First I would like to make a note that the question ’Would you recommend "Majestic Mobikes - Bangalore" - Yes/No - I am a bit confused to answer this! I leave the judgment to the erstwhile readers of this artcile.
My search in helping my close friend to buy a new bike started with some research of the bikes and their specifications through the internet and then some visits to the showrooms in Bangalore furthering our quest. Me and my friend, after days of analysis, short-listed a few bikes based on factors like spending capacity, to engine capacity, not to say the least, the reputation of the manufacturer in this highly competitive world of 2 wheelers.
Saturday, the 22/May/2010 late afternoon (around 5PM) I entered Majestic Mobikes on R V Road, Bangalore, hoping to end my long and winding trip to test drive either the Glamour or the Passion Pro bikes, before placing an order for one. As I entered the place, I was duly greeted by the receptionist and was directed to the first floor for the bikes that I was enquiring. I dashed up the stairs and saw that a few marketing executives were busy completing their work for the weekend (obviously eagerly awaiting their turn to leave offices, to end the week). I started strolling in the first floor to see if I can take a look at the bike myself. Suddenly a lady standing near the huge glass window looking out towards the street, turned around and ’gestured’ as to what I wanted. When I asked that I wanted to see the Glamour and Passion Pro bikes, she aptly asked me to go to second floor.
My enthusiasm still intact, I carried myself up to the next floor only to be stunned to see that I was almost in their stocks division.....all around me I see Passion Pro bikes, no Glamour bike, one Green colored Passion Pro duly decorated and standing lone near the Lord Ganesha idol awaiting its turn for the Pooja :). I now realised that I was left to fend for myself and satisfy seeing all these bikes and decide quickly which one to buy. Enquired the stores guy if there was a Glamour around for me to see, but, unglamourously (if thats good English usage!) was told, none. Now I came down the stairs again, back to ground floor and amidst all this realised that the only smiling face that I had encountered thus far was that of the receptionist.
Went back to her and blurted out that this Majestic Mobikes, is something totally changed mentioning that it had no longer the earlier, enthusiastic appeal that it had once showcased. Felt was there truly anything ’majestic’ about the Majestic Mobikes, now? I told the lady the experience so far and she immediately picked up the phone and her enthusiasm and professional responsibility, called the marketing division and reported. Immediately, I was asked to proceed to the first floor again and to meet a person named ’Manju’. Met Manju, repeated the story all over again, and Manju is brimming with enthusiasm and we are again back in second floor amidst all the brand new bikes! Manju makes me stand in front of the fully decorated Passion pro and declares - "This is Passion Pro Sir!". With all humility and high spirits, I ask Manju, that I want to test drive the Passion Pro and Glamour. He says waiting period is 2 months - at which I proceed to check, if it is for the test drive or vehicle delivery!
Next, Manju proceeds to arrange for a test drive - and seeing a guy adding some extra accessories to a Passion Pro and asks him if a test drive is possible. Pat comes the reply, an emphatic "NO" and quite sternly too. And humbly our Manju bows to his stern reply and turns his looks towards me - says "No Sir, no test drive!". At this point, I run out of quota of sense of humour and mention to now helpless Manju, that I have come to put my hard earned money (around INR fifty five thousands) in a trusted brand like Hero Honda. Admitting that I have come thus far, would like to test drive how good and fruitful, my fifty five thousands rupees could be, and decide to leave the place. No amount of coaxing Manju got me what I wanted - the ’coveted’ test drive. Promptlty, arriving back on first floor, our Manju also disappeared behind the counters and left me perplexed. Nodding my head in sheer disappointment, called my friend and advised him to forget the dream of buying his dream machine from a place like this:-(
Now giving some serious thought behind what happened - I might not be the only the guy who might have gone through this - but just imagine the feeling. The callousness of the staff - they probably assume that their products (Hero Honda’s, put differently) anyways sells, even if no test drives are given. The product is already a hit and moving like hot-cakes and one prospect doesnot make the difference afterall (or makes ALL the difference!). "Taken for granted" attitude, leaving me wonder whether am I with a distributor of Hero Honda or its reseller? Well, how many such examples have been etched in history, to learn the moral, implied. Well, now there is always a seller who takes the second, third places in the segment and vies for the first place......I now move on to another dealer of Hero Honda or there are always the Bajajs, the Yamahas, the TVSs, the Suzukis, and so on....well, is the Hero listening?
A definitive Thanks for reading.