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[Keats]

There has been lot of discussion on this board about good and bad dealers, I just wanted to know what the membership thought was the 3 most important qualities that you look for in a dealer.

Thought this would be interesting to see from the memberships point of view.

lowest pricing?
competitive pricing?
local support of charity?
best techs?
access to service techs?
hours of operation?
inventory availability?
courteous staff?
special discounts for loyalty?
these are just a few I thought of, let us know what you think.

[ice6900]

how about

honesty, sales staff r generally ok, but less bullchit from SM and techs
workshop time in a reasonable time span ( not we can fit u in in 6weeks)
availability of spares in a reasonable time span ( not we can fit u in in 6weeks)

[UFO_HOG]

Support their H.O.G. Group

Fair Pricing (My dealer marks up accessories from cataloge price)

Competent repair techs

Open 7 days a week (Never understood this one, catch up to the rest of the world)

[SPIDERMAN]

There has been lot of discussion on this board about good and bad dealers, I just wanted to know what the membership thought was the 3 most important qualities that you look for in a dealer.

Thought this would be interesting to see from the memberships point of view.

lowest pricing?
competitive pricing?
local support of charity?
best techs?
access to service techs?
hours of operation?
inventory availability?
courteous staff?
special discounts for loyalty?
these are just a few I thought of, let us know what you think.

Sorry, but your post above is like one of those H-D surveys. Do you own a dealership ? Even a bad dealership could say they have good inventory, a courteous sales staff, excellent hours of operation, any businessman with a accountant donates to charity andaccess to service techs and the discount thing amounts to these  "sales events" So lets toss your suggestions out the window and start with

A) Trained and knowledgeable tech and sales staff capable of answering customers questions
B) Experienced managerial staff with hands on management style to ensure that C is supported
C) Get it right the first time service work
D) Hassle free warranty claim support- -the dealership should have a person designated as a warranty specialists with an open relationship with the MoCo
E) Pricing ? It's up to the dealer through trial and error to see what gains my business. Right now, 20% off on all parts and accessories is what works, but I have to go on-line to get that and that involves shipping, so I'd be open to say 15% if I could get it from my nearest dealer.  New vehicle pricing needs to be whatever it takes to move the product. I'd suggest looking at what the auto industry is doing ie: price reductions and low or no interest financing.
I couldn't possibly care less what they do as regards H.O.G. While the many many HOG members are super people, my experience as a whole is that most HOG chapters become just another political opportunity for the elected officers. Sorry if that offends, but it's been the same on both coasts for me. Great members and well meaning folks in the leadership roles who get caught up in the politics of running their chapters. And yes as I've posted in the past, every HOG chapter also has a poseur or two who carry the patch thing to the extreme and pretend they're outlaws.

Of course maybe H-D doesn't need to change anything. Maybe they're weathering this recession because we're all upper income customers and have been trained to have low expectations. Maybe we're to blame. Maybe we've trained the dealers that we're all a bunch of sheep to be shorn or cows to be milked. Maybe we're our own worst enemies because even though we complain on forums like this, we still continue to support the same dealers we complain about. You tell me

B B

[Keats]

Wow Brian,

that was a mouthful.

no bad techs
no bad sales person
no bad owners/managers
and no pretend 1%er's

Got it!

and NO I am not a dealer,  just a member starting a conversation.

[SPIDERMAN]

Wow Brian,

that was a mouthful.

no bad techs
no bad sales person
no bad owners/managers
and no pretend 1%er's

Got it!

and NO I am not a dealer,  just a member starting a conversation.

A lot of us have had conversations at gatherings about how sometimes a post comes off in a far different vein than what the poster intended. I apologize if it appeared I was jumping on you. My post wasn't about you personally so much as the issue of how a question is asked can box in the ability of the person answering it to convey what they want to say. Didn't mean to be offensive, but it's a known fact that I am not shy about speaking my mind. We've had a couple dealers pop up on the site recently and I've just taken to saying that -- sometimes when I know better. Again, sorry if I offended.

BUT,
       The rest of my post is how I feel. Dealers need to invest in their people since you and I and every other customer spends the majority of our time at a dealership intefacing with the people who work there. The WALMART model just won't work for an H-D dealership. Most of us know more about our motorcycles than the cars we drive. I know I'm out in dreamland with my wishlist, but you asked.

B B

[amigo Jorge]

Fair price in new bikes, discount on items and excellent service!!

[Fired00d]

A lot of us have had conversations at gatherings about how sometimes a post comes off in a far different vein than what the poster intended. I apologize if it appeared I was jumping on you. My post wasn't about you personally so much as the issue of how a question is asked can box in the ability of the person answering it to convey what they want to say. Didn't mean to be offensive, but it's a known fact that I am not shy about speaking my mind. We've had a couple dealers pop up on the site recently and I've just taken to saying that -- sometimes when I know better. Again, sorry if I offended.

BUT,
       The rest of my post is how I feel. Dealers need to invest in their people since you and I and every other customer spends the majority of our time at a dealership intefacing with the people who work there. The WALMART model just won't work for an H-D dealership. Most of us know more about our motorcycles than the cars we drive. I know I'm out in dreamland with my wishlist, but you asked.

B B

I often see a lot of turnover of employees at dealerships and was just wondering if it's associated w/the pay scale of those employees. I know when I first started back riding and bought a H-D I had dreamed about working at a dealership after I retired just to be around bikes/bikers. Now that I think about it I wonder if what we are seeing is directly associated to the pay these people are receiving (especially in the youth of todays mindset that will leave a job every week for a nickel more an hour).

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Gecko]

1. People who know more about what they sell and service than I do.  I shouldn't have to tell the service manager about the long list of problems these bikes have - but I had to.

2. A service department that has any interest in what they are doing.  It has been a little over two weeks since I dropped mine off at the appointed time for the gasket and ACR recall.  Having heard nothing from them since then, I called this morning.  "Na, haven't gotten around to it yet...didn't know you were in a big hurry for it". 

3. People who don't think they are doing you a favor selling or ordering you things, who don't view open houses as another reason you somehow owe them loyalty because of a hotdog and a Coke, and who don't try to mask what has become a mediocre product with "lifestyle" and "heritage".

[Hoist!]

HeHe!!! No comment!!! STD!!!

Hoist!

[Keats]

A lot of us have had conversations at gatherings about how sometimes a post comes off in a far different vein than what the poster intended. I apologize if it appeared I was jumping on you. My post wasn't about you personally so much as the issue of how a question is asked can box in the ability of the person answering it to convey what they want to say. Didn't mean to be offensive, but it's a known fact that I am not shy about speaking my mind. We've had a couple dealers pop up on the site recently and I've just taken to saying that -- sometimes when I know better. Again, sorry if I offended.

BUT,
       The rest of my post is how I feel. Dealers need to invest in their people since you and I and every other customer spends the majority of our time at a dealership intefacing with the people who work there. The WALMART model just won't work for an H-D dealership. Most of us know more about our motorcycles than the cars we drive. I know I'm out in dreamland with my wishlist, but you asked.

B B

No offense taken Brian, (I am not easily offended)
I just put some responses in perspective sometimes.

I agree with you,
I think that Dealer principles should be directly involved with day to day business to understand
what is really going on in their business.

Getting The right people to work in any business has and is a huge challenge for all businesses.
Managing the human element and keeping the right ones is the key for an efficient operation.
I asked and you responded and that is fair ground.
I think that there is a great disparity between dealers in different geographical areas.
Some members would settle for a dealer that just sold them bikes at list price, while others want much more
from their dealer.
That is why I was looking for the input of the membership.

[Keats]

HeHe!!! No comment!!! STD!!!

Hoist!

Thanks Howie

[IronButt]

1. A quality motorcycle that when you purchase the Top of the line model
 you don’t have to spend another $10,000 rebuilding the suspention, brakes, stereo and engine so you can just keep up with a 1200 sportster!
2. An engine that doesn’t burn your azz in  between slipping cylinder sleeves, leaking gaskets and slipping flywheels that causes pinion shaft run out!
3. A product made in America,,,, lets not get greedy if they would do the first 2 at least we could ride our illusion.


you asked!

[RedDevil]

1. A quality motorcycle that when you purchase the Top of the line model
 you don’t have to spend another $10,000 rebuilding the suspention, brakes, stereo and engine so you can just keep up with a 1200 sportster!
2. An engine that doesn’t burn your azz in  between slipping cylinder sleeves, leaking gaskets and slipping flywheels that causes pinion shaft run out!
3. A product made in America,,,, lets not get greedy if they would do the first 2 at least we could ride our illusion.


you asked!

That's what you'd expect from the MoCo.  The dealer has no control, other than feedback on issues/problems, over what the MoCo puts out. 

   

[FLSTFI Dave]

I would have to say I get pretty much what I expect of a dealership from my dealership.  It is a new dealership, opend in late 2004.

1) Good inventory of bikes, parts and Motorclothes
2) Sales staff in all areas knowledgeable about what they are selling and very friendly and courtious.
3) Very good service dept, with good techs and apointments and timely service.
4) Open 7 days a week
5) Special hours a couple times a year for valued customers, with sales only for them
6) Owner very involved and approchable.
7) very supportive of HOG chapter
Concerts on most week ends with food and beer sales

The list goes on.  I do have a good dealer.  I got fair prices on both bikes and the SERG is coming in at MSRP.  I get a 10% military discount on everything except the actual bikes.  Owner is having a Christmas party for every one who has bought two or more bikes from him.  Owner is providing the music, the food and beer, and every thing in store except bikes will be 20 to 30% off during this party.


Pretty easy to see how he move up to largest volume dealer in TN in just four years.  I believe he is now top ten in volume in the USA.