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Author Topic: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley  (Read 3864 times)

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Dead_Reckoning

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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #15 on: April 14, 2013, 07:50:16 AM »

Me and a buddy went into the local Harley dealer yesterday to see how much to install a new rear tire. We were quoted $120.00 no appointment needed. I said to the service writer that he has his own tire that he bought, then she said oh we will have to charge you an additional $120.00 two hours because you did not buy the tire from us. So this is how he gets treated after buying a brand new Ultra classic with extended service warranty from them. I told him there is a great Indy 25 minutes from here that will install it. I couldn't believe what I heard from the service writer, now remember it is not the fault of the service writer but the dealers practice. $ 240.00 to install a rear tire for a half to 3/4 hour job.

They are crazy

I have heard this before in Maine.

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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #16 on: April 14, 2013, 09:04:29 AM »

For now, this is my response to MoCo, I buy genuine MoCo parts from a HD Dealers with my 15% and 20% Discounts and still have my Indy do the work.


X2 :2vrolijk_21: (when I "have to" buy MoCo parts if aftermarket doesn't have something equal to or better than OEM).

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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #17 on: April 14, 2013, 09:13:46 AM »

My old Harley dealer wouldn't install tires that were not purchased from them. When I asked why, was told "it's a liability issue."  Funny how its not a liability issue when you buy car tires at tirerack.com and and have the local Tire Kingdom, etc install them.  It's all about the $$$.
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Red Dragon

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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #18 on: April 14, 2013, 11:30:26 AM »

Instead of just b***hing about it on this forum and others (I've read alot about this for the last several months...It's only going to get worse! !)...WHY DON'T YOU WRITE TO HARLEY DAVIDSON...H.O.G., and just S T O P buying their cheap oriental parts, anyway. Just write a LETTER...that's right...A   G O O D    O L D   F A S H I O N   L E T T E R. Not an email. Not a phone call.... If the CEO (Mr. Keith Wandell) or the Parts and Accessories Chief (Mr. Mathew Levatich) get enough letters, it might make a difference. Members of THIS FORUM spend a lot of $$$$ on H-D. They need you guys!...and if their "sales" start heading down, so will the value of their stock....THEY DON'T WANT THAT!!!  Invite them to view this topic on the CVO FORUM...I Did!
I addressed my letters to the MOCO with large red letters ATTENTION these guys...         HARLEY-DAVIDSON, Inc. CORPORATE OFFICES    
                                                                                                                                   3700 W. JUNEAU AVE.
                                                                                                                                   MILWAUKEE, WI 53205
                                                                                                                                   ATTENTION Mr. Keith Wandell, CEO
That is one of the MAIN reasons that I researched until I found an OLDER CVO (Of course there is another reason as well...THE FXDWG is one of the BEST EVER). I refused to pay $30K to $40K (and more) for a bike that has more oriental crap on it than ever. It's not because I can't afford it...IT'S BECAUSE I REFUSE TO HONOR THEIR "NEW" WAY OF DOING BIZ. Their "NEW" G L O B A L business platform has transferred to a "NEW GLOBAL ATTITUDE"....If I decide I "NEED" another motorcycle, IT WILL NOT BE A HARLEY-DAVIDSON!!!! If Harley trully "cared" about this country, like they always claim in their ads, they'd see that small business's NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET. Small Biz is what does MOST of the hiring in this country. I fired off 4 letters about a month ago...and 2 more today...going in the mail tomorrow. I certainly don't expect to hear back from the A-Holes that run the Moco and the "club", but if more voice their dissatisfaction with the way the Moco is being run, sooner or later it will get somebody's attention. S T O P   B U Y I N G   T H E I R  C R A P!

 I bought my last H-D on February 26th. I bought it because it was my very first H-D (bought it originally back in 2000). I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF THAT I WOULD STAY OUT OF ANY H-D DEALERSHIPS last month. It embarrasses me to see what the "NEW MOCO" has done to themselves!

http://www.jigsaw.com/id217704/1/harley_davidson_inc_company_directory.xhtml
« Last Edit: April 19, 2013, 02:10:56 PM by Red Dragon »
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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #19 on: April 14, 2013, 11:48:28 AM »

Toot,Toot
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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #20 on: April 14, 2013, 11:53:23 AM »

Instead of just b***hing about it on this forum and others (I've read alot about this for the last several months...It's only going to get worse! !)...WHY DON'T YOU WRITE TO HARLEY DAVIDSON...H.O.G., and just S T O P buying their cheap oriental parts, anyway. Just write a LETTER...that's right...A   G O O D    O L D   F A S H I O N   L E T T E R. Not an email. Not a phone call.... If the CEO (Mr. Keith Wandell) or the Parts and Accessories Chief (Mr. Mathew Levatich) get enough letters, it might make a difference.

Jesus, you think you're preaching to the lemmings?  It's been done by many; on a variety of issues.  If any repsonse at all comes it's usually been of the blow off variety. 

As for shopping elsewhere some of us actually have put our money where our mouth is.  Nothing from the dealerships nor Harley itself if there's an alternative.  Buy from individuals.  Not interested in a new bike.  Do as little as possible to put cash in Harley.  All because of the way Mother Harley has learned it can get by with dealing with its consumer base.  Hells bells, I built an entire Road King from scratch and spent less than $400 on it buying new parts from Harley. 
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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #21 on: April 14, 2013, 11:54:41 AM »

Instead of just b***hing about it on this forum and others (I've read alot about this for the last several months...It's only going to get worse! !)...WHY DON'T YOU WRITE TO HARLEY DAVIDSON...H.O.G., and just S T O P buying their cheap oriental parts, anyway. Just write a LETTER...that's right...A   G O O D    O L D   F A S H I O N   L E T T E R. Not an email. Not a phone call.... If the CEO (Mr. Keith Wandell) or the Parts and Accessories Chief (Mr. Mathew Levatich) get enough letters, it might make a difference. Members of THIS FORUM spend a lot of $$$$ on H-D. They need you guys!...and if their "sales" start heading down, so will the value of their stock....THEY DON'T WANT THAT!!!  Invite them to view this topic on the CVO FORUM...I Did!
I addressed my letters to the MOCO with large red letters ATTENTION these guys...         HARLEY-DAVIDSON, Inc. CORPORATE OFFICES    
                                                                                                                                   3700 W. JUNEAU AVE.
                                                                                                                                   MILWAUKEE, WI 53205
                                                                                                                                   ATTENTION Mr. Keith Wandell, CEO
That is one of the MAIN reasons that I researched until I found an OLDER CVO (Of course there is another reason as well...THE FXDWG is one of the BEST EVER). I refused to pay $30K to $40K (and more) for a bike that has more oriental crap on it than ever. It's not because I can't afford it...(I just bought a $230K boat yesterday)...IT'S BECAUSE I REFUSE TO HONOR THEIR "NEW" WAY OF DOING BIZ. Their "NEW" G L O B A L business platform has transferred to a "NEW GLOBAL ATTITUDE"....If I decide I "NEED" another motorcycle, IT WILL NOT BE A HARLEY-DAVIDSON!!!! If Harley trully "cared" about this country, like they always claim in their ads, they'd see that small business's NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET. Small Biz is what does MOST of the hiring in this country. I fired off 4 letters about a month ago...and 2 more today...going in the mail tomorrow. I certainly don't expect to hear back from the A-Holes that run the Moco and the "club", but if more voice their dissatisfaction with the way the Moco is being run, sooner or later it will get somebody's attention. S T O P   B U Y I N G   T H E I R  C R A P!

 I bought my last H-D on February 26th. I bought it because it was my very first H-D (bought it originally back in 2000). I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF THAT I WOULD STAY OUT OF ANY H-D DEALERSHIPS last month. It embarrasses me to see what the "NEW MOCO" has done to themselves!

http://www.jigsaw.com/id217704/1/harley_davidson_inc_company_directory.xhtml
What I have highlighted is the "ONLY" thing that will change how/why the MoCo does business... You/we/anybody can write letters until there is no more ink in the world to write with but as long as you/we/anybody is patronizing/purchasing from the MoCo and the stock holders are making a profit they could give a chit about the letters they receive. You/we/anybody are likely to get a (boiler plate) reply thanking you/we/anybody for contacting them (MoCo) with your concerns and they will look into them but bottom line until the profit margin starts to drop and those that are making a profit from what we spend at dealerships start b!tching you/we/anybody may as well be pissing in the rain and telling ourselves it is rain that is hitting us in the face... ain't going to change a thing as far as how they (MoCo) does business.

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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #22 on: April 14, 2013, 11:57:08 AM »

Jesus, you think you're preaching to the lemmings?  It's been done by many; on a variety of issues.  If any repsonse at all comes it's usually been of the blow off variety. 

As for shopping elsewhere some of us actually have put our money where our mouth is.  Nothing from the dealerships nor Harley itself if there's an alternative.  Buy from individuals.  Not interested in a new bike.  Do as little as possible to put cash in Harley.  All because of the way Mother Harley has learned it can get by with dealing with its consumer base.  Hells bells, I built an entire Road King from scratch and spent less than $400 on it buying new parts from Harley. 
Them "voices" were talking in both our heads at the same time. :D

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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #23 on: April 14, 2013, 12:09:16 PM »

The new management team continues to dream up more ways to ensure I never buy anything from them again.  I have a suggestion for the azzholes.  If you want to dictate down to the last little detail what a dealer can do, then try dictating some standards for customer service, like real qualified techs and parts people, not the boss's deadbeat sons and drunken brother in law as the "factory trained" and pretty much useless staff found in many places.

Jerry

Jerry I could not have said it any better!!!!! Most Dealerships SUCK to say the least!!!!!!

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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #24 on: April 14, 2013, 12:52:19 PM »

Wow.....think it's time to check out the beer thread! :drink:
« Last Edit: April 14, 2013, 12:53:58 PM by screamincvo »
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dlaws01

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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #25 on: April 14, 2013, 08:45:24 PM »

The new management team continues to dream up more ways to ensure I never buy anything from them again.  I have a suggestion for the azzholes.  If you want to dictate down to the last little detail what a dealer can do, then try dictating some standards for customer service, like real qualified techs and parts people, not the boss's deadbeat sons and drunken brother in law as the "factory trained" and pretty much useless staff found in many places.

Jerry

Amen to that!  I vote for Jerry to be head of customer service.   :2vrolijk_21:
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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #26 on: April 14, 2013, 10:21:41 PM »

Them "voices" were talking in both our heads at the same time. :D

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Gary it can either be amusing to watch or annoying to sit through when someone has a thought and assumes, for some reason, they they must, therefore, have been the first person to have ever had it.  The difference between amusing and annoying is usually how self-righteous or preachy is the suggestion and/or whether they're looking to engage in a conversation or lecture/preach/sell to a presumed captive audience. 

Dammit, where's my beer.....
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Red Dragon

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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #27 on: April 15, 2013, 09:38:34 AM »

First, allow me to apologize if I pizzed anyone off with my rant about letter writing. I sincerely was NOT trying to preach. I should have known better, what with the vast knowledge and experience I see on here. I had no idea that letter writing doesn't have any affect on the Motor Company. That's a shame. I would think that they would listen to those who buy the TOP SHELF products.

Even though I'm pretty much a "geezer", I'm still relatively new to this Harley thing. I could not afford one when I was younger, so I bought Japanese copies and would pull the emblems and decals off of them so nobody would know (I know...a lot of you knew...but, again...I didn't know any better). Now that I'm at a place in my life where I can afford one, I refuse to buy a new one because of what the "SUITS" have done to the "LEGEND". I will NOT take my CVO (relic that it is) to a dealer, especially when I recently witnessed a "tech" asking another tech, "What is that?" (referring to my Switchblade).

I know that a letter writing campaign or any way of complaining "CAN" change certain things about some companies. As a professional musician (long before I went into law enforcement), I saw a certain major "AMERICAN" drum manufacturer start to use "imported" parts on their premier line of pro drums (The ones used by the pro's)...The hardware, the rims, and lugs which HAD been manufactured in the U.S.A. suddenly started being made "elsewhere" to "save a buck". When artists that were the endorsers of these drums found out that the hardware was "cheapening" the acoustic sound of these drums, they got upset/irate and began contacting the company. The company's Board of Directors learned that alot of these artists were "considering" switching brands....When "little Billy" goes to a concert, and see's his favorite band using a certain brand of drums (ever notice how huge the company logo is on the front of a bass drum??), he tells Daddy that that's the drums he wants. This manufacturer found a small American metal fabricating company that was willing to produce quality hardware, rims and lugs at a competitive price point for the "top shelf" drums, and this made the artists happy. The company remains right at the top (all over the world) to this very day.

As CVO owners, you guys (and girls) are like the "endorsing" artists for Harley-Davidson...You have the "so-called" "GOOD STUFF". When someone pulls up next to you on the highway, at a traffic light, or at the gas pump, they look over at the CVO and say to themselves, "I WANT one of those".



« Last Edit: April 15, 2013, 10:36:03 AM by Red Dragon »
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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #28 on: April 15, 2013, 10:49:28 AM »

First, allow me to apologize if I pizzed anyone off with my rant about letter writing. I sincerely was NOT trying to preach. I should have known better, what with the vast knowledge and experience I see on here. I had no idea that letter writing doesn't have any affect on the Motor Company. That's a shame. I would think that they would listen to those who buy the TOP SHELF products.

Even though I'm pretty much a "geezer", I'm still relatively new to this Harley thing. I could not afford one when I was younger, so I bought Japanese copies and would pull the emblems and decals off of them so nobody would know (I know...a lot of you knew...but, again...I didn't know any better). Now that I'm at a place in my life where I can afford one, I refuse to buy a new one because of what the "SUITS" have done to the "LEGEND". I will NOT take my CVO (relic that it is) to a dealer, especially when I recently witnessed a "tech" asking another tech, "What is that?" (referring to my Switchblade).

I know that a letter writing campaign or any way of complaining "CAN" change certain things about some companies. As a professional musician (long before I went into law enforcement), I saw a certain major "AMERICAN" drum manufacturer start to use "imported" parts on their premier line of pro drums (The ones used by the pro's)...The hardware, the rims, and lugs which HAD been manufactured in the U.S.A. suddenly started being made "elsewhere" to "save a buck". When artists that were the endorsers of these drums found out that the hardware was "cheapening" the acoustic sound of these drums, they got upset/irate and began contacting the company. The company's Board of Directors learned that alot of these artists were "considering" switching brands....When "little Billy" goes to a concert, and see's his favorite band using a certain brand of drums (ever notice how huge the company logo is on the front of a bass drum??), he tells Daddy that that's the drums he wants. This manufacturer found a small American metal fabricating company that was willing to produce quality hardware, rims and lugs at a competitive price point for the "top shelf" drums, and this made the artists happy. The company remains right at the top (all over the world) to this very day.

As CVO owners, you guys (and girls) are like the "endorsing" artists for Harley-Davidson...You have the "so-called" "GOOD STUFF". When someone pulls up next to you on the highway, at a traffic light, or at the gas pump, they look over at the CVO and say to themselves, "I WANT one of those".





I don't think anyone is fired up about your post. We have had many problems with the Mother Company in the past and I am pretty sure we will see a lot more in the future. This game they are playing is all about the DOLLARS and the stock holders. If I was going to write any more letters to the Motor Company it would be about the quality of the CVO bikes coming off the main assembly line. When they were built on their own assembly line things were a lot better. IMHO when you buy a CVO it should have the best of everything including a much better flywheel assembly. If they built the motors to be the best and run the best I would be a lot happier. Nothing makes me more upset then shell out 40k for a motorcycle and then 1 or 2 years later pull the engine and build a ground up engine because of flywheel problems. That has happened to to many members on this site. Oh and I can tell you it's not from abuse either. Most of the old geezers on this site would be hard pressed to pull a holeshot with their 40k motorcycles!!!

No to get back to the topic of this thread. I for one do most of my own work. I do not have a machine shop so I must send my stuff out for any machining. If I was not able to do my own work I don't think I would use a Dealership. They will hire anyone for 10.00 an hour just to get the work out the door.

Be Safe

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cvo 1  04 FLHTCSEI  Qrange/Black AKA Ole Punkin
cvo 2 05 VRSCXe Orange/Black sold
cvo 3 02 FXDWG2 Black/Gold 
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cvo 5 09 FLHTCUSE4 Red/Marron sold
cvo 6 12 FLHTCUSE Blue Saphire/Stardust Silver AKA Saphire
cvo 7 14 FLHTKSE  Blaze/Maroon
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Red Dragon

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Re: Independant Shops vs Mother Harley
« Reply #29 on: April 15, 2013, 11:06:06 AM »

hope you can open this...A friend sent it to me about an hour ago after reading my rant...

....just to add some humor to a very serious subject  :D

You may have to have Power Point to open it...
« Last Edit: April 15, 2013, 11:28:59 AM by Red Dragon »
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