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[Ghost Rider]

Dreams aren't supposed to be real that's why they are called dreams. When they become real that's reality and you have to have some more dreams.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Just so that I'm clear, in this dream its okay for you to be the chrome consultant, but I can't be the F&A manager.    That seems harsh.

[miker]

Oooo! Oooo!  How about director of wet T shirt sales???  I can;t pay anymore then 12k a year 

[RJ749]

Can I be the guy that sits around drinkin beer?  
Beer Sommelier, yea, thats the ticket...

Works for me, beer garden supervisor and cigar patio manager.

[RJ749]

Oooo! Oooo!  How about director of wet T shirt sales???  I can;t pay anymore then 12k a year 

[miker]

Ok, 14k a year is all I can afford...would there be rv parkin per chance

[BIGDOG]

Absolutely. The market is still strong , stock bikes are still moving the main problem is 110's . What you see is as rides get older and retire they pinch pennies more. As the younger rider's are coming up they still want Harley's and all the stuff that goes along with it . BUY BUY BUY!!!!!!!

[LabRat]

Absolutely. The market is still strong , stock bikes are still moving the main problem is 110's . What you see is as rides get older and retire they pinch pennies more. As the younger rider's are coming up they still want Harley's and all the stuff that goes along with it . BUY BUY BUY!!!!!!!

I agree. My brother's dealership is in Michigan and they have been hit hardest in this economy and he's still selling bikes like crazy.

[VaEagle]

I agree with almost everthing said above. When you take something you love and turn it into a business it can take the fun out of it and it then becomes work. Yet I also see the fact that most people need to work at something so why not do something you love if you can to make a living.
Several of the members here either work at dealerships or are very close to the owners so they can probably offer much info to the inner working of a dealership. I would NOT consider owning a H-D dealership for several reasons.
Here are my .02.......Dealerships around here are suffering from slower sales than normal and are offering up to $2,500 off of 2008 105 Anniversary copper/black bikes. many people are looking for CHEAP and economical transportation due to gas prices and Harley is lacking in Cheap smaller bikes. I also see where bike market can be more volital than a car dealership since many consider a bike a toy or luxury and not a 365 day a year family vehicle/ grocery getter.
Then when you look at the average Harley owner you are looking at an aging/dying group of loyalist that will be getting on in years and buying fewer bikes. The percentage of non-Harley owners will increase since the younger riders will have grown up on other brands and developed loyalty to them. It will be a hard sell to riders of that generation to get them to buy a more expensive bike that needs money poured into it to get it to run right.
If (and for me it would be a big if) Harley could come up with an EPA compliant, high performance and dependable motorcycle that all you had to do was buy,turn the key and ride  thenthey may have a long term existence and i would not mind owning a dealership. Especially if they could have an expanded line of entry level bikes that could compete performance and pricewise with the imports.
Until then I would just ride my Harley,enjoy it and wish them the best.

[nidan]

Given the current state of the economy, I'd elect no.  The Moco is laying off big time and that doesn't bode well for the next few years which are critical for any new business.

[Sean M Cary]

Roger,
Don't mix business and pleasure.  Pleasure will become business and this business is going in the wrong direction without indication of a break through product to bring in the next generation. 
 

I can speak to that - I was an AVID diver, beyond that - it was my obsession.  So when I got out of the USMC back in 94, I sold my Sportster, cashed in my bonds, borrowed money from family and built and ran a dive shop (Franchise) in south Florida.

Did that for 5 years, 7 days a week, 12-18 hour days.  Closed it Dec 31 of 99 - dove a bit after but it had lost its meaning...I was burnt out and had grown to dislike it from being forced to dive/teach/eat/drink SCUBA for 5+ years. 

Have not been in the water (to dive, yes I shower) since Jul of 01.  Part of this was getting back in the USMC since 02 - but I had the opportunity and do not have the desire to dive.

my .02

Sean

[Fired00d]

Just so that I'm clear, in this dream its okay for you to be the chrome consultant, but I can't be the F&A manager.    That seems harsh.

My bad Travis I quoted the wrong post. Should've been this....

I nominate Hoist! for F&I manager - to sell all those extended w-----ties!!  bwahahahahaha !!!   

Then my reply...

You sure know how to turn a dream into a nightmare.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Now you understand why that would have been a nightmare?? Again my apologies.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[SPIDERMAN]

I would love to own a Harley-Davidson dealership. I know I would make enough money to pay my bills and in time would establish myself as a "Good" dealer. The product has an incredbile loyal following and the only thing needed is to treat the customer honestly and fairly and not try to get rich overnight. I have posted elsewhere on the site what I think any dealer or the MoCo itself could do to right some of it's wrongs. I would relish the opportunity to put those ideas into practice. All of them are based on the best ideas from dealerships already in existance. I would simply combine the thing I like most about each one into my operating guide and go from there. I think suceess would be a given. Cocky ? Nope, just as most of you do, I have a solid understanding of what I want as a customer and I don't see any reason why it couldn't be put into practice. I simply believe that 99%of H-D Dealerships are now owned by people who are businessmen that bought in when H-D was flying high looking to milk the market. If they'd simply back off on their expectations for their bottom line initially, in my opinion, they'd see that bottom line grow as customers became aware of a dealership where the customer mattered, the product was backed up and prices were within reason.

B B

[RJ749]

I agree. My brother's dealership is in Michigan and they have been hit hardest in this economy and he's still selling bikes like crazy.

If that's the one I know about it is a sweet spot and he bought it "very" right.

[Ghost Rider]

My bad Travis I quoted the wrong post. Should've been this....Then my reply...Now you understand why that would have been a nightmare?? Again my apologies.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

No apology needed Gary.  I thought we were just joking with each other.   

I was bored and just trying to stir the pot a little. 

[Ghost Rider]

Oooo! Oooo!  How about director of wet T shirt sales???  I can;t pay anymore then 12k a year 
 

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I could be wrong, but is she wearing a pair of tighty whiteys for a shirt.