Enfield export troubles

Does this sound familiar??

In july 2009 I left my bike at a company in Delhi, Karol Bagh (name of company is not to be specified here). After a trip from Chennai to Goa, Delhi, Srinagar, Leh and back to Delhi I thought the bike was a nice souvenir to bring back to Europe, and indeed it is ofcourse.
After seeing different places I decided to restorate the bike and ship the bike to Rotterdam harbour. I had litle time to do good research but I checked this forum and the company had a good reputation. So what could go wrong? But ofcourse, I'm not crazy all the way, leaving the bike in Delhi plus a part of the money for shipping and restoration, is a risk. I took this risk.
The bike would arrive sometime in autumn and this was fine by me.
The first delays were expected: the first picture I received came in december 2009. But now I expected it to be shipped.
To make a long story a litle shorter: At this moment, september 2010, I still haven't received the bike. A lot of promises further. Communication is poor.
Last week I decided to contact a competitor of this company, Lalli Singh, to see if they could put some pressure on this guy. Maybe it helps. Unfortunately, at the moment I don't have any other relations in Delhi.

I thought about putting up a website like this one: http://www.madaanmotorsthief.com/

Any other suggestions on how to handle this case?
Thanks a lot

Mention the person or company you used and maybe someone guide or even help you.

Out of curiosity, what did you pay for the restoration and shipping back to Rotterdam...?

An earlier post was not accepted on this forum because I mentioned the name of the company, and I'm a new member, so there are stronger regulations. (But I put it this way: Lalli Singh says on his website he is not associated with this company anymore because they have moved?!)

For your curiosity:
For shipping 18.000 rupees
New gearbox...?
New painting
New wiring & battery
Engine overhaul
New seats
New headlight
....
New Bike:-) but '75

60.000 rupees (shame on me ) There will be more costs to it in total, I think, but it's still a lot of money. And..really...the money isn't the biggest problem...I really don't like to be cheated and just want the bike!

The Bike is on my name, which took me three days in Chennai, but I thought that would make it far easier to export the bike.

I hope you manage to sort it all out.

I wish I shipped home the bike I used to go to Leh and back. It not just the memories it's the bike and the memories, they go hand in hand. At the time I couldn't justify having a second bike sat in my garage at home.

Hi Rammelt--sorry to here about your bike troubles, i hope you get it sorted out--just curious did you buy your bike in Madras ? and if so did you get it painted there ? did they do a good job ?----I need to get some Enfield parts painted in Madras, and am on the lookout for new ( Good Quality ) tinkering and painting shop contact---thank you---Red

I am curious why you should not mention the name of the company that you are having problems with, but give a link to a site complaining about another company. You must know that giving further publicity to that link is harmful for the company involved?

I don't have any contacts in Madras regarding painting, the bike was painted in Delhi.

The reason why I didn't mention the name of the company has to do with verification. I'm a new member, the host of this forum is not sure if the story I tell is true (I agree we have to be careful towards this kind of posts, it's hard work for a company to establish a good name). If I was allowed to publish the name I would have mentioned the name, becuase that might help to solve this matter. The Madaan link was published earlier on this forum, probably by a well known member or so. So I thought I could use it again to clarify my story. Ofcourse, I'm not sure this story is true, but it sounds damn familiar!

Then I'll just have to ask you to forgive my suspicious mind

I was the guy who posted the madaan motors link on the forum I think. At the time of posting I mentioned not being sure if the entire story was true or not but that you'd have to be seriously ticked off before making such a site. In the mean time another biker whom I knew well while living in Europe some years ago mentioned the same type of misadventure (matter of fact, he asked me to contact madaan after hearing through the grapevine that I was living in Delhi) and although the situation is now more or less resolved after visiting them and telling him I was not going to disappear if he didn't refund the purchase amount I personally no longer doubt the veracity of the story told on the website in question.

I know the company the poster refers to and to the best of my knowledge they had a good rep (matter of fact, a friend of mine who lives in Delhi is having a motorcycle rebuilt by them now, I do hope that turns out well, we'll know in a couple of weeks). He paid a healthy slice more than you, anyway but his was a '71 bullet.

To the OP: I hope it works out for you, the only advice I can give you is not to abandon trying to get either your bike or your money back. They count on you giving up. If I were you I'd start working on a site, after it's up, send them a link and tell them to reimburse all your costs or the site stays up. It'll cut in their business, that's the only language they understand.

I'm going to find the previous post and edit my statement that I'd heard some good stuff about the company in question, don't want to contribute to luring other victims

Remark: Crap, found the post but it's been a month, can no longer edit it. What to do?

Thanks for the reply. I hope all the best for your friend.
I did reach the company twice last days and they told me the bike should be in Rotterdam already!!! The problem is, they fail to sent me any shipping papers. It's such a complicate task for this company. Would be nice if your friend could pressure them somehow. He didn't pay yet hopefully? My last name is the one mentioned here, they will know who I am

A friend of me is going to Delhi soon. I'm curious what she can do if she gets to the frontdoor of this company. Can she ask a policeman to guide her? I can give her the original bill. Can she do anything else? She's only there for two days, so going to court is not a real option, like the Madaan guy did.

Regards

Sounds like a fairy tale to me. For one, I don't think he would have sold it to you DDP or something, probable just CIF. So without the docs, how are you going to get the bike through customs? And if it's standing there, prepare for a shock as demurrage fees will be running up. They should at least send you an invoice and a bill of lading. I checked with my friend here, he's paid them an advance and will pay as they go along with the restoration. But I'll post about it, for good or bad. Forget about sending a visitor there, especially with a cop. The cops don't care. Going to court is a option if you have until 2018 for a judgment Pressure him for the docs, if he doesn't send you at least a scan, I'm willing to go there and talk to him, have to be in KB anyway next week for some luggage panniers. No guarantees whatsoever though, if he tells me to piss off that's basically what I'll have to do, can't very well visit him carrying a can of gas and a zippo .

Offcourse it's a fairy tale, otherwise I had the papers long ago. It would be very nice if you visit them. We'll see what comes of it, it's hard to say. Hopefully at the end of next year I'll be in Delhi again, and I won't forget, because then I'll need a bike as well

I got good news today. The shipping company in Rotterdam told me the bike should be arriving the first of October in less then two weeks! I received the bill of laden and invoice. This is ofcourse very unexpected after a year of waiting, calling and emailing. But I'm still a little suspicious untill I really see the bike

I will post again when I really have the bike. Thanks for your ideas.

Things are looking up! You're getting your bike, and the Commonwealth Games might even be about to happen!

Seriously: the chicken is not yet hatched, sure, but progress is made! We look forward to hearing even better news.

(and apologies again about my ungenerous remarks in a previous post )

Good for you! Do let us know if everything's ok with the bike when it arrives. Likewise I'll also report on my friend's restoration project with this company.