Warning of Touratech in Lima
 

Hi to all motorcycle travelers in South America!
This is my experience with Touratech in Lima: I got a set of new tires from them, and while there, I also asked for an oil change. The bill was a bit unpleasant: they charged 170 Euro for the oil change. The price of the oil was 45 Euro, and the filter costs 10 Euro in Europe. Say it costs 25 in Lima, that still leaves 100 Euro for the labour. This is an absolute ridiculous price for an oil change!
After complaining, I got 30 Euro back. This was by far most expensive oil change I had anywhere in North and South America, as well as in Europe and Asia.

I reported this to Touratech in Germany. First they ignored me. Later on they replied and said they have to check, but never came back to me and continued ignoring my emails.

This was the last time for me to deal with Touratech. I am happy with paying a fair price for a service. But I don't like to get cheated.

Go to any other place in South America for an oil change - it will save you 100 Euro.

Not a surprise, Touratech UK have a similar business model. They seem to be franchises so TT Germany have no control.

May I ask why you chose to use them instead of a local name?

Andy

Hi Andy,
I choose them because they had the tires i needed on stock. And as I was already there and needed an oil change, i had it done there. I didn't expect that they charge such a high price for a small thing like an oil change.
Lessons learned - I would never go back there.

Seems this is a common thing with Touratech. As I read in facebook, they are doing similar things at Touratech Buenos Aires.

not to be flippant, but the real lesson to be learned here is ask for price (proforma in spanish, gets you a written quote) BEFOREHAND, especially while traveling in central and south america, where the M.O. is often gringo pricing. any place that refuses to give you a proforma should be thee last place you have work done.

Sorry to read of your unpleasant bill, but tally with Teevee on this. I would feel it is time for me to stop travelling if I got caught like that.doh In fact to be honest it aint really a travel thing, it's just everyday common sense as far as I'm concerned - agree cost up front for everything. Every £$€ spent... is less tank fuel remember
But one good thing has come out of it, you won't pay €170 for an oil change again, ever :thumbup1:

Ever take a Taxi in CA or SA?
 

Its like getting into a taxi in any CA or SA country and not asking the fare BEFORE you get in! I learned the hard way, after I hired a taxi in Mexico to take me to the store, he asked if I wanted him to wait, I figured sure, I should get a discount for the return fare,,, wrong, he charged me double,:mchappy:

HA! yeah, taxis. spent a little more time than i had planned to in a cigar bar/funhouse in panama city. my hotel was only a short walk away, but it was pouring down like MAD. so i did the smart thing and jumped into a cab sitting feet from the front door.


since it was literally a 3 block ride, i figured it'd be 2-2.50 max. arrive at hotel and ask the guy how much. he tells me with a dead serious voice, $10. i literally laughed, tossed $2 into his lap, told him to call a cop if he felt he was robbed, and walked into the lobby.


truth is like jeff says, always ask first.

Of course I asked for the price before I got the oil change done. I always ask for the price before I get something done. After traveling the world for many years I know to do that.

Without going into too much confusing details: the price he quoted was partly in Dollar, partly in Pesos, and add ons appeared. It was made a bit confusing, and only after I got the bill I realized the real amount.

I don´t want to open a discussion here about asking for the price before you get something - I think everybody knows to do that. I just want to warn other travelers of how Touratech is dealing with customers.

Good experience
 

I actually had a great experience with them a few years back, when they were just getting started in their new building,, I stopped in each time I visited Lima to update my GPS chip, (fantastic) and buy a few supplies. They were quite active in the ADV riders.
I understand your complaints, I found that dealers and representatives, are usually priced higher, but you pay the price for their convenience, hopefully this is just an isolated experience, it would be great to hear their response, I think you meant soles, not pesos?

I think this thread just reminds us all of our experiences in our journeys, of situations where we think we were had, and actually been had, BUT also of some of the great help we received either free, at a moments notice, or the just plain great service at CA or SA prices. ah yes,:innocent: the memories!!!

I also had a disappointing experience with TT in Lima. I had my bike there for some overhauling. After getting my bike back, and paying the (not so cheap) bill, I figured out that they charged me for a lot of things what they actually did not replace. When I complained, they were ... let's put it in nice words .... nor very cooperative.

Friend of mine had a similar experience with TT in BA 2 years ago. Charging a lot of money for a job which they had not done.

I wonder if TT headquarters in Germany has any say in that. When I complained, they said they have to talk with them first. And then I never heard from TT again, even I sent them several mails.
:thumbdown:

Careful please
 

Touratech as a trademark is one thing, they design and manufacture top of the line products, and a local garage/shop over pricing foreigners seen as walking wallets is another. Real men change both, tyres and oil.

[QUOTE=Squire;607106 Real men change both, tyres and oil.[/QUOTE]

Often when travelling it is difficult to dispose of used oil and tyres responsibly - particularly on a bike.