Duff Electrics

Discussion in 'Triumph General Discussion' started by Redmist, May 5, 2021.

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  1. Redmist

    Redmist New Member

    May 5, 2021
    4
    3
    Yorkshire
    I all, I am new to forums but thought I would give this a try.

    I took delivery of a new Speedmaster last July and put just over 1100 miles on it before I 'put it away' for the winter. I bought a auxiliary connection point from my local dealer and plugged my Optimate in - as I did with other previous bikes.

    Come the beginning of the season, April, I took it out for a chilly blast around and thought I would use my new heated grips. It wasnt many miles before they went off and I spotted a 'low battery' read out appear on the screen. Eventually I got home, turned the bike off while I opened the garage door and the bike would not start - flat battery. It is a steep push up to the garage!

    I am not electrician but I know how to use a multimeter to check continuity. I checked the obvious aux point and found a connection from either wire from it to either wire ( + & -) of the battery so I guessed something wasn't right.

    I contacted my suppling dealer and he told me they would not take a look at it for at least two weeks. So that takes me in to the middle of April. Middle of April comes along and I take it over, on a recharged battery. The Service Manager eventually comes out and tells me the stator, the regulator/rectifier/whatever and the battery are all buggered and need replacing. I have to leave it with them as it doesnt have enough charge to get me back home. He tells me that as it is on warranty it will get priority fixing and to recontact in a few days. I recontact in a few days only to be told that there are no stators available before 14th May!!!!

    What kind of s*** is that? I contact Triumph to be fobbed off by some factory hack who thanks me for my 'patience and time'. Neither of which I have much of.
     
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  2. joe mc donald

    Dec 26, 2014
    13,874
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    Redmist
    A real bummer. Hope they get you sorted soon. Think i would be telling Triumph the bike is unfit for purpose and either fix or refund my money or replace.
    Joe.
     
  3. Iceman

    Iceman Crème de la Crème

    Apr 19, 2020
    1,980
    1,000
    Lancashire
    Hi Redmist sorry to hear of your problems, it is unusual for the regulator/rectifier to go after such a short mileage, however that is not your problem it lies with your dealer and it sounds like they are not that good with the customer care. In your position I would insist on a courtesy bike and not be fobbed off, the dealer may come up with all sorts of reasons/excuses as to why they can't supply you with a courtesy bike, stand your ground and be forceful but not aggressive as that gets a person nowhere. I find it frustrating that there are dealers like this, I have experienced appalling service myself from some dealerships and none of us should put up with this, I'm not sure who your Triumph Dealer is in your part of the country. Keep the forum updated on your progress.
     
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  4. Redmist

    Redmist New Member

    May 5, 2021
    4
    3
    Yorkshire
    Thanks guys for your responses. Regarding the dealer, TeamRoberts, his response to a request for a loan bike was he tells me that there are none available at the moment due to covid. Likewise for demonstrators. He further tells me that due to the factory being shut for 'x' number of weeks that he has not been getting any new bikes coming in for him - I don't know the truth of any of this but took him at his word. I think I may go back to him on the 'supplied unfit for purpose' line and see his response to that.
     
  5. Iceman

    Iceman Crème de la Crème

    Apr 19, 2020
    1,980
    1,000
    Lancashire
    Hi Redmist, he is not telling you the truth, firstly why has he no loan bikes available, the excuse for Covid if false, my local Triumph Dealer supplies loan bikes, they also have demonstrator bikes to take out. the Triumph factory has not been closed, some staff had been furloughed although they are back now, the factory no longer produces the majority of motorcycles. Here’s a break down of where current production takes place. 85% of all Triumph motorcycles are now built at their 3 Thailand facilities. 8.5% are assembled at their Brazilian facility and the remaining 6.5% (TFC models) are built at one of the Hinckley plants. All research and design remain at Hinckley. There has been a large demand for containers worldwide and hence a shortage, the motorcycles are shipped back to to the Triumph Factory for distribution, hence there has been a delay in supplying new machines to the dealer network. The information I am giving you is absolutely 100% correct. Team Roberts have treated some customers appallingly. Contact Triumph direct and open up a grievance, you can do this online and you will receive a reference number whilst they look into matters. Go back to Team Roberts and inform them that what you have been told is at variance with other Triumph Dealers and that you are requesting a loan bike. My car was in for a warranty issue last week and the supplying dealer gave me a courtesy car for the week whilst they carried out the work. I was in fact visiting my local Triumph Dealer on Friday (yesterday) to pick up an ex demonstrator for my son that I had bought, a guy was taking out a demo Tiger for a test ride as I was completing the paperwork. Team Roberts should hang their heads in shame, they are quick enough to take peoples hard earned money but not so quick at a satisfactory turn around for some customers. Keep the forum posted on what happens and good luck.
     
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  6. Redmist

    Redmist New Member

    May 5, 2021
    4
    3
    Yorkshire
    I have done a bit of homework on my rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and basically I don't have many :-( Due to the time span between buying and the fault developing it is down to the dealer to sort it out. There is no right to ask a refund or replacement. I will keep the forum posted.
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
  7. Redmist

    Redmist New Member

    May 5, 2021
    4
    3
    Yorkshire
    Update - I had a phone call from the dealer this morning saying he now has all the parts in. Due to their heavy workload and the fact it is not a quick job 'it may be a week or so before I get my bike done' at which point I cut in with they have had it for a coiple of months already and so I expect some kind of priority. His response is that he 'cannot keep a slot permanently open for me as he didnt know when the part was arriving', I try to chip in with the delivery date was known to him but dont manage to get a word in edgeways against his very practised spiel. So I am less than enamoured with Team Roberts.
     
  8. Ducatitotriumph

    Ducatitotriumph Crème de la Crème

    Apr 25, 2019
    2,181
    1,000
    Rothwell
    Write a letter of complaint to the head office.
    Can’t harm to let them know how you have been treated tbh.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  9. Iceman

    Iceman Crème de la Crème

    Apr 19, 2020
    1,980
    1,000
    Lancashire
    Hi Redmist, it's appalling service you have received. Write a letter of complaint addressed to Mandy Melony Roberts, she is the company secretary and Managing Director, also responsible for filing the companies accounts. I have attached a PDF from companies house stating that a Christopher Paul Craig was made a director on the 09/04/2021. There are a number of Directors, however Mandy Roberts appears to be the one to write a formal complaint. Over the years Team Roberts have had issues with a number of banks who have entered into disputes against them. Unfortunately Team Roberts are more about profits than genuine customer care. I think more forum members should use the "Dealer And Workshop Reviews" to inform members of both good and bad service, people can then make a more informed decision as to whom they decide to do business with when spending our hard earned money. If you are on Linkedin you can contact Mandy Roberts through that, it's powerful as a tool as others can see the message you post, and more importantly the response to you. Keep the forum updated and good luck.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Desert Yeti

    Desert Yeti Member

    Apr 8, 2021
    60
    18
    Mojave Desert
    When I was at the dealer buying my Scrambler I told the service manager of the electronic woes I had with a 1971 Triumph Spitfire I owned in the 80's, and the cursed Lucas Electronics it was equipped with (here in the United States we joke that the reason the British drink warm beer is because their refrigerators are made by Lucas, and we refer to Lucas as "The Prince of Darkness"). The service manager swore on all he held Holy that the electronic issues previously associated with the Triumph moniker have all been put to rest. While thus far I've enjoyed just under 14,000 trouble-free miles on my Scrambler your post is not encouraging. Here's hoping that it's merely a fluke and it gets ironed-out sooner than later.
     
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  11. Iceman

    Iceman Crème de la Crème

    Apr 19, 2020
    1,980
    1,000
    Lancashire
    Prince of Darkness, did he partner up with Wonder Woman, or was it Batman I can't remember
     
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  12. Redmist

    Redmist New Member

    May 5, 2021
    4
    3
    Yorkshire
    Thanks for the info. I was a step quicker than you though as I had already found it :) The letter, on paper, is winging its way to the Directors as I write. I will keep you updated regarding any response.
     
    • Thanks Thanks x 1
  13. Redmist

    Redmist New Member

    May 5, 2021
    4
    3
    Yorkshire
    Just an update, my bike came back to me yesterday with a bit of an apology from the van driver/mechanic. Could be that is it.
     
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