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[scotman623]

Here goes without naming any dealers!!! I buy my motorcycles from the same dealership and spend lots of money in this  place.I just paid cash for my CVO RG in July, So here goes the story!! This past weekend the dealership I always do business with had an open house and test rides of the new 2020 bikes, about 30-50 bikes and over 100 people... I wore a H-D shirt with a competitive dealer logo on the back of the shirt, was not done on purpose, chit I own 50+ shirts from all over the country... The general sales manager who I know on a first name basis pulled me aside and told me the owner was not happy I was wearing a competitive dealer T shirt!!! They said that I’m one of their best customers and they did not want the other customers seeing my shirt and getting different ideas or thoughts about a dealer so closely to them, about 40 miles away!!! I was totally shocked and did not know what to say!!!! The owner then came up and shook my hand and said, How about a new shirt on us to wear right now!!!! I went in the back and put on the new shirt, which is awesome!!! I’m still really bothered by this, Am I at fault or over thinking this?? Guess It just really surprised me... THOUGHTS?

[J.D.]

Never heard of that before, and I've done this same thing myself.  Initial thought is that it is very bold of them to comment on your attire.  Not like you were wearing a Honda Goldwing shirt.  Dealer could have just as easily spun this positively - former xxx dealer customer is now one of our top customers.

[iski]

1 of 3 things:

1. Somebody (a customer or an employee) told the owner look at our customer wearing that XYZs dealer shirt & he was "concerned"

2. XYZ dealer did something that scorched the owner's underwear & he has not gotten over it

3. The owner is somewhat insecure & needs to see his store name on t shirts on as many people as possible. Ego deal.

Doesn't matter really, you got a free t shirt to add to your 50+ collection.

[harleychef2011]

Wow... that is pretty damn brazen to say the least.  You have every right to feel jaded.  That is utterly ridiculous.

I'm close to throwing up a dealer experience myself...waiting to see how they handle it before I pull the trigger.... stay tuned!

[GregKhougaz]

You're not at fault but definitely overthinking. Your dealer was feeling insecure for whatever reason. It was their promotional function and they handled you with respect, if not kid gloves. They gave you a nice shirt. Be flattered.

[VaEagle]

You're not at fault but definitely overthinking. Your dealer was feeling insecure for whatever reason. It was their promotional function and they handled you with respect, if not kid gloves. They gave you a nice shirt. Be flattered.

I agree with above.....If you are such an "influencer and spokes model" for them then maybe they need to pay you and have you wear nothing but their clothes....
If you are happy with them overall I would just let this incident go, it is their "problem" not yours........

[Cat Eye]

Dam...next open house ride in on an old Honda or something...maybe he will give you a new Harley.  lol

 

[muddypaws]

What a dumb ass dealer. But you got a free shirt.

[scotman623]

Dam...next open house ride in on an old Honda or something...maybe he will give you a new Harley.  lol

Love this idea! LOL.. Quick thinking my friend..

[Fired00d]

Insecure dealer!!! Does he only sell shirts to people that buy bikes at his dealership. It's a well known fact that most Harley riders collect shirts from dealerships (I don't know why we do though... I don't collect shirts of the other brands of vehicles I own ). Anyway you got a free shirt out the deal.... now see if you can get the free bike that was mentioned in a previous post.


Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[TN]

Hottest topic of the morning. I'll refrain from my knee jerk reply. 

[Ironhorse]

Next time take your shirt off.

[OBB]

Free T-shirt. Big deal.

I will add though that when going to my dealer's events, I wear one of their shirts or one from a dealer far away. Then again, the competitive dealers around me are all owned by a pompous ass that I wouldn't even buy a poker chip from. If I find myself in one of those dealerships for whatever reason, I make sure I grab the free food their offering and also use the bathroom just to flush the toilet and cost Him money.

Sent from my boring Droid phone.

[iski]

Was anyone videotaping at the dealer? Demo rides?

[mark]

Find another dealer...this one's lost his mind.  Surely this dealer knows one of the things many HD people do is collect shirts from different stores.  It's as if the dealer thinks you're there to serve him...

[chaos901]

If I have a H-D shirt on, I typically wear one from someplace far away.  I'm not sure I got one from my dealer (maybe when bikes were purchased) and I like him.   

[skratch]

i dunno, i see the dealer's point of view.  if it were a dealer from way far away that would be one thing, but from a competitor?  but i do think that you are being overly sensitive about it.  the dealer considered you a good longstanding customer and would rather have you advertising for him rather than his competitor.  so he handled you with respect and gave you a free t shirt.  sounds like a win-win to me.  dealer gets you advertising for him, and you get to add to your t shirt collection.

[rayson56]

^^^^
Ditto.

Should make you feel like a VIP. Congrats on the new shirt. Sounds like a good day.

[ultrarider123]

When I visited regular, I was always cognizant of where I was going, local dealer wise. I tried not to wear one dealer shirt to another local dealer...just good relations as I've bought bikes from all three.
That being said, I wouldn't put much into the dealer making that request of you and as others have said, you got a free shirt and the blessing of knowing where you stand with them....good day all around 

[CVOStreetglide]

1 of 3 things:

1. Somebody (a customer or an employee) told the owner look at our customer wearing that XYZs dealer shirt & he was "concerned"

2. XYZ dealer did something that scorched the owner's underwear & he has not gotten over it

3. The owner is somewhat insecure & needs to see his store name on t shirts on as many people as possible. Ego deal.

Doesn't matter really, you got a free t shirt to add to your 50+ collection.

I pick #3.   

Enjoy your new free shirt. 

Gee I wonder if you could go over to the other dealer and get a freet-shirt from them too.   

[Bungy]

I would have continued to wear the original shirt just to piss them off further!

[2018_FLTRXSE]

1 of 3 things:

1. Somebody (a customer or an employee) told the owner look at our customer wearing that XYZs dealer shirt & he was "concerned"

2. XYZ dealer did something that scorched the owner's underwear & he has not gotten over it

3. The owner is somewhat insecure & needs to see his store name on t shirts on as many people as possible. Ego deal.

Doesn't matter really, you got a free t shirt to add to your 50+ collection.

Sounds like a combination of all 3 actually.

I had a dealer do that to me... I laughed... you want to give me a free shirt??? sure.. I had just bought 4. I'll take 1 more. I picked the most expensive one off the shelf. I'm no dummy. 

It's not like you put on a HD shirt with a dealers name to piss someone off.... it's about the brand. Not the dealer.

[FLSTFI Dave]

I sort of understand the dealer owners point.  I have two dealers closer to my home than the one I use.  The one I use is 56 miles away.  I know he does not like seeing his competitor dealers tee shirts on his customers.  I have not hear of him saying anything to a customer, but I have heard it though staff.

So me being a customer who as bought 15 bikes in 10 years from them, and most know my wife and I buy lots of bikes from them, I do not wear Dealer Tee shirts in his store unless they are from another State, usually 1000 miles or more away.

Wonder if I did wear another local dealer shirt in if he would give me a free shirt.   

[2018_FLTRXSE]

I sort of understand the dealer owners point.  I have two dealers closer to my home than the one I use.  The one I use is 56 miles away.  I know he does not like seeing his competitor dealers tee shirts on his customers.  I have not hear of him saying anything to a customer, but I have heard it though staff.

So me being a customer who as bought 15 bikes in 10 years from them, and most know my wife and I buy lots of bikes from them, I do not wear Dealer Tee shirts in his store unless they are from another State, usually 1000 miles or more away.

Wonder if I did wear another local dealer shirt in if he would give me a free shirt.   

This is the electronic age... its not like people dont know where the next store is.

If I'm travelling I'm asking where the other store is to see if the staff is honest. If you lie to me the amount I spend in your store goes down.

The dealership here drove the others OUT of business. Its a big joke now that they THINK they are the only game in town...

[SBB]

You're not at fault but definitely overthinking. Your dealer was feeling insecure for whatever reason. It was their promotional function and they handled you with respect, if not kid gloves. They gave you a nice shirt. Be flattered.

Best response I have read.
My shirts solve that issue.
I wear Dale's Wheels Through Time shirts.
It's nice to have a picture of a bike on my shirt that's older than me!

SBB

[scottt]

Bought 12 new Harley's from my local dealer over 28 years. Thought we were "friends". Rode in on a new BMW K1600B or Bagger and asked the owner to check it out, he barely looked at it and said, you'll be trading it for another Harley within 2 years.

Felt it would have been smarter to congratulate me, reassuring that he's always there when I want a Harley. Further state that he likes performance machines. ( he owns Porches ) .

It kinda made it clear, we are just customers. A source of revenue. If that stops, so does everything else. I'm glad I learned my lesson.

Sent from my SM-J327T using Tapatalk

[Phreakyz]

You're not at fault but definitely overthinking. Your dealer was feeling insecure for whatever reason. It was their promotional function and they handled you with respect, if not kid gloves. They gave you a nice shirt. Be flattered.

Agreed!   Your bike was probably drawing a lot of attention at their event.   They were cool with you.   

[Rooster]

My favorite t-shirts are the ones that came from the GTG t-shirt swap. I agree a free shirt is ok.

[Tail Rider]

Only the Dealer/dealership knew you as the "preferred" customer...anybody not knowing you would think the opposite and think that this guy is from this other dealership and he comes here. Works both ways...usually to their benefit!

[Phreakyz]

I wear a Hurley shirt when I ride the Hurley Davidson...    I'm an old surfer at heart and there's no conflicts!

[BigLew]

Hottest topic of the morning. I'll refrain from my knee jerk reply. 
As much as it hurts me to say, I'm with Phillip on this one! 

BigLew

[ultrarider123]

I wear a Hurley shirt when I ride the Hurley Davidson...    I'm an old surfer at heart and there's no conflicts!

I'm'a bettin' dat it's hard to catch many waves in Ohio....

[T-Roy]

Go get you an Indian Motorcycle shirt and wear that next time so you can get another free shirt!!
 

[08glide]

.
It's nice to have a picture of a bike on my shirt that's older than me!

Chip exactly how old is that?     

[Ironhorse]

“I tell ya, I don’t get no respect” - Rodney Dangerfield.