Norton motorcycles warning

[Conniff]

I think we all wished the company to succeed, no one wanted to see it go down the pan. It suffered from the same disease as a lot of companies, lack of communication. Tell the buyer what is happening so they are in the picture. If the product is good enough to make someone prepared to wait, they will understand.

Just don't fob off would be customers.

 

It is nice to see the deliveries now filtering through and I hope we get all posters returning to say they have had their order fulfilled, and how pleased they are with the product.

 

We wish the company well and may it go from strength to strength.

[tubalific]

I was thinking about buying one but having read the Bikerglory piece and after talking to other people who have experience of Norton I wouldn't buy one in a million years! Such a shame and a disgusting way to treat such an iconic brand.

[Conniff]

If things are picking up, then sticking to a priciple is only punishing yourself.

[Conniff]

By PM from tubalific

 

Pathetic! Last time I'll even bother visiting your site.

 

Your choice, bye bye.

[liddelljohn]

I ordered a commando 961 in May 2010 paid a deposit then in july 2011 was asked to increase that to 50% as bike was in production ???? to be delivers within 4 weeks now dec 2012 and still not delivered !!!!!!!! It is only the case that i am working overseas this year that has stopped me from taking legal action to recover my money ,perhaps the bike will be ready when i am back in UK in march ??? almost 2 1/2 years what a joke oh and only communucation from them is when money required????? I notice that people who ordered bikes after me have had bikes delivered already , i phoned the factory last week but got no positive answers they said they would expedite my bike if i completely paid the other 50% in full ,i said no I will pay on delivery only.

 

JCL

[Conniff]

Welcome to the forum Liddeljohn, It's a shame it's under these circumstances.

 

Keep in mind that if you should request a refund of monies paid, you can add 8% interest to it.

[liddelljohn]

when i get back to Uk i will visit the factory ,see whats afoot , have a look around and then decide what to do

[h2al]

I waited 2yrs and 10 months for my bike and like EVERYONE else that waited, THANK GOD I DID ! please take my advice-be patient,keep phoning them, and wait for your bike ! It WILL be worth it !

[Conniff]

Two years and ten months is an absolutely stupid time to be forced to wait.

 

I would advise anyone placing an order to make the time quoted for delivery a 'time of the essence' contract where you can end the contract if the quoted time is overrun, get a refund of all monies paid 'and' claim damages.

[h2al]

I can totally agree with that... but things with Norton seem to be MUCH better now....and i'm sure no one will have to wait THAT long now...All i can say is if you really want to own a new Norton, hang on in there because it WILL be worth it !

[liddelljohn]

I arrived in the UK yesterday and called Norton today , Bike is still not ready and no firm delivery date. just more flannel , I have completely lost confidence and patience so I have cancelled my order and will commence recovery of my 50% deposit and interest , I will be ordering a new Ducati monster EVO 1100 soon for the spring at least they are in stock at the dealers .

[Conniff]

You are entitled to claim 8% statutory interest.

[liddelljohn]

You are entitled to claim 8% statutory interest.

 

thanks for reminding me , i am preparing a submission with my solicitor on monday ,

 

sad really .

[Conniff]

It is sad, a wonderful product with a good name. If there is a genuine reason for these delays, (and I don't doubt there is), why not come clean and say so, communication is 60% of not just keeping a customer satisfied, but keeping a customer full stop, and you have just reinforced that point.

[david shiner]

Dear Sir,

I am sorry you have experienced such a nightmare with Norton. I too have major problems with the company. I purchased a bike last November, drove it 20 kilometers and then it broke down. Oil leaked into the piston chamber. It has been sitting for two months in a workshop in Munich and nothing has been done. It's a long story. Let's just say Norton has bee useless during this entire time. Lovely people to speak with but nothing gets done.

 

As a passionate motorcyclist for more years than I care to remember. I write to inform you and your readership of an issue of concern which is casting long shadows over the iconic British manufacturing name of Norton, which is now in it's latest incarnation and owned by multimillionaire Stuart Garner. This issue appears not to be an isolated case and is affecting other people. Firstly for the record, I would like to point out that I am a Norton and British engineering nut! I drive a Landrover and am lucky enough to own a 1970 Norton Commando 750 Roadster. I have owned a large number of sports bikes over the years, but the Norton has remained my pride and joy. So no one could have been more happy than me, when Stuart Garner took over Norton and promised to produce a new version of the legendary Norton Commando, which had been an American concept bike for several years.

 

Therefore when the opportunity arose in 2009 to order a Commando, I paid my £1,600 deposit and supported Stuart Garners vision and Norton. As the initial letters I have from Norton confirm the bikes were supposed to be ready in the second half of 2009, but this was later amended to early 2010. However, as with any new product or design, Norton hit problems and as a firm supporter I was not concerned or surprised when this date had slippage for various reasons.

 

In March 2010, I received a letter from Norton, signed by Stuart Garner, thanking people who had placed deposits for their continued support and not to believe rumours about Norton's financial position. Apart from asking me for the balance, this is the only communication initiated by Norton which I have received in over two years.

 

In November 2010, I received a phone call from Norton asking me for the said balance and I again backed the brand and put up the remaining £14,395, as the build date for my bike was imminent (weeks away).

 

In fact the only real Norton initiated communication I have had in over two years, is to ask me for money (which I paid in full) and the one letter from Stuart Garner apologising in March 2010, all of the rest of the communication has been initiated by me. In December 2010 my wife and I were lucky enough to have a new addition to the family and with no sign of the bike, I called Norton to check on progress. I asked if I could have my delivery in March 2011. In February and March I spoke to Chris Walker (STALKER of British Superbike fame) and I understood that Norton were under pressure getting bikes out and so I agreed to wait until April/May at the latest. All of the communications and updates were initiated by me calling Norton. The only phone call I have had from anyone at Norton is from a saleswomen asking me for money.

 

I would like to state that everyone I have spoken to at Norton have been extremely nice people. However none of the promises have been fulfilled and it is always left to the customer to initiate enquiries and find out what is going on. A worrying sign is that there is a very regular turn over of staff who appear to deal with sales enquiries at Norton.

In April/May 2011 after 9 failed attempts and unreturned phone calls from various individuals at Norton, I eventually spoke to the latest two chaps that they have in sales. These chaps were again very nice people, but never return customers calls. In May I was eventually told that my bike will not be ready for another two and a half months, because of problems with parts from the States. This represented another British summer without riding my Norton and I felt it was unacceptable that no one at Norton felt it was necessary to call me or other customers to inform them.

 

The latest two and a half month delay was not definite date and by this time I had no faith in any prediction Norton gave whatsoever. For me it was the final straw and after over two years of waiting and unreturned phone calls and missed promises I had to draw a line under this completely unacceptable level of customer service and communication. Something which should have been a complete pleasure to participate in has turned into a nightmare.

 

Therefore very regrettably on May 10th 2011, I asked for my money to be refunded. I did this via e-mail direct to Stuart Garner (company owner and CEO) and copied my plight to the Norton owners Club. Norton contacted me apologised promised and indeed guaranteed me my refund. To date nothing has materialised and Norton will not respond to e-mails or telephone calls. I have therefore had to seek legal advice.

 

Now one might be tempted to think that this is a one off and that I am one of those unreasonable types, who is only giving you only part of the story, and is always on the phone complaining .... However in a weird coincidence I moved house in October last year and my new neighbour also had a Commando on order. Sadly his experience has been EXACTLY the same as mine, with phone calls not being answered or returned and when they are, very nice people making promises which are never kept. We have also been in a very unique position and have had blatant examples of me being told different things (delay because of crank cases) and him promised (your bike will be ready in a few weeks).

 

Simon very recently received his bike after shouting and swearing at Norton down the phone and threatening legal action. I have also heard from the editor of Roadholder (which is the Norton Owners Club magazine), that he is aware of other such cases.

 

As I stated at the beginning of the letter I am a lifelong Norton fan, who has backed the brand. However I feel my loyalty, trust and patience has been totally abused by the new Norton company. They have never made any attempt to keep me or my neighbour abreast of any changes or delays and it has been up to us to attempt to find out what is going on, after promises have failed to come to fruition. I simply cannot believe that my neighbour and I are the only customers who have been treated so shoddily and am sure that if this matter is investigated you will hear from others.

 

Neither the bike or my promised refund of 16K has arrived and I have forwarded you my communication with Norton, so that you can see how unscrupulous they are being with their customers, in not fulfilling what they promise.

 

Sadly I am not a rich chap and with a 6 month old daughter I cannot afford to be 16K out of pocket with no bike to show for it. I certainly don't want other bikers to be in this situation.There is also the damage that is being inflicted on a proud British name, by such practises. Any assistance or advice would be very greatly appreciated.

 

 

With best regards

[david shiner]

Is anyone informed about the problems with the Norton Engines? Apparently the parts they send for repairs are not working out. It seems to be a flaw in the motor design.

[Bootneck45]

Is anyone informed about the problems with the Norton Engines? Apparently the parts they send for repairs are not working out. It seems to be a flaw in the motor design.

The worry is that they launched the bike with one engine but now make the SF model with an 'all new engine made in house'.

Does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling.