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Royal Enfield Took My Blue Bird For A Ride
Usually, my Thunderbird 500 [aka Blue Bird] takes me for a long mega rides. For a change, Royal Enfield took my Blue Bird for a ride.
The OE stock Fiamm battery in my Thunderbird 500 became weak in 1 year and the battery icon started flashing every now and then. So, I brought the issue of weak battery to the notice of customer care of Royal Enfield with a request to consider replacement of weak Fiamm battery with a new one as a goodwill gesture as the warranty expired just a few days back.
I received a prompt mail from the regional service manager - south, apologizing for the inconvenience caused and assuring me of needful after getting the service history from the service manager of Royal Enfield, OMR, Chennai.
Later, the service manager called me. First, I was assured that the battery would be taken for testing, and in its place, a service battery would be fitted. He assured that with the service battery, I would be able to self-start my bike, for which I agreed, my first mistake.
He took my residential address and land marks. Then, without informing me, one SA and mechanic arrived at my home. I thought that would remove the weak Fiamm battery and fit a service battery. No. They wanted to take my bike to service station for observing and testing as instructed by their service manager. The SA did not know when it would be returned. Again, I agreed. My second mistake.
I had to call the service manager several times to ascertain the status. On the first time, he mentioned that he had kept my bike parked to test whether it retains the charge or not. If it retains, he would return the bike on Friday [today]; otherwise, he would arrange to fit a new battery and deliver it tomorrow [Saturday], 1 May being holiday, for which again, I agreed, my third mistake.
I called him today. He told a me different story. My bike's battery would be charged for 24 hours and then, tested for retaining the charge afterwards. That would be tomorrow. Today, is the fourth day and tomorrow, the fifth day, my bike was enjoying the stay at Royal Enfield, OMR, Chennai. And to add fuel to the fire, when I enquired about the charges, he said I have to pay for charging the battery, which would not be covered under goodwill. Only replacement of battery would be free, if found faulty. Thank god, he did not charge any rent for the last 4 days of my bike's stay there! When a weak battery is charged for 24 hours, it would definitely retain the charge for a few days or weeks or months, if not years.
Then, I got fed up as I have been without my bike for 4 days already and decided enough is enough. When I requested him to return the bike, he replied that he would be able to do so only tomorrow. If I want delivery today itself, I have to personally go over there and get it. I cursed myself for requesting Royal Enfield to consider replacement of weak battery with a new one as a goodwill although the warranty is expired. I was not told that they would keep my bike for days together in the name of observation, testing and charging. If the week battery needs charging, this could have been done it on the first day itself.
My Blue Bird will be safer and healthier, if it is far away from Royal Enfield ASS.
Usually, my Thunderbird 500 [aka Blue Bird] takes me for a long mega rides. For a change, Royal Enfield took my Blue Bird for a ride.
The OE stock Fiamm battery in my Thunderbird 500 became weak in 1 year and the battery icon started flashing every now and then. So, I brought the issue of weak battery to the notice of customer care of Royal Enfield with a request to consider replacement of weak Fiamm battery with a new one as a goodwill gesture as the warranty expired just a few days back.
I received a prompt mail from the regional service manager - south, apologizing for the inconvenience caused and assuring me of needful after getting the service history from the service manager of Royal Enfield, OMR, Chennai.
Later, the service manager called me. First, I was assured that the battery would be taken for testing, and in its place, a service battery would be fitted. He assured that with the service battery, I would be able to self-start my bike, for which I agreed, my first mistake.
He took my residential address and land marks. Then, without informing me, one SA and mechanic arrived at my home. I thought that would remove the weak Fiamm battery and fit a service battery. No. They wanted to take my bike to service station for observing and testing as instructed by their service manager. The SA did not know when it would be returned. Again, I agreed. My second mistake.
I had to call the service manager several times to ascertain the status. On the first time, he mentioned that he had kept my bike parked to test whether it retains the charge or not. If it retains, he would return the bike on Friday [today]; otherwise, he would arrange to fit a new battery and deliver it tomorrow [Saturday], 1 May being holiday, for which again, I agreed, my third mistake.
I called him today. He told a me different story. My bike's battery would be charged for 24 hours and then, tested for retaining the charge afterwards. That would be tomorrow. Today, is the fourth day and tomorrow, the fifth day, my bike was enjoying the stay at Royal Enfield, OMR, Chennai. And to add fuel to the fire, when I enquired about the charges, he said I have to pay for charging the battery, which would not be covered under goodwill. Only replacement of battery would be free, if found faulty. Thank god, he did not charge any rent for the last 4 days of my bike's stay there! When a weak battery is charged for 24 hours, it would definitely retain the charge for a few days or weeks or months, if not years.
Then, I got fed up as I have been without my bike for 4 days already and decided enough is enough. When I requested him to return the bike, he replied that he would be able to do so only tomorrow. If I want delivery today itself, I have to personally go over there and get it. I cursed myself for requesting Royal Enfield to consider replacement of weak battery with a new one as a goodwill although the warranty is expired. I was not told that they would keep my bike for days together in the name of observation, testing and charging. If the week battery needs charging, this could have been done it on the first day itself.
My Blue Bird will be safer and healthier, if it is far away from Royal Enfield ASS.
they put a new logo on it. I was expecting the change to be delayed a Lil bit. Common, the old logo is so much better. I shall visit the showroom 2morrow. 
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