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Very bad experience with Bates used Cycle parts
This is kinda long... cliff note at the bottom.
I stumbled on this guy when looking around, I think on eBay, that owns a motorcycle salvage co. I work in automotive salvage, so I am somewhat familiar with how that industry works. They specialize in classic and late model bikes, and are located in DFW. Ive been working on a revamp of my bike, and since the aftermarket for what I am really looking for is nonexistent, I have been looking around at some of the classic bikes, since there was an aftermarket back in the 70"s. I want a fixed fairing, similar to Harley's Road Glide, or Vulcan's new Vaquero. There isnt one made for my bike, and I know it will be a custom fit.
Anyway, I found a picture of a 1975 Goldwing that had a very interesting looking fairing on it (they were all aftermarket back then, so who knows what manufacture actually produced this particular one) and I shot them a request for information on it. I never got a reply to my email. They have 3 different numbers listed on their website, so I called. They have odd hours, so I left a voicemail. After another day went by, I called and they answered the phone. The guy told me he was not at his desk, and requested I send an email so he could get me some pictures showing more detail (I already had, but perhaps it got missed?), and I did while on the phone.
Another day goes by, and nothing has come in. I called twice more, and was able to ask (same guy) if he had a chance to get pictures for me, and he said that he sent them, and that it was a large email due to picture size, so I should check my spam folder. I asked him to send it to my gmail account, and he did. It was in much rougher shape than I has expected, anticipated, or hoped it would be. Still, this thing has my attention, and I really like it's styling.
I replied to his email, stating that it was going to need more work than I would like, but I am interested in buying it, and requested a price quote. No response. I called a couple of times, and finally got him on the phone again. He blew me away with price, possibly 3 times what "market value" could possibly be, compared to other styles that are available on CL. I said that I thought $150 was a bit high, and that I would be having to custom mount it, and do quite a bit of repair, so I would be willing to pay $100, bring cash, and pick it up in person, saving him shipping, and possibly tax if he didnt want to claim the cash.
He scoffed at me, saying that he wanted $300 for the set (fairing, bags and trunk all together) so if he was spitting it up, he would take half. I told him that I was interested in the set, but would need to put eyes on all of it, and that I could come today (Saturday, they show to be open 9:30 to 3) and would be there early, so I could get it and back home before it gets too hot. I asked if I needed to bring tools and pull it myself, or if they could pull it. He said they had tools and would be able to handle it. He asked me to call first, as he doesnt have a storefront, and I am going to his house, where his wharehouse is.
I set out this morning early, with a buddy of mine, and met a guy that was selling a set of mufflers on CL, that lives in Forney. Bates does not have an address listed, but I found the address listed in Joesephine, not TOO far from where we were going to get the mufflers. After meeting and getting them, we headed north so we could be close to this place when he "opened" this morning. At 9:25 I called, no answer, just like when I called at 9:35. At 9:47, we were litterally blocks from his place ( I assume he doesnt think at this point I even have his address. I let him know we were in the area, and would be there shortly. He told me that he wasnt there, and was out buying bikes, and wouldnt be back until noon.
Pissed, but having already driven 80 miles, we grabbed breakfast, and found some errands to run. This guy said he had my number, and would call me when he was getting close to home, so I could meet him. At 1:15, again blocks from his place, I called him to find an ETA. He said he was in Ennis, and was headed to pick up a few more bikes, and had no idea when he was going to be back. Perhaps I can come back another day, possibly during the week?
I am fuming mad at this point, having wasted an entire morning, on a nice cool day that would have been great for getting half a million other things done on. I told him that I had done everything he asked me to in order to buy something from him, and that I felt like I was getting the runaround from him. He offered to stay "open" late for me during the week, and I told him it was unfeasible for me with my schedule and being a good distance from him. I asked if he was willing to let me come back tommorrow (Sunday) and his answer was "I dont work on Sundays"
Sarcastically, he said that he didnt think I was serious, and that since I lowballed him on the price, I wasnt going to buy it. Im sitting in a gas station parking lot with $350 cash in my pocket, with full intentions of getting all of it if it was workable. Livid doesnt describe me at that point. I told him I needed to talk with my buddy, and I would call him right back. Several calls and voice-mails later, I have heard nothing.
We ended up having to go back out there this afternoon to pick up a car that my friend bought while we were waiting, so I called and let him know (on a voicemail) that we would be back between for and 6 in his area, so please let me know if he wanted to sell this stuff to me. Nothing.
We drove by his house to find balloons tied up everywhere, apparenty they were having a party. His truck was in the back with the trailer empty, garage door open, Escalade in the driveway. I called 3 times in a row, only to get voicemail every time, and since he told me that it was his cell number, he knows its me.
Cliff notes:
I tried to buy something from them, and they told me to come out, call, and then werent there, wouldnt be back for hours, and after waiting and wasting nearly an entire day, got hosed over, with no returned calls or solutions from this vendor.
Bates used Cycle parts
Local 972-694-2373
or 972-495-5205
U.S. 1-800-822-1465
I stumbled on this guy when looking around, I think on eBay, that owns a motorcycle salvage co. I work in automotive salvage, so I am somewhat familiar with how that industry works. They specialize in classic and late model bikes, and are located in DFW. Ive been working on a revamp of my bike, and since the aftermarket for what I am really looking for is nonexistent, I have been looking around at some of the classic bikes, since there was an aftermarket back in the 70"s. I want a fixed fairing, similar to Harley's Road Glide, or Vulcan's new Vaquero. There isnt one made for my bike, and I know it will be a custom fit.
Anyway, I found a picture of a 1975 Goldwing that had a very interesting looking fairing on it (they were all aftermarket back then, so who knows what manufacture actually produced this particular one) and I shot them a request for information on it. I never got a reply to my email. They have 3 different numbers listed on their website, so I called. They have odd hours, so I left a voicemail. After another day went by, I called and they answered the phone. The guy told me he was not at his desk, and requested I send an email so he could get me some pictures showing more detail (I already had, but perhaps it got missed?), and I did while on the phone.
Another day goes by, and nothing has come in. I called twice more, and was able to ask (same guy) if he had a chance to get pictures for me, and he said that he sent them, and that it was a large email due to picture size, so I should check my spam folder. I asked him to send it to my gmail account, and he did. It was in much rougher shape than I has expected, anticipated, or hoped it would be. Still, this thing has my attention, and I really like it's styling.
I replied to his email, stating that it was going to need more work than I would like, but I am interested in buying it, and requested a price quote. No response. I called a couple of times, and finally got him on the phone again. He blew me away with price, possibly 3 times what "market value" could possibly be, compared to other styles that are available on CL. I said that I thought $150 was a bit high, and that I would be having to custom mount it, and do quite a bit of repair, so I would be willing to pay $100, bring cash, and pick it up in person, saving him shipping, and possibly tax if he didnt want to claim the cash.
He scoffed at me, saying that he wanted $300 for the set (fairing, bags and trunk all together) so if he was spitting it up, he would take half. I told him that I was interested in the set, but would need to put eyes on all of it, and that I could come today (Saturday, they show to be open 9:30 to 3) and would be there early, so I could get it and back home before it gets too hot. I asked if I needed to bring tools and pull it myself, or if they could pull it. He said they had tools and would be able to handle it. He asked me to call first, as he doesnt have a storefront, and I am going to his house, where his wharehouse is.
I set out this morning early, with a buddy of mine, and met a guy that was selling a set of mufflers on CL, that lives in Forney. Bates does not have an address listed, but I found the address listed in Joesephine, not TOO far from where we were going to get the mufflers. After meeting and getting them, we headed north so we could be close to this place when he "opened" this morning. At 9:25 I called, no answer, just like when I called at 9:35. At 9:47, we were litterally blocks from his place ( I assume he doesnt think at this point I even have his address. I let him know we were in the area, and would be there shortly. He told me that he wasnt there, and was out buying bikes, and wouldnt be back until noon.
Pissed, but having already driven 80 miles, we grabbed breakfast, and found some errands to run. This guy said he had my number, and would call me when he was getting close to home, so I could meet him. At 1:15, again blocks from his place, I called him to find an ETA. He said he was in Ennis, and was headed to pick up a few more bikes, and had no idea when he was going to be back. Perhaps I can come back another day, possibly during the week?
I am fuming mad at this point, having wasted an entire morning, on a nice cool day that would have been great for getting half a million other things done on. I told him that I had done everything he asked me to in order to buy something from him, and that I felt like I was getting the runaround from him. He offered to stay "open" late for me during the week, and I told him it was unfeasible for me with my schedule and being a good distance from him. I asked if he was willing to let me come back tommorrow (Sunday) and his answer was "I dont work on Sundays"
Sarcastically, he said that he didnt think I was serious, and that since I lowballed him on the price, I wasnt going to buy it. Im sitting in a gas station parking lot with $350 cash in my pocket, with full intentions of getting all of it if it was workable. Livid doesnt describe me at that point. I told him I needed to talk with my buddy, and I would call him right back. Several calls and voice-mails later, I have heard nothing.
We ended up having to go back out there this afternoon to pick up a car that my friend bought while we were waiting, so I called and let him know (on a voicemail) that we would be back between for and 6 in his area, so please let me know if he wanted to sell this stuff to me. Nothing.
We drove by his house to find balloons tied up everywhere, apparenty they were having a party. His truck was in the back with the trailer empty, garage door open, Escalade in the driveway. I called 3 times in a row, only to get voicemail every time, and since he told me that it was his cell number, he knows its me.
Cliff notes:
I tried to buy something from them, and they told me to come out, call, and then werent there, wouldnt be back for hours, and after waiting and wasting nearly an entire day, got hosed over, with no returned calls or solutions from this vendor.
Bates used Cycle parts
Local 972-694-2373
or 972-495-5205
U.S. 1-800-822-1465
That sucks because it was a pretty cool looking fairing. 
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