| Author | Message | ||
     Doughnut  |
 (I was 13 fifteen years ago.  ) (Message edited by Doughnut on February 01, 2005) | ||
| Outrider  |
I wonder how many of the Bad Buell Dealers are also perceived as Bad Harley Dealers by their Customers? In essence, just plain poor business types when it comes time to follow up after the sale, especially in the service department. | ||
| Mikej  |
If you've been reading some of the other v-rodforums you'll find many similarities between complaints about dealers and parts as you find here. Hmmm, since there's been a regular discussion about stand-alone Buell dealership options, I wonder if one could have a stand-alone V-Rod/Buell dealership. Take the two lower volume products and market them together. Call it the New Harley/Buell shop. | ||
| Outrider |
Mike...There is even a little blue logo in the HOG/Buell Atlas for stand alone Buell Dealers. I didn't see any on the maps, but the logo is so small an old guy with failing eyesight could have easily missed them. I can well imagine the V-Rod owners had complaints similar to Buell owners, but I am confident that that will go away as over the years, the Revo Motor will most likely replace the Twin Cam for a variety of reasons. | ||
| Bamabiker |
What I've been told is that if there is more than one harley dealer in area only one will carry buell.That seems to be the case. | ||
| Court |
>>>(I was 13 fifteen years ago) Kids....geeeesh.   | ||
| Steveford  |
I know that Norton and Mercedes experimented with desmodromic valve actuation but Buell? | ||
| Two_buells  |
What really makes me MAD AS HELL IS they are making one of the better Buell Dealers in my area stop selling Buells. This Dealer promotes events. (Buell events) Has great sevice and prices. Sponsers local racers, etc. reason????? too many Buell dealers in this area?? I have 6 Buell (make that 5) 28 to 80 miles from my house. | ||
| Daves  |
Making them? Are you sure? | ||
| Tripper  |
Making them? Yes. Or I guess you could say "Taking A Poll" and picking the best responses. Since Buell Zone Managers went away, who knows which ones are any good? | ||
| Blake |
"Making them"? Not likely. | ||
| Robxb  |
I'm in Jersey also kenb. William's is my local dealer and they do sponsor a rider, actually his info is right on the buell website under the rider profiles. They have also bumped up there stock of buell bikes, they don't have a lot of parts on hand but they can get me what ever I need in a few days and we just started a BRAG chapter there. I don't know if Kosco has one or not, but if your looking to ride I'm ten minutes from Williams and can meet you there any time you venture down this way. | ||
| José_quiñones  |
Which one Mike, Lancaster? | ||
| Daves |
Tripper, The Buell zone mgr duties were transferred to the HD district mgrs duties a few years ago. There are plenty of ways HD/Buell would know if a dealer is living up to their end of the agreement to carry Buell. Buells sold P+A sold Customer ownership surveys Buell presence in the dealership Floorspace dedicated to Buell Buell signage in and outside the dealership Having a BRAG chapter or not In some markets where there are 5 or 6 dealers and the goal is to thin them it may be difficult to do if none of the dealers step down on their own? I don't know how they would handle that situation. | ||
| Mikej |
If this is a behind the scenes mandate by force then the Milwaukee region is in big trouble as I'm less than one hour's drive from quite a few Buell dealers. I suspect it may be more driven by total number of units sold within a geographically defined perimeter and then doing a survey within that zone and scaling back the low performers. I know of one locally that's probably getting out of the Buell line, and one that probably should be driven out. Beyond that the rest at least try. With any change someone will be unhappy. | ||
| Tbs_stunta |
You know, on the various boards I frequent when someone asks about Buells I send them here. I tell them that having a good dealer is more important with Buells than on a lot of other brands so I tell them to inquire on here for which dealers to visit. | ||
| Tbs_stunta |
Outrider, where was that picture (in your avatar) of the Mule taken? | ||
| Tripper |
Hi DaveS; All of the parameters you listed are good indicators of a dealers enthusiasm. In KC they revoked 3 dealerships. Our BRAG sponsor was among them, and fullfilled the following from your list: Buell presence in the dealership Floorspace dedicated to Buell Buell signage in and outside the dealership Having a BRAG chapter Another sponsored the AMA racer that has been receiving encouragement on this board. As I was director of the BRAG chapter and had to coordinate our transition, I have had many discussions with dealer personnel in this region. I have no doubt that the Buell concessions were indeed taken away, not resigned. The picture that has come into focus was that the decision as to what dealers stay was made on the basis of a questionaire. I'm not complaining about Buells plan, I think they are doing what we asked for. Get rid of the bad ones. The frustration lies in being left with a bad one. Now our BRAG management (I left town and handed the task off to DasBuell, the poor guy) must build a relationship and train a dealer on how to interface with a Buell customer. I'm particularly chapped this AM because they don't where the hats are! | ||
| Tripper |
Would you PLEASE hire DaveS and get him on the road fixing your sad Buell dealer network. | ||
| Outrider |
Mike...Will be interesting to see which if any of the Milwaukee area dealers end up dropping Buell. I have opinions based on experiences with the various dealers with both my Buell and my Harley, but nothing that indicates any area dealer should drop the Buell line. Rather, I would think that some dealers could benefit from hiring a consultant to improve their overall business. You know, something along the lines of a Charm School. LOL In essence, HDI can provide all the sales and marketing tools as well as the report cards to measure a dealers performance. However, it is up to the individual dealer to develop harmony among their employees. | ||
| Daves |
I'm sure in some markets the decision of who stays and who goes will be difficult and only time will tell if the right ones were made. Hmmmm, Dave's school of Buell charm? Nice ring to that. | ||
| Mikej |
Bill, Probably a discussion best held offline. Perhaps at Milwaukee HD/VRod/Buell in a week or two? | ||
| Outrider |
Dave...I like the concept of "Dave's Buellific Charm School" and think you would do well as a consultant. Mike...Sounds like a plan. Let me know when you are headed over there. All...I live here and am not about to make any of my opinions about who should or should not be a Buell dealer online. Personally, I'll stick with my contention that all have the potential to be productive and profitable with both Harley and Buell products. Whether or not they reach their potential is up to them. Concerning establishing independent Buell dealerships, I see no problem in doing that. Sure, lots of hot tempers at first but if they employ the principles of "Defensible Dual Distribution" all stand to gain from the venture. | ||
| Odie  |
Outrider, nice avatar. What year is that Trumpet? | ||
| Aldaytona  |
At the dealership level, most owners look at profits first. Usually buyers of big twins don't shop all over to save a couple of hundred dollars, and generally spend a good amount on accessories when they purchase. Most Buell buyers don't fall into either category as can be witnessed by reading the (how cheap can I find one)posts on this sight. Wonder why the resale isn't in line with other Harley-Davidson products, that's a good start. Most owners don't see the need to have good people in the dealership to promote Buell sales, parts or service, since Buell sales represents a tiny profit or no profit in their bottom line. Most owners and management are not motorcyclists so therefor certainly not enthusiasts. Very few salesmen are motorcyclists even though they might own a big twin they ride once a week. Think I'm wrong, look at the employee parking lot at your local dealership. Enthusiasm sells Buell motorcycles. Some of the worlds Best motorcycles sit collecting dust at Harley-Davidson dealerships because salespeople are used to selling an image to people who are not motorcyclists and don't know how to relate or understand why someone would want to buy "one of those things". At a lot of dealerships being the Buell guy makes you the odd ball. (actually they are the oddballs but don't know it) I thought this was all about MOTORCYCLES, wasn't it? | ||
| Xb12scg05 |
You are right Al I own a independent hd shop my customers thought I was nuts when I sold my wifes sporster and bought her a xb9sl now they know Ive lost it when I bought my xb12 from you.Ive let a few ride them and they are impressed. | ||
| Ptrumble1 |
Aldaytona, so you are saying that Harleys and Buells are a bad retail mix for the average dealer who sells primarily the cruisers and baggers ? | ||
| Outrider |
Odie...That is the concept street tracker that Triumph commissioned Mule Motorcycles to make for them and it is currently on Cycle World's IMS circuit here in the States. There is a full story on it with much better pics in the March issue of Cycle World. I pulled this particular pic from Mule's website. Check it out, it is kind of neat. Incidentally, the do lots of nice things with Sporties as well. http://www.mulemotorcycles.com | ||
| Daves |
Al, I agree! I am lucky, I work for a guy that rides to work almost everyday( not this time of the year). He has a 120" Jim's motor in his FLHTCUI! Almost everyone at our dealership rides to work and rides on their time off. It makes a HUGE difference to how the dealership is run. The owner has 2 RR1000s, his brother the service mgr has a really nice S2 (too much chrome but nice), Critter, one of the techs drag races a S2,Comp. Todd has a M2,Z in the parts dept has a M2,Corey, another of our techs is buying a 96 S1 I have for sale, Ernie,a tech has a ZX6RR, Mike,a tech has a CBR1100XX, I ride a XB12R. Yep, I am lucky, I work at a dealership that is owned and staffed by MOTORCYCLISTS and it shows in everything we do. Terry, the owner drove to the dealer meeting pulling a trailer with 4 bikes in it just so we could all ride a bit while we were there! How cool is that! | ||
| Daves |
PS, Yes I'm still the oddball but I've been that all my life so it's no big deal! |
