,California,
U.S.A.
Gross misrepresentation of "FACTS" from repair #48404
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, July 27, 2007
In response to your FALSE claims RE: Repair Invoice # 48404
Your allegations of miss-conduct are not only slanderous but grossly inaccurate as well!
We must first question the use of an alias name Bill instead of your real name Brian and why you have not contacted Lifestyle Cycles regarding any claims you may have. In the event there was a REAL issue or any validity to your accusations the first thing your council would advise you to do, or do themselves (if you really had council) is contact the company in which you had issues seeking a remedy!
Since your allegation did not include any real information (invoice #'s, part #'s, pricing etc.) We are going to assume your real name is Brian and you are referencing invoice #48404. If this is not correct, please post your correct name and invoice number so we may refute your allegations.
Your letter states that I was a Sales Mgr. for a large dealership for years. I know how service depts. work. Are you saying that you were involved in fraudulent activities?
Your bike, 2003 Big Dog, was diagnosed, with tester in front of you, and was shorted to ground. You were quoted $64.95 for the Stator and an additional $119.95 if the Rotor was faulty and $285.00 Labor to replace them. The Rotor has to be visually inspected and upon tear down it was found to NOT be NEEDED.
During the repair it was also found that the Stator had previously been installed incorrectly (perhaps your friend) and the case set screw had been turned in so far it had penetrated the rubber insulation boot and shorted directly into the wire causing the Stator to short to the engine case. The Voltage Regulator was also tested and found to be Faulty, most likely caused by the shorted stator. Additionally both front and rear brake pads were almost completely gone and were far beyond needing to be replaced (almost metal to metal). You were then contacted by myself Junior and notified of the findings. You were informed of the cost of the Regulator $84.95, Front and Rear LRB disc brake pads at $54.95 per set and labor At $47.50 for each of the preceding three items. At that time you authorized the repairs and asked if Lifestyle would Throw in a free oil change inclusive of parts and labor. I said yes and the work was completed as agreed. The total cost of the Regulator replacement was $132.45 NOT $200.00 and Stator replacement $379.85 NOT $450.00 as you miss stated !!! Not to mention the free oil change!
You also stated Stators do go out, after about 250,000 miles and 20 years. I suggest you contact your local Harley dealer and get the correct information. The Stator and Rotor are directly connected to the Engine case (Stator) and the Crankshaft (Rotor) and are subjected to high temperatures and intense vibration. It is a VERY common failure and in MOST cases the Voltage Regulator is affected by a failing Stator.
I might suggest you really do contact an attorney and refrain from posting slanderous comments Idiots in the future.
Junior