In my opinion this is very Bad for the Motor Company. They need to push dealers to be more like Smoky Mountain Harley. Opened in 2004. Very Active on site owner. Sales managers ride, service manger rides, salesmen ride. Owner has pushed hard for repeat sales and a warm welcoming environment. Has a concert venue on site, shows every Saturday from April to Oct. Some fridays also. Restaurant bar on site. Worked his way up to Number 1 dealer in the USA.
I have 3 other dealers closer to my home. Chattanooga owned by a few investors. Treated my like crap in 2002 when trying to buy a 2003 Fatboy. Bike was marked up 5K I asked if we could work a deal. He asked me if I could read. I have not spent a penny in the store since. I have bought 16 new Harleys between my wife and I since. They were recently bought as business was not good.
The other dealer closer to me, has been struggling since SMHD opens. Owner can be nice one day and a jerk the next. Not often in the stores.
The article seem to push for a dealer like Chattanooga which I will never spend a penny in, rather than the model like SMHD which is what made Harley after the AMF years.
Not looking good for the Motor Company at all, with this change and the lack of quality and prices going up.