Dilemma: Booked BMW G310R in Lucknow, but relocating to Pune

I have opted for a BH number plate, hence there shouldn't be a fuss with RTO.

BHPian vn11 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi everyone,

I'm in a bit of a pickle. The situation is that I recently booked a BMW G 310 R and it was supposed to be delivered within 20 days (approx at the end of Feb) now the problem is that I booked the bike in Lucknow and I have to relocate to Pune since my office is opening in March first week (this news came post-booking) so I am in kind of a dilemma right now if should I cancel the booking or should I go ahead with the purchase and then transfer my bike to Pune. Since I have opted for a Bharat number, no fuss would be there in RTO.

Currently, I have the following options in hand:

1. I cancel my booking and pay around Rs 15,000 as the cancellation charge. So I suffer a loss of about Rs 15,000 and purchase the bike in Pune which is about Rs 10,000 higher in on-road prices. The booking amount was Rs 30,000 and they deduct Rs 15,000+ Tax.
2. I don't cancel my booking and get the bike delivered to my home someone can collect the bike on my behalf and then I transfer the bike from Lucknow to Pune via Railway or something. I'm really worried about transporting a brand new bike with no engine/leg guards as it may get damaged.

Also, I am kinda worried because I am requesting the dealer to get my bike delivered as fast as possible, he might pass on a defective bike or maybe a lemon or old manufactured bike in that case I would have to suffer huge losses in the future.

I tried asking them to transfer my booking to the Pune dealership and they refused since both dealerships are owned by different people.

What could be the best course of action in this case?

Here's what BHPian Cyborg had to say on the matter:

I would suggest you cancel your booking, swallow the loss and buy it from Pune. The monetary loss would be offset by the peace of mind and nuisance which you will avoid by picking the bike in Lucknow and taking it to Pune.

Having said that, I would also suggest you go to the dealer in Lucknow, have a chat with the top person in the dealership (not a normal salesperson), preferably the General Manager or owner of the place. Explain to him/her about your situation which has come about after the booking and request for the cancellation charges to be waived off. Be polite and push it as best as you can. if that doesn’t work then request for a token cancellation charge as a special case of maybe 5 thousand or something like that.

The cancellation charge is something that may be waived by the dealer if you manage to get through with your circumstances.

All the best, hope it works for you.

Here's what BHPian Sran had to say on the matter:

Write to BMW Motorrad clearly mentioning your situation. Afaik manufacturers release automobiles to dealers only after full payment and so dealers pay in full in lieu of booking. If this is not the case with BMW Motorrad then they will help you out.

It is good that you have decided on BH registration, there is less headache involved. The real issue is relocating the bike to Pune.:

• Transporting it by railways is bound to guarantee one or two breakages, plus transporting cost involved, which I believe will be around Rs 4,000+ for your bike (transportation cost + packaging+ 1% of the declared bike value).
• You can take it to Pune by driving it. The petrol is going to cost you around Rs 5,000 minimum + a night halt at a hotel + boarding charges + headache of driving a 2 wheeler for 1,400 km if you are not used to it + family going nuts knowing that you will drive a 2 wheeler for 1,400 km.
• Sending it through courier services will cost around Rs 10,000 + chances of damage to the bike.

If cancellation happens without any monetary loss, fine and dandy and if not, cut the losses and book the bike in Pune.

Here's what BHPian ebonho had to say on the matter:

Nothing is going to happen by writing to the company. The dealer makes a decent sum on every bike. That is the business. For which the company ensures he puts the infrastructure and manpower in place before awarding (and renewing) the dealership. As far as I know, per the terms, the bikes at the dealership already belong to the dealer (paid for as inventory held) and not the company. The dealer is not going to let go the Rs 30-40k he makes on the bike sale for the sale to go to a Poona dealer. And if so, the Poona dealer is not going to be interested in making the delivery and formalities through his setup either.

Instead of losing the Rs 15k, just pick up the bike, run it in quick for say 300-400 km, change the oil and filter, and then ride it down to Poona. Using the money you'd have lost to get in a great cross country ride on a bike built for that. Bikes that get such long rides early on in their lives have great long legs throughout.

Same with cars.

If you go into the archives you will read my story of Baby Duke - the first 200 in the country. That bike was run in similarly and immediately taken on a really hard ride to Goa and back.

She till the day I let her go was a brilliant machine. I'd be hard-pressed to choose between her and my 390.

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