Getting the Kymco Super 8 (Part 2: The Caloocan Experience)

(Continued from: Part1: Serious Buyer?)

Over at 10th Ave. Caloocan, it felt like the "Banawe" of motorcycles as the entire street was lined with shops and stalls of all sizes selling bikes, gear and all sorts of accessories (though I doubt if all of them are genuine).


I went to another "prominent" store which distributes Kymco Motorcycles and asked around. What a big difference in service! Well, they don't have A/C, it was dusty, and noisy with all the motos driving by. But the place was great and the nice sales lady was very accomodating asking which model we liked and if we were buying in cash or installment.


Getting via financing was appealing with a low downpayment and even lower monthly amortization. It was like paying for your celphone bill. The catch was they required several documents, you'll undergo a certain C.I., and if approved, then you come back another day to claim the unit. Now, this feels more like buying a car (without the snacks at the lounge).


Then by chance, I asked if they accepted credit cards (which even the other prominent shop did not accept). And they said, YES! And they even have a Promo! The promo goes like this:

• No Documents Required  (Well, they asked if they can photocopy my driver's license)
• No Downpayment
• 0% Interest for 12 Months on the Unit Price (Though I think they give a discount for outright cash sale so the unit price for card sale is a bit higher)

For real? I was skeptical at first and thought it was a scam. Well until I gave my card and they asked us to inspect the unit as they installed the battery and loaded some gas.


That was a great deal. I didn't give pay any cash out whatsoever for that sale. And that really made my day.



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Getting the Kymco Super 8 (Part 1: Serious Buyer?)

As I was decided in which bike to get, I together with couple of guys went around the metro looking for motorbike shops and checking the prices.


I particularly preferred a certain "prominent" shop on EDSA as it was near the office. Although their prices were generally higher by couple of thousand, with the convenience of having the shop nearby (for processing papers, eventual servicing, warranties, etc.) it seemed like a good deal. Well, until I actually went to the shop.


It was a generally nice place, with a large selection of bikes on display with service bays on one side. As we were looking around, I noticed that the sales agents didn't mind us being there, nor did they offer any assistance (at least at first). We didn't mind either.


When we started handling the bikes, on occasion me getting on and off to check if it "felt" right, an agent approached us asking us not to sit on the bikes and stop taking photos of me on them. Well, as I can't see how I looked on the bike, I asked a friend to take photos of me so I can see how my body proportions to the bike's size.


Okay. But how would I see if its a good fit? Not as if they had a large mirror in front of the bike.


Also, when I asked about the bike's specs, handling, features, their suggestions, etc. an agent even said that their opinion doesn't matter as I was the one who will be buying.


Huh? Some customer service you have. Humor the customer at least, ei?
That's that. Off to another shop. I can't help but wonder, maybe they have so many clients already and a few minutes with a newbie is a waste of their time. Didn't I look like a serious buyer?


I remember buying a car, the agents even had snacks prepared in an airconditioned lounge even turning the pages for you as you sign the sales agreement. Not the case here, and I wasn't buying a car.


So I guess I had to follow what everyone was suggesting, go buy in Caloocan. I hestiated at this idea as this was far from, well everywhere I go to and I was worried to ride the new bike home from an unfamiliar place. But when a friend offered to ride to bike to my house, I became eager to go...

(See Part 2: The Caloocan Experience)


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