| Author | Message | ||
     Eboos |
Nice job digging that one up Froggy.  | ||
| Jaimec |
Another promising thread shot to hell. Disturbing pattern here on BadWeb lately... | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I still think that grlll is not even female. Has anyone here actually met this troll? | ||
| Ratbuell |
Can we get back on track, please? I'd be interested in what Buellers would LIKE to see at a dealership (besides a parts inventory, I get that). I have a reason for asking. | ||
| Greenlantern |
Interest. | ||
| Ronbob43 |
+1 to Greenlantern | ||
| Swordsman |
Do H-D dealerships haggle? I prefer not to, because I'm no good at it. I like the way Saturn did/does(?) the no-haggle sales. What's on the sticker is what you pay. Technicians that work strictly on Buells and NOT on Harleys. Hard to justify given the number of Buells on the road, but it's nice to dream of a tech that knows more than the owner (not dissin' the few that do, of course!). Better selection. One of each model on the floor at all times. That alone would be an impressive display. Buell demo bikes on hand: one S, one R, one 1125, one Blast, one Uly. ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on October 30, 2008) | ||
| Babired |
Rat, I'm more comfortable knowing a certified Buell tech is working on my bike. Is there anyway the service people can advertise this instead of WORD OF MOUTH? Before Gettysburg stopped selling Buells they had a Buell section, bikes, parts, gear, clothing all together just like the store mentioned on the board. I loved it. If its going to be small keep it all together. K | ||
| Babired |
Rat, I'm more comfortable knowing a certified Buell tech is working on my bike. Is there anyway the service people can advertise this instead of WORD OF MOUTH? Before Gettysburg stopped selling Buells they had a Buell section, bikes, parts, gear, clothing all together just like the store mentioned on the board. I loved it. If its going to be small keep it all together. K | ||
| F_skinner |
I'd be interested in what Buellers would LIKE to see at a dealership Joe, 1. PARTS PARTS PARTS, but more importantly, an on-line ordering web site for parts. Not a dealer issue of course but figured I would throw it out there. 2. A cross reference of common parts between HD and Buell. If a belt for a sporty fits a Buell then it should say that when they look up the Buell or Sporty part number. If it already does then the parts person should have to learn to read. I had a lot more but it was turning into a rant. I visit two shops that are great Buell shops but one is 100 miles away and the other is 300 miles away so I am stuck going to the local shop which is not really enthusiastic about Buells. I think their sales reflect that and believe they have about a dozen or so 1125r bikes from 2008 on the floor. Frank | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Swordsman wrote: "Technicians that work strictly on Buells and NOT on Harleys. Hard to justify given the number of Buells on the road, but it's nice to dream of a tech that knows more than the owner (not dissin' the few that do, of course!). Better selection. One of each model on the floor at all times. That alone would be an impressive display. Buell demo bikes on hand: one S, one R, one 1125, one Blast, one Uly." IMO: Perhaps a tech who specializes in Buells AND Sportsters would be a more feasable approach? More bikes on the floor is probably dependant upon how many bikes Buell will ship to the Dealer. A demo model of each bike would probably not be cost productive. RatBuell, Other than parts inventory, I would like to see more Dealers that have sales/parts/service staff that have a good working knowledge of Buell motorcycles. When I roll in on an artic white and blue Firebolt (08 or 09) and the sales monkey pipes up "Is that an '07?", or I tell the parts guy it's for an S1W and his response is the deer in the headlights look, there is obviously a lack of knowledge. It also doesn't help when the sales monkey is trying to get a customer who shows intrest in a Uly to buy a bagger instead. I am not saying everyone at the dealer should know everything about Buells, but a little core knowledge or "hang on, let me get you the right answer" will go a long way. And what FSkinner said!! Waiting on parts sucks! (Message edited by Paint shaker on October 30, 2008) | ||
| Chellem |
an on-line ordering web site for parts Don't want to hijack the thread - but are you talking like, service parts, or easily-broken-off parts, or what? Until Buell does something like H-D on buell.com, as a dealer, it's just not feasible for me to put EVERYTHING up. Between backorders and having to restock, the process would be difficult to maintain at best. BUT, as we do with clothing, we could probably set up something with say, the most common 50 or 75 parts? How would that be? What would you expect the turnaround time to be on orders? What would be acceptable? Just curious - this happens to coincide with something I've been TRYING to work on too. ->ChelleM | ||
| Greenlantern |
Not only is the thread back on topic, it is already bearing fruit. | ||
| F_skinner |
Chellem, I was actually thinking a web site that I can order parts from without regard to where those parts come from. If they come from a dealership or a warehouse in WI makes no difference to me (I know that would have a big effect on how it works). I am just an average Buell guy that would like to not wait two months for parts. (this has happen twice in the last 4 months). It is frustrating to try and do a rebuild on an older Buell. I am really tired of it. If you do a HD.com thing with Buell parts as a dealer and it tells me if a part is in stock or not I will be using it. My first choice for parts is American Sport Bike, second is a call to local dealer so they can tell me they have to order it. Then we usually discuss sporty parts that may fit. My third choice is a dealership on this site. If a dealership on this site had a www ordering page I would rather order from them than my local dealer. I will have to wait anyway. What are the most common 50 to 75 parts? For what bike? The point I am trying to make is I do not expect a dealership to stock many parts for a 95 S2 but do expect a lot for a 07 XB. If you build it they will come! Frank | ||
| F_skinner |
Sorry for the thread hijack. I need to stay out of this area... Back to Old School Frank | ||
| Ratbuell |
Good stuff, folks. Keep it coming  | ||
| Chellem |
F-Skinner It's not actually just a problem of stocking the parts - we have a decent amount of parts in stock. Certainly we have the common service items (unless someone just bought it today - and if so, it will be reordered today). But there are some logistics involved in the site on the back end that would (hopefully!) be invisible on the front end. If we were temporarily out of stock due to reorder (which takes between 3-5 days usually), should the part come off the site during that time, or should it appear even though it may take more time to get the order to the customer while we wait to get it from Buell? Should parts that we don't normally stock also appear, even though, again, we'll have to order it which will add extra time? Since we use a proprietary software package from H-D, there's very little chance of any integration between our inventory system and a live online system - so it would be a maddening system of constant manual updates, with a very high probability of human error. I've been working on direct reporting, like, once a day run a report and update the live site, but about the only program I could use would be excel, and it's still only as accurate as the last OTC sale. Sorry, I'm more just thinking out loud here. I so much want to do this, I just want to do it GOOD, not half-assed. ->ChelleM | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
Chellem, you're starting to make sense- parts availability is a big issue with Buell riders. While many Harley riders don't mind having their bikes down for weeks waiting for parts (they just drive to the bar in their leathers and act like bikers anyway), Buell owners like to ride (a lot). We're not expecting you to have every last part for an RR1200 in stock, but the parts needed for regular servicing and common repairs- belt, charging system parts, gaskets, tires, cables, etc. would be a good start. Keep it up, and you may sell me another Buell yet... | ||
| Chellem |
While many Harley riders don't mind having their bikes down for weeks waiting for parts (they just drive to the bar in their leathers and act like bikers anyway), Buell owners like to ride (a lot). *sigh* I'm starting to think you're stalking me. Yet another broad generalization. You can rest QUITE assured that Harley riders hate waiting for parts just as much as Buell riders. And quite a few ride. A lot. But since I actually think you were trying to be nice this time, I'm going to leave it at that. Thank you. ->ChelleM | ||
| F_skinner |
Ok, I am not familiar with the HD software but do understand the problem integrating proprietary systems and commercial-off-the-self systems. Without the source code it is impossible. From where I sit it seems like a worthy effort. I wish I lived closer to a dealership like yours. Regardless of the poor dealerships, lack of Buell knowledge, bad service MY number one challenge of Buell ownership is parts. | ||
| Doerman |
Buell growth: Bikes sold---------------Bikes sold Q1->Q3: 2008----------Q1->Q3: 2007 9,224--------------------8,376 That trends to 12,000 bikes in 2008 versus just at 10,000 in 2007. I'd call that growth. However, there is more overall growth to be had if parts, accessories and clothing would be easier to buy. Instead of the GM making a guess at what an individual store should have in inventory, follow the CycleGear model. Buy it from a website and have it shipped from wherever the merchandise is located to the customer or the store of customer's choice. That reduces pressure on having the "right stuff" in the store. That oughta boost P/A sales as well a as having a positive impact on vehicle sales. There are successful models for the mix of retailer/etailer. } | ||
| Greenlantern |
It might be a good idea for the Buell site to set up a parts # locator page. Having a part number in hand when ordering can speed the process up quite considerably. It works in the plumbing industry even when I am ordering from the manufacturer direct. This would involve no physical space overhead on any parties part nor any revolutionary software changes/ upgrades on any dealers part. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I thought parts lists were available in the owners section on Buell.com. Maybe I thought wrong. | ||
| J2blue |
Just to chip in: How about several regional Buell super shops, with no Harleys, just Buell? Such a shop would be where other shops go to get stuff/advice when they are out of either. Here are some cities that may work well: Las Vegas Denver(of course) Atlanta Daytona St. Louis Seattle Buell Headquarters, Wisconsin Dallas Cincinnati NYC | ||
| Greenlantern |
I did not see one, but I could be wrong? | ||
| Midknyte |
I'd be interested in what Buellers would LIKE to see at a dealership "I" would like to see those Buell and HD/Buell mechanic shirts (the proper shirts with collars) reasonably priced. $60 + is refreakingdiculous... | ||
| Midknyte |
an on-line ordering web site for parts ...and this could be done without cutting out the dealer. If you could even just go to the Buell website to initiate the purchase, to be picked up at a local dealer, it'd kill two birds - it would get people into the dealerships and it would show the dealers what we are wanting to and will buy. | ||
| Midknyte |
I would like to see more Dealers that have sales/parts/service staff that have a good working knowledge of Buell motorcycles. One should not have to _ask_ the parts guy to look up a part in hd.net to see if another dealership nearby has the part instead of waiting for an order. They ought to know enough to do it automatically. "I" know they can do it, but I'm also sure that I'm in a minority with that knowledge. I am willing to spend a few more bucks to get a part relocated or on gas to fetch it myself to get my bike on the road again. | ||
| Chellem |
...and this could be done without cutting out the dealer. If you could even just go to the Buell website to initiate the purchase, to be picked up at a local dealer, it'd kill two birds - it would get people into the dealerships and it would show the dealers what we are wanting to and will buy. What's REALLY frustrating about this is that is exactly the fulfillment setup that H-D has for it's online site. We're a fulfillment center for H-D's e-comm site. I don't know why they don't just use the existing infrastructure, and just put Buell parts in it. So instead, I'm sitting here as a dealer trying to figure out a way to do what they already know how to do. Argh. ->ChelleM | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Add okc to the list of buell superdealers . Maybe omaha/lincoln/ kansas city/ wichita.. Somewhere in that area. Midwest seems to lack buell support in some areas but there are a fair number of buellers in this region. In okc I have to go to a hd only dealer for hd/buell compatible parts and mail order for buell specific.That means settling for a drive belt with a giant red "sportster" label stamped onto the belt. |
