HD Dealerships That Have Closed or Are Closing

[Eqcons]

that's a fact indeed   

You said it, Hans.  In the press release, this is the telling part: "The sourcing of the New Castalloy production to other existing suppliers is expected to generate about $9 million in annual ongoing savings" The $9m savings will doubtless be passed on to the mugs that continue to buy HDs in the form of even lower quality, and even higher prices. 

As a lifelong HD enthusiast, I am enraged at how the current management is ruining the product, stopping US dealers from selling to overseas customers, and inflating price WAY WAY beyond what any motorcycle (or part) costs to make and is worth.  They will not be getting any more money from me. 

[charles05663]

Never had a problem with anything made in Australia, including Castaloy wheels on HDs.  With items made in China, however, the quality reflects the cost to the OEM, in my experience, Hans.

So the quality of [all] HDs heads steadily south, while the price continues to rocket north. 

[JCZ]

You said it, Hans.  In the press release, this is the telling part: "The sourcing of the New Castalloy production to other existing suppliers is expected to generate about $9 million in annual ongoing savings" The $9m savings will doubtless be passed on to the mugs that continue to buy HDs in the form of even lower quality, and even higher prices. 

As a lifelong HD enthusiast, I am enraged at how the current management is ruining the product, stopping US dealers from selling to overseas customers, and inflating price WAY WAY beyond what any motorcycle (or part) costs to make and is worth.  They will not be getting any more money from me. 

The same mentality that flooded the market with bikes, lowering the demand and subsequently, their value.

[Pete7539]

Huntington, NY

http://www.lighthousehd.com/

[Limited Lou]

Here in St.Augustine, the Dealer is a dealer until 31 Jan 2012. Then will stay opened to get rid of their inventory for a short time,I here.. I have mixed feelings. Since the new owners took over it has gone down hill. Very greedy. Speaking from my experience with them. Other locals feel the same as I do. I'm still pissed at Motor Co about not standing behind their products. I have a front wheel with the chrome pealing, won't stand behind products.. I wonder if others feel the same and quit buying New Harley's.. I guess what goes around come around..

[BONES - USMVMC]

Here in St.Augustine, the Dealer is a dealer until 31 Jan 2012. Then will stay opened to get rid of their inventory for a short time,I here.. I have mixed feelings. Since the new owners took over it has gone down hill. Very greedy. Speaking from my experience with them. Other locals feel the same as I do. I'm still pissed at Motor Co about not standing behind their products. I have a front wheel with the chrome pealing, won't stand behind products.. I wonder if others feel the same and quit buying New Harley's.. I guess what goes around come around..

I have a 2010 CVO Street glide and I had the same problem with the chrome on the front wheel. Peeling and bubbles. In Oct. of last year my dealer replaced it with no problems. I was told they would only replace each tire once while under warranty. So I still have a couple months left on the rear tire if it should start to peel it will be replaced at no charge. Maybe it was your dealer not wanting to do the work?

[Limited Lou]

I have a 2010 CVO Street glide and I had the same problem with the chrome on the front wheel. Peeling and bubbles. In Oct. of last year my dealer replaced it with no problems. I was told they would only replace each tire once while under warranty. So I still have a couple months left on the rear tire if it should start to peel it will be replaced at no charge. Maybe it was your dealer not wanting to do the work?

Maybe so, I allso contacted Customer Service and it was like talking to the wall.. I was still under original warranty. I keep e-mailing the Lady who refused the claim, reminding as Dealers close, one by one.. Alot is customers not beeing treated Right !!

[Grizzly]

The closure of Huntington, NY must have been known for a while... I just received my 2012 Touring Handbook and although it appears to be still noted on the map of New York State, it is not listed in the back.

I must say I'm impressed at how up to date my book is, which of course is a good thing!

[Rio]

We went to the bike show here in Michigan.  I have a buddy that made our annual trip last year, he had a hard time getting a dresser for 10 days at a reasonable price, so he rented a Goldwing for the time for only $900.  As a result, he's torn between the Goldwing and the new BMW tourning bike.  Now i will get to the point.  I run a BMW store, I had a BMW bike before I started riding HD.  I told him to buy the Goldwing!  He's not a do it yourself guy either, so around here theres only 2 BMW motorcycle stores, it takes you a week or so to get your bike looked at let alone worked on.  The second part, if you have issues on a trip, LOL finding a BMW motorad!  Last year my friends Ultra broke down in Lake Placid on our way to Bar Harbor.  He rented a truck, we through his bike in there, he drove down to Laconia gave them his bike, rented an 2011 Ultra and met us in Bar Harbor the next day.  Honda, Harley you have that frequency, BMW you don't.....but then again they are the best engineered motor machine on the planet!  Anyway, with all these HD stores closing it opens the doors hopefully for some great independents.  They will be busy, their technicians fat, and the quality which is often questionable already, will get worse.

I must be bored!

[CVOJOE]

Received an email from Chicago HD today. Says that "effective January 20, they are consolidating our main dealership operations into one main location, which will be located at 2929 Patriot Blvd. in Glenview, IL. Our Chicago based dealership, located at 6868 Northwestern Ave., will no longer be open to the public after January 20, 2012. We appreciate the many years of support from our Western Avenue customers and our neighbors within the Chicago community. We look forward to serving them at our Glenview location and at our Harley-Davidson merchandise and apparel store located at 66 Ohio Street in Chicago, which will remain open." The rest is the usual blah-blah about how proud they are of their Glenview location, etc.

Big time loss for Chicago. Hopefully they will continue to offer the discounts and such that have made them a great source of parts for us away from our local dealerships and taxes, etc. Sad day. 

[skreminegul07]

On a slightly different note, Kellys in Billerica, MA was just sold.

The Veracka family has officially taken over operations at Kelly’s Harley-Davidson! The family currently consists of L-A Harley-Davidson in Lewiston, ME, Central Maine Powersports in Lewiston, ME, and Rawhide Harley-Davidson in Olathe, KS. Paul Veracka will be at the dealership every day along with David, Charlyn, and Lauren.

[cyco1450]

I got the same email from Chicago HD. but their website looks like biz as usual regarding the 20% off and the Moco's prohibition on ebay sales and discounts looks to be defeated.  The HD dealer who filed a lawsuit against the Moco (forget who) was successful.

As far as the chrome peeling on front wheels, I am an attorney.  Don't take stuff like that laying down.  File a small claims suit against the Moco.  You'll get their attention and i am 99% certain they will correct the problem immediately.  The cost of them to hire an attorney and defend is cost prohibitive and is bad press.  Several years ago i had a defective chrome problem on some Samson pipes that they refused to take care of; I file suit.  Suffice to say that not only did they replace the pipes, but i got a few free t-shirts too, along with my $ back for the cost of filing suit.

Don't accept what you are told if it truly is wrong or unfair.

[Eqcons]

I am an attorney.  Don't take stuff like that laying down.  Don't accept what you are told if it truly is wrong or unfair.

So, in your professional opinion, is the MoCo imposing the ban on their dealers selling overseas legal?

Jim

[Irish john]

http://www.provincewide.com/

Only dealer in Northern Ireland closed awaiting new owners......

[kraut]

on Cyril Huze's Blog:

"Harley-Davidson Program To Reduce The Number Of Its U.S. Dealers. Over the past several years, the economic recession has resulted in slow new bikes sales and in pushing many now unprofitable US dealers in or close to bankruptcy. The traditional option is of course to sell and to reopen with a new owner, which is not necessarily what the Milwaukee company wishes in many areas of the country.
 
As a matter of fact, Harley-Davidson’s President openly declared his intention to continue to shrink the US dealers network, a way to protect the value of the brand and models, keeping a representation only through very profitable dealers. Practically, if your dealership is somewhat in trouble and H-D Milwaukee doesn’t want it anymore in your locale, the company prefers to “help” you to close it definitively via its “Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s U.S. Dealer Consolidation Program.
 
I don’t have details about the financial arrangement and how it works, but some dealers seem to prefer this option than looking for a buyer. Most recent example is Harley-Davidson of St Augustine, Florida where co-owners Clark Vitulli and Allen Good have decided that the Harley Program help in closing was a better financial option than accepting offers made to buy their dealership. Part of the package offered by Harley seems to be to let you sell and liquidate your stock of Harley parts and merchandise (not motorcycles) during a couple of months after the dealership closure. Maybe a way for business owners to recover and prevent them to end their business while in deep red."


anybody knows details about this “Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s U.S. Dealer Consolidation Program"?