| Author | Message | ||
     Jphish |
I'm confused...where did the profit discussion pop up ? This is a long thread and consequently may have missed it, but agree it's not a for profit endeavor. It does however require capital to make it work. These 2 terms shouldnt be confused. | ||
| Court |
What ultimately has doomed these efforts in the past has been the committee think. This type of thing demands a dictator, not a consensus. | ||
| Aeholton |
I nominate Kristi for dictatorship!  | ||
| Red_chili |
Court for Dictator in '08! | ||
| Hughlysses |
I 2nd Kristi for BEER HBIC!  | ||
| Court |
The BEST scenario would be to get a dealer or group of dealers to step up to the plate. Doing this right would require a plan and a protocol. | ||
| Jlnance |
The BEST scenario would be to get a dealer or group of dealers to step up to the plate. Agreed, and they are welcome to do that, I'd be thrilled. I pointed my dealer at this thread actually, and am interested to hear what they think. But until one steps up to the plate, I think Kristi is going to be the dictator. She has a history of making things work. | ||
| Red_chili |
OK, Court for Vice-Dictator and Secretary of Plans and Protocols. | ||
| Jphish |
The silence from dealers has been deafening. I know at least 3 that surf this site on a regular basis - I'm sure this thread has not escaped notice. Likely don't see this as being "profitable". Anyway - I 3rd the nomination of Kristi, if she's willing. Just tell me how much and where to send the check. As per Courts observation of the benefits of dictatorship, Kristi also has the power of unilateral decision making on any/all elements of structure & protocol. We all have to make sure it's as trouble free to her as humanly possible. Actually simplifies things considerably. I'm still in. j | ||
| Ulywife |
I pointed my dealer at this thread actually, and am interested to hear what they think. I can't wait to see what they think. A dealer would make the most sense, but as pointed out, no one yet has stepped up to the plate. This is not the first time a discussion has taken place about what parts a dealer should keep on hand. However, this is the first time that it's been discussed as a collective buy. Lots to work out before any money changes hands and parts are ordered. We are heading to the Blue Ridge Parkway for the weekend. Once we return, I hope to meet with Jlnance and our sponsor dealer in Raleigh about this proposal. From there, we'll know where we stand and what our next step needs to be. BEER HBIC...I think I resemble that remark   Buelltoberfest 2007 | ||
| Ulywife |
I'm confused...where did the profit discussion pop up ? I made the comment earlier that this WOULD NOT be a "business" or money making endeavor. I want that made clear. I see this as a collective buy with all parts being held in one location for emergency shipment while our Uly riders are out on adventures. Without access to these parts, some may end up having to cancel their trip or find a way to get home because of a failed part or unfortunate get-off. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
It is a huge outlay of capital, and until you can convince the powers that be that it makes sense, (both fiscal and common) to have those items on hand, in stock and available, you are butting you head against the wall. You all are welcome to stop by any time and look my bald spot from pulling my hair out to get it done. I am still looking for the link to the parts list for standing routine items. I know the big stuff like blinkers, levers, mirrors, belts, but the other stuff I need a hand with. So if you know where it is, I cant find it on search. And I need it to go to the boss man with a Cost Benefit / Return on Investment. | ||
| Ulywife |
Court - do you have access to this list of parts a dealer should have on hand? Seems like I remember you referencing it before. If not, can you point us to someone who would have it or should we just start our own wish list? BTW - pretty Blue Uly! | ||
| Jphish |
City - This is meant to be for the failed parts that keep you from continuing the journey or getting home. Blinkers, mirrors and other stuff are nice to have, and perhaps even a safety issue, but the bike will move without them. We're not imposing on Ulywife to be our parts distributor - this is for emergencies that would otherwise strand you in place. If even the 'insiders' cant get the 'mothership' to step up - the martians just have to save their own Buell butts. | ||
| Ulywife |
Jphish - I talked to City and he is looking at not only the "delay of trip" parts, but also general maintenance parts that we all have to wait on, i.e. brake pads, etc. He's interested in the list we come up with, plus the list that each dealer is supposed to have on hand. Keep the conversation and suggestions coming. | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
With all this coming up.... So why the back order on a lot of high demand parts???????? just curious. | ||
| Jphish |
Thanks for the clarification Kristi - this is evolving rapidly...I'm happy to say. Yeah - I just don't get the B/HD parts system. I had an FI black box problem on my Escape up in Fairbanks a few years back - Ford had the part overnighted and on my way the next day. Buell was 10 days for a shock. It's simply the will and commitment to help customers that appears to be lacking. No other explanation. Oh well...Appreciate your considerable organizational skills and assistance in untangling a long standing annoyance. Eric should just hire you to run the BEER program. Let me know if there's anything I can help with. Be on a Uly trip to SW US most of Sept, but willing to do what I can before or after. j | ||
| Ulywife |
Hoping to set up a meeting with our local dealer. Any other thoughts? | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
I don't think corporate could do any more than they are doing. As someone pointed out earlier it would be a regional dealer thing. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Seems like this would be a good addition to the 3 or 4 dealers they now have with "dedicated Buell storefronts" (whatever the official designation is). It does seem like Buell corporate could make some effort to persuade these guys to stock a reasonable array of repair/replacement parts, and allow for quick over the phone ordering and expedited shipment to riders in need. | ||
| Court |
>>>I don't think corporate could do any more than they are doing. I don't agree with that. What this discussion is borne of is the doing what SHOULD happen anyway. This is not 1965 where parts orders are mailed every Monday, received on Thursday and folks scurry about pulling parts orders from inventory. There is no reason that Buell can not deliver a part as seamlessly as Amazon can deliver a book or (as in last week) a Stebel air horn for my Uly. I'm looking for solutions, not band-aids and think that the factory needs to be included in this. Court | ||
| Petereid |
I'm looking for solutions, not band-aids and think that the factory needs to be included in this. I'm surprised the "Factory" doesn't require the dealers to maintain a "reasonable" inventory of common parts. Are they so blind that they think this won't affect their bottom line? Court, I don't know if your still with the company or not but do you know if there is a "rule" preventing a dealer from shipping to other dealers areas? If there isn't it really makes me wonder why none have had the business sense to recognize the potential for profit here! Especially the sponsors of this site that MUST be aware of how many feel here. Also everyone who seems to be posting in this thread would rather pay shipping then to have their bike laid up for several days or weeks. | ||
| Court |
Try making your point to Harley-Davidson by using profit as a lure. . . . that's akin to saving Donald Trump $5 on parking. | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
Part of this spun from the current factory parts back order. Please correct me if I am wrong. Most of the guys who are replying to this thread are guys waiting on parts because of the back order. It isn't practical or fiscally responsible to have 100's of each spare part on the shelf. Court I am glad you brought up the Amazon business model. I agree that there is no reason it could not be done with Buell spare parts. Delivered to my door by my choice of shipping. | ||
| Jlnance |
do you know if there is a "rule" preventing a dealer from shipping to other dealers areas? There is not. You can order parts from several dealers on this board. | ||
| Jlnance |
I'm looking for solutions, not band-aids and think that the factory needs to be included in this. Would absolutely love to have their involvement. I know factory people read this board, and that they can't post here. If someone from the factory wants to be involved, call Ulywife. Her number is in the BRAN. | ||
| Court |
>>>do you know if there is a "rule" preventing a dealer from shipping to other dealers areas? Kinda "yes" and kinda "no". The rules are fuzzy and getting fuzzy. They are in the same contract that prohibits dealers from selling on e-Bay. They have been skewed, in addition, by some of the unique attributes of Harley-Davidson's demand in the last 20 years. At one time folks were traveling the country, snapping up everything they could in certain markets and there were times when long standing customers in an area couldn't get bikes cause speculators and Europeans (mostly German) were snatching them up. That time has passed but the business arena has changed markedly. From time to time this stuff has to be evaluated with input about what is possible from a technical stand point as well as a commercial perspective. You'll be thrilled to know that Buell nearly revolutionized this process 11 years ago but the effort was snuffed out, partially, due to a fear of making HD look "behind the times". I still get pissed when I hear that guy saying "over my dead body will Buell get to to do this". Times are changing and there is a new world order. There is also tremendous opportunity. Court | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Great Opportunity Yes Little chance of success due to independent dealer network Hope it will work, want it to work, will support it to make to make it work Thanks Buells to Alaska ALCAN 5000 2010 | ||
| Treadmarks |
Just got back from a rented tour of Alaska on an 08 Uly. I only carried my factory tool kit and a few extra tools, tire kit and compressor because the Uly I rented only had 4k on the clock. The bike did great for the first 4 days (-) one flat tire on the way to the arctic circle that was easily plugged. 2 days later we took the McCarthy trail through the mountains to get to kennicott to see the glacier and abandoned mining town. We made it up just fine, but on the trip down we managed to get four flat tires. The first was a split that could not be plugged, although I managed to insert four plugs into it to get us to a tire repair shop while still on top of the mountain. (Joe's Tire Repair). We had to remove the wheel from the bike and remove the tire from the wheel and repair it from the inside. (No allan wrench for the rear axle pinch bolt in both factory tool kits, by the way). While the wheel was off, I noticed the rear wheel bearings were trashed, but I had no spares in my kit. I have about 30 bearings at home...but none in my kit.  I still had 60 miles of primitive trail to go just to reach the next pay phone and fuel, plus another 60 for our hotel, with bad wheel bearings, no cell phone signal and who knows how much fuel remaining in the tank (120 showing on the trip). We reassembled the patched tire and used tons of antisieze around the axle and wheel bearings just in case they froze up on the way down. We proceeded back down the trail for about 10 miles when we got another rear flat. Stuck 4 plugs in that split and reinflated the rear tire with our pocket compressor. Could not stop the leak, so we had to stop every 5 miles and reinflate the tire. 15 more miles and we picked up a spike/nail from the rail bed under the washed out road. Patched it with one plug as darkness approached and the temps dropped. With the help of a bright flashlight I could see that both the rear bearing seals were deformed and the bike was beginning to pop as it rolled. Screw it....a little over 30 miles to go, we can make it. Fire up the bike and the low fuel light comes on...  Dear Lord, please let us make it to the bottom of this hill. I promise to be really good for ever and ever.  Ride gently, coast, pump up tire....20 miles....10 miles....POP goes the rear tire with 5 miles to go. Patch with last plug and reinflate tire, jump on bike, gently accelerate as fast as terrain permits and coast....while repeating Dear Lord speech, this time with enthusiasm....pavement....rear is getting loose, bike begins to stumble...coast into station next to pay phone as rear tire rolls flat with 33 miles on the fuel trip. Attempt to walk into station and notice hand written sign on door "CLOSED FOR ELECTION DAY"  I had to convince the wino that was on his public pay phone living under the shanty that I had a true emergency so he would let us use the phone. We called the hotel 60 miles away and asked them to pretty puuleeze come get us (while the wino was screaming in the back ground). We rolled the bike over to the only hotel in town (Chitna) where we could wash up and get some food. Our hotel picked us up and took us back after we left the bike with Dan's tire service at the bottom of the hill. The following morning we called Alaska Rider (rental) and within 6 hours they had us a replacement bike so we could finish our vacation. It was a v-strom with 35k on the clock and ran great. Lessons Learned: The Uly is not an adventure bike. I love my Uly and it does a lot of things very well, but it ain't no adventure bike due to poor design of wheel bearings, lack of availability of an aggressive tire that will perform safely on adventurous terrain and limited size of fuel tank. In an urban environment the emergency parts box makes a lot of sense as you could have anything you need delivered next day. But from an adventure riding perspective, learning the area and packing the right tools and spare parts makes even more sense as mail doen't run every where. | ||
| Court |
COOL TRIP ! |
