| Author | Message | ||
     Jos51700 |
You know what? I don't like most dealers. Why? Because they don't run the show the way I would. You know what else I don't like? Whining about dealers and how much they charge and how they're out to screw you and how it's all a huge ripoff and blah blah blah. If you think you are SO smart that everything you do with your Buell excels above and beyond what a dealership can or will do for you, then go start YOUR OWN SHOP. Go ahead. I dare you. I double-dog-dare you. Consider this as me, calling you, the CONSTANT Buell dealership critics, out. I'm going to tell you something. This is a big secret. "THEY" don't want you to know.... Fact is, they're not out to screw you! It's true. Don't believe me? Get a job in a dealership, work there for a few years, and document everytime a dealer-principle, departmental manager, salesman, technician, or shop dog rubs their greedy paws together with a gleam in their beady little eyes, while sneering "Heh heh heh.....Here come some more Buell customers.....I can't wait to take as much money as possible from them!!!" You're documentation sheets will be forever blank. You know why? THERE'S NO MONEY IN BUELL'S! Even Buell "The Company" didn't turn a significant profit until a couple years ago. So, you hate the dealer. "They messed my bike up" you say. They did. And there are plenty of scratch-happy, rock-wielding, 'Nettechs ready to do far worse to your bike, with ZERO consequences if they screw it up. At least if a dealer does something bone-headed to your bike, you have potential legal recourse. It's not guaranteed, and it's a PITA, but it's there. And chances are, the dealer is already taking steps to make it right. If JoeBuellNetExpert tells you to check for a fuel leak with a cigarette lighter, he doesn't give a damn what happens. He doesn't have to. "It's so expensive. They're overcharging me." Well, if you can turn a profit after payroll, mortgage/rent, electricity (To cool you, John Q. Customer, on a hot August day while they fix your bike), forklift fuel and repair, building maintenance, insurance (That's a biggie), shop expense (Ooops, we scratched a wheel), warranty (they typically lose money on any given warranty repair), and taxes, water, permits, licenses, fees, and let's not forget the biggie: capital....If you can consistantly turn a profit after ALL that, then most dealers would kiss your a** to have you come show them how. Fact is, most dealers didn't start out with nothing in this business, and they got rich off of HARLEY, not your no-profit-margin Buell. And if you think your product improvement ideas are SO great and SO grand, patent them and sell them. I'm not immune. I fine-tune most of everything I own, but there's one thing I've learned and it's the very point lost on most constant-critics. The guy that designed this or that made one helluva lot more money ($$$) than I did when he built it, and therefore, whether the part/tool/bike is better or not than what I made, he's doing better at it because he got PAID to do it. If I can do better, and I know it, and I'm going to constantly make critiques of his product, I'd better be ready to PUT UP, OR SHUT UP. Because, whether we know it or not, there's alot more that an engineer or designer or parts guy or dealer principal has to put up with than we, the consumer, knows about. It's that whole "Walk a mile in a man's shoes" thing. So if you wanna bitch and whine constantly about it, walk a mile or two in those shoes, first. THEN see how much better you can do. I'm willing to wager that if you could do better, you'd be doing it instead of that other guy, by now. Now, realize one thing. I'm the exception. I'm the guy that didn't drool on your bike while I was working on it. I cared about your machine. I moved to different dealerships until I found the ones that cared about your bike, too. I'm one of you, remember? I used to trash-talk dealers too.... But then I found out, first hand, what's it's like. And that's why I typed this. You know how it is when you're hanging out with biker friends, and some guy comes up and starts yapping about bikes, and you can tell just by the way he talks, that he doesn't have a clue about what he's talking about? Those of you that constantly complain about dealerships, factory manuals, and dealer techs are that guy. | ||
| Cruzinonline |
I think someone is in dire need of a blow job. | ||
| Skntpig |
My dealer etched my frame with some type of acid and did nothing. When they did the recall on my steel swingarm (thanks Buell) they cross threaded the iso bolt so bad the whole back end of the bike would move up and down, and did nothing. This was all when I worked there. I didn't start a thread about it...I fixed it myself and never went back. Call the WAAAHHHHHMMbulance Negative Nelly. I guess I don't understand how you think this helped anyone but thanks again Jos! | ||
| Billetmetallic |
jos, just keep washing bikes at your dealership and leave the mechanics alone for crying out loud, i actually feel dumber after reading all of that, which sucks, cause i dont have much smarts to spare (Message edited by billetmetallic on November 03, 2008) | ||
| Jramsey |
"jos,just keep washing bikes............." thats funny  | ||
| Silas_clone |
EVERYTIME i go to the dealer, for the last 30 years, it's been an adventure. Nobody cares more about your bike than you do. It's like going to the surgeon to have your knee operated on, learn as much as you can and ask questions. If the mechanic gets pissed, go find another mechanic. Most of them think it's kinda cool that you have an idea about what's going on with your bike. Buy a manual and refer to it.Buy a parts book and bring with you when you go to buy parts. Do not be surprised when you are given the wrong part. Have the old part in your hand whenever possible. When it comes to bikes, if you can do it yourself, you know it will be done correctly, cause you are not trying to do it on a timetable. If you screw it up, you can always pay someone to fix it. Anyone will sell you anything that you are willing to buy, including the dealers. Be careful when you buy bolt-on chrome gew-gahs and go-fasters. Over the years I've noticed that they seldom improve your ride and you usually can't see them from where you sit. But there have been a lot of aftermarket products that are well worth the effort, many of which did not come from the factory. | ||
| Jos51700 |
I fixed it myself and never went back. That's good, and I know you think I'm whining, but that's exactly what I wrote this thread for: Fix it yourself instead of blaming someone else. just keep washing bikes at your dealership and leave the mechanics alone I bet i'm better at both than you are  thats funny It was pretty good! Nobody cares more about your bike than you do. I couldn't agree more, but I guarantee that I cared as much as you do. I've worked alongside the people that send Badweb members into fits, and I like that fact that Badweb consistantly helps it's members with donations, advice (self-correcting advice, at that), and so much more. But there are a few of people on here that think that just because the factory did it, they can do it better, and I challenge those people: Do it. Start your own company. Put your Buell on the shelf and put YOUR name on the side of a bike YOU built. Be the next Erik Buell. I dare you. | ||
| Spiderman |
Dealers aren't out to over charge you they just don't want to, work with you, get you parts or deal with you in general. Because Buells dont make a profit for them cause they do not know how to handle or treat or apply them selves to Buell clients. As for opening my own shop, I do not have the capital to do so but you better believe when a local Bueller has something the dealer can't fix under warranty or need something done they have to pay for they show up at my garage... | ||
| Ratbuell |
Jos has a lot of good points, and I'd like to see the post in Quick Board just to see what kind of responses it gets. I'm a dealer employee too. I care about Buells. Am I a minority? Absolutely. Does it suck? In my mind, hell yes it sucks. To a dealer, where Buell makes up less than, say, 10% of annual revenue (hypothetical here), it doesn't suck quite as much. It just *is*. That means it's not good, or bad...it just is what it is. Business is business, so to speak. Wanna make it better for future Buellers? Support good dealers. DON'T badmouth bad dealers, because it adds to the perception that all Buellers are bitchy, unreasonable people. State - objectively - that dealer X did A,B,C to your bike and you're not happy about it, and leave it at that. Period. Be a grownup about it. Be constructive if you can. If you find your Rant Mode is on, hit the delete key. Dealers who care will start to notice that there ARE dealers in the country who make it work, and turn a profit, and will either care enough to add personnel and knowledge until they can compete with those other good dealers, or they won't. Most importantly, though, they'll start to realize that Buell owners are NOT all bitchy, unreasonable loudmouths. They'll start to realize that we ARE worth the investment - in time, personnel, and effort. I know it's tough...but be a GOOD customer whether or not you find a good dealer. Good customers generate more enthusiasm from the Other Side of the counter, than 'bad' customers. As much as we'd all like to believe it, it's not all about your bike. There's lots of us out there, and Buell makes more every day. And if you insist on purchasing solely from the aftermarket, and doing "it" all yourself...please refrain from badmouthing dealers in the process. You've made your choice and that's cool (I get lots of stuff from the aftermarket as well, and I turn a lot of wrenches on my own bikes because I love it)...but let's not keep beating the same horse over and over again. Please. | ||
| Jos51700 |
I like RatBuell  JRamsey, I'm still waiting for that spoon....Aren't you a man of your word?  | ||
| Naustin |
Dealers aren't out to over charge you they just don't want to, work with you, get you parts or deal with you in general. Because Buells dont make a profit for them cause they do not know how to handle or treat or apply them selves to Buell clients. +1 | ||
| Buellistic |
"BUELLschitte" | ||
| Jramsey |
Do you still send condescending and sarcastic PMs to other members ? I think the next time I go to "OUR" local dealership to pick up a PRIMARY GASKET that they were so nice to SPECIAL ORDER for me I'll offer to take the employee's out to lunch for being so generous. | ||
| Buellistic |
"AND" you are not "CONDESCENDING and "SARCASTIC" ??? | ||
| Jramsey |
Just giving back( a very small dose) publicly what I once received privately. PS Buellistic I've read all of your posts in the year I've been here you have no room to talk about someone being condescending. (Message edited by Jramsey on November 03, 2008) | ||
| Buellistic |
HOW ABOUT POSTING EVERYTHING THAT "I" SENT YOU "PRIVATELY" SO EVERYONE CAN READ THESE E-MAILS !!! In BUELLing LaFayette | ||
| Spiderman |
Ohhh this is about to get gooooood... | ||
| Jramsey |
NONE of my posts in this thread were directed at you until the PS. Reread the thread and quit jumping to conclusions. | ||
| Jos51700 |
Still waiting on that spoon, James.... | ||
| Glitch |
Can we at least keep it civil? | ||
| Spiderman |
Keep your hands up and protect yourself at all times... : ING:: | ||
| Buellistic |
WAITING !!! | ||
| Jos51700 |
Let's boil it down to honesty, here.... Jramsey, AND Buellistic, AND MOST DEFINITELY myself, are smartass's (at times, for some. All the time for some others). I'll go so far to say that Ramsey is a sharp guy, and has a good reputation where he lives. I'll go so far to say that LaFayette is a sharp guy, and has a good reputation here (I don't know anyone where he lives). My own reputation is not for me to interpret. But this whining about "I can do it better than the people that do it for a living" gets old. If you can make a part that works better, then make it, and get it out there so we can use it. If you can write a better service manual, or create a better service procedure, then go take the job of the people who failed so miserably at it, and let us ALL benefit from your ways. If you can build a better bike, make it, so we can enjoy. And Ramsey knows, this is no different than the email that -->I<-- sent him, about putting up, or shutting up. And to make it clear, I dislike not one single person on this board. I just want the people that know "so much" to bring that knowledge to whole table. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. As stated by others, it's a whole different story after you've walked a mile in someone else's shoes. | ||
| Jos51700 |
I think the next time I go to "OUR" local dealership to pick up a PRIMARY GASKET that they were so nice to SPECIAL ORDER for me I'll offer to take the employee's out to lunch for being so generous. If it's so easy to keep it in stock, how come you didn't have it? | ||
| Billetmetallic |
come on guys, lets group hug  | ||
| Jramsey |
Thank you Jos for posting about the email, maybe it will clear up thing for Buellistic. When I buy gaskets, filters,o rings,frequently used stuff so to speak I always buy 2 so I have a spare. (Message edited by Jramsey on November 03, 2008) | ||
| Buellistic |
What about stocking 12030 which is used in SPORTSTER,BLAST, and XB's ??? | ||
| Sloppy |
Boy I need a cigarette after this wave of MENTAL MA$TURBATION... We reap what we sew... Edit: Dang! Hadn't had my morning Joe and neglected to proofread! That should be sow - thanks Court!!! (Message edited by sloppy on November 03, 2008) | ||
| Court |
sow . . . | ||
| F_skinner |
Wanna make it better for future Buellers? Support good dealers. DON'T badmouth bad dealers, because it adds to the perception that all Buellers are bitchy, unreasonable people. State - objectively - that dealer X did A,B,C to your bike and you're not happy about it, and leave it at that. Period. Be a grownup about it. Be constructive if you can. If you find your Rant Mode is on, hit the delete key. Read what Ratbuell said. This rings true to me. A good friend of mine works at a dealer. He told me that Buell riders really know there bikes compared to the HD crowd however, he also pointed out they are the most difficult people to work with on sales, service and parts. The only thing I would add is it is important to identify bad dealers, not with emotion but with empirical data. I have problems ordering parts, common parts and not so common. I do make it a habit buying two of everything since I have a few bikes that use the same parts. Is it the dealers fault they do not stock parts for my S2? Probably not but it does no good bitching at the parts guy or gal because they don't have a part I need at that moment. I will go out of my way, 200 miles out of my way, to support a good dealer. This will get better but in the mean time there will be a fair amount of ass pain to go around. If you want to be part of the solution the next time you are screwed over or feel you are screwed at a dealership type a letter to Buell, with the FACTS. Likewise if a dealer is doing great also write a letter. They read them and I have always been called back usually with 10 days. Or you all can bitch about it on the BadWeb and confirm what a lot of people at dealerships think about Buell riders. Grow the F up. |
