I have been to this dealer since the name changed to Hicklin and I am NOT impressed. I have an older Yamaha and I have visited their store for parts to service my bike because I like to support local business when I can. You may be greeted enthusiastically when you walk in the door, but as soon as they figure out you are not there to buy a new bike, they could care less. Upon my last visit, I was ignored at the parts counter by a middle-aged gentleman while a younger worker sat at an adjacent counter, also ignoring my presence. Finally someone (I presume the owner) walked by and asked if he could help me. He called another young worker out from the back (high school age). When I explained the part I was after he snickered to the other young coworker who had previously ignored me before going to the back room for several minutes. When he came back he told me they don't carry the part. And that was it. He didn't offer to look to see if he could order the part or provide any other assistance. When I asked if he could order the part he told me ""I can't do that"" (not offering any further explanation or offering to get help from someone who ""can"" order the part for me).
At this point I was already pretty put-off by the poor service, so I just gave an annoyed laugh and started to walk away. A female worker observed the scene and she seemed to be pretty amused, but offered no assistance. The same gentleman whom I presume to be the owner caught the tail end of the poor service I had received and he stepped in to help. He called me over to another desk where another high school age kid was working (who had ignored me when I first came in the door). The owner helped the kid look up the part for several minutes before telling me that Yamaha does not supply the part but he could help me find an aftermarket supplier.
This last visit was my third visit to Hicklin, each time receiving similar treatment. I can certainly understand that they cannot provide a part that Yamaha no longer manufactures, but what is up with the poor service and workers who clearly don't give a sh!t? Clearly, if you are not visiting their store to buy a new bike, they don't care to serve you. And why would I buy a new bike from Hicklin if the service I receive after the sale is going to be like this? When I need to buy parts for the bike I've purchased from them, I will likely get the same treatment. When I'm ready to buy a new bike, I'm going to take my business elsewhere to a dealer who cares about parts and service after the sale. Yes, they may make less money (sometimes perhaps no money) from the sale of parts versus the sale of a new vehicle....but good service after the sale and a friendly and helpful parts department are important to retaining customers.
I will not visit this store again and when I'm ready to cut a check for a new bike, another dealer will get my business. That dealer will have helpful parts department staff who will not snicker when I approach them for assistance.
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