https://www.hdforums.com/articles/hd...marketing-war/

 

That's a pretty awesome thing for them to do!!

 

The lines for the Livewire and the Fatboy that was set up to get the feel of the clutch and throttle were about 20 people around 2 PM on Saturday. A couple of the other brands had a young lady who take your picture and e-mail it while you sat on their stationary motorcycles. Ducati did have some nice looking eye candy helping to show their motorcycles.

 

.....and your pictures of the candy will be posted when???????

 

For me, a big reason I finally went with a HD was the difference in how I was treated when I walked in their store/shop versus the local metric dealers. We've always ridden Hondas or Yamahas previously, but when we'd walk into the store/shop there, it was pretty much as if we were a nuisance. The stores where we live were set up more to sell 4 wheel ATV's and snowmachines than bikes and the service departments really just didn't seem to care much.

Contrast that with the first time we went in a HD dealership. We flat out told the salesperson we weren't going to buy a bike. He still took us around and explained all the models and invited us to their events. Each time we went back, we got a warm welcome and didn't feel like we were imposing on them. I even went to one of their women's garage days and liked that the parts and service guys didn't talk down to us.

When it came time to buy a new bike, it was a pretty easy choice even with the extra cost. My guy is also now considering a Harley for his next bike, for similar reasons, after riding metrics for over 20 years.

 

Harley is a masterful market-machine. Rarely has the latest technology, but HD has the aura of an iconic American company and they know how to sell that "experience". Good for them!

 

The longer I ride a motorcycle, the more I understand that there is more than just Harley Davidson when it comes to two wheels.

For me, it is not about marketing, what other people think or if a bike has a soul or not. It comes down to my mood when I decide to throw a leg over a bike. Do I want to be aggressive around the corners or do I just want a lazy ride.

If the only thing in your toolbox is a hammer, then everything is a nail.

 

Win again.

 

I agree they do well with marketing and branding. Look how many buy their stuff and wear it or stick on windows. I've always been fascinating how people will pay to advertise for a company. While, I don't have a lot of harley clothes and gear I do have some and proudly support the brand.

 

Harley always makes you feel welcome when you walk into their stores that's for sure. I've never bought a harley from a dealer but I have used a dealer for r2r financing and they treat me like I bought the newest CVO bike every time I walk in there. I only buy harley branded shirts for their marketing machine though with most of my parts coming from my local indie's or from J&P but I've hit 1/2 the harley dealers in tx and when you show up and just buy a shirt with that stores name on it from the clearance rack (I've only paid full price for like 2 shirts ever) and they treat you like you are the only customer in the world, why wouldn't they win the marketing war?

The only place I've ever been treated that way was at a Honda dealership in JAcksonville NC (Lejuene Honda) where I bought 3 crotch rockets over the course of several years as well as a new MX bike every year. They treated me well because I was a steady customer. Harley treats me like a king if I show up with my mom at a dealer I've never been to just to grab a t shirt.