| Author | Message | ||
     Slowride |
I have been riding bikes since I was 13 and I am now 32. They are a passion and a release for me. I have learned that I have the ability to pretty much do anything I want in regards to a career as I have been in (Television, Electronics, Marines, IT (Very Technical and now Project Management). I have restarted my life over 3 times coming from $7hr to well over 6 figures currently. I have learned that it is not the money that make me tick, but it is a great benefit. With all this said, I have been seriously thinking about going to work as a Sales Guy at one of my local HD/Buell Dealers. I know I have the soft skills (i.e. People Skills) to make a killer sales guy and I have the tech skills to bring any dealership into the new era of online sales. My fear is that I will be rat holed into just one line of sales. I have a great passion for Buell and I know I could take a HD dealer that only dabbles in Buell to the next level if I was given the opp. To all the sales guys currently in the arena, what am I looking at in the way of challenges if I make the jump and try to focus on the Buell line. Will they even give me a chance or will I be caught up into the greater HD product line? Thanks in advance for your answers... Micah | ||
| Spiderman |
Well, From a former sales guy... You need to have a dealer principal that loves Buell and wants to support Buell Key word being support. I can not stress that enough, otherwise you will get no where in your efforts to sell and promote Buell through them, believe me I have tried, 7 days a week during the spring, summer and fall for 3+ years and no avail. I had no support from the owner, sales or another dept. I was constantly working in parts, service and sales to make sure Buell customers were taking care of. Dave and others on this board are awesome at what they do cause they have the backing and support of a whole dealer, they are not stuggling to "convert" anyone. Good luck and don't let the dealer get ya down! | ||
| No_rice |
all i have to say is at most places you will have your hands full trying to get them excited to do much about the buells. i fight mostly every day about it and i'm not even really in bike sales, but i am right there to keep an eye on the sales people almost everytime there is a buell involved lol. although most of the time the sales people just bring the customer to me anyway and i talk to them. | ||
| Fullpower |
I new a guy that lived and breathed motorcycles once. became manager of Harley shop. after 11,000 black leather clad, do-ragged, chained-wallet geeks called him "BRO", and hearing the inevitable " so let's go fer a ride" daily, from EVERY SINGLE CUSTOMER..... He doesnt ride much anymore. | ||
| No_rice |
+1 to everything spidy said. no matter how much YOU want it, if they dont, you are out of luck | ||
| Slowride |
Fullpower, That is just wrong..... I can see the relevance though, that is why I am looking to get out of the corp arena. I almost puke when I get asked out to lunch or happy hour by the "In Crowd" at the job of the month. I am consulting now and to tell the truth, I can't stand to hear how some jo blow told his boss how to do his job and how he got a new gig out of it cause he is the sh!t now... I really just want to meet new people make some money doing it and enjoy going to work.... I know call me a dreamer! | ||
| Slowride |
Well, does anyone know anything about HD of Dallas in Allen, TX. We had a good Buell guy there a while back named Bret Posey, but he moved on to Houston. | ||
| Spiderman |
Don't think I am trying to talk you out of it. You will meet new people, and make tons of friends. Just don't kill yourself trying to change the dealer. I did have fun working at a dealer except towards the end... | ||
| Slowride |
Thanks Spiderman. What are you doing these days... | ||
| Spiderman |
Well, I went back to school a few years ago and I am about to transfer to UofM-Dearborn. Right after the H-D dealer I went back to being a machinist. Now I work at U of M-Dearborn in the Facilities Mgmt doing small CAD work, getting and copying blue prints, working with contractors and all of the new building stuff. | ||
| Daves |
The bike sales thing is a pretty fun gig(most days) Spidey is right though. He tried,Buckinfubba tried and many others I am sure. I had a few people to "convert" here and still have a couple to go but for the most part Appleton was "Pro-Buell" when I got here. That's why they hired me. You need a lot of flexibility to do things different than they are used to. If you work your ass off and get results(that's the key,the results) | ||
| Slowride |
Is there a typical pay range for (if you work your @ss off). Like I said I am not out to make 6 figures, but I would like to keep my new truck.  I have noticed that not that many dealers run Web store fronts or even ebay store fronts. They can't take a friken picture to save their life and almost always they have non riders in sales. It just blows me away. Most of the websites are so standard that it hurts and is very tedious to browse through. I also want to see more than 1 picture of the bike or product when I happen to find an up todate web store. The devil is in the details. How about any details outside of the standard Factory specs, am I asking for to much. You can ask around with the guys I ride with here in DFW. I flip more bikes and cars than most people change their socks. I have done it all on ebay or at least 98% of it and the key is GREAT PICS and Great Communication everything else is secondary. It is something that is repeatedly missed in the dealer sites I visit. Most people I know are all Tech savy and do over 80% of their purchases from the web. LOL, Will I have to bring in charts and graphs with real time $$$ and stats to get their support or will they just say prove it to me? Sorry for the rant, but I am seriously considering this. Micah | ||
| Court |
>>>I know call me a dreamer! Welcome. Some of us have been dreaming since Kevin Cameron wrote the first "AMERICAN DREAMER" story about Buells in the 80's.  | ||
| Spiderman |
I just looked up that movie on IMDb and it doesn't look like a Buell movie   ps parts?? | ||
| Eboos |
I started for the same reason. I hated my last job, and did it for as long as I could stand to. I choose my dealership because of the potential I thought it had for strengthening the brand, and because the sales manager has real passion for his job. I hope to bring this dealership to the same level as Appleton or some of the other more widely known shops, but I do know that it will not happen overnight. | ||
| Typeone |
Eboos, i'm psyched to hear you say that, Sheldons is my service dealership. congrats on the gig ! you'll be seeing me around  | ||
| Blublak |
Slowride.. you have no idea how 'nailed it' you are about some dealers.. Not just hd/Buell dealers. I was in a metric shop a few months back to look for some new gloves and wandered the floor looking at all the shiny plastic on the current sport machines lined up there. I was soon approached by the hot  sales chippie they had working there. We chatted for a few about this bike and that, from her supposed view, I would look 'Hot' on their current 1000cc SBK. I asked about handling.. She said it's really fast and a guy my size needs the 'mans' bike to really go fast. I asked about the brakes and suspension. She said they had color matching leather jackets and 'hats' that would finish off the look and make me even 'hotter'.. WTF!? Good Lord! I knew more about them then she did! Finally she admitted, she was planning on trying to take the class next year and start riding her own, of course, she'd get the 'girls' version of the SBK she wanted me to buy... I tried to tell her that a 600cc SS bike wasn't the 'girls' version.. but what do I know? I think I was supposed to be enthralled that a pretty girl wanted me... IF I rode this bike, with the matching leathers and 'hat'. Please, give me strength.. | ||
| Jlnance |
I think I was supposed to be enthralled that a pretty girl wanted me... IF I rode this bike, with the matching leathers and 'hat'. Unfortunately I'm sure that is a very effective sales strategy.  Though perhaps not with you. | ||
| Roc |
Stay positive and customer focused. Don’t express any animosity toward HD, HD customers, or HD products. Have fun! | ||
| Eboos |
I just got to spend the whole afternoon riding just about every HD model in the 07 lineup, AND GOT PAID TO DO IT!!! If it was a little warmer out (might see snow soon), they were going to let me take one home for the night. How awesome is that? | ||
| Buellerthanyou |
Micah, You might try contacting Brad at Sporttwin. I believe he used to work at H-D Dallas ('bout 4-5 years ago, though). He might have some inside info. Or, come down to Austin! We need a gung-ho Buell salesman (or any Buell salesman at all, really!) HellBuelly J Central Texas H-D/Buell |
