The Goodtime Centre has been my go-to store since ...

The Goodtime Centre has been my go-to store since I started riding in 2016. I have bought both of my bikes there, all of my gear and accessories, and have brought 2 other customers to them who have each spent thousands of dollars in bikes and gear. However, I can no longer give them 5 stars, and I will be looking for alternate suppliers in the future.

I took my first ride of the season on April 25, and, sadly, my battery failed on me during a rest break. Thankfully, we were at the Nepean Sportsplex, and my friend was able to go to the Goodtime Centre and pick up a replacement battery for my bike. I had done a brief search online, and based on what I saw, I thought that it would cost about $100. Imagine my surprise when, on my second ride on April 28, as I returned the dead battery, I realized that I had been charged $310 for the battery, $350 with tax.

Searching online shows the Yuasa YTZ14S for $220 Canadian or less at all stores, and generics (which the OGC does not stock) for less than $100.

I have 2 issues here - first is that there was no indication of the price as my friend picked up the battery. Given COVID restrictions, she provided the credit card information, and received the receipt in the bag. If she had known the price, she definitely would have asked me first. My second, and far more important, concern is that the list price for this battery is exorbitant, yet OGC, as the largest motorcycle store in the Ottawa region, neither stocks nor recommends cheaper alternatives, and charges about 50% more for the battery than any other Canadian supplier.

I love the people who I have met at the store. Sadly, I will not be seeing them any further. I am in sales myself, and I understand that communication and fair dealing/ethical behaviour are absolutely essential to building relationships, and retaining customer loyalty for repeat business. I feel that OGC is abusing their market dominating position, and treating poorly with customers who turn to them as the "best" source for all motorcycle related purchases. I am disappointed that we ended up in this position.