[freewheelburnin]

Reading the reviews about aquilla pro on Team-BHP got me interested in the bike.I called up DSK motors near ulsoor lake for a test drive.One lady picked up the phone.I told her that I am considering the bike and would be interested in a test drive.She agreed on phone.On reaching the showroom, she(supposedly owns the showroom) told me that the person who is supposed to give test ride has gone home urgently.I asked her why she had offered me the test ride in the first place.She had no convincing answer.Then I asked her if she could send the bike to my place later.She said that as a policy they never do that and that they charge Rs 500 per test ride which is refundable on purchase

She was explaining as to how people come and test ride the bike just for fun.I felt as if I had forced her to start the dealership in the first place.Later one of the guys in the showroom told me that he can give me a test drive after paying Rs500. I walked out of the showroom with my friend and decided that I would keep away from the brand and the showroom.It is not that Rs 500 would really matter to me but feels cheap.They have lost one prospective customer.Even if i have to pay a few lakhs more I would definitely go to a different brand.Have any of you faced a similar situation?

[amit_purohit20]

It is true that some stupid people go and ask for test drives of vehicles which they cant afford to purchase and also land up crashing those vehicles.And if these people are local goons,this is a major concern for any dealer.

But I agree with you that the behaviour of the lady and they asking for Rs 500 is simply not acceptable. Instead they can ask for a security deposit and give it back as soon as you are done with the test drive. Charging for test drive is simply cheap and it doesnot help the dealer, neither in creating a good image with the potential customer nor in the event of an accident to settle their loss.

[Farukh]

Originally Posted by freewheelburnin

They have lost one prospective customer.Even if i have to pay a few lakhs more I would definitely go to a different brand.Have any of you faced a similar situation?

Bad experience indeed! How are people supposed to chose a vehicle without test-riding/driving?? May be she missed a lesson or two in her sales/marketing class.

I would say stay away from the dealer, not the brand especially when they have very competitive pricing compared to HD. If a few lakhs don't bother you much, bring home a HD.

[mayankjha1806]

I also went to the showroom long time back, and still get email updates form them. Once in few months they do call as well to check if i am interested.

I had gone there and parked my Civic next to the showroom, and when they asked me to pay 500Rs i gave them a piece of my mind, that even when buying a automotive three times as expensive as the the said bike i was not asked for the same, and probably took about six drives to get convinced about the car.

I am not walking into that showroom again, they should take some inspiration from the Porsche Advt with the kid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRbzJ0L1Zn8

[neil.jericho]

The showroom has been charging 500 bucks for test rides for quite some time now so its not just that lady who is at fault. Im sure they know that they are turning away potential customers but hey if they dont want to sell more bikes who are we to complain?

[abirnale]

Originally Posted by amit_purohit20

Instead they can ask for a security deposit and give it back as soon as you are done with the test drive.

Agree. Its a desired practice that dealer keeps your driving license, ID card kind of thing before giving away their vehicle for you to test ride! In fact its a standard practice in western countries to ask for valid insurance if you have any prior to driving. But someone asking for money to have it refunded upon purchase is insane. And any loss/ damage is charged to you if during test drive. So this should be fine. And if the dealer can't afford for the gas customer uses for test drive, or can't afford to have vehicle "roughed up" during test drive, one cant expect them to make profit.

A test drive vehicle is their investment to generate more profits by selling more units. So they shouldn't be hesitant of it. I wouldn't mind them doing some inquiries in my affordability of the vehicle prior to letting me take test drive, but asking for money is like - Sorry sir, We don't want customer who try before buy!

[svsantosh]

Diff perspectives

1) 500Rs for someone who is really considering a sub4L big boy bike is nothing, and if its promised it will be refunded upon purchase shows they are only keeping out the unwanted 'jolly boyz' of their place. Accept it, so many of us like a TD of a fast car, given a chance. All of us love beemers, porche's etc etc, but how many of us go into a 50L or a 1Cr showroom and ask for a TD. Just bcoz a bike costs like a Swift, many will tend to abuse their dealership and they are 'trying' (not saying its right) in their way to keep such people out.

2) If this were a western country - they will be taken to task by myself! charging for a TD is the most riculous way of selling a product, wonder how the company/brand allows this under their nose - (this view is what many will endorse)

[mahesh.kolary]

Originally Posted by svsantosh

Diff perspectives

1) 500Rs for someone who is really considering a sub4L big boy bike is nothing, and if its promised it will be refunded upon purchase shows they are only keeping out the unwanted 'jolly boyz' of their place. Accept it, so many of us like a TD of a fast car, given a chance. All of us love beemers, porche's etc etc, but how many of us go into a 50L or a 1Cr showroom and ask for a TD. Just bcoz a bike costs like a Swift, many will tend to abuse their dealership and they are 'trying' (not saying its right) in their way to keep such people out.

I would beg to differ here. Just because I am looking for a bike of that price range does not commit me to buy the bike after a test ride.
A test ride as the word implies is for one to test the bike and get a first hand experience of how it feels, looks, rides and handles. This is purely subjective and can vary from person to person.
I would not commit myself to buy a bike just beacuse I take a TD.

Agreed there are people who would want to ride a big bike and get the kick, just for the heck of it even though they don't have any plans of buying it, but the onus of identifying them denying them TD's, coming up with other counter measures lies with the dealer and should not be handed down to a hapless prospective customer.
There are issues, but then solutions don't surface on their own, you have to look for it, and this is one of the most absurd ways devised to fend off unwanted joy-riders.

[aravind.anand]

Reminds me of the days when I went on shopping for my bike. Yamaha dealers at Coimbatore told me that I can't test ride the YZF R-15, they allowed me to sit on the bike though! Sit on the bike and do what? lean from side to side and play like the biking video games in the malls? After much argument they gave me the keys, with which I was allowed to press the push start and hear the engine not on idle alone, no twisting of the accelerator was allowed! I simply got off the bike, and walked away without turning back.

When Car dealers are courageous enough to give cars worth lakhs to prospective customers, this attitude from bike dealers is simply not acceptable ( that too for a 1.15 Lakh bike in my case! )

[mayankjha1806]

Originally Posted by svsantosh

keeping out the unwanted 'jolly boyz' of their place.

Well those Jolly boys could be future customers, the intent of test drive is not just to sell and evaluate, its also to make an everlasting impression on the buyer of today or in future.

Although its not going to give immediate returns to the business, but i am sure they do not understanding concepts like "Building Brand equity" or "Investing for the Future".

As for BMW/Merc example, i did a test drive of BMW, the SA knew i will not buy one, still happily gave a TD. If he would not have behaved the way he did and would not have given TD, what do you think my decision would be (in next 5-10 years) when i decide to buy a luxury car and the options are BMW/Merc/Audi?

wonder how the company/brand allows this under their nose - (this view is what many will endorse)

As you rightly said, the problem is at the root. The manufacturer, they should make enough attempts to ensure even if the customer does not intent to buy they should leave the showroom with an everlasting impression.

As an example, 12 years back when i bought my first car. I test drive Honda City VTech (100 BHP), the SA knew i am not looking at a sedan (Couldn't afford one at that time), still when i strolled in he explained the car and gave a TD immediately. That Honda impression lasted on me and after 12 years i bought a Civic.

This is one reason i just love the Porsche advertisement.

[svsantosh]

Oh and many guys who have been to Atria, worli would endorse...

(sometime in 2006 IIRC)

I went from Mulund to Worli in 2 locals a bus to see the new RR Phantom with my 13 yr cousin brother.

We stood there for at least 10 mins in the dusk whilst many coat-suit uncles came and went, 1 SA kept watching us and after a while asked us to come inside and take a pic and touch and feel the car!! What a exp! I had a D.L, but of course never the nerve to ask for a TD!, but the feel that the SA, showroom and brand gave us will last a life time.

As someone said, if the showroom doesnt want to sell, who are we to complain. Fine print does read - "right of admission reserved" in any hotel, pub, etc etc.

Actually its legal for them to do what they are doing - only question remains - is it in the right taste, answer - of course not! They dont seem to care, why should we?

Go get a Ninja, they are known not to be so cheap at least!

[saket77]

I think in my opinion, it should not be difficult for the showroom people to identify that who can be potential customers, if they really want to keep the lowballers away, given the fact that they deal with so many people on day to day basis. Even if they get a few wrong ones, it should not break the bank for them. For eg, if one walks to a premium brand showroom, it will not be a difficult task for a Merc or BMW dealership to identify that whether the person is or isn't a potential customer. They can easily drive away others with their excuses like no vehicle available, etc.

Totally agree with the OP, that only because he can spend that much amount, does not means that he is bound to buy the bike.

[ku69rd]

Well charging 500rs for a test ride if absolutely ridiculous and childish. What suppose if the buyer is a genuine person and to his dismay he finds the bike unreasonable (well hysoungs do not have the brand image or command a market presence like the biggies read as Yamaha, HD, Honda or Suzuki).

Yes HD does give you test drives after you sign an indemnity bond and you are actually escorted by a guy from the showroom who rides his own motorcycle. Yamaha/Honda/Suzuki outrightly reject test drives and you are forced to buy purely out of your conviction. Infact they do not even have a display bike kept in their showrooms.

If there is a prospective buyer then he is referred to one of the owner who can let his bike be the mule, therein again the trial is purely left to the discretion of owner.

[black12rr]

This was from day one .I don't know who is the marketing head for such brand .This nonsense coupled with pathetic quality will be a slow death , doubt no ! . This can be seen with resale values of 650s . They should be shamed to ask 500 rs . I was taken back when the lady asked me the same ,I simply walked out laughing .

[s.prashanth]

I feel whatever they are doing is right. this is to keep the trashy crowd out. Else if you want fun pay for it.The attitude in the dealer counter is wrong but the methodology is right