Charleston Power Sports

User Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Monkeys with hammers!!!!

Avoid this place at all costs. I have purchased 2 boats from them, hoping for the best. The first boat needed significant service, ONCE. Took it to the shop where they needed 9 months to 'fix' the problem. There were several miss-diagnoses in the process. No big deal, it was Sept to May (not boating season). In the process of fixing my first boat, they:
- Replaced brand new batteries with brand new batteries, AGAINST my instructions (yes I was charged for them)
- Lost some parts that I provided, then tried to charge me for labor for installing the lost parts, which they couldnt have installed, since they were already lost.
- Eventually fixed my boat for about twice what the original estimate was (and supplied me with the two missing parts, which I installed myself).

AFTER a while, I decided to upgrade to a larger boat & give them another try (time heals all wounds, right?). I took in the new boat for some service and an oil change this spring. 6 weeks later, I got my boat back, after paying a significantly high service invoice. They charged 12 hours for labor, when a dealer in Columbia had quoted me about 6 hours for the task.

The outcome of this service: Put the boat in the water, drove it for about an hour, & the engine they had just serviced BLEW UP. Not a gentle engine death, but a TRUE 'Hand Grenade' moment! Explosion in the engine compartment! Smoke, metal shrapnel, oil everywhere, etc. Somehow, some way, they had found a way to destroy a virtually new (72 hours on the motor, according to the ECM data logger that another dealer downloaded for me) Yamaha MR-1 motor, even with fresh oil.

The very next day, I took my boat to the dealer & asked 'You guys warrantee your work, right?' Canned response was 'of course' Told the service manager that the engine blew up & his quote was 'oh, THATs not OUR fault'. They then held the boat for about a month, to give an estimate & check on warranty options. They did neither. I even sent them a letter (at the recommendation of an attorney) requesting them to honor their dealer repair warranty, which they promptly denied. I took my boat to a dealer about 100 miles away & have gotten prompt, professional attention from the beginning!

Moral of the story: STAY AWAY FROM CHARLESTON POWERSPORTS AT ALL COSTS!!! As a local business owner myself, I CANNOT understand how this group of perpetually incompetent individuals can remain in business. I have talked with several other people who have had similar experiences with this operation. I am not alone in this assessment of the business. If the manufacturers understood how awful this dealer was, I truly believe that they would pull their product lines immediately. Dont patronize a business that is this inept!!! Take your business to other dealers or service centers around the area. You CANNOT get worse service at any other dealer, it's just not possible!

Edit: The boat is running perfect, after an engine replacement from a shop out of town. When I picked up the "now working" boat, I had a chance to chat with the mechanic at the GOOD shop. We went to the workshop & had a good look at the dead engine. What did I find? NO "time-sert" in the cylinder head that Charleston Powersports serviced & charged me for. $1,400+ service bill & the insert was NEVER installed. That of scumbags charged me (AGAIN) to install parts that were never installed. STAY away from this place. They don't deserve to stay in business. This place is borderline criminal.

I gave them 1 star, only because 0 or negative stars was not an option.

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User Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Changed its name and is now called Charleston Powersports. I would recommend that you do not send your vehicle here to get fixed. I was quoted $900 for a carb cleaning and to fix the ignition. Turns out it cost me double that amount to get the bike out of there. Sure they stopped at $1100 and told me that it was in great condition.(They had the bike for three months at this point.) They loaded my bike up and I took it home. I renewed my taxes, tags, etc. and went to drive it the next day. It wouldn't start. I was annoyed because they sent it back with me broken. I took it back up there. I said that it still doesn't start and that I think the ignition is still messed up. When I went to pick it up the next time they told me that it was the starter solenoid and the fuel pump. Odd, but I said ok, but it better be running when you guys bring it out. The guy goes to get my bike and is gone for a good ten minutes. I go to ride it the next day- It won't start. Apparently they had hard started it or sprayed carb cleaner in the intake or something, but it doesn't start normally. My 3rd tow truck trip back up to Charleston Powersports and a talk with the owner assured me that they would take care of the issue without any additional charge to me. I have just been quoted $200 more for them to fix the ignition switch and I am supposed to pay for it because they hadn't tried replacing that yet. They don't know what they are doing, This process has taken over 5 months in what should have been less than a week, It cost me double what I was quoted, and they lied to me repeatedly not only by telling me it works great and sending it home with me, but when I ask what the status is, they are (several times) waiting on the same parts that I had been told were in and done. A very shady business.

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