Modern Vespa

Second time in a week somebody has had their license plate frame taken off by a new dealer down here.

WTF is that? That is people's personal shit and they have no right, ehh?

Anyway I mailed some to our MV OC girl and this guy today got his back from us.

I wish these newbie dealer's would stop tagging people's bikes and earn their name straight up, it ain't easy.

Thanks for the vent.

SDG

That sucks. I'd be pretty pissed, too. That's a part of the scooter nobody but the owner should have any business messing with. The closest I would dare to mess with a plate or its frame would be to tell the owner if it looked like they were about to loose a bolt.

I have a plate frame that was given to me by a local dealer that I really like, during a rally. It's shiney chromed plastic, I have no problem telling everyone I like that dealer, so I went ahead and put it on. I went to my original dealer that I don't like so much, but have a prepaid service contract with. They didn't take the other dealer's plate frame off, but they did leave one of their own sitting in the pet carrier when they finished servicing my scoot (which I thought odd, since they didn't give me one when I bought the scooter in the first place). It isn't shiney chrome, and I don't like them, so it's just sitting in my garage taking up space. I'm saving it for a day when I'm seriously pissed off and feel the need to break something.

took my new to me scooter in to a dealer in Ft. Worth, TX today to get the State safety inspection done. I asked him about a device to place the decal on. He said I have a plain one that I sell or I will give you one with my name on. your choice. I have no problem with free and so he put his on there. There wasn't anything to remove. I asked him what keeps folks from just putting his on back wards-so the writing doesn't show and he laughed and said" Nothing, but it would be nice if you waited until you got out the door. " since everyone there was quite nice I will just leave it alone. Especially since I bought my first Vespa form a dealer in Fort Worth in 1963. Not the same guys but about the same attitude. PG

Now THAT is awesome !! Bought his first Vespa 46 years ago, I am humbled. You bought it the year before I was born.

SDG

So why are your customers at other dealers ?

Well hopefully your question is sincere.

They aren't "my" customers, they purchased bikes from our companies however and most are very loyal to us when logisitics and geography allows..

The first gal has an old school Vespa Of California frame of which about 5000 bikes have been sold and she lives near them and far from us.

The guy today bought a very rare GT60 from me 3 months ago and decided to try them for service since he lives 3 blocks away.

It's hard for some to get 40-50 miles up for a service interval and we have no problem with assisting over the phone with what they need done and trust it can be done well. Stealing license plates wouldn't be part of that.

Best,
SDG

For a while, that was done up here among the local dealers for sport. I heard a story of dealers mailing back the frames to the original dealer, just to brag.

Stealing license plates frames not cool. this also happens at the Harley Dealers when taking a bike for service.

My Los Angeles Harley Davidson was changed for a Fullerton. somehow just dose not sound as cool. now I just have a plain chrome pepboys cheap frame


I went to fullerton before a trip since I could not make it to my dealer in time.

Meh. I've never been fond of dealers (whether it be cars or scooters or pogo sticks) using the vehicle I paid for to advertise their business. If the other dealers were merely removing the license plate frame, I'd probably be ecstatic. Unfortunately, they're generally swapping one frame for another.

In any case, I'm having a hard time getting worked up about it. I think it's kind of funny, actually.

There was a Cowtown dealer in '63? I missed that one and the new one!

I remove all dealer plate frames for my stuff I just put black or chrome on

Oh I certainly agree with this however regardless of what one thinks of the frames they are personal property, that is the real issue. The rest, absolutely however you know occasionally peeps are proud of their dealerships.

Just my .02 cents.
SDG

I am originally from Denton, Tx. My dad taught at North Texas and when I decided that I HAD to have a motorcycle-a totally trashed out BSA some neighbor had-he asked some of his students and they said a Vespa was a better deal. SO we drove to FT. Worth, way out on Camp Bowie Blvd. and I got the Blue one. Paid $450 bucks for it and then got on and rode back home. I had never ridden one, barely knew how to do anything but after about 40 miles I was set. I was 16 I guess. I only wish I hadn't waited so long to get the second one.

oh forget it

heh... i've got a STACK of dealer plate frames from all over...

i keep mulling over sending them back to the site of origination but i'm too cheap to cover the shipping.

the good ones, though, i hang on the wall.

FTR, though, i usually tell my clients that i'll be removing their frame. generally it's just fine considering that by the time people find me they're usually fed up with dealer shenanigans anyway.

best,
-greasy

I was too then I got the bill. I dont care about a dealership plate frame I'm talking about when we go to a store and buy our own frame and its removed. the other frame is just a cheap piece of crap.

Couldn't said it better myself

I just bought a new Honda Accord and the 1st thing that came off was the plate frame that said Honda World of Downey. Not personal to them but it was plastic and cheap looking. As for me I like a good Indie mechanic, that has the time to sit and talk shoot the shit. Not worry about a time card or commission.

At the end of the day I bet the customers new that the frame was being change. Stealing license plates frames I'm not sure this happens, it more like a trade.

There's less plate frame shenanigans over here. Under current UK law, the name and postcode of the plate supplier must be shown at the bottom of the plate.

This means new vehicles have the dealer's name marked on the number plate itself. If you wanted to remove the name you'd have swap out the whole plate (or obscure it with a sticker maybe).

At least nowadays it is just a license plate frame. Remember years ago they would put a chrome badge or sticker on your car to advertise their dealership. That would piss me off.

And that's exactly what happened to me, at a dealer in West Wickham I won't be returning to. They took off the plate from my old dealer (who closed down, hence my going elsewhere) and put their own on. When I asked for the old one back, since it was after all my property, they told me they'd destroyed it as a legal requirement.

They made a pretty lousy job of whatever it was I'd asked them to do (I forget), too.

Boy was I cross.

My dealer put on his frame when I bought it and said if I came in for service and it was still there, I'd get a 10% discount. At least that way I'm getting paid for advertising!

I like that!

I'm just impressed you guys are getting something free from your dealer. I've never even been offered a t-shirt!

Really Greg, even when you bought your scooters from them? When I bought my LX 150, I got two t shirts.

Same as Jess since we live in the same area and I might have been one of the people to parrot the "sending them back" stories.

I was ok with it until someone removed my "vespa of Santa Barbara" frame at a service - that was a keepsake from my first long ride. Replaced it with their dealership and that just kinda bugged.

I've bought two scooters from them. I'm now due 4 t-shirts! That's practically a new wardrobe!

We agree.

The one time I bought a new car I insisted they not badge the rear of it with one of those stupid dealer badges on the trunk, nor add dealer decals to the trunk.

The first place refused, so I went to another dealer.

My rationale? I'm driving around advertising your business. I am giving you free advertisement. BS. If you want me to advertise you can pay me. Knock another $2K off the vehicle if you need advertisements that badly.

Same reason I won't wear a shirt with the name of the manufacturer broadcast over it.

Thats still done here in the midwest, and south

that might have to be met with peeing on the offender.

Totally serious. I think I'd have to.

99% of the cars I see have some sort of dealer badge or advertisement on the back.

Here in Califorina you only get a plate frame not a badge or decal

I'd be writing that into the purchase agreement for them NOT to stick as nasty label with the dealership name on it.

I'm not sure if they have it on the car before the sale. but I don't like a badge on my car or bikes. I pay enough for the stuff in the first place.

well this thread not going to make any sence once it gets a disemboweling,

That sucks, Bobby's frames are very nice.

SDG

I'm a little confused.......bear with me I'm from Oz and have never heard about this sort of thing.

Why are the licence plate frames being stolen? How do people know who is doing it? Are they getting charged with stealing?

Car dealerships in LA do it too. I've had BMW Santa Monica replace my BMW Long Beach plate with one of theirs.

Thing is, while I prefer the city of Santa Monica to Long Beach, the Santa Monica dealership is, umm, 'lacking'....

It's a joke between dealers. Many dealers put a license plate frame on a scooter/motorcycle/car as a way to advertise their dealership.

If you take your scooter/motorcycle/car to a DIFFERENT dealership then the new one will likely remove the old plate frame and put one advertising their business on instead.

It's a little dealer joke between dealers - but if you happen to have a dealer frame that is special to you (your first car, or your dad's dealership) then it could piss you off.

Most people never even realize theirs has been switched.

So much for loyal customers at the end of the day we look for the best service and deal "Plate frame or not". I'm not even sure why a Dealer would post such nonsence. Im almost 100% positive a shop or a dealer would not remove a frame that has a value anyway, Brass, chrome,SS steal. gold you name it. I'm sure it was just plastic.

I'm sure that any dealer would give you a new plastic frame anyway.