Harley-Davidson Sales Go From Bad To Worse
#21
05-04-2018, 12:33 AM
Road Master
#22
05-04-2018, 12:42 AM
Stellar HDF Member
#23
05-04-2018, 06:04 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
#24
05-04-2018, 06:09 AM
Outstanding HDF Member
#25
05-04-2018, 06:10 AM
The "Fool" keeps spouting about Indian's double digit growth, but the numbers are meaningless without quantity. If I sell 5 this year and 8 next year, I can crow about 60% increase over last year.
For a publicly traded company, Polaris doesn't like to make certain information easy to find.
Why so reluctant to tell us how many bikes they sell? And I believe they include other vehicles (Slingshot, etc) in their m/c sales figures.
HD's quarterly financial release was one of the better ones in recent years. The way the Fool spun things, makes it sound like HD is in a severe tail spin, which is exactly what they want to convey as they own shares in Polaris.
If you want data without the editorial crapola:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...300635007.html
For a publicly traded company, Polaris doesn't like to make certain information easy to find.
Why so reluctant to tell us how many bikes they sell? And I believe they include other vehicles (Slingshot, etc) in their m/c sales figures.
HD's quarterly financial release was one of the better ones in recent years. The way the Fool spun things, makes it sound like HD is in a severe tail spin, which is exactly what they want to convey as they own shares in Polaris.
If you want data without the editorial crapola:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...300635007.html
Last edited by Brewmany; 05-04-2018 at 06:13 AM.
#26
05-04-2018, 06:23 AM
Banned
Went to the parts counter the other day to get an oil filter (and a hat - woot!). I asked how it was going and the parts guy said "Busy!" He elaborated and said it had been the busiest Spring they have had. Also saw quite a few bikes fresh off the truck out back. I didn't get the feeling they were hurting one bit. And at $30 for a hat, why would they be?
I will add that the price increases have changed the buying habits of at least 1 person I know. My neighbor, a retired Moco employee, buys a new bike every year. He's had SGSs up until now. This year he got the standard SG and added the Boom Audio, ABS, and keyless. He said he just couldn't justify spending so much on the new SGS.
Last edited by nevada72; 05-04-2018 at 06:26 AM.
#27
05-04-2018, 06:28 AM
Here it is right there in the article. This right here is what will kill Harley-Davidson -
"Harley-Davidson continues to protect its premium image at all costs, and even this quarter, as sales were falling, it was able to report higher revenues (up almost 3%) because it isn't discounting its bikes like its rivals, but instead has introduced pricey new bikes equipped with its powerful Milwaukee-Eight engine. It's rising prices, not higher sales that are sustaining Harley-Davidson at the moment...."
A few weeks ago my local dealer took delivery of some black and blue fat *** whale of a motorcycle (don't know the letter designation) and had it priced at $41,999!!! Yesterday I see they dropped the price to $37,999. When you can slash a price four grand just like that you're setting your prices WAY too high just hoping a sucker will walk through the door. This one time none did.
Harley doesn't have a clue what most riders want. What they do know is that in order to survive they need to make sure that after the sale they keep the customer tethered to the mother ship. They have so damn many models and every slightest change gets a different name and designation. My theory is that they are determined to manufacture every conceivable variation and make them as complicated as possible so as to "build a wall" around the customer and prevent him/her from being able to stray towards independent shops for customization. So far it has worked. But sale are dropping because people are getting bored with all the shenanigans.
"Harley-Davidson continues to protect its premium image at all costs, and even this quarter, as sales were falling, it was able to report higher revenues (up almost 3%) because it isn't discounting its bikes like its rivals, but instead has introduced pricey new bikes equipped with its powerful Milwaukee-Eight engine. It's rising prices, not higher sales that are sustaining Harley-Davidson at the moment...."
A few weeks ago my local dealer took delivery of some black and blue fat *** whale of a motorcycle (don't know the letter designation) and had it priced at $41,999!!! Yesterday I see they dropped the price to $37,999. When you can slash a price four grand just like that you're setting your prices WAY too high just hoping a sucker will walk through the door. This one time none did.
Harley doesn't have a clue what most riders want. What they do know is that in order to survive they need to make sure that after the sale they keep the customer tethered to the mother ship. They have so damn many models and every slightest change gets a different name and designation. My theory is that they are determined to manufacture every conceivable variation and make them as complicated as possible so as to "build a wall" around the customer and prevent him/her from being able to stray towards independent shops for customization. So far it has worked. But sale are dropping because people are getting bored with all the shenanigans.
#28
05-04-2018, 09:59 AM
Grand HDF Member
The "Fool", unable to write positive things about Polaris, chooses to misinterpret, exaggerate and otherwise distort any news about H-D. Always has and seems it always will.
If you are an investor and read the Motley Fool for more than a morning cartoon, your investment judgement may be questionable. Like the CCE, the Fools' flamboyant headlines do not mean the article is worth your $ 0.02.
If you are an investor and read the Motley Fool for more than a morning cartoon, your investment judgement may be questionable. Like the CCE, the Fools' flamboyant headlines do not mean the article is worth your $ 0.02.
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#29
05-04-2018, 10:43 AM
Tourer
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#30
05-04-2018, 11:06 AM
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Cozz (05-04-2018)