Bueno Aires bike storage (urgent) 3-4 weeks

[Peter Bodtke]

Need to find a place quick to store my Moto for 3-4 weeks starting Dec 20th. Downtown or near the airport are ideal, but not required.

Thanks in advance

[Throttlemeister]

The obvious choice would be Dakar Motos I would think. You should give them a call.

[Peter Bodtke]

Originally Posted by Throttlemeister

The obvious choice would be Dakar Motos I would think. You should give them a call.

Thanks for the lead. Any idea how much they charge?

Are there otherplaces that store bikes, incase they turn out to be out of my budget?

[dstehouwer]

They are not the cheapest as far as I know, but do store bikes.
Prices on their website, but it is around 135 USD per bike. (2 cyl, one cyl bikes cheaper... just check their website)

Be aware to make the price very clear before you actually store your bike there to avoid surprises.
We shipped our bikes using their services a few months ago and would never ever recommend them unless you don't have another option.

There is a guy in Uruguay who can store your bike too. Feel free to contact me for his details, I'll have to search through my email.

[Peter Bodtke]

Originally Posted by dstehouwer

They are not the cheapest as far as I know, but do store bikes.
Prices on their website, but it is around 135 USD per bike. (2 cyl, one cyl bikes cheaper... just check their website)

Be aware to make the price very clear before you actually store your bike there to avoid surprises.
We shipped our bikes using their services a few months ago and would never ever recommend them unless you have another option.

There is a guy in Uruguay who can store your bike too. Feel free to contact me for his details, I'll have to search through my email.

I received a quote from Dakar Motors, $122 (USD) per month, cash in advance, you need to bring a copy of your importation documentation... Not a bad price at $4.00 (USD) a day...hmmm, the garage around the corner is charging me that for overnight storage...

Will check with our hotel as well. I sent a message to the AR chapter of BMW MOA, no reply just yet.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I just got off the ferry from UY and need to store the bike tomorrow...

IF there are any other places to store a bike in Buenos Aires, please post the details.

[Mick O'Malley]

Originally Posted by dstehouwer

They are not the cheapest as far as I know, but do store bikes.

They're not the cheapest because they're the best.

Cash in advance is required because so many travellers have more or less dumped their bikes there. As it's not possible to sell foreign registered bikes this causes them big problems.

Originally Posted by dstehouwer

We shipped our bikes using their services a few months ago and would never ever recommend them unless you have another option.

Do you mean 'unless you don't have another option'? If so, would you say why please? Damning them without explanation simply isn't fair.

No-one has done more to help gringo moto travellers in Argentina than these guys, yet their only reward has often been to be taken shameless advantage of.

Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs is a well known fable.....................

Regards, Mick

[dstehouwer]

I'm not going to tell the whole story again. (you can read it @ shipment databasa, SA-South Africa).

In my experience, advantage is taken by them as travellers don't have any other option :-S.

[Mick O'Malley]

Copying and pasting 'shipment databasa, SA-South Africa' into Goggle and hitting search got me 20 hits, none of which was relevant. Perhaps you would post a link?

Regards, Mick

[dstehouwer]

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley

Copying and pasting 'shipment databasa, SA-South Africa' into Goggle and hitting search got me 20 hits, none of which was relevant. Perhaps you would post a link?

Regards, Mick

Here at HU, you have that shipment database. Just search on Argentina - South Africa, you'll find my story.

[Mick O'Malley]

Originally Posted by dstehouwer

Here at HU, you have that shipment database. Just search on Argentina - South Africa, you'll find my story.

I found and read your story. I didn't realise that it was you guys (I was there at the time).

The kindest thing I can say, having witnessed the whole saga (and not wishing to get into lengthy internet mud slinging) is that your account is subjective.

Regards, Mick

[Walkabout]

Clash of personalities, someone having a bad day at the office, or on the road??

From Buenos Aires, Argentina To Johannesburg, South Africa Traveller Daan Stehouwer Date May, 2012 Cost (US $) 2204 Shipped by Air Shipper Company name Dakar Motos Shipper Web Page more details Shipper Contact person name Javier & Sandra Shipper Contact person email dakarmotos@hotmail.com Shipper Dr Carlos Tejedor 1379, Florida - Vicente L Shipment Web Page Recommended No

Rating 1 (Bad) Details We shipped two Honda Africa Twins from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Johannesburg, South Africa, by Air, and used the services of Dakar Motos
The first quote (months ahead) we got was about 2300 USD per bike, but this had to be checked again a few weeks upfront.
About 6 weeks upfront we asked some more questions, and sent in our flight details to confirm the booking. We got a reply about the costs: "I can confirm you that from that date we had sent many others traveler's bikes to South Africa and they pay far less than that, less than USD 2000.- in most cases", so we expected this would apply to our bikes too.

On the first day of arrival we had to pay 100USD (but this is included in their offers, so no suprises) to DM, the fee for their assistance. We got clear descriptions on where to go and how to arrange it all. They also told us we could save money by making the bike lower, the rest of the dimensions were determined by the pallet.
They told us examples of bikes (on the pallet) being lowered to a height of 120-125 cm's, because we asked for a 'goal'.

Once at the airport, we started packing the bikes together with a guy from the airport.
We lowered the bikes to 110cm's in total, so we thought we'd saved some money.
Our handlebars were wider than the pallet, but the guy assured us this was no problem, as the pallet dimensions would be taken for the 'footprint'. We told him we wanted to change the bars 4 times, but he insisted it was nonsense.
After the bike was wrapped, some other guy came to take the dimensions and took the width of the handlebars. We insisted to talk to DM, but when we got a hold of them the airport-guys already had a chat with them. Sandra (DM) didn't even let me tell our side of the story, but simply said: this is only 130USD more expensive per bike, what is all the fuss about? That made us a bit mad, because we pay DM to help us out, not to help the airport.
Once back at DM-HQ we had a chat with Sandra, and we agreed on a 'miscommunication' and had to accept the increased width. We agreed that we should only ask DM questions, e.g. with the handlebar-issue: we should not have discussed this with the guys at the airport, but with DM directly before the bikes were wrapped in plastic.
When we heard the final price (2204USD total, including the 100USD fee) we didn't understand because we made the bikes 10-15cm lower than others. Then we got some stupid excuses about 'our pallet being 20 cm's longer', 'those other bikes were smaller'(?), etc.
Well, what can you do about it? We didn't understand, but had to accept.
FYI: we could have saved 150USD per bike on the width, and another 200 with a shorter pallet (40cm's unused).

Two days later we had to go to downtown-BA to pay, in cash.
We knew the amount, we had all info of the bank accounts on which we had to put the deposit.
This morning, we went to a bank near DM to use the ATM for the last amount of cash. In there, we though: How stupid is it to go in the train, then metro, then walk through the city with 4200USD cash, when we are in a bank now and know everything we need to know?
We called the transport company to ask, but didn't understand them (our Spanish is not super good). Then we contacted DM by phone, just to ASK. Sandra freaked out completely at the phone stating we constantly tried to change the rules :-S. We were super mad after this, because we just asked a question. Nevertheless, we made it to downtown and payed and got it all arranged. (FYI: if you would get robbed that is costly, but you also cannot get the cash anymore before your flight and thus have a huge problem!)
Once back at DM, shit hit the fan. Both Sandra and Javier were furious, and Sandra was constantly telling Javier to 'stay calm' - which he didn't.
Javier was very aggressive and insultive, saying I wasn't smart and we were the only people in the world they ever had an issue with. We just asked why they have been so unfriendly to us since day 1, and then heard a story about them being pissed off with us because of previous emails and us asking questions.
The one thing we did wrong: I've had an envelope sent to their address without pre-approval of DM - what a crime!
I'd heard about their 100USD fee, and asked via email if that was correct. What a crime.
Then came another insult, which made me break out in tears: we didn't have the money or something, and payed in multiple deposits to the transport company. This was nonsense, as we showed them one deposit-receipt with the full amount.
Next they told us that we had had all instructions on 'what to do in South Africa to pick up the bikes' at the transport company, which was not true. We said we didn't know, and then they started to scream again, 'they were working together with these people for years, so they were telling the truth'. I was crying of frustration, Mirjam was shaking but got a piece of paper and asked for the instructions. DM simply did not believe they didn't tell us. After this, we left DM and were both crying and completely shocked about what happened. Nice.

I think Dakar 'don't ask any questions' Motos simply wants to make money on you, so please don't ask ANY questions.
Their hostel costs 50 pesos per night, plus 10 pesos per bike. It is a dirty place with cockroaches in the shower, mushrooms growing in the shower door and a broken toilet seat, that kind of stuff. (think: cheap nasty hostel in Central America) Downtown-BA we found a wonderful super clean hostel for 54 pesos per night, including a good breakfast. The price at DM is very high according to their dirty place far from the center, so you can't say their goal is to help travellers by keeping their prices low.
For the 10 pesos a night for bike parking they want your bike outside during the day, and when you just 'have a look outside whether your bike is still there' (because nobody can see it from the inside!) Javier will grump at you 'what you are doing'? Well, it's my travel bike - my life! ;-)

We feel treated like rabid dogs by them, by far the worst experience on our 14 month trip from Canada heading south. Really do not understand why they had to treat us by this, and lie about stuff. We think their reactions and behaviour are extremely unprofessional towards us as paying clients.
I do know there are a lot of positive stories on the web about them, but also heard a lot of negative stuff from other travellers by now. I hope everybody puts their reviews on HU, positive and negative!

Next time, I will go to Navicon (shipment office) myself and try to arrange it there. They charge you a few hundred USD agent fee too, so why would you need DM? ;-)

[Mick O'Malley]

Originally Posted by Walkabout

Clash of personalities, someone having a bad day at the office, or on the road??

If you are in someone else's country, and you seek their expert assistance, be sure to follow their instructions.

To the letter.

Season's Greetings, Mick