Brother in law was looking at purchasing a new bike down at Myrtle Beach this past Friday. Found a nice 06 Street Glide with factory custom paint 177 of 200. So I walk up to listen to the conversation and here is what I hear.

Brother in law: What year is this bike?
Saleman: It's an 04 Streetglide
BIL: So is that a 88 or 96 cubic inch motor
Salesman: Well actually it's a 95 since it has the stage 1 and pipes added?
Me: What you just say?
Salesman: When you add the stage 1 it increases the motor size?
Me: Really? How do you get cubic inches from replacing an air filter and adding pipes? you might wanna go check on that and while your looking make sure of the model year cause they didn't produce street glides in 04.
Me to my Brother: This guy is an idiot and doesn't have a clue about bikes. Find another salesman or keep your bike and do a big bore.

I later find the sales manager and explain to him what happened. He said the salesman had only been working for harley three weeks. I said well he cost you a sale because he didn't say let me check on it instead of trying to blow smoke.

Brother in law decided he would keep his 02 Heritage and do a big bore kit.

 

You are right. There is nothing wrong with saying, "Let me check". Even if you were extremely well versed in the HD line, you are not going to know the details on every used bike in a large dealership. The salesman is a fool, and you were better offf not dealing with him.

 

Can't think of anything positive to say about MB. As far as the salesperson, like said, he should have handled it differently as stated above but what you told the sales manager may have cost the guy a job. 3 weeks on the job is just about long enough to be dangerous but I know the dealerships have a sheet of their bikes with the specifics listed, or at least most do.

 

This reminds me of the helmet thread, where a new salesgirl said, they were all made by the same company, DOT.

I was at the shop Saturday and a guy pulled out a booklet about the bikes, so yeah, they're supposed to have a reference sheet/book.

 

Sounds like alot of car saleman-Don't know **** about vehicles. I don't think you in the wrong telling the mamager about what happened, I mean this guy has a alot to learn or needs to new line of work.

 

Know your product. Rule one.

 

Rule two?


See rule one.

 

Obviously the guy didn't know bikes. If a buyer knows anything about what he is looking at then he certainly doesn't need a sales person to give him basic general info on any bike. If I was interested in a bike, after I checked it out to my satisfaction, the only thing I would want from the sales person is to see every piece of paper they could produce for the bike. This would include service records and what some dealers require as a discloser history for the bike before they buy it or take it in trade. When I am dealing with someone who knows less than I do about what they are selling - I very politely explain to them how they are mistaken, I will then explain what I am willing to pay based on the correct facts. It provides a huge advantage in negotiations. I have made some great buys in that exact situation. Why would anyone go to his supervisor and say the guy cost the dealership a sale?

 

imagine someone who doesn't know much about bikes goes into the store and this salesman gives him the same pile of made up and completely wrong info and he buys the bike . six months later when the guy has figured out what he actually has isn't what the salesman told him , he tells all his friends that dealer X is a bunch of liars and they scammed him on his bike purchase . now all these friends don't buy anything at dealer X and they tell all their friends . pretty soon nobody shops at dealer X and they go out of business .

wasn't it better that one salesman got an asschewing (or fired) from his manager than everybody loosing their jobs ?

 

Greetings,

I always find it interesting customers talking to salespeople...If he was truly interested in the bike all he had to do is tell the salesperson that he'd like to speak to his manager or someone else. Yes there are a lot of uninformed salespeople out there, part of it is their fault, and sometimes it's the dealership's fault for not providing training.