So here I was, having already paid in full, facing the reality of my bike being stuck in Melbourne. What were my options?
1. Organize a different holiday ? Bit late, nowhere that I really wanted to go
2. Hire a bike in NZ? At ~$300 a day - hell no!
3. Figure out a way to get my bike across? Obviously!
So I spoke to a few people. Did I have insurance? Not for this.
How much for me to ship it myself? $2,500-$3,000 no way!
So I started digging around. The good news was that the automotive industry code of practice, which Yamaha claim to adhere to, has strict guidelines for vehicle safety recalls. They are obliged to notify the vehicle owners and if the owner takes no action, contact them again within 90 days.
The Bad news was that there are no penalties or any consequences for a non compliant vehicle manufacturer. This was after all, only a set of "guidelines". Hmmmm! There had to be some leverage here.
Then I hit on a brainwave. Who's the best wheeling - dealing-organising guy in the club? Of course - Sol Leski! So I called up Sol. Sol's advice was to write a schmoozy letter to Yamaha, tell them I was the marque's biggest raving raving fan, explain my predicament and in there infinite sympathy , would come to my rescue, slip my bike into one of their shipments and it would all be sorted out. Perfect.
A series of emails between myself and the "customer relations" department of Yamaha Motor Australia now ensued. They have a slow-motion email system there. The turnaround is 5-7 days. Understandably I got a bit anxious because time was-a-wastin', so I rang and spoke to a very understanding bloke, who told me that they ship bikes to NZ all the time and that he was confident they could arrange to ship my bike over. I was elated. Sol Leski was right.
After waiting another week waiting to get something in writing from them, I sent off a "hello, remember me" email. Next day I get the reply. They are now offering me $825 as compensation, being exactly half of what I had paid Get Routed. After all I had only lost out on half the total cost, hadn't I? The other half was still valid and I could use it. Of course. How stupid of me.
I was mystified and outraged!
"Unacceptable" I wrote back putting my best letter writing skills to the test, with a strongly worded argument why they where morally liable, if not legally. Again, no reply for a week. Another phone call. More excuses "very busy, backlog of emails" etc etc etc. A couple of days later I get the email to say they will ship it. Whoopee!
I had originally planned to start the trip on 19 December - three weeks away. I would have to delay the start probably. No problem, at least I was still going.
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