For the last couple of years I had been obsessed by the idea of owning a new Vespa GTS 250. I thought that it was the ultimate do-it-all scooter. A modern Vespa, classy, sleek, powerful. I wanted one really bad and decided that this was the year to fulfill my dream. So, what stopped me from buying the GTS and turned me toward the P250?
In one word, “attitudes”.
My local Vespa dealer, in more than one visit to his shop, indicated that he couldn’t’t care less if I bought a Vespa from him. One small example is when I asked him to call me when a new gray GTS that supposedly was already on order came in. He said that it would be better if I just called him “every once in while to check on it” since I was more likely to remember to call
him than he was to call me. When I called him five days after this conversation, he sounded irritated and told me that he didn’t mean for me to call him so soon. Remember that he had told me that the GTS was already on order and was due any time and that I had repeatedly told him that I wanted the next one that hit the door. Needless to say, this Vespa dealer is not
the dealer from whom I am going to buy anything. I guess they are making more money as a Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Triumph & BMW dealer than from their not-in-stock Vespas.
Contrast the attitude of that Vespa dealer to the attitude of my newly discovered KYMCO dealer. They are exclusively a scooter dealership, no motorcycles. These folks were friendly, knowledgeable, candid about the pluses and minuses of various models, happy to answer all my questions, and passionate about both KYMCO & Genuine scooters in particular and scooting in general. They also wanted to be sure that I purchased the scooter that would best fit my needs rather than what would make them the most money or help to clear out their floor stock. In fact, they had a wineberry P250 on the floor but when I told them that I liked it but would really rather have a gray one, they did not try to talk me into the wine P250 but said that they would be happy to order me whatever I wanted. They also told me their personal choices on helmets, top boxes and other accessories that were not the most expensive ones they stocked. They even offered to deliver my new P250 by trailer to my house. Pretty impressive considering this KYMCO dealer is 110 miles from me!
So, I considered all the above and the many postings on modvern vespa.com and other sites complaining about PiaggioUSA’s failure to timely deliver not only accessories as basic as windscreens & top boxes but also spare parts. I also considered the reputation that KYMCO and their US distributor have built for reliability and customer service. Suddenly my decision of which scooter to buy from which dealer became a much easier one.
I decided on and ordered a gray P250, a Givi top-box and a flip-up full-face helmet. I’m almost ready to ride!
Hello sir we the person holding the Automobile in Chennai…and we need the piggio Ape Spare’s deler ship…so kindly make it as a posible and our contact no is:9940457201 and 9791172449 address no:603, Fire station road, T.N.H.B, Avadi Chennai – 600054….
Kymco is a good scooter comparing to japanese scooter in Indonesia. Biofir is right, the dealership here not as good as other country, only few dealer has good reputation, such Kymco Dutamatic in Bandung, They’re ready to serve you with smile and good attitude.
Hey, why don’t you come by to our community:
Kymco Community
Kymco is going bankrupt in Indonesia, dealers are closing one by one, I hope Kymco International will take over the Kymco Distribution here coz the current company sucks!
You know not all Vespa dealerships are the same. Here in Southern California, we have a few dealerships. I live near Santa Barbara and the owner for that dealership has the same mentality as the prick from the above dealership. He simply didn’t care and very arrogant. I went to Thousand Oaks and the owner was very accomodating and friendly. She answered all my questions and I highly suggest her. I always wanted a Vespa so I decided not to let one prick ruin my dream.
I tried them all, my Kymco People 250 seems like a Cadillac compared to other scooters. I’m Italian, but the Vespa cannot compare with the reliability, handling, and performance of the Kymco People 250.
I bought mine without test driving it because I couldn’t find a dealer in Las Vegas in 2006 and had to drive to St. George, UT. to buy it. It was also special ordered because they just started becoming Available and none were in the showroom. I was amazingly thrilled at the performance!
The most important factor in buying it was the 16″ wheels. My life is on the line out there and I want something that feels very secure and sturdy. I previously owned a Yamaha Riva 180 with the typical small scooter wheels (as Vespa also has), and the handling was risky compared to the Kymco…
here in the hollyland the dealer is the same for both…
here in the holyland the dealer is the same for both…
here in the holyland the dealer is the same for both…
Does anyone know where in the USA I can purchase a Vespa Piaggio APE 50?
Thx!
This might be as silly question but i don’t have much knowledge of scooters. I brother used to have a new 125 vespa and airbrushed the panels which i thought looked stunning at the time (around late eighties, early nineties)
Do they still make the Vespa T5?? Or have they all been replaced now with plastic, lol
Wow…this is a surprising post considering the name of your blog.
What a shame for Vespa. With “customer service” like that it would seem that they have a hard lesson coming. I mean, here’s a guy the WANTS to be pleased with and buy their product. They are so arrogant that they frankly don’t care that he walks out of their dealership….
Once again, let me say “Wow”. I simply cannot stand “bad business” like that.
Do you mind if I post about this on my blog?
Thanks a lot for your insight on your experience with your Kymco dealer. I will be checking back in to see how you like the P250. I am glad I found you site!