From Buenos Aires, Argentina to Johannesburg, South Africa - May, 2012

We shipped two Honda Africa Twins from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Johannesburg, South Africa, by Air, and used the services of Dakar Motos
The first quote (months ahead) we got was about 2300 USD per bike, but this had to be checked again a few weeks upfront.
About 6 weeks upfront we asked some more questions, and sent in our flight details to confirm the booking. We got a reply about the costs: "I can confirm you that from that date we had sent many others traveler's bikes to South Africa and they pay far less than that, less than USD 2000.- in most cases", so we expected this would apply to our bikes too.

On the first day of arrival we had to pay 100USD (but this is included in their offers, so no suprises) to DM, the fee for their assistance. We got clear descriptions on where to go and how to arrange it all. They also told us we could save money by making the bike lower, the rest of the dimensions were determined by the pallet.
They told us examples of bikes (on the pallet) being lowered to a height of 120-125 cm's, because we asked for a 'goal'.

Once at the airport, we started packing the bikes together with a guy from the airport.
We lowered the bikes to 110cm's in total, so we thought we'd saved some money.
Our handlebars were wider than the pallet, but the guy assured us this was no problem, as the pallet dimensions would be taken for the 'footprint'. We told him we wanted to change the bars 4 times, but he insisted it was nonsense.
After the bike was wrapped, some other guy came to take the dimensions and took the width of the handlebars. We insisted to talk to DM, but when we got a hold of them the airport-guys already had a chat with them. Sandra (DM) didn't even let me tell our side of the story, but simply said: this is only 130USD more expensive per bike, what is all the fuss about? That made us a bit mad, because we pay DM to help us out, not to help the airport.
Once back at DM-HQ we had a chat with Sandra, and we agreed on a 'miscommunication' and had to accept the increased width. We agreed that we should only ask DM questions, e.g. with the handlebar-issue: we should not have discussed this with the guys at the airport, but with DM directly before the bikes were wrapped in plastic.
When we heard the final price (2204USD total, including the 100USD fee) we didn't understand because we made the bikes 10-15cm lower than others. Then we got some stupid excuses about 'our pallet being 20 cm's longer', 'those other bikes were smaller'(?), etc.
Well, what can you do about it? We didn't understand, but had to accept.
FYI: we could have saved 150USD per bike on the width, and another 200 with a shorter pallet (40cm's unused).

Two days later we had to go to downtown-BA to pay, in cash.
We knew the amount, we had all info of the bank accounts on which we had to put the deposit.
This morning, we went to a bank near DM to use the ATM for the last amount of cash. In there, we though: How stupid is it to go in the train, then metro, then walk through the city with 4200USD cash, when we are in a bank now and know everything we need to know?
We called the transport company to ask, but didn't understand them (our Spanish is not super good). Then we contacted DM by phone, just to ASK. Sandra freaked out completely at the phone stating we constantly tried to change the rules :-S. We were super mad after this, because we just asked a question. Nevertheless, we made it to downtown and payed and got it all arranged. (FYI: if you would get robbed that is costly, but you also cannot get the cash anymore before your flight and thus have a huge problem!)
Once back at DM, shit hit the fan. Both Sandra and Javier were furious, and Sandra was constantly telling Javier to 'stay calm' - which he didn't.
Javier was very aggressive and insultive, saying I wasn't smart and we were the only people in the world they ever had an issue with. We just asked why they have been so unfriendly to us since day 1, and then heard a story about them being pissed off with us because of previous emails and us asking questions.
The one thing we did wrong: I've had an envelope sent to their address without pre-approval of DM - what a crime!
I'd heard about their 100USD fee, and asked via email if that was correct. What a crime.
Then came another insult, which made me break out in tears: we didn't have the money or something, and payed in multiple deposits to the transport company. This was nonsense, as we showed them one deposit-receipt with the full amount.
Next they told us that we had had all instructions on 'what to do in South Africa to pick up the bikes' at the transport company, which was not true. We said we didn't know, and then they started to scream again, 'they were working together with these people for years, so they were telling the truth'. I was crying of frustration, Mirjam was shaking but got a piece of paper and asked for the instructions. DM simply did not believe they didn't tell us. After this, we left DM and were both crying and completely shocked about what happened. Nice.

I think Dakar 'don't ask any questions' Motos simply wants to make money on you, so please don't ask ANY questions.
Their hostel costs 50 pesos per night, plus 10 pesos per bike. It is a dirty place with cockroaches in the shower, mushrooms growing in the shower door and a broken toilet seat, that kind of stuff. (think: cheap nasty hostel in Central America) Downtown-BA we found a wonderful super clean hostel for 54 pesos per night, including a good breakfast. The price at DM is very high according to their dirty place far from the center, so you can't say their goal is to help travellers by keeping their prices low.
For the 10 pesos a night for bike parking they want your bike outside during the day, and when you just 'have a look outside whether your bike is still there' (because nobody can see it from the inside!) Javier will grump at you 'what you are doing'? Well, it's my travel bike - my life! ;-)

We feel treated like rabid dogs by them, by far the worst experience on our 14 month trip from Canada heading south. Really do not understand why they had to treat us by this, and lie about stuff. We think their reactions and behaviour are extremely unprofessional towards us as paying clients.
I do know there are a lot of positive stories on the web about them, but also heard a lot of negative stuff from other travellers by now. I hope everybody puts their reviews on HU, positive and negative!

Next time, I will go to Navicon (shipment office) myself and try to arrange it there. They charge you a few hundred USD agent fee too, so why would you need DM? ;-)