Having read many posts about Top-Notch dealers, I feel compelled to relay my little story about a most positive experience I had. This is my experience, and opinion only. I hope it's not taken as bad taste.
In early July of this year, I contacted Pete Hatfield, of Hatfield Motorsports in Muscatine Iowa about buying an ABS 06 GL1800. At that time my 03 wing had 68K on the clock, and we discussed it's trade in value. His formula for trades was Very impressive!! He stated that he'd give me full retail for my bike, and sell me a new one at dealer invoice. Needless to say, I became Quite excited, and started seriously figuring which color, and opttions I wanted.
I knew I'd drive him crazy, as I was changing my mind every other day. He went so far as to dealer trade on my behalf for the bike I wanted. First it was gold, premium audio only, then white airbag, then black, and on and on we went. All the time Hatfield was surprisingly understanding with my indecisive ways. Yep, he sold these bikes, but he still went out of his way to get them for me. By the way, I'm over 700 miles from Pete's place, and he did all this for someone he's never met.
Now we're into late August, so I told Pete I might as well wait for the 07 models to come out. Friendly and chipper as usual he concurred, and promised to call me from the dealer show, to inform me of the new colors, options. Sure enough Sept 8th or 9th, the very night of the show, he called with the info on the new ones.
Once again, I acted like a school girl, deciding what I want. Poor Hatfield's endurance was of Titanic proportion!! Finally, I researched myself to death, and went for a bright silver ABS. I loved that color in 05, but wasn't ready to trade then. Pete ordered my bike and forwarded me thec shipping date from Honda of Oct 16.
Jumping ahead a bit, I had Pete and his crew install the accessories I deemed a must have. Once again, this list changed every other day, until we finally got it right.
I decided to trailer the bike to Iowa, as my wife was joining me, and the weather's a Huge question this time of year. November 10th at 3:30 am, we left Amherst NY on our 725 mile trek.
Well, the weather turned to pouring rain, somewhere in Indianna, and lasted the rest of the trip. The right hand mirror flew off somewhere, and my bike was a mess by the time we got there. Pete took a quick look see, then proceeded with the paperwork. He never even mentioned the fact that the 03 now had 75K on it. I looked over my new scoot, and was very pleased at the meticulous installation of my accessories. I was also surprised by the size of his showroom, with many new wings on display.
We loaded the 07 up and were ready to roll, when Hatfield insisted on taking us out for one of the best steak dinners I've ever had.
The trip home was totally miserable, with pouring rain all the way, except for maybe 5 minutes of just drizzle. My poor new bike got drenched in every possible nook and cranny. Got home, unloaded it, fired it up, and pulled it into the garage, absolutely drained.
A couple days later, after looking the bike over thoroughly, I realized I forgot to order frame covers for it. I gave Ol' Pete a call, and he said he'd email me the price later. Two days later, the UPS man shows up, and inside the package was a set of the framecovers I inquired about. Not only that, I found the paperwork for the extended warranty in the box. I called Pete shortly thereafter to find out how much I owed him, and his only reply was "On the house my friend". I just about wet my drawers with that statement.
To sum up this novel, I just want to Thank Pete Hatfield for everything he did to make this long distance transaction, more than I could have ever imagined!! I got a Perfect new bike, a far better than fair trade in allowance, along with service and treatment one saves for their family or best of friends. A testimonial from me does Not come easily, but this big hearted, Gem of a man, deserves it 200%!! I foresee a few more trips out that way in the future.
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING PETE!!
YOU ARE A SPECIAL BREED INDEED!!!!
In early July of this year, I contacted Pete Hatfield, of Hatfield Motorsports in Muscatine Iowa about buying an ABS 06 GL1800. At that time my 03 wing had 68K on the clock, and we discussed it's trade in value. His formula for trades was Very impressive!! He stated that he'd give me full retail for my bike, and sell me a new one at dealer invoice. Needless to say, I became Quite excited, and started seriously figuring which color, and opttions I wanted.
I knew I'd drive him crazy, as I was changing my mind every other day. He went so far as to dealer trade on my behalf for the bike I wanted. First it was gold, premium audio only, then white airbag, then black, and on and on we went. All the time Hatfield was surprisingly understanding with my indecisive ways. Yep, he sold these bikes, but he still went out of his way to get them for me. By the way, I'm over 700 miles from Pete's place, and he did all this for someone he's never met.
Now we're into late August, so I told Pete I might as well wait for the 07 models to come out. Friendly and chipper as usual he concurred, and promised to call me from the dealer show, to inform me of the new colors, options. Sure enough Sept 8th or 9th, the very night of the show, he called with the info on the new ones.
Once again, I acted like a school girl, deciding what I want. Poor Hatfield's endurance was of Titanic proportion!! Finally, I researched myself to death, and went for a bright silver ABS. I loved that color in 05, but wasn't ready to trade then. Pete ordered my bike and forwarded me thec shipping date from Honda of Oct 16.
Jumping ahead a bit, I had Pete and his crew install the accessories I deemed a must have. Once again, this list changed every other day, until we finally got it right.
I decided to trailer the bike to Iowa, as my wife was joining me, and the weather's a Huge question this time of year. November 10th at 3:30 am, we left Amherst NY on our 725 mile trek.
Well, the weather turned to pouring rain, somewhere in Indianna, and lasted the rest of the trip. The right hand mirror flew off somewhere, and my bike was a mess by the time we got there. Pete took a quick look see, then proceeded with the paperwork. He never even mentioned the fact that the 03 now had 75K on it. I looked over my new scoot, and was very pleased at the meticulous installation of my accessories. I was also surprised by the size of his showroom, with many new wings on display.
We loaded the 07 up and were ready to roll, when Hatfield insisted on taking us out for one of the best steak dinners I've ever had.
The trip home was totally miserable, with pouring rain all the way, except for maybe 5 minutes of just drizzle. My poor new bike got drenched in every possible nook and cranny. Got home, unloaded it, fired it up, and pulled it into the garage, absolutely drained.
A couple days later, after looking the bike over thoroughly, I realized I forgot to order frame covers for it. I gave Ol' Pete a call, and he said he'd email me the price later. Two days later, the UPS man shows up, and inside the package was a set of the framecovers I inquired about. Not only that, I found the paperwork for the extended warranty in the box. I called Pete shortly thereafter to find out how much I owed him, and his only reply was "On the house my friend". I just about wet my drawers with that statement.
To sum up this novel, I just want to Thank Pete Hatfield for everything he did to make this long distance transaction, more than I could have ever imagined!! I got a Perfect new bike, a far better than fair trade in allowance, along with service and treatment one saves for their family or best of friends. A testimonial from me does Not come easily, but this big hearted, Gem of a man, deserves it 200%!! I foresee a few more trips out that way in the future.
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING PETE!!
YOU ARE A SPECIAL BREED INDEED!!!!
