Why Call It a Stealership?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
I came to HD's at age 65 having bought my first bike in March 1956. Since that time I have had over 50 bikes. I never found a franchised dealer of any make that the parts and labor was not in line with any other brand. In fact the 02 VTX1800 and 04 Rune had higher parts and labor costs than my HD dealer had.
If one thinks they charge too much, then how is it that since the recession started in 07 that many HD dealers went out of business?
The rough average of $100/hr not only matches other brands labor rates and car franchises labor rates. Local plumber, electrician, HVAC and other services are in that $100 range per hour also. Don't even think of getting an Attorney for that. $350 and way up is the going rate.
If HD parts and accessories are over priced then the aftermarket could sell the equivalent part and take all the business away form HD. Kuryakin, PM, RSD and all the others parts are about the same price and many times higher like RSD stuff.
The stealership gripe comes from the younger lower income demographic who are naive and ill informed. But forgive them in time they will lean when they start wearing their big boy pants.
IdahoHacker : What he said.
If one thinks they charge too much, then how is it that since the recession started in 07 that many HD dealers went out of business?
The rough average of $100/hr not only matches other brands labor rates and car franchises labor rates. Local plumber, electrician, HVAC and other services are in that $100 range per hour also. Don't even think of getting an Attorney for that. $350 and way up is the going rate.
If HD parts and accessories are over priced then the aftermarket could sell the equivalent part and take all the business away form HD. Kuryakin, PM, RSD and all the others parts are about the same price and many times higher like RSD stuff.
The stealership gripe comes from the younger lower income demographic who are naive and ill informed. But forgive them in time they will lean when they start wearing their big boy pants.
IdahoHacker : What he said.
Last edited by lh4x4; Feb 3, 2015 at 10:09 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 1,488
From: SW Washington State
I got a great Dealer, been around a long long time. been doin biz with this one for 32 years. There are dealers I visit on the road and I don't get a warm fuzzy feeling, they dont know jack about bikes and seem like a boutique. I think the multi brand dealers are the worst. Still, to call them a Stealership seems to go along with Guys here that have a Harley, but hate them. Go figure that one out.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,105
Likes: 13,053
From: Texas, USA
No one forces anyone to buy anything at a dealership. If you don't like the prices, make the part yourself, sew the garment yourself or fix the bike yourself. There are too many members that have the mindset that if they pay a penny more than they think they should, they got taken at the Stealership.
Others don't want to pay dealership prices. So, they go online and pay $3 for the same part made in Bangladesh and then post here about how the part they bought sucked and the company sucks, yada yada yada.
Some people were born to complain. If you don't like paying the prices, sell the bike and start knitting.
To me, those that use the term sound ignorant. Rant over.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
I've never have and won't call it a "stealer-ship". I've always called it "the shop".
I think some call it a stealer-ship to sound cool, like some hate authority and it might make them look "bad" to others and themselves.
What I don't get is, if they hate dealerships that much, they had to have bought their bike used, rather than go through a "stealer-ship".
I think some call it a stealer-ship to sound cool, like some hate authority and it might make them look "bad" to others and themselves.
What I don't get is, if they hate dealerships that much, they had to have bought their bike used, rather than go through a "stealer-ship".
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Feb 3, 2015 at 10:24 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
Do y'all want to know what a real ripoff is like? This just happened to me within the last year, so it's no "old-timer" story.
I just bought this house about 18 months ago. The previous owner told me the landscaper was great, and he'd take good care of me. It was time for the annual pruning. Prune the shrubs, cut the decorative grasses off at ground level, rake up the prunings and take it away. I asked the guy how much, and he said they just charge by the hour and he'd let me know. Now, before you think I'm stupid, I would NEVER do anything like a "time & materials" job on a car, or construction work, or anything like that. But, to have the same guy that's been doing the pruning for several years do it? Really, now much could it be? $500? $750?
$2,000. WTF?!?
I asked the guy how in the hell it could be that high. It was exactly what you would expect...two guys, one guy using the trimmer, and the other guy raking.
The landscaper said it was $90 per hour. $45 per hour, PER GUY.
$90 a damn hour to trim damn bushes and rake up the damn twigs.Needless to say, I never used him again.
There is no freakin' way that it's out of line for a dealership employing trained technicians to charge $100/hr to work on electronic sequential port fuel injection systems, or O2 sensors linked to an ECM module via a Controller Area Network BUS system,or linked ABS braking systems, or GPS/Stereo systems.
If my previous landscaper was doing the work, it would be $500 a freakin' hour.
I just bought this house about 18 months ago. The previous owner told me the landscaper was great, and he'd take good care of me. It was time for the annual pruning. Prune the shrubs, cut the decorative grasses off at ground level, rake up the prunings and take it away. I asked the guy how much, and he said they just charge by the hour and he'd let me know. Now, before you think I'm stupid, I would NEVER do anything like a "time & materials" job on a car, or construction work, or anything like that. But, to have the same guy that's been doing the pruning for several years do it? Really, now much could it be? $500? $750?
$2,000. WTF?!?
I asked the guy how in the hell it could be that high. It was exactly what you would expect...two guys, one guy using the trimmer, and the other guy raking.
The landscaper said it was $90 per hour. $45 per hour, PER GUY.
$90 a damn hour to trim damn bushes and rake up the damn twigs.Needless to say, I never used him again.
There is no freakin' way that it's out of line for a dealership employing trained technicians to charge $100/hr to work on electronic sequential port fuel injection systems, or O2 sensors linked to an ECM module via a Controller Area Network BUS system,or linked ABS braking systems, or GPS/Stereo systems.
If my previous landscaper was doing the work, it would be $500 a freakin' hour.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Feb 4, 2015 at 12:02 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 585
Likes: 3
From: Boise, Idaho
Do y'all want to know what a real ripoff is like? This just happened to me within the last year, so it's no "old-timer" story.
I just bought this house about 18 months ago. The previous owner told me the landscaper was great, and he'd take good care of me. It was time for the annual pruning. Prune the shrubs, cut the decorative grasses off at ground level, rake up the prunings and take it away. I asked the guy how much, and he said they just charge by the hour and he'd let me know. Now, before you think I'm stupid, I would NEVER do anything like a "time & materials" job on a car, or construction work, or anything like that. But, to have the same guy that's been doing the pruning for several years do it? Really, now much could it be? $500? $750?
$2,000. WTF?!?
I asked the guy how in the hell it could be that high. It was exactly what you would expect...two guys, one guy using the trimmer, and the other guy raking.
The landscaper said it was $90 per hour. $45 per hour, PER GUY.
$90 a damn hour to trim damn bushes and rake up the damn twigs.
Needless to say, I never used him again.
There is no freakin' way that it's out of line for a dealership employing trained technicians to charge $100/hr to work on electronic sequential port fuel injection systems, or O2 sensors linked to an ECM module via a Controller Area Network BUS system,or linked ABS braking systems, or GPS/Stereo systems.
If my previous landscaper was doing the work, it would be $500 a freakin' hour.
I just bought this house about 18 months ago. The previous owner told me the landscaper was great, and he'd take good care of me. It was time for the annual pruning. Prune the shrubs, cut the decorative grasses off at ground level, rake up the prunings and take it away. I asked the guy how much, and he said they just charge by the hour and he'd let me know. Now, before you think I'm stupid, I would NEVER do anything like a "time & materials" job on a car, or construction work, or anything like that. But, to have the same guy that's been doing the pruning for several years do it? Really, now much could it be? $500? $750?
$2,000. WTF?!?
I asked the guy how in the hell it could be that high. It was exactly what you would expect...two guys, one guy using the trimmer, and the other guy raking.
The landscaper said it was $90 per hour. $45 per hour, PER GUY.
$90 a damn hour to trim damn bushes and rake up the damn twigs.
Needless to say, I never used him again.
There is no freakin' way that it's out of line for a dealership employing trained technicians to charge $100/hr to work on electronic sequential port fuel injection systems, or O2 sensors linked to an ECM module via a Controller Area Network BUS system,or linked ABS braking systems, or GPS/Stereo systems.
If my previous landscaper was doing the work, it would be $500 a freakin' hour.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Feb 4, 2015 at 12:02 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 585
Likes: 3
From: Boise, Idaho
Now that I used up my freebie, I am now relegated to sitting back and waiting for a cool oil thread to pop up
Smile and have a great night
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 638
From: Up North
It's a term used universally for all dealerships, not just Harley Davidson. There seems to be a pattern of overcharging for parts and service at a lot of manufacturers dealerships, hence "stealership". I don't use the term myself, but then I do all my own work and I do buy parts from dealers, sometimes paying a premium price. Sometimes it's better to do it that way for quality reasons.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
Sincere question: what do you mean by "overcharging for parts"?