| Author | Message | ||
     Buellgrrrl |
Saturday I wandered by the new Dubuque HD in search of a free lunch and some insight into whether HOG dealers have figured out how to adapt to today's weak market. Last time I was by this dealership the doors were locked and the building was in forclosure. In the front entryway sat a handful of forlorn new Buells. I tried to buy one of those Buells that had languished there for two years last November. The old owners offered me all of $400 of list for a two year old leftover XB9XS as their financial world collapsed around them. Is it any wonder they went under? By HOG's own admission, "shipments" of new Harleys were down over 30% last quarter. An authoritive source has told me actual sales to customers were down over 70%. You'd think that in that kind of market dealers would be moving heaven and earth to make sales. The free lunch was a hot dog and chips. One would think the dealer would have at least thrown in some beans, never mind brats. The floor was full of now leftover '09s, but I saw not a single sign advertising a drop in price. The sales people were back in their offices waiting for customers to come in and beg for a Harley or something, but no customers were forthcoming. Heck, even the marked down motorclothes weren't moving much. And the Buells? Gone but for three rider training Blasts with $2995 price tags. I suspect Erik and his ad agency's stunt with the car crusher isn't helping to sell those Buells... | ||
| Cityxslicker |
People are still buying bikes, dont fool yourself. I sold my 180th this season on friday. granted we are not a HD box dealer, but people still want bikes, Buells and HDs as well. I did have to off load a BMW GS1100 that sat for 6 months. Sent it to Russia. PS if the Buells are gone and the doors are still open, that means somebody bought them. | ||
| Froggy |
Wow, you got a free lunch and then bitched about it, talk about ungrateful. | ||
| Swordsman |
"And the Buells? Gone but for three rider training Blasts with $2995 price tags. I suspect Erik and his ad agency's stunt with the car crusher isn't helping to sell those Buells..." Er, gone, as in NOT languishing on the sales floor like the Harleys? I would say the ads are doing their job then.  ~SM | ||
| Sifo |
"in search of a free lunch" Explains some political opinions too. | ||
| Swordsman |
Yeah, I noticed that as well Sifo, but didn't say anything.  ~SM | ||
| Sifo |
I think it's funny that she seems to feel that the free lunch she received was not good enough. Did she not get here moneys worth? | ||
| Court |
>>>"in search of a free lunch" Hope and Change babe. . . Hope and Change! We're living in a country, unfortunately, where about 51% of the folks live their lives that way. Some may also share you attitude along with your values. How's this "Hope and Change" thing working out for you? Hopefully Harley-Davidson's measures will be better thought out and more effective that those of the feds . . . I see we are within a couple months of the date you "authoritatively" predicted that "50% of the Harley dealers will be gone and Buell will be out of business". I'm still wishing you'd make that best with me. Just don't sound that bright . . . . | ||
| Fahren |
Chill the turd attitude, guys. The OP was just noting how lame it is to offer someone chips and a weenie as incentive to buy some friggin' expensive tassel-tractors, and how their sales staff, that most of you turd posters don't hesitate to slam when it's your own observation, are lame and unhelpful. Let's try to maintain a level of civility. | ||
| Swordsman |
I'll happily be civil when I see one, just ONE positive post from grrrl. I think she's earned every turd.  ~SM | ||
| Strokizator |
For some reason people think that with the economy down they ought to be able to buy at fire sale prices. Sure sales are down but about the only way to go out of business faster is to start giving product away. Economics is economics and here in the construction business the saying is "Most businesses don't fail because of lack of work. They fail because they got too much work, too cheap". See how long you stay in business selling cheap. I suppose your business model would be to sell at cost and make it up on volume. Selling selected models cheap helps to clear inventory and increase foot traffic (so does giving away hot dogs and chips). Most people are in business to make money. And seeing that the 2010 models haven't been released yet, stating that the showroom was full of "leftover" 09 models is absurd. I suggest you head to the nearest BMW showroom and take a test ride on one of their all-new-for-2010 motorcycles. | ||
| Sifo |
We are dealing with a person who is a known troll. She views bikes left on the sales floor as a bad thing. She also views bikes no longer on the sales floor as a bad thing. I take her at her word. She was looking for a free lunch as was disappointed with what she received. Personally if I don't like the free lunch being offered, I'll go pay for my own lunch and not complain about it. | ||
| Froggy |
Strokizator, 2010 models are already on the floor in many dealers. | ||
| Rainman |
Shoot, I've gone to all of the big mega tent closeout firecracker etc. sales sponsored by car dealers to get free pizza and hot dogs for years. I've never complained about it, but a free lunch, to me, is extremely capitalistic. Why spend my money if some moron is giving it out free? I stop at soup kitchens, however. That food is just plain nasty. Those people are still thinking, like Ronald Reagan and Ed Meese, that ketchup is a vegetable. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
wants it both ways. Complains that there are no Buells on the floor, complains that there are too many Buells on the sales floor and she wont take them home because she wont pay the price. Its getting it coming and going, and it has gotten old. PS I aint here to serve you lunch, coffee, cupcakes or pedicures. See me for a bike, those I know something about. | ||
| Glitch |
HOG dealers ain't leaned a thing... With the size of some of the floorboards I'm not surprised | ||
| Slaughter |
Hog dealers don't LEAN (OP's title) - they're riding HOGS fercrissakes. Ferris LEANS on his Road Bling... but he's an exception to the rule. | ||
| Froggy |
Nice, both of you caught that typo at the same time  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Grrrl, If I saw you come in and knew who you were, I'd only offer you $400 off a two year old bike as well. If for no other reason than to spare my poor service department the headache of having to deal with you. They saw you coming and hid the beans and brats. (Message edited by ft_bstrd on August 03, 2009) | ||
| Svh |
At least once a month she needs to troll on in. She loses the battle everytime   love the verbal assault. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Correction: I need a new Buell shop, mine is broken. There, fixed it. (Message edited by fast1075 on August 03, 2009) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Maybe it's the DEALER not the PRODUCT. Come visit us on a Friday or Saturday. A couple of Saturdays ago, I had every Buell out on test ride. THAT was a fun day. I'd bet Slicker is having similar results. | ||
| Shot_gun |
It always helps when the salesman LOVES what he is selling! Enthusiasm is contagious. Note to self...get spell check. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Saturday I wandered by the new Dubuque HD in search of a free lunch there lies the problem! All dealers are in the business of selling their product and NOT giving away the house! When your actually supporting them, it's done by purchasing items from them so they can make a profit and keep the doors open. And by the way, that doesn't just apply to motorcycle dealerships! | ||
| Ourdee |
Buellgrowl, Are you going to the 2010 HC? I'll cook a brat' for you at the campgrounds. I'm still waiting for you to send me your pic. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
^Cougar Hunter. | ||
| Chellem |
I just, I was gonna resist, but I can't - so much stuff to retort with not sure where to start... You want to buy motorcycles CHEAP, but also want quality BRATS and BEANS instead of HOT DOGS, for FREE. With what money, exactly, will he buy these BRATS once you've bought the bike for the price YOU feel is appropriate??? The bikes are gone, and that's bad, the Blasts are marked down, and that's bad too. The bikes were there, that's bad. The dealer tries to make enough money to buy you lunch, that's bad. The dealer GIVES you LUNCH, and that's bad. No matter what a dealer does, they will never make you happy. You want a cheap deal on a bike whilst you dine on free, dealer-supplied filet. That means you're not good at math. This is pretty cut and dry. Just because the economy is bad, everything can't be given away for free. Believe it or not, our employees expect to be paid, EVEN THOUGH the economy is bad! Our suppliers - same deal! What's wrong with these people?? In a bad economy, the costs to run a business don't go down. If you're lucky, they stay the same! The only way they go down is to lay people off, so keep demanding the free meals and cheap deals. As long as dealers follow your rules, you'll finally be right about 1/2 the dealer network disappearing in a year. Or jewelry stores. Or shoe stores. The basic truths of retail are the same. BTW, have we hit a year from that post yet? I'll have to find it. jeez. Why can't I just look away??? ->ChelleM | ||
| Glitch |
There's a reason she doesn't run a dealership | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Or anything else productive. | ||
| Odinbueller |
Your "authoritive source" is flat out wrong. 70% reduction in retail sales would reflect a bleaker picture that the one we are currently looking at. Sales are down, yes, but no where near as bleak as you would like everyone to believe. Given that, perhaps you should look at yourself, eating that free lunch provided to you by that dealer, while you bitch about how this dealer sucks. The "free lunch" era is down, along with retail sales. Any economic simpleton can do that math. There are very few things that piss me off more than misguided, uneducated customers that eat for free on our dime, and with a mouthful of that food they tell me how much I suck, usually for ridiculous reasons. The only thing worse is when they spray that food all over me as they talk past that mouthful. Let's pose a question; given your "experience" in the markets, and your "authoritive sources", did you at least buy something from this dealer while you ate their food? Did you provide any support to them in these hard times? I agree with Ft_bstrd. They saw you coming a mile away. |
