5thSFG

Funny you mention that. I already purchased a '12 K13S, but I called Gulf Coast today because my short legs needs the low seat. Unfortunately they are closed on Mondays (for whatever reason, seems like a lot of BMW bike dealers are closed on Mondays).

To close this thread out, I'd like everyone to know that IM's owner, Ray, called me this afternoon, said the blamed rested with him (and not Steve) and apologized. He was very much a gentleman, and seemed genuinely contrite about the mistake and IM's handling of it afterward. We shook hands over the phone and I'm happy.

I certainly dont want to overstay my welcome, and perhaps I have, but I did want to reply to IM's post. I also don't need an apology from IM, although I think it would have been a classy move on their part. Besides, at least three people here complained the other day that the thread ended anti-climatically.

Seems odd that IM waited a few days for me to disappear before addressing this thread. First, nothing was verbal - it was all via email (which I have and will gladly post if Steve disputes any of this). The email timeline in EST times are: 12:50 pm – Acceptance of Steve's offer to sell the bike, and I ask whether I can place the deposit via credit card or Paypal * 2:48 pm – Steve responds “Sounds good” and that Pam will contact me for my credit card information * 3:43 pm – Pam’s email details what she needs for the deposit (i.e., credit card number, expiration, address, etc.) * 4:10 pm – All of credit card information requested by Pam is provided which she receives 4:44 pm - Someone bids the reserve price on the eBay auction * 4:45 pm – *eBay auction ends, with a third party “high bidder”. Approx. 7 pm – Steve informs me after I call for the bank wiring instructions that there is a “problem” and that he sold the bike to someone else on eBay. He initially claimed that the eBay auction ended at 1:45 pm, but I think he didn't understand that eBay auctions are on Pacific time Second, here is where Steve's story falls apart: why did he have my credit card information? The ONLY reason he would have had it was if we reached a deal on the bike and for the deposit. I don't expect him to admit that their customer service after the fact sucked, but he should man up and admit that 100% of what I posted was true. Third, the eBay part of the timeline is easy to prove without having to post the emails. Sign onto eBay, and search Completed Listings for 2009 K1300S. It is the gray, Item No. 280932998872 sold by independent_motorsports. You can see the bidding history and exactly when the reserve was met and the auction ended.

Ladies & Gents, Its been 36 hours since my initial post, and not a word from IM. I didn't want to register an account and then post an unflattering review of a local business (much less a forum sponsor) never to be heard from again. So, I stuck around for a bit to see what IM would say. Frankly, I respect the fact that they didn't come on here and lie about what happened. I'll say it one more time - I don't think they are crooks, but their customer service sucks. With the exception of one knucklehead, everyone here has been very respectful and noone has flamed me for posting about a local business/sponsor. For that I thank you. You have a great forum here, but given that I am a Floridian and have no plans to ride in Ohio anytime soon, I have no business here and am deactivating my account.

It isn't me, as my only experience with IM was limited to the one transaction that went south on Tuesday. Not sure how to prove that it isn't me, or if it even matters, but PM me and I'll send you my Tampa, Florida cell number to call. My beef isn't so much that they sold the bike from under me because accidents and stupid stuff happens (although I was pretty salty about it with IM because it seemed like a really good price), it was IM's "f*** off" attitude afterward that got under my skin. That customer service, not IM's mistake in selling the bike in eBay, is what would keep me from doing business there. I'll just add a final note: If IM disagreed with my version of the story, it probably would have posted something by now. It hasn't, and I think that speaks for itself. In the end, things actually worked out for the best for me because I would up purchasing a newer bike with less miles last night from a dealer in California.

To be clear guys, I am not bashing IM. I am just stating what occured. My experience with them is limited to one single (failed) transaction. In reality, it is unfair to judge a person or a business based just on one transaction. When I looked up IM before all of this, there were mixed reviews but generally pretty favorable and I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I have nothing against dealers, but whenever possible or it makes sense to do so, I try to steer my business toward small business. Like I said in my original post, I don't think that IM intentionally did anything to be shady or scam me; I just think that from my limited experience there, one hand has no idea what the other is doing. But if someone cannot use a shop forum to relay an experience (good or bad), what good is the shop forum? I won't post anymore except after IM replies, if it does.

Mojoe, yes I was with 5th SFG. Were you? I don't think using 5thSFG as a screen name belittles it. If you were with 5th SFG and take offense, I apologize. But if you were not or you were not with any other Group and still take offense, then...that's just sad.

Thanks Mojoe. I did contact them (yesterday), and they told me too bad. I also sent an email to them which was ignored. I would not have posted this without first contacting them. I'm not crying. Rather, I am just sharing my experience for others for whatever that's worth. I always research a company before I make a large purchase, and I appreciate hearing about other peoples' experiences (good and bad) so that I can make an informed decision. Particularly with the internet, you take a leap of faith when sending hard earned money to a company hundreds or more of miles away.

Mojoe: I'm not certain why my living in Florida matters, because IM solicits business from people around the world when they place ads on the internet (in fact, they apparently sold the bike to a gentleman in New Zealand). IM's eBay listing for the bike states: We can ship this motorcycle at a great prices (example: Atlanta $250, San Diego $450, Dallas $350, NE states $400) in the US and can crate and ship worldwide. We have been exporting motorcycles for 20 years!

Guilty as charged. Sorry.

Mojoe: Disneyland is in California.

Yes, me too. I'd love to hear IM's side of the story.

Yes, I did know that the bike was being auctioned on ebay (it was listed for sale in several places, i.e. CycleTrader, etc.). I bid on the bike last weekend, but my bid didn't meet the reserve price, so I made contact with Steve on Monday. We reached a deal yesterday. Nothing has posted to my credit card yet - I'm thinking Independent Motorsports already canceled the transaction (the deposit amount was only $250 anyway, so it wouldn't be the end of the world if it showed up).

Yes, I sent them all of the requested credit card information well in advance of the ebay auction ending. I also offered to make the deposit via paypal, but they told me to give them the credit card info instead.

I agree about there being two sides to every story (althout facts are facts). I'd love to hear Independent Motorsports' side of the story, and if theirs is in any way different than mine, how the emails and end of auction eBay listings don't speak for themselves (I can send all of that to anyone who thinks I am full of B.S.). If Independent Motorsports were to make this right, then heck yea I would immediately post it here.

Disclaimers: 1. This is (obviously) my first post. 2. I do not live in Ohio. 3. I realize that Indpendent Motorsports is a sponsor here and has a loyal following. 4. All of the following events occured by email, so this isn't the typical he said/she said rant with no evidence to back it up. With all of that said, here is my experience in purchasing a bike from them: Yesterday, the salesman, Steve W., and I agreed in writing for me to purchase a 2009 BMW K1300S, and for me to wire the funds the next day (i.e., today). His email said that a deposit would hold the bike for three days so that I could wire the money, and that his finance person (Pam) would tell me what she needed for the deposit. Within 27 minutes of Pam's email yesterday, she received all of the requested credit card information from me. However, and even though Pam recieved my credit card information, Independent Motorsports still allowed the bike to be sold later that day on eBay to a third party and at a higher price. Do I think this was a scam to see if the bike would bring a higher price at eBay auction? No. Rather, I suspect that Steve, Pam or someone else neglected to take down the eBay auction after they received my deposit infomration (seems like a disorganized operation). Mistakes happen and I understand that. With that said, Steve's clueless explanation to me and the after the fact "hey, too bad, the other guy was the high bidder on eBay" attitutde is what would make me never do business with them again. I don't want one at this point, but the lack of even an apology or acknowledgment of an "error" on their part was telling. Like I said in my disclaimer, I know and appreciate several members here like them (I did my research on the company BEFORE I made an offer to buy the bike). I have all of this in writing (because everything was done via email), and can supply the emails if anyone doesn't believe me. I am just sharing my opinion and experience with Independent Motorsports, primarily for those who may be on the fence whether to do business with them. I won't ever again.