| Author |
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Daves
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 06:03 pm: | 
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Dave Stueve-Head of dealer relations and Customer service
Boy could I ruffle some feathers with that title!
I don't know if I'd even want the job, hair is falling out and turning grey fast enough for me the way things are now.
Oh, what the hell, you all know I'd take the job and give it my best.
Pretty sure that will never be offered to me.
Dave |
Kandie
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 10:18 pm: |
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If Dave gets cloned can I have one for here in Iowa? Make that 2, one will want to go hunting all the time. |
Odie
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 10:23 pm: |
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Ha!Ha! Glad to see DaveS better half on board!!!! |
SouthernMarine
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 10:31 pm: |
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You know what, high price is no excuse.
Aprilia Tuono - $11,999
BMW R1200GS - $15,100
Buell XB12S - $10,995 (shop around, cheaper prices)
Ducati Multistrada - $11,995
HD FXDX Dyna Sport - $13,995
Honda Interceptor - $10,999
MV Augusta Brutale S - $13,995
Kawasaki Z1000 - $8499
KTM 950 - $11,998
MZ 1000S - $11,900
Suzuki V-Strom - $8999
Triumph Speed Triple - $8890
Yamaha FZ1 - $8499
Yeah, the big 4 produce and sell them cheaper. I like the term cookie cutter bikes when talking about them.
Look at those numbers, Buell isn't the only one that is priced high. I look at it this way, If you want a quality bike, you have to pay a little more.
There is a simple solution. All HD shops, whether they carry Buell or not, should be able to service Buells. No matter what they should have a Buell certified tech, or two, to work on Buells if needed. They ALL should be able to order parts, NO MATTER WHAT.
If I had a HD/Buell store here in town, believe me, I would give them my business and support them 110%. I like our HD shop, nice guys, actually have certified Buell techs, and have worked on Charlieboys bike, even after they dropped Buell. But if I remember, Charlie had to find the part(s) he needed. Great guys, but they are being held back by the Mothership.
As far as enthusiasm, heart, love for the bike. There are ways to push these bikes, to sell them. Think inside, outside, around the box, whatever it takes. Lets see more ads, how about sponsorship of the racing team, get behind them, show up to the races. Put some of that engineering know-how behind these teams. Put more Buell merchandise, gear in the stores. HD markets the fire out of their stuff, why not the Buell stuff. WAKE UP, it'll work.
These are problems that need to be addressed and fixed. It's that simple. |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 04:54 am: |
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>>>These are problems that need to be addressed and fixed. It's that simple.
There are, it's no secret, the solution set exists and can be described and executed.
We need to talk more about this and ya'll have caught me on a critical day of powerplanting.
One thing I'll leave you to think about is that the LAST thing I would do is bring Dave into Buell in a customer service capacity. Customer service folks can be trained. Effective dealers are much more difficult.
Taking a Dave (and there are a number less visible "Dave's" in the Buell dealer system) from where he is and where his talents are developed would be like finding out your front pads are the best you've ever had, taking them off and stuffing them in the crankcase.
I suppose some of you recall the "3 sucessful dealers"" video? Well I'd darn sure have Dave in the next one.
Lots to discuss, lots to do and the exchange of ideas here is most valuable.
Court (thinking its time to dust off the "9 Ways to Sell a Buell" letter to Wilke from 1996.
Bottom line, and the short version, is that I had a chance to visit with the "Original Dave" yesterday. I mixed 20 minutes of his comments with 20 minutes of dialouge from "other unnamed sources" and, were I a dealer, would not make all my presen business decisions based 100% on what I am selling this week.
If Buell were selling stock would you be buying or selling?
Court (off to an optimist club meeting . .  ) |
Koz5150
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 06:04 am: |
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I think that people have a tendancy to forget about the many many additional costs of haveing a Buell only shop/dealership. I think the Buell fits great in a Harley shop. There are a lot of kids that show up with their dads, and they don't gohome dreaming of Road Kings. HD picks up a lot of slack that a newer company like Buell would normally have to deal with.
I will agree that certain items like tires, and other universal parts are much cheaper at other shops the HD dealership is still the best place for the Buell. |
Buckinfubba
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 08:10 am: |
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Kandie
you kinky lil thing....wanting a total of 3 daves around at one time!!!!!! |
Daves
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 10:56 am: |
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I would think one of me would be enough for anyone to have to put up with!
Dave |
Buckinfubba
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 11:13 am: |
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I am sure you are absolutely positivley on the undeniable correct path with that statement. |
Raraf
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 04:42 pm: |
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Just have it work like a regular Motorcycle manufacturer and be done with it. Simple. If you want to carry Buell carry them if you don't ...THEN DON'T! You can just carry Buell just like there are exclusive Triumph dealerships or you can carry multiple brands. Then you have people who want to sell and support them NOT people forced to sell and support them. It doesn't need babying. If Buell is really an inferior product then it will die like it should and if it rocks then it will succeed. Indian vs. Triumph. |
Deerhunter17
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 10:04 pm: |
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Well, relief may be insight,.... for me and anyone in the Gettysburg PA. area. After months of being dealt with as a second class citizen, a brainless one at that, by HD of Frederick, MD. SERVICE dept. ( Sales is exceptional, no problem there ) I was greeted with a smile, and " Can I help you" from Josh, a service writer ( On Sunday at that ) at Battlefield HD, Gettysburg, PA. I got an appointment for the following Tuesday for a TPS reset and to have the timing checked. I showed up on time, they took my bike, performed the service, and away I went. The timing turned out to be fine, TPS adjustment made a world of dif. ( I installed a race ecm, k&n filter, and drummer pipe ). The folks were polite, shared stories, was a fantastic customer experience. Battlefield HD is fairly large, but the service writers made me feel as though I was hangin with the local guys. I can't say that they do or don't have great Buell techs, but I can assure you they have customer satisfaction on the mind. The word from the guys out front is that the mechs feel inclined to service ALL air cooled V-Twins, they even had a custom out front, and an Indian in the shop. In fact, they say Indian is coming back.
Best part, Josh rides a 9R!
(Message edited by deerhunter17 on September 09, 2004) |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - 10:36 pm: |
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>>>>I would think one of me would be enough for anyone to have to put up with!
Close...you are within ONE of the correct answer.
You're the best!
Court |
Buelluk
| | Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 12:33 pm: |
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Let me give some props to a local HD dealer..although they stopped selling and servicing Buell they still ordered some Buell parts for me from a neighbouring HD/Buell dealer , and they still gave me my 15% new buyer discount....
so they aint all bad .... |
Darthane
| | Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 01:54 pm: |
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Deerhunter - ask the guys at Gettysburgh to put you in touch with 'Cheese'. |
Deerhunter17
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 09:27 pm: |
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Alan Cheese no longer works there. They say he is in the building trade or something like that. |
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