| Author | Message | ||
     R1DynaSquid |
Posted on ATC. The Mothership is up to some weird stuff lately. I wandered over to my local HD-and-sorta-Buell shop this afternoon in search of a shifter peg. While they didn't have one (not even for a Sportster), I got to watch an amusing improv comedy routine about HD's new dress code for dealership employees. Apparently these guys are being told they have to wear dealership polo shirts, which they must purchase at their own expense, and must iron. And no sneakers; leather shoes or boots required. No word yet on whether they're going to be ordered to wear the HD standard shaved-head-goatee combination... Any truth to this that you are aware of? | ||
| Coolice |
Thats good Dyna!!  | ||
| Daves |
The words "Cold day in hell" come to mind. That would be a dealership thing not corporate, at this point anyway. I did however just order some cool dealership shirts to wear, no polos, nice button up. Dave | ||
| Outrider |
Geez Dyna...You just described the folks that work at Hal's! However, they wear both Polo and Button-Up shirts. Also appears to be a trend to switch from jeans to khaki's. Ewwww...How Yuppie-ish. Not at all like a real bike shop. The only redeeming social value is that they are good at what they do, just a little snobish in all but the parts and service departments. | ||
| Bomber |
I know I'm ready to be pushed out onto an iceflow and left for the seals, but am I the only one that kinda misses the woodenfloored, aromatic with long-chain hydrocarbons shops that were so dimly lit in the "sales room" you had to go outside to read the spark plug numbers? yeah, I kinda thought so {grin} however, if the dress code thing makes it easier for a potential customer to walk in, buy a bike and the wanne be outlaw attire, thereby making sure the store will be there next year, I spose it's a good trade wingtip engineer boots next? | ||
| Outrider |
Bomber...If you translate that to smaller dealerships where everyone knows the entire operation from front door to back, Yeah I miss them. However, in the modern Neiman Markus/Bloomingdales approach, I am afraid those days are long gone unless you shop at a Midwestern Jap bike shop that still services generators, lawn mowers and chain saws. As for the wing tip engineer boots, you may want to contact Progressive Insurance to see where they got the pair featured in some of their ads. Kinda sharp with the pebble grained leather. Would look really good in the office if the boots don't cause your feet to stink! LMAO PS: WTF are you doing online on a weekend? You are violating your own rules of engagement.  | ||
| Outrider |
In retrospect, I don't care what a dealership looks like or how the employees dress as long as they are proficient at what they do. What I would like to see is more dealerships open on SUNDAY's. Hey, we work and have the weekend to catch up on our buying. Not to mention a lot of us work Saturday's as well. I don't care if the shop can't legally sell you a bike on Sunday (Dumb Wisconsin Law). They can still sell you parts, clothing, bling bling, etc as well as telling you about the bikes and possibly allow a test ride. They just can't do the paperwork until Monday. It appears that locally, Uke's is quite aggressive in this matter and should be considered an example to be admired and copied. Think of it this way. The general and specialty retailers in most all market segments do a good percentage of their business on Sunday's. Why don't motorcycle dealers??? Especially the Nieman Marcus Types. | ||
| Ray_maines |
Well, son of a gun, Next thing ya know HD will want their dealers to stock parts for Buells, know something about servicing Buells, quit being offensive to Buell customers, ....... | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Why don't motorcycle dealers??? Because we want a day to ride too, we have to give up all kinds of time when there are rides going on but we have to sit and watch them leave without us. I know, it seems simple to be open Sunday, but in Iowa if you even talk bikes on a Sunday the dealership can possibly loose their license. Kinda not worth the risk. | ||
| Outrider |
Craig...Understand your point and that has been an age old reason for all brands. Can't fault you for taking the industry line. I just think it missed opportunity for the dealerships. The dealer as a business owner would simply have to sit down and work out a rotating schedule to see if it would work. Short term do it with a bare bones staff and see if the traffic and sales are worth it. If they are, chances are an additional employee or two may be required to make it happen in the riding season. Heck, even just one service writer could fill the schedule with bikes that incurred problems over the weekend. Add a tech or two and you will be doing a ton of oil changes and miscellaneous minor repairs so folks can get home. Good profit in that at Sunday Rates. Extend that to the clothing, accessories and parts departments and you have an opportunity for some big sales. If you have one sales type hanging around floating from one department to the next, the presentations can be made and the deals all but signed in blood. Might make a difference between your dealership getting the sale or someone else's (if the customer buys at all) in a competitive market. Lastly, if you don't sell a bike on Sunday, you won't lose your license. Of interest, all my cars were bought on Sunday's during the 30 years I lived in California, but I couldn't by a bike, much less a part or helmet if I tried and that often forced me to shop online or mail order out of the Magazines compliments of my work schedule. Translation: the local dealers lost my business and that of many more customers. Disclaimer: I never tried to shop Chaparral on a Sunday. They may be the exception to the rule. However, they aren't just a clothing and accessories store, the sell Bikes, Boats, ATV's, etc. | ||
| Outrider |
Whoops, just read you "no talk about bikes" statement. Ok, so don't talk. Just ask them not to sit or drool on them. You can peruse a car lot as long as nobody talks to you, eh? | ||
| Daves |
Sunday is for riding! Or hunting depending on the time of the year. Dave | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Why not just close the doors on a weekday, say Tuesday? More folks are out & about on sundays & the shops that are open are packed. Plus I know of a good number of folks who work at the local area dealerships who dont ride. Sounds goofy to me, but its true. Shouldnt bother them to miss a day of riding  | ||
| Phillyblast |
Jersey has the same law - dealers are closed on Sun. Rather than being open on Sun. could we please once and for all get a parts listing that has the right parts???? Just stopped over the local HD assless-chaps and other homoerotic accessories (oh, do you sell motorcycles too?) shop, and asked for a set of plugs for the bike (S2). Doncha know he comes back with a set of 6R12s? So I sent him back into the stack to get me a set of 10R12s. Now if I don't know that already, I get home and put in the plugs and suddenly the POS Buell is pinging. Dang Buells, always something, I'm gonna buy me a Kawasaki. The did have a CityX on the showroom floor, though. Of course, I spent a good several of minutes checking it out and did a single sales person approach me? Nah. And they had a big demo day today too. Coulda just said "Hey, why don't you take the black 9S we have outside out for a demo while I deal with this guy, and we'll talk when you get back?" Nope. Too busy trying to sell a VRod to some guy that wanted to know how hard it was to get a motorcycle license. AAARRRGH!!!!! Dumbassess don't you know you just lost a potential sale!!!!!!!!??????? | ||
| Outrider |
Ok, so close off the bike sales area and let the sales types have Sunday off. What about the clerks in the clothing and chrome departments? How about selling me a part to get home on Sunday or how about accepting my bike for service when it's hot off the trailer from a few hundred miles out and I have to be in the office on Monday morning? Geez, what's it take to get a point across? The typical dealership pretends to be Neiman Marcus, so why don't they live up to their business practices? We are the consumers and we want to buy on our schedules, not your antiquated concept of Sunday's are for riding. You will get your days off just like any other retail business. | ||
| Easyflier |
The local HD shop (in Iowa) opens a few Sundays prior to Christmas. They posts signs that there are no Sunday moto sales and let people just shop the boutique. The shop in Rockford is open Sundays but I'm pretty certain the service dept is closed. | ||
| Shky_jake |
The HD stealership here in Las Vegas is not open on Sundays and Mondays. Can not get parts for M2 there any way. | ||
| Court |
"Blue Laws" (see below) are slowly on the way out. Mileage varys greatly. Uke's can be open on Sunday, can't sell, Keith can't talk to a customer about motorcycles, etc. Shirt sales, ok. I used to ride from Topeka, KS to Kennosha to do demo rides periodically. If they occured on a Sunday I (as a non-employee)could arrange a future meeting of s prospect-salespro. New Jersey closed darn near everything, including several of the world's largest malls in the US's wealthist counties. The cost to commerce must be staggering. All car dealerships are closed on Sunday and all the bike dealerships I know of are as well. Merchants have not been as "against" all this as you might as first think. It is, at least, a level field.
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| Newfie_buell |
Bomber, Ice Flows, Seals!!!!! Come talk to me in March!!!! | ||
| Glitch |
Bomber, the first HD dealer I ever visited had sawdust floor. | ||
| Daves |
Most people already have Saturday off. We don't, now you want us to work Sunday too. Hell let's all just live at the dealership, that way we could be at your beckon call 24 hrs per day. We could all sleep in the bike racks in the warehouse and then at 2am when a customer just has to get that spark plug they could've got in the other 60 hours per week we are open needs it, we could just go out back, wake up a parts person and get it for them! Whhooop eeee, I could have another day off during the week, the days that all my friends and my wife are at work and nothing is going on, big fun that would be. I have worked Saturday for all but 4 years of my life since I was 12 years old, sorry Bill but I'm not working Sundays for you or anyone else. I already work 9-10.5 hour days,we are open from 8am-6 Mon-Weds, til 7 on Thursday and Friday and 8-4 on Sat,rarely get time for a lunch break,work every Saturday,come in early and stay late for customers who just can't make it til 5 minutes before closing time. You come walk a few miles in my(or others) shoes for oh, about 25 years and then tell me about having to work Sundays too. I think I(we) should be able to have a life too. Don't take this wrong, I love my job and will probably be in the motorcycle business the rest of my days! I don't mind the long hours or working Saturdays. I just don't want to work Sunday,I don't think most of you would either. Ride to the edge! Dave | ||
| Daves |
PS, I'm going riding in a little while with Penny! That's what we do on Sunday!!!!!! Dave | ||
| Spike |
Dave, Agreed. Mike L. Ray Price HD/Buell (closed Sundays) | ||
| Buckinfubba |
I'm stuck at work on a sunday and your not...you maybe riding...I am not....go take that thought of yours and go to work on saturday and sunday have your days off during the week and tell me about your life. its all about bar and shield points and thats crap. I don't get paid enuff for this. great american comapny with absolutely no american standards towards work situation. they are lucky we ain't union like york...Do they work on sundays normally.... are the corprate offices open on saturday and sunday...is tech support open on saturday and sunday....no old navy is open on sunday tho.....good god its a conspiracy...hd is trying to buy out old navy | ||
| Outrider |
Ok, I concede...Enjoy your day off. Was just exploring a business opportunity that seems to work for Uke's. In the rotation of employees, some would get Saturday and some would get Sunday off. Still others would work both in the clothing and bling bling departments as they are usually part timers anyway. Additionally, as I mentioned, if the test was a success, it would most likely cause the dealer to add a few employees to cover the ongoing rotation. Didn't seem like a bad idea to me. You get a few more dinks in the store to work the non-techincal areas which frees the valuable employees up to concentrate on their specific functions. Heck, who knows, the overall dealer rating may go up accordingly. Just another thought...Automotive supply and repair shops are open on Sundays. | ||
| Buckinfubba |
problem is we full timers that are low on the totem poll ...atleast at a new dealership...get stuck...since turn over rate is slow here...it could last 2 years that is if I did...that won't happen. plus it ain't overtime pay because its just regular hours. plus I can almost gaurantee you that it ain't that cost effective. but it is about bar and shield points. its crazy people in the mc business have no time to ride...... | ||
| Daves |
Which in turn would force a lot of "motorcycle people" out of the business. Making way for more non riders to fill positions at the dealerships. That would lead to even more blank looks and what the heck are those, that people complain about already. I'm just glad that I work for someone that isn't as greedy and actually cares whether his employees are happy! Dave | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
daves i suport u and u being off on sundays hell u gotta be able to use what u sell. (besides here in iraq sunday is my only day off too) | ||
| Glitch |
its crazy people in the mc business have no time to ride...... I like not having to work weekends. Ridin' is one big reason. I've noticed something today. I went to Cycle Gear today just because they were open. There were four guys working and no one in there shopping. I bought some oil, while I was talking to one of the sales guys. It was dead, and I asked him if it had been dead all day. He said they've never had a busy Sunday, Saturday on the other hand.... Open on Sunday 'cause there seems to be the demand, but no business, kinda like Bubba and Kevin breakin' down and makin' a loud muffler 'cause the demand seemed to be there... | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
theres no busness cuz everyones riddin on suday why u think biker bars are open on sundays (at least in La. they are) when most bars are closed |
