Hi guys,

(Mods: please move if thread is in incorrect forum)

I'm writing this post to make you all aware of my experience with the Doorstep servicing trend that is slowly growing specifically my experience was with a company named Mechanico and it was the worst possible experience in bike servicing I've faced in my 15 years of owning a bike.

I own a Pulsar 150 Dtsi and I scheduled a Doorstep service in the first place since I'm very interested in tinkering, doing minor maintenance, servicing on my bike but not really confident in doing all the various things since I'm worried I'll screw up and end up spending more. This way I'll get to observe what is being done first hand (The mechanics near my house don't allow/encourage this) so next time I can do it myself. Also since it's Doorstep servicing, I don't have to leave my bike for 5-6 hours to get the work done.

So I schedule the visit and the mechanic and a buddy of his come with their tool box and they find a vacant space and get to work. His buddy cleans the spark plugs while the mechanic is checking out my brake pads. I note that he cleans one of the plugs then just waits. I'm wondering when he'll clean the other one but he doesn't. I had to ask the mechanic why this wasn't done and his response was that the second plug is just for pickup and they have cleaned the main one so that's enough. Listening to that one statement was enough to make me realize this is the last time I'm using Mechanico. Seeing the expression on my face, he said it is not required but still I'll do it and then cleaned the other spark plug.

I was also facing some oil burning issues in my bike and I told the mechanic that, he said it'll probably require reboring, piston change etc etc and I said ok I want those done as well. I was told I'd need to schedule another service since it's major work and I was ok with that. I even told them not to change the oil this time since it would need changing anyway.

I had earlier told customer care that my brake pads are probably worn so they'll need replacing and they assured me that these guys will bring the spares required. So this guy examines my front disc brake pads, sands it, fits it back. They don't open the rear brakes except tightening the nut, So I'm thinking maybe I'm mistaken and my brakes will last some more kms. When finally he drops the bomb, Sir your brake pads need to be changed, we'll do it when you give your bike for bore-piston work
I mean this was a bit too much, He assumed that I would give my bike to them for further work and he didn't change the pads which actually needed changing as part of my bike service !

These experiences were not the worst part however. He proceeds to clean my air filter, clean my Carb etc while I was busy on the phone. Drained a bit of petrol from the Carb, did a type of filter cleaning that my daughter could have done better, puts a few drops of oil on the filter, puts it back. He asks me about the mileage, acceleration etc. I tell him I have zero complaints, I'm getting good acceleration, good mileage BUT he still proceeds to tune my carb, ignorant as I was I thought maybe he knows what he's doing and he'll set it up better.

So all servicing done, I park my bike in my company parking (just 100 meters distance) so didn't do a thorough check. I come back 4 hours later and smell petrol as I approach my bike. And lo behold my bike standing in a pool of petrol !! This guy screwed up something in the carb which led to at least 3-4 liters of petrol being drained through that pipe at the bottom. My chain cover had at least a liter of petrol inside it which came out only after I shook the bike. I call Mechanico, told them the issue. Call came from the mechanic and he's quite far off at least 1 hour away and since I had to pick up my daughter from daycare and didn't have much time to wait, I told him not to come. This all happend at around 6:15-6:30 pm.

I also find out that the mechanic's setting of the carb screwed it up. After a few kms My bike started running rough, acceleration was not smooth and it felt like it was gasping for fuel. I managed to reach home with great difficulty hoping that it won't shut down enroute. I called the mechanic again so he can come take a look at the issue, no response, Mechanico, no response. Apparently when operating hours are over (6:30 PM), Customer can go to hell. Next day, Thursday, they are closed so no response. Friday, Ganesh Chaturthi so they are also closed, so again no response.

Saturday, I get a call from them. I am already pissed off so I tell off the customer care guy, who surprisingly had the audacity to blame me for denying the mechanic when he offered to come. No sorry, no apology, nothing !!! I told him I want my service cost refunded and he told me casually that I'll tell sir about your request and we'll see.
Since then there has been no response from Mechanico. I tried calling once to complain again but surprisingly no one picked up, I think they have blocked my number or something.

I know Mechanics can make mistakes, I don't blame the Mechanic, he was nice, polite and all. But his lack of expertise and the response from Mechanico and the lack of empathy and customer service is really terrible. Another thing I've noticed is they carry spares like it was trash in their toolbox or in the dicky of the scooter, they weren't wrapped/covered. The engine oil, brake oil etc are all carried about in dirty containers which makes you wonder how clean/original they are.

Guys, would advise you to stay away from their services. Sure when your service goes well then all is fine, you feel the service is good and all but the true form of the company is revealed when a mistake is made and how they choose to handle it. In this case it revealed how pathetic they are and how much they value their customers. In an attempt to save some time, I ended up paying 800 rs more (Getting the carb fixed from another mechanic) + Loss of petrol worth at least 300 rs. Never again.

Few pics of the leaked petrol, this was after around 10 mins after I shut off the petrol valve, so some petrol had dried up already -