| Author | Message | ||
     Mikej |
I've heard this several times now where a H-D dealership will drop the Buell line and then state they can then no longer sell Buell parts or do Buell service. Is this a decision on the part of the dealerships in question, or is this a factor or the Corporate Dealership agreement rules? Can I wander into any H-D/non-Buell dealership and order a Buell part that may or may not be shared with a Sportster or Harley-Davidson model? Even if I have the correct and current part number for said Buell part? And why exactly would a Harley-Davidson/we-dropped-Buell dealershop no longer be able to perform non-warranty general work on a Buell. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Bullpoop Mike, If you have a part number they can order the parts. When I need parts for the S1 I usually get a fellow board member to give me the numbers and I take it to my local HD Retailer (only one here on the island) who can order right from his screens. Now with respect to the Warranty Work it can't be done. It has to do with the fact that (this is strictly my opinion) why should a HD shop get paid to do Buell Service when they have are not a dealer. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Newfie Mike was asking about NON_warrenty Buell work. Its understood that a non-Buell dealer wouldn't get paid by Buell for warrenty work since they aren't part of the network anymore, but to say they can't work on a Buell simply becasue they aren't a Buell dealer? Not sure I buy that for the Tubers, an XB maybe but not for a Tuber. | ||
| Mikej |
So that would mean that the former /Buell dealerships who state they can no longer order Buell parts are doing so out of choice rather than mandate? And also the former /Buell shops that state they can no longer even do non-warranty work on Buells are also making a personal choice, much like the shops that will not work on clones and customs? Oh well, just checking if it's corporate or dealership decisions, that's all. Thanks for the reply. Enjoy your time with the visitors up there. Hope there's an iceberg floating by for them to see. | ||
| Danny |
I haven't personally looked at the severance papers yet. I was under the impression that we were barred from ordering Buell parts without being a Buell dealership. Having to do with taking food out of the mouths of people who've made the commitment to be a dealer. If that's not the case... great. Give me 72hrs to research this. Danny 95 S2 02 V-Strom Saturday Only parts, sales & Demo Rides; Modesto Ducati &... Buell parts & repair?? | ||
| Mikej |
Thanks Danny, I was just looking for clarification. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Mike...I've been able to get shared Sportie parts from the H-D/non-Buell dealer. But Buell parts have been a no-no. The only exception I've found is one dealer that had a great working relationship with a dealer that sold Buells. As for service work...most H-D/non-Buell dealers won't give you the time of day. I had one exception (same dealer as above). Luckily for me, I have Dave and 2 additional Buell dealers within 30 minutes from my front door. The looking H-D dealer only has a few never titled '95 & '96 Buells for original sticker price (obviously in no hurry to move the bikes). | ||
| Mikej |
Dennis, Then perhaps Leslie's article in a recent publication had deeper meanings that one would at first assume. Or perhaps I should just look at it as if I were going into a Jaguar dealership looking for Ford parts, or going into a Yamaha motorcycle dealership and looking for strings for a Yamaha guitar. One would hope there is closer unity in a corporation and shared distribution network, but the surfacing facts bespeak of there being more to the story. I'm just a customer, a small voice in the wind, one pebble on the beach, insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but still I would think if both agencies share a common distribution network and engine assembly line then parts should be available. But if a non-Buell shop can not order Buell parts, then there should be room for legal petition to create a stand-alone Buell shop to at a bare minimum service an existing customer base now abandoned by the parent corporation. Food for thought, something to chew on, or words in the winds. | ||
| Loki |
Then this question needs to be asked. What if there is no local HD/Buell dealer? This begets the next. How far is one expected to drive for normal parts before a non Buell shop can or could order stuff for a customer? Or...What if the shop you bought your Buell from decided to quit carrying them and you had the extended service plan? | ||
| Daves |
I don't think a non Buell dealer can order Buell parts. It was not the parent corporation(HD/Buell) that abandoned the customers, it is the dealers decision to carry Buell or not. Dave | ||
| Mikej |
I think I'll just go out into the garage when I get home and forget about stuff for awhile. | ||
| Bluey |
Just bought my Buell 3 weeks ago at my local Harley/Buell Dealership! Last week they removed the Buell Sign and don't sell them anymore! I have a 2 year warranty. Are they still obligated to service my Buell and honor the warranty? | ||
| Shky_jake |
My next question is if you bought a Ext warrenty plan from a dealer and said dealer stops selling and servicing Buell and no other dealer is close to you can you get a refund on the Ext. warrenty you purchased? Just a thought. | ||
| Mikej |
Bluey, meet Daves, he'll serve you well. | ||
| Daves |
Very good questions? I do not know the answer. Any annons want to pipe in on this one? I am not at work,on vacation so I can't call and find out right now for you. If we still don't have an answer when I get back on the 11th of Aug I'd be happy to find out for you. Dave | ||
| Shky_jake |
Thanks Dave. Have a good time on vacation. | ||
| Court |
>>>I was under the impression that we were barred from ordering Buell parts without being a Buell dealership. That is an accurate statement. Once you are "severed" (sounds pretty severe, eh?) the Buell P/N will be blocked in your Talon or Lightspeed system. That's just my PERSONAL opinion.  | ||
| Mikej |
Just one great big happy family, with some deadbolts on a few cupboard doors. Gotta just love the MoCo sometimes. outta here for a bit, bye, I won't let the door hit me in the arse on the way out.  | ||
| Outrider |
Question: Regardless whether an HD dealer sells and services the Buell line, is it not possible for them to order parts from the Franklin Distribution Center? I mean parts is parts and they are all a part of HDI as are the consumers that own either Buell or HD motorcycles? Court...Help me understand this one. Please! | ||
| Daves |
If you are not a Buell dealer, then you are not a Buell dealer. No bikes, no parts. You are either a dealer or you are not. I'm not a Yamaha dealer so I can't order Yamaha parts. I know, it's different since both HD and Buell are kind of one and the same(man, did I just say that?) Think of it this way, When I sold Fords, I could not sell Lincolns, because we were not a Lincoln dealer. Both are owned by Fomoco. Same with Mercury, we were not a Merc dealer so no Mercurys. Parts that are the same as a HD part, they(the non Buell dealer) can get. They can't get Buell only parts like bodywork,wheels etc etc. Dave | ||
| Loki |
Dave, How many phone lines ya got at the desk? You might want to start planning for your very own switchboard. | ||
| Court |
Dave: My, admittedly dated as I enter my sunset years, recollection of the terms of the dealer agreement is pretty much spot on what you said. Only BUELL DEALERS may order BUELL PARTS. That is, in the world of commerce, as it should be. I would never touch being a BUELL dealer, if the HARELY-DAVIDSON dealer down the street could order and sell BUELL parts with immunity from the covenants I, as a bona fide dealer, operated under. Duh?...huh. With regard to the phone lines, I have long been an advocate of an enthusiastic dealer levering their Buell business by doing some serious online marketing and sales. I know this is not in total conformity with tradition at the mothership, but Buell did some innovative (I mean REALLY innovative) stuff in 1997 that never saw the light of day. If I, and thank goodness I am not, were a Buell dealer I would have a well developed strategy to maximize:
I would ENSURE that people had an EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE doing business with me and provide them with the means to tell others, similarly armed with $$ to buy Buell parts and accessories, that doing business with me is pleasant. Yes, it goes on from here....don't ask. Dave is on the right track. That's my PERSONAL opinion.... Court | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Only BUELL DEALERS may order BUELL PARTS. That is, in the world of commerce, as it should be. I dont agree with this at all. They are owned by the same company, the drivetrains are produced in the same factory etc. There are something like 750-800 HD dealerships in the USA of which about 450 or so are Buell dealers also. So say someone is on vacation riding their Buell through Savannah Georgia & they break a belt. Since the only dealer in town is not a Buell dealer are you saying this guy is screwed & needs to call another dealer to have a belt shipped to him? BTW...I can go to the local Mercury dealer who may not sell Fords & still order parts for a Ford from them. In fact I have done just that several times. | ||
| Daves |
Well since the Savannah dealer in your example isn't a Buell dealer. They would not have the belt anyway, so ordering it from another dealer wouldn't slow down the process. The biggest problem is that the Savannah dealer wouldn't know how to change it or have the manuals to tell them how. When you had the Merc dealer get you the Ford parts, were they parts that fit both or a Ford specific part? I could be wrong on how Ford does it. How do you know for sure they aren't getting it from a Ford dealer? You are either a Buell dealer or you are not. I'll work on getting those other lines installed when I get back from vacation! Dave Delayed by pouring rain right now. Be leaving in about an hour. daves@h-dappleton.com | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
Well since the Savannah dealer in your example isn't a Buell dealer. They would not have the belt anyway, so ordering it from another dealer wouldn't slow down the process. I know they wouldnt have the belt in stock. But since they are part of the HD network they should conceivably be able to get one faster than an individual just calling around & trying to score one. This isnt even about any service being performed...merely ordering parts. What would be so criminal about an HD only dealer obtaining some parts for a stranded Bueller????????? How do you know for sure they aren't getting it from a Ford dealer? I dont care where they got it from, only that they got it. And thats my point anyways...they were at least able to even get the part from a Ford dealer. According to the mothership a non Buell shop isnt even allowed to do that. edited by dynarider on July 29, 2004 | ||
| Daves |
Well now I am confused(again) The example dealer can call another dealer and buy a belt from them, they just can't get it directly from Buell. I could have one overnighted to them. That would be just as fast as them ordering it from the factory. Now, that is IF they were willing to do this! All they would have to do is get on H-Dnet and find a dealer that had one,call them,buy it,have it shipped. Pretty easy stuff. Now, if the example dealer is a Buell hater, well, then good luck. In that case, call me,I'll overnight it to you at your hotel(since we're not talking service here) and put it on in the parking lot. PS the tubers used a Sportster belt. They might have one of those and just not know that they are the same. Ride to the edge! Dave | ||
| Outrider |
Court & Dave... Thanks for the explanation. Was what I was thinking but just wanted confirmation. The reason for the question was for planning a long range trip. Now I see the need to plan around the locations of active Buell dealers rather than just HD dealers. Thanks again! | ||
| Bomber |
Am I the only one having this wonderful vision of our ponytailed brother standing around in jeans and a sleeveless t-shirst from some speedshop selling Lincolns to investment bankers? | ||
| Daves |
Oh, my God! Bad flashback that brings up! I sold cars for 9 1/2 years, worked at a Ford store but sold lots of Lincolns to the investment banker types. They didn't care for the Lincoln dealer in town(he was a weasel) so they had me "arrange" the sale thru another Lincoln dealer. I probably did 8-10 Lincoln deals per year. I had a little different dress code back then though. God I LOVE the motorcycle business, where I can be myself. Used to refer to my work clothes as my salesman costumes! Ride to the edge! Anyone need a Lincoln, I still have connections! Dave | ||
| Bluelightning |
Hey, aren't you supposed to be gone on vacation? Get outta here and enjoy yourself!!!  | ||
| Mikej |
"I would never touch being a BUELL dealer, if the HARELY-DAVIDSON dealer down the street could order and sell BUELL parts with immunity from the covenants I, as a bona fide dealer, operated under. " This point is mute since you could not be a Buell dealer without also being a Harley dealership. Buell, as it is currently set up, is a subset of the Harley-Davidson Dealership package. You can do Harley only, you can do Harley/Buell, you can not do Buell only. The point is mute. There is no such thing as a "Buell Dealer", there are only "Harley-Davidson Dealers" and "Harley-Davidson/Buell Dealers", there are no "Buell Dealers". This is now made perfectly clear to me and I now fully understand the system. I think I need to add some "Harley-Davidson/" text to my jacket sleeve. I'm done. "Goodnight everybody". | ||
| Daves |
Slight technical delay in leaving, Penny isn't ready yet. Got the bike loaded down,air pressure checked,oil checked,tools loaded(you never know). The rain is past us now. Be leaving real soon! Ride to the edge! Dave | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
dave have fun on your vacation | ||
| Mikej |
Daves, Don't forget Lolo canyon just barely south of Missoula. And if you want some potatos or onions then Walla Walla is just a few hours ride out of Lewiston ID/Clarkson WA on some nice meandering rolling hills roads with a very fun but short jaunt up the hill from the river at the start of the run. But by the time you get to Walla Walla you might as well keep going to the Pacific coast and a whole slew of other roads and destinations over there. Shoot, if your timing was just a little different you could have linked up with the SPLASH folks for a lap around St. Helens or Mt. Rainier. Man, there I go, gonna be daydreaming of a road trip all day now. Have a good ride Daves, come back safe and smiling. | ||
| Cowboy |
There is 2 H-D dealers in my area that no longer stock Buells. How ever they will continue to do Buell work and order parts. They only stoped stocking new bikes. Will also order a new bike if you want one. |
