Bloody Pickfords

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Falcopops · #1 Post by **Falcopops** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:58 pm

Used them to move our kit to Oz, and it's been a bit of a mare.

The container got here (Melbourne) ages ago, but has been waiting for customs and AQUIS (Quarantine) clearance, should take 10 to 20 working days they said.

So on Wednesday I called them to ask why, since this was the 21st day, my stuff hadn't been sent to me.

Apparently it had all been cleared, but my bike would take another 3 weeks to get through customs. I politely (NOT) pointed out that my kids couldn't sleep on a bike so would they kindly arrange for the container to be delivered. So it arrived today (Friday) although it could have been a week earlier, what a bunch of knobs.

So hey ho, the container arrives and the first thing they roll off is the bike. So I'm a little confused although happy enough to have it back.

Then the breakages start to appear and the missing boxes, then the movers start playing up, my wife phoned this blokes boss and told him he best come down and collect the clown before she decked him. Fortunately I was in the garden putting up the kids toys or I may have just phoned an ambulance instead. this twat's version of unpacking was to simply tip boxes out on top of the bed/sofa/table/floor.

Still, got me bike back so it's difficult to be too pissed off for too long.

Samray · #2 Post by **Samray** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:09 pm

Dunno whether to laff or cry.
I guess you feel the same.

DavShill · #3 Post by **DavShill** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:10 pm

Sounds like a nightmare Dale. They just don't seem to appreciate that it's people lives they are packing and unpacking. especially annoying when the relocation is such a major one. Chin up mate - have another cold beer.

falcomunky · #4 Post by **falcomunky** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:43 pm

Serves you right fer nicking-off to warmer/dryer/sunnier climes!

I'd just be glad the bikes got there in one piece! You fired her up/checked her over yet?...

Falcopops · #5 Post by **Falcopops** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:34 am

falcomunky wrote:Serves you right fer nicking-off to warmer/dryer/sunnier climes!
I'd just be glad the bikes got there in one piece! You fired her up/checked her over yet?...

Quick run over with the eye didn't show up any obvious problems, so that's good. The alarm in service mode was still beeping away every 15 seconds (since middle 19th Dec) so the battery was only showing 8.8v.

Pressed the go button, but not surprisingly the relay just rasped at me. plus I had to drain the tank for shipping.

Bunged it on the optimate today and I'll pick up some gas tomorrow and see if she fires up.

#6 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:39 pm

Battery lasted quite well by the sounds of it!

How do spares prices compare over there against what they were in the UK?

Falcopops · #7 Post by **Falcopops** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:25 pm

Kwackerz wrote:Battery lasted quite well by the sounds of it!

How do spares prices compare over there against what they were in the UK?

Not too sure, but I reckon they'll be a bit pricey. was looking to replace a little busted bit of plastic, £40 in the Aprilia Yorkshire catalogue, $120 in Melbourne so even with the exchange rate being about 2.2 it's a bit steep.

Bettery did seem to do ok, bunged it on the optimate for a day and it was showing green again, so poked the starter and even although there's only dregs in the tank it fired and died, so pretty happy really.

Viking · #8 Post by **Viking** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:31 am

Most removalists are twats. The ones I've had dealings with in the past didn't give a toss about whether your stuff was breakable or not.

But on the good side - there should be some warmer weather on the horizon, just in time for FP to get his bike sorted!

Falcopops · #9 Post by **Falcopops** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:41 am

It gets worse!

Got a phone call from Pickfords this morning asking for my bike back!

Apparently they didn’t get quarantine clearance before delivering it because of some paperwork confusion, bloody great!

So now I’ve got to take time off work to get it picked up, it’s all going down in the book to form part of a claim against them.

Trouble is that since it’s been delivered it’s picked up some dust and dirt, admittedly only on the tyres, but the quarantine guys won’t know it’s local dirt so I’ve got to clean it again. However due to a drought I’m not allowed to wash it.

Also it exposes the bike to another couple of trips in a van and the associated loading and unloading and risk of damage.

Don’t feel too inclined to get really grumpy with them while they still have my property, but by god when it’s back in the garage they’re gonna cop a shed load of abuse and associated claim.

Yours grumpily

Falcopops

#10 Post by **Kwackerz** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:34 pm

Deny all knowledge. Bike? Nope.. not had a bike...

Strip yours for spares and get a new one off the insurance..

paddyz1 · #11 Post by **paddyz1** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:43 pm

Kwackerz wrote:Deny all knowledge. Bike? Nope.. not had a bike...

Strip yours for spares and get a new one off the insurance..

Viking · #12 Post by **Viking** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:44 pm

Yay! NOT!

You have to love those dopey paper pushers....

Falcopops · #13 Post by **Falcopops** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:28 am

It gets worse, by the minute. I spoke to Pickfords again today to see when quarantine would release the bike, they were supposed to see it on Wednesday, but apparently they’re not done yet and due to the holiday on Monday they won’t get back to it until next Wednesday (I’m not holding my breath though).

Then the agent says if it’s ok then you can pick it up!

That’s going to be a tad awkward says I, as it’s not registered, doesn’t have Oz number plates and isn’t insured, besides I’ve paid for door to door service.

So she says that they don’t do this and they aren’t covered to deliver vehicles. When I queried how they managed to do it the 1st time and then took it back again, she admitted that they weren’t covered.

Really fills me with confidence. But I’ll be buggered if I’m going to pay out more or take the risk of getting it from the port.

The saga continues……

#14 Post by **Kwackerz** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:56 pm

What a shower of sh*t!

Collecting vehicles that theyre not insured to carry, not informing the customer...

Smacks of incompetence and a bit of a slap coming their way.

Falcopops · #15 Post by **Falcopops** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:05 am

At last it’s in my possession for keeps, hopefully.

$40 for an unregistered permit for 4 days V's $200 for them to deliver it, so I went and picked it up from pickfords warehouse this morning, then had to make a bit of a dash to the engineers shop to get it checked over. Took him about 10 minutes (including writing up the paperwork) to give it the OK. Then on to a motorcycle shop to get it roadworthied. A bit like the MOT in the UK, but a bit more rigorous.

The bloody thing failed on tyres and chain. I destroyed the tyres on the monotonous trip back from Monza and the tight spot in the chain explains the chugging sensation.

Still nice blokes didn’t write it up and are getting me a set of Conti road attacks, I’ll do the sprockets and chain myself. Unfortunately there’s bugger all chance of that happening before Thursday, when I’m supposed to be getting it registered and when my unregistered permit runs out – arse!

Still nearly there. Noticed that the side stand is as stiff as all hell and hitting the exhaust. Now I took a lot of care fitting the GSXR stand and on inspection found the tilter plate has got a crack in it at the bend. Luckily I have a spare, but pickfords will be charged for a new one anyway. Doesn’t seem to be any other damage though.