From pg 5 of the 2005 Annual Report "Quite simply, the high levels of unmet consumer demand for our bikes that we experienced for years was no way to to run a business for the long term. I never met a customer who thanked me when he or she had to may substantially over m.s.r.p. for a motorcycle,[/i], or when delivery of that motorcycle might take a year or longer. Continuous growth cannot be sustained under those kinds of circumstances."
Jim Ziemer, President & CEO
Now if only the dealerships shared that philosophy.
I'd like to share that philosophy but the reality is, one of the things that has made the MoCo as successful as it has been is the fact every Tom, Dick and Harry can't walk in and pick up a new bike at the drop of a hat. It created an even bigger desire to have one.
As soon as the demand is met and bikes are stacking up, well, someone wrote in another thread about the value of the bikes falling precipitously..........it has and will now that the MoCo is on the "ass for every seat" plan.
While no on can agree with dealers marking the bikes over MSRP by sometimes ridiculous numbers; like it or not, it is what kept the mystique going and the demand high. A local dealer just dumped a 2004 NEW V Rod for $9,995.00. Naturally people including dealer employees were fighting over it but if dealers who have historically held inventory to eventually sell it at a high number start to turn into their car dealer brother's mentallity of moving iron the only ones that will suffer are (oh go figure) You an Me!
I just saw in an industry mag, the new GT 500 Mustang is going for up to $15k over sticker, low supply and high demand would keep it there but Ford will catch up fast and they won't stay there. Bottom line is, when a HD bike is on every corner (which they now are 350k annually) there goes your former great investment.
It isn't why I buy and ride my bikes, but it sure was a great side benefit when I wanted to move up or replace a bike. I'm sure I wouldn't have been so quick to change without the dollar difference being so close. In thirty years since my first HD a new 76 FLH ($3100.00), I have had 18 Harleys and numerous other bikes, had the MoCo been pounding them out like they do now, my guess is that number may have been far smaller.
I ordered my SE when the dealers returned from Vegas in August 2005 with the news of the new Ultra. I waited 6 months or so for it to arrive in the BlkCrimson and was happy to see it arrive. I am actually not sure if I would have jumped on it if the dealer had two or three of them sitting there.
Oh well I best get off the [smiley=soapbox.gif] now, but I'll leave with this final statement,
Sometimes the way it was turns out to be a lot better than the way it is.
Author
Topic: HD ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING (Read 1353 times)