Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[grc]

Chip I have to agree with you. It is the working man that is going to take it. The problem I have is with the owners of the Dealerships. They have used and abused us for 18 plus years. A good friend of mine works at at dealership. They had a company meeting a few weeks ago. The owner made the statement he really didn't care what happened to anyone else that worked there, he has a lot of money and didn't need any of them.

Now how do you treat your employees like that? It is people like that, that have ruined this industry.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

I'll bet this jerk is one of those who were late to the Harley party, and not one of those old time dealers who lived through the lean years.  Unfortunately, these sorts have ruined a lot more than just this industry.  They can be found at the upper levels of the food chain throughout our economy, strutting around like peacocks while screwing the employees and the stockholders.  Just as I was unable to shed a tear for poor Ken Lay and his poverty-pleading wife (check the off shore accounts, sweetheart), I won't be shedding tears for jerks like this dealer.  And I definitely won't be shedding tears for the folks at the top of the MoCo.  Over 700 jobs eliminated, and I'll bet a dollar to a donut that the top execs still get their perks and bonuses.  After all, they're doing a fine job cheapening the product.

Jerry

[DCFIREMANN]

I'll bet this jerk is one of those who were late to the Harley party, and not one of those old time dealers who lived through the lean years.   Unfortunately, these sorts have ruined a lot more than just this industry.  They can be found at the upper levels of the food chain throughout our economy, strutting around like peacocks while screwing the employees and the stockholders.  Just as I was unable to shed a tear for poor Ken Lay and his poverty-pleading wife (check the off shore accounts, sweetheart), I won't be shedding tears for jerks like this dealer.  And I definitely won't be shedding tears for the folks at the top of the MoCo.  Over 700 jobs eliminated, and I'll bet a dollar to a donut that the top execs still get their perks and bonuses.  After all, they're doing a fine job cheapening the product.

Jerry

BINGO!!!!! Jerry you hit the nail right on the head.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

[hogasm]

I wanted to add this thought to this thread.
The economy is slowing and Harley is cutting back.
I (IMHO) think it has nothing to do with quality or the lack thereof.
Everything is slowing down.

But please keep this thought in mind.
In a mans world the worse thing you can do to him is hurt his family.
The second worse thing you can do is take away his job.
There are a lot of people losing their jobs, not because they are bad or not worth a chit, it's a result of the economic condition of the economy. Please, don't anyone cheer when someone loses their job.
It could be you, a loved one or a friend.
And there is no joy in that!

Chip

And you layed off how many illegals

[VAZHOG]

If your job is puting thing together then you need too find another job or go back too school and be somebody that doesn't need a job and and live off the tax payer dime (local fereral gov't or state gov't or county gov't) that make nothing or supply nothing.

[SPIDERMAN]

Chip I have to agree with you. It is the working man that is going to take it. The problem I have is with the owners of the Dealerships. They have used and abused us for 18 plus years. A good friend of mine works at at dealership. They had a company meeting a few weeks ago. The owner made the statement he really didn't care what happened to anyone else that worked there, he has a lot of money and didn't need any of them.

Now how do you treat your employees like that? It is people like that, that have ruined this industry.

Be Safe

THE DAWG

Who said it - - - Bruce Rossmeyer or Mike Shelby ?

Had to be one or the other

[hogasm]

Harley  sent out a memo at the end of last week stopping all production of the Touring model bikes. The plants will be off line until production of the 2009 models.

While talking to the owner of the local dealership...he informed me that he plans on selling his stock short on Monday at opening bell.

He also is looking forward to the new production numbers that the MOCO is installing to all dealers. The MOCO gave dealers 3 options for the 2009 production year. The new production numbers will be based on what options the individual dealers choose. In our discussions he was looking forward to production numbers like the old days where there was a waiting list for bikes and dealers could charge as much a $5000 over MSRP for a new bike.

Is this just like the greedy dealership owners you are talking about

[Fired00d]

Harley  sent out a memo at the end of last week stopping all production of the Touring model bikes. The plants will be off line until production of the 2009 models.

While talking to the owner of the local dealership...he informed me that he plans on selling his stock short on Monday at opening bell.

He also is looking forward to the new production numbers that the MOCO is installing to all dealers. The MOCO gave dealers 3 options for the 2009 production year. The new production numbers will be based on what options the individual dealers choose. In our discussions he was looking forward to production numbers like the old days where there was a waiting list for bikes and dealers could charge as much a $5000 over MSRP for a new bike.

Is this just like the greedy dealership owners you are talking about

He's going to be in for a shock. Those price/tactics only work when the economy is flourishing and people have disposable money I think things are going to be a little different this time around.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[spydglide]

He's going to be in for a shock. Those price/tactics only work when the economy is flourishing and people have disposable money I think things are going to be a little different this time around.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

I'm shocked that any dealer would make that kind of statement and expect someone to actually believe it at this stage in the game.  I've only talked to one recently and he was very realistic about the state of the economy and credit availability......remember, most people that buy these things have been financing them......and may were using home equity to do it.  Might be a 'soft' market all around for awhile.  spyder

[Fired00d]

Spyder,
You got that right. Any dealer that would believe that now is the time to jack prices up is going to loose his business (at the least). Sometimes you eat steak, sometimes you eat bologna....... Eating is the important thing.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[spydglide]

Spyder,
You got that right. Any dealer that would believe that now is the time to jack prices up is going to loose his business (at the least). Sometimes you eat steak, sometimes you eat bologna....... Eating is the important thing.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

ahhhhh, well put, GrassHopper!     har!  spyder

[SPIDERMAN]

You know I'll never do it. I know I'll never do it, but somedays I stop and think about it. IT being buying something other than a Harley. There was a Yamaha Roadliner parked outside the restaurant Bubba_T and I had lunch at today. With the exception of the directionals looking like someone stole them off a little kiddy Buck Rogers Rocket ride, it was a cool bike. Big sucker too. Gotta go at least 100lbs more than a Road King. Design impetus is obviously an H-D Road King. Engineering is pure Japanese. Lots of little solutions looking for problems all over the bike. Waaaaaaaay overdesigned, but still as a total package a cool looking ride. Even up close. From 20 feet it's a standout. hmmmmmmmm didn't I date a girl like that once ? Okay, I'm drifting again.My point is according to the owner, you can order up the bike with a lot of different looks to suit your taste vice buyin the standard package (ala H-D) and then buying more parts. I've said this on other threads. This is where the industry is at right now in my opinion. Options without takeoffs. H-D really needs to get on this bandwagon if they want to survive. I will always own at least one Harley, but I find myself spending more time looking at bikes like this Roadliner today.

B B

[9 1/2 Beers]

04/22  3:19P (DJ) *DJ Harley-Davidson Sees Chgs $20M-$25M >HOG
Story 9446 DJ Harley-Davidson Sees $20M-$25M Charges Related To Job Cuts
  DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
 
  Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc. (HOG) on Tuesday said it expects to
record charges of around $20 million to $25 million related to work force
reductions.
  The Milwaukee company said all of the estimated charges will involve
severance benefits, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
  Harley-Davidson said it believes substantially of all of the charges will
result in cash expenditures, although the timing of the expenditures will
vary. It expects to record all of the charges in 2008, the SEC filing said.
  The company reported plans to cut 370 unionized jobs and 360 non-unionized
jobs in a press release last Thursday.
 
  -Gee L. Lee, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-1346
 
  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  04-22-08 1548ET
  Copyright (c) 2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

[kojak]

Harley is doing fine in some very difficult economic times. Yes sales and profits are down but they have made 2 very smart adjustments that will help them turn the corner quickly: (1) They have acually been REDUCING motorcycle inventory by cutting production faster than their sales declines (2) They have reduced expenses to get in line with their operating expenses. You will see dealer inventories get pretty lean before the 09's start rolling in.

[AXIL]

k2,we can tell about the reality with the factory/dealer /public relationship and some will get it some won't.  Some dealers get it, some won't. Some customers will just say FTF, then pull there skirts back down and bitch some more.. I have been riding a long time (34 years) on Harley's and have seen the good and the bad and a lot of people have a good reason to complain to a point. If the twin cam area and others areas are going to a whipping post against the factory for those who wont get therapy I now ask the moderators to get involved and give the kids there own play pen and us purist a break. We know the 110 motor has problems. It took the factory 6 years or better to come up with a fix for the cam tensioners. 

[skreminegul07]

k2,we can tell about the reality with the factory/dealer /public relationship and some will git it some wont,  some dealers git it, some wont. some customers will just say FTF  then pull there skirts back down and bitch some more..  i have been riding along time(34 years) on Harley's and have seen the good and the bad and alot of people have a good reason to complain to a point. but if the twin cam area and others is going to a whipping post against the factory for those who wont get therapy i now ask the moterators to get invalved and give the kids there own play pen and us purist a break

You are kidding right?