ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: Spartacus on February 02, 2016, 10:26:31 PM
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All:
As a potential buyer, my biggest concern is that the dealer from whom I buy won't be as helpful and knowledgeable as I'd like should there be problems. As a former Buell guy, I have first hand experience with this problem arising when a dealer views the product as a novelty. So, I thought it might be helpful for other potential buyers if there was a thread in which people list their dealer and speak to whether that dealer has been helpful and knowledgeable or not. I live in Winston-Salem, NC, so I am particularly interested in experiences with Frontline Eurosports in Salem, VA; Motorcycles of Charlotte in Charlotte, NC; or Team Power Sports in Raleigh, NC.
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I use Team Powersports in Raleigh. Good people. As a Zero dealer they aren't going away. My 2016 SR should be in this week so if you would like a 2014 SR with PT give them a call.
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Is there a particular person at Team that has the Zero knowledge?
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Talk to Sev in sales. He has been there a long time and probably knows more than the others. He is the one I always talk with whenever I am there. My 2014 SR gave the service department a lot of experience so no concerns there.
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What about Motorcycles of Charlotte?
I kind of have the same question with them... since they're the "closest" to Charleston.
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I second the recommendation for Sev at Team Powersports Raleigh. He knows what he's talking about.
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MrDude_1,
I talked with Motorcycles of Charlotte about trading my 2014 SR in on a 2016 SR. The guy came on like he was a used car salesman. Then he asked about my SR and the mileage (22K at the time). He feels that despite having a brushless motor you can still wear out the motor on a Zero SR. He also claims you can also wear out the controller. MoC has been a Zero dealer for a long time, probably one of the first on the east coast. But after my experience I wouldn't go there. And they never did get back with me on a trade-in offer and quote on a new 2016 SR.
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MrDude_1,
I talked with Motorcycles of Charlotte about trading my 2014 SR in on a 2016 SR. The guy came on like he was a used car salesman. Then he asked about my SR and the mileage (22K at the time). He feels that despite having a brushless motor you can still wear out the motor on a Zero SR. He also claims you can also wear out the controller. MoC has been a Zero dealer for a long time, probably one of the first on the east coast. But after my experience I wouldn't go there. And they never did get back with me on a trade-in offer and quote on a new 2016 SR.
Well that's disappointing to hear. Is their service center any better?
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Have never taken my Zero there so can't comment on their service department. Just really disappointed with their sales. When he asked me what I thought mine was worth I quoted him the KBB price and his attitude changed completely. I personally don't think mileage is as much of an issue on an electric motorcycle as it is on an ICE bike. But he sure tried to convince that all that electricity flowing through components wears them out.
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When ordering parts - do you all pick them up at the dealer, or has anyone had luck with your dealer arranging a "drop shipment" direct from Zero to your home?
Zero says "drop shipping" should be possible, but my local dealer (50 miles away) seems to think they need to be a middle man for the shipping process (with an extra fee).
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When ordering parts - do you all pick them up at the dealer, or has anyone had luck with your dealer arranging a "drop shipment" direct from Zero to your home?
Zero says "drop shipping" should be possible, but my local dealer (50 miles away) seems to think they need to be a middle man for the shipping process (with an extra fee).
Even with a drop ship they want you to order through the dealer....
Im a fan of direct to customer but zero wont ever do that again
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I never thought about it before, but if drop shipping it is an option, in theory I could call every zero dealer until one gave me a "better than MSRP" deal...
The paperwork is super simple in my state. I already do it for my other vehicle purchases.
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I appreciate the feedback. I might have to take another trip to Raleigh. My one and only experience there was strange. I was in the area and stopped in to see what they had. On their floor, they had a used 2012 FX (I think, might have been a 2013) and a new/demo 2015 FX. I asked about pricing and was given virtually the same price for both. When I asked why the 2012 wasn't cheaper, I was first told that it wasn't a 2012 but was instead a new 2015, just the same as the (obviously different) one right next to it. I pushed back a little on that, and was then told the pricing "is what it is" and they can't do anything better. So I went home.
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I never thought about it before, but if drop shipping it is an option, in theory I could call every zero dealer until one gave me a "better than MSRP" deal...
The paperwork is super simple in my state. I already do it for my other vehicle purchases.
For complete motorcycles it isn't. The delivery truck more or less passed my house and still I had to drive 1000+ kilometres to get it:
(http://i.imgur.com/aNHNagq.jpg)
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I never thought about it before, but if drop shipping it is an option, in theory I could call every zero dealer until one gave me a "better than MSRP" deal...
The paperwork is super simple in my state. I already do it for my other vehicle purchases.
That's essentially what I did yesterday. My nearest dealer said "no, we don't normally drop ship", and my reply was "are you sure you don't want to look into it, because my next move is to befriend another dealer who will." So, they are currently looking into it...
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The delivery truck more or less passed my house and still I had to drive 1000+ kilometres to get it:
My wife and I were ecstatic when Zero delivered (!) our second 2014 DS to the house, after a charging issue the day we bought it. We live 30 miles from the Zero HQ, but this is above and beyond our other vehicle experiences, no doubt!
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That is a lot nicer truck than the old pickup that they used to collect and return my 2012 Zero S to my home when it needed its throttle assembly replaced shortly after I bought it from my dealer. ;)
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That is a lot nicer truck than the old pickup that they used to collect and return my 2012 Zero S to my home when it needed its throttle assembly replaced shortly after I bought it from my dealer. ;)
Wow, great service for the peninsula! Hopefully, they will be a model and an inspiration to their dealers :)
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That is a lot nicer truck than the old pickup that they used to collect and return my 2012 Zero S to my home when it needed its throttle assembly replaced shortly after I bought it from my dealer. ;)
Wow, great service for the peninsula! Hopefully, they will be a model and an inspiration to their dealers :)
Those were the early days. The factory doesn't provide that kind of service anymore. ;)
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I live in Virginia. I've ordered a couple parts from Hollywood Electrics drop shipped over the years. Most recent was last December.
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I second that. When I lived in Florida I had my 2012 Zero sent to my house drop shipped from Hollywood Electrics. No matter where in the world you live, they can offer unmatched support. Many little things that a dealer would probably say "bring it in", Harlan would say, "oh, no big deal, just do this" and that was it! You could still take it to a local dealer if anything hardware wise went wrong, but these days that is less and less likely.
I would suggest everyone at least consider ordering their Zero from Hollywood Electrics. I can promise, no one knows electric motorcycles better anywhere. If you check out their facebook page and see some of the photos, you will see there are hundreds of Zero owners who are called part of the Hollywood Electrics "family". And when you order from them, that's exactly how they treat you.
If you have a dealer 10 miles from you in town, I can see the potential benefit in forming a relationship that way, but if not, you know what I'd do.
https://www.facebook.com/hollywoodelectrics/ (https://www.facebook.com/hollywoodelectrics/)
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I second that. When I lived in Florida I had my 2012 Zero sent to my house drop shipped from Hollywood Electrics. No matter where in the world you live, they can offer unmatched support. Many little things that a dealer would probably say "bring it in", Harlan would say, "oh, no big deal, just do this" and that was it! You could still take it to a local dealer if anything hardware wise went wrong, but these days that is less and less likely.
I would suggest everyone at least consider ordering their Zero from Hollywood Electrics. I can promise, no one knows electric motorcycles better anywhere. If you check out their facebook page and see some of the photos, you will see there are hundreds of Zero owners who are called part of the Hollywood Electrics "family". And when you order from them, that's exactly how they treat you.
If you have a dealer 10 miles from you in town, I can see the potential benefit in forming a relationship that way, but if not, you know what I'd do.
https://www.facebook.com/hollywoodelectrics/ (https://www.facebook.com/hollywoodelectrics/)
Can you describe your experience with Hollywood Electrics more? How did your purchase costs compare to buying local? Did you have to do some assembly or setup when the bike arrived? Did you have to pay CA tax? Have you needed any warranty work?