Stealership Guys
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,651
Likes: 4,891
From: Missouri City,TX
Depends on one's personal experience with a dealer what impression they come away with. Think how the individual dealers handle things comes into it also, what little interaction I've had with the local ones have not been overwhelmingly positive, price gouging by marking up 10-15% over list, the aloof attitude by some counter and sales people, being treated like you just walked into the big city from the turnip patch and sometimes the sketchy doublespeak you get at the service counter can leave a very bad taste trust me.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 481
Likes: 111
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
If what the dealers sold were proprietary, I could see how they could legitimately steal from you. If your bike is safely in the garage or an accessory you are trying to buy is at a local shop and you have an opportunity to buy form another dealer or online then whatever they charge is what they charge and its not gouging, may feel that way. However......if you were on the road, miles from home and have a service issue that prevents you from moving and the dealer marked parts or labor up a greater % than normal, you are being gouged and I believe they are committing a crime (however I am not positive) . Think $100 plywood and $50 water before a hurricane.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 713
Likes: 203
From: The Nature Coast, FL
I have a little bit of a different perspective on the subject, having worked in the automotive industry and the MC is no different. High mark up on parts, book rate on service, their job is to make money and will take yours if you are willing to pay their prices. As an example, my Ultra is an '06. The last trip to the parts dept, I was told that they don't stock parts for a bike that old. It is all good, there are plenty of quality aftermarket parts out there to be had. A good Indy is worth the trip for something you can't do yourself or don't have the time to do. In some cases, I have got better service with an Indy. It is all preference, especially if it is not warranty work
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,441
Likes: 1,231
From: The mountains of SW Virginia
Depends on one's personal experience with a dealer what impression they come away with. Think how the individual dealers handle things comes into it also, what little interaction I've had with the local ones have not been overwhelmingly positive, price gouging by marking up 10-15% over list, the aloof attitude by some counter and sales people, being treated like you just walked into the big city from the turnip patch and sometimes the sketchy doublespeak you get at the service counter can leave a very bad taste trust me.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 352
Likes: 175
From: Ponte Vedra Beach
I have not owned a Harley Dealership but have owned my own business. Their overhead is tremendous.
Building payments, employees and their overhead of taxes, vendor cleaning the buildings every night as well as the overhead of the building maintenance, property taxes, etc.
Go to the Dealership if you want advice and quick solutions. If you have the time, go and order online and do the maintenance yourself.
If you do not want to do the maintenance or wait for the part do not complain about the higher price.
This is simple business arithmatics.
Building payments, employees and their overhead of taxes, vendor cleaning the buildings every night as well as the overhead of the building maintenance, property taxes, etc.
Go to the Dealership if you want advice and quick solutions. If you have the time, go and order online and do the maintenance yourself.
If you do not want to do the maintenance or wait for the part do not complain about the higher price.
This is simple business arithmatics.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,985
Likes: 5,223
From: Michigan
Everyone looks for and wants good deals on bikes, parts, accessories and service but the dealership (owners and employees) has to make money in order to exist.
I've spent many $ at H-D dealerships all across the country since 1974 (when I bought my first H-D), and will continue to do so for as long as possible.
I've only felt like I got "stiffed" on one occasion and I let the parts counter guy know my concern.
He even showed me the OEM parts list and what the dealership cost was for the part that I was purchasing but the cost of the part was still excessive in my opinion but it was on a Sunday and I had the bike apart and I had no options.
A couple of weeks later I was at a "swap meet" and one of the vendors had that same part for about 1/12th of what I had paid for it at the dealership just a couple of weeks prior!
Oh well, live and learn.
I've spent many $ at H-D dealerships all across the country since 1974 (when I bought my first H-D), and will continue to do so for as long as possible.
I've only felt like I got "stiffed" on one occasion and I let the parts counter guy know my concern.
He even showed me the OEM parts list and what the dealership cost was for the part that I was purchasing but the cost of the part was still excessive in my opinion but it was on a Sunday and I had the bike apart and I had no options.
A couple of weeks later I was at a "swap meet" and one of the vendors had that same part for about 1/12th of what I had paid for it at the dealership just a couple of weeks prior!
Oh well, live and learn.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,551
Likes: 57,095
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
I have not owned a Harley Dealership but have owned my own business. Their overhead is tremendous.
Building payments, employees and their overhead of taxes, vendor cleaning the buildings every night as well as the overhead of the building maintenance, property taxes, etc.
Go to the Dealership if you want advice and quick solutions. If you have the time, go and order online and do the maintenance yourself.
If you do not want to do the maintenance or wait for the part do not complain about the higher price.
This is simple business arithmatics.
Building payments, employees and their overhead of taxes, vendor cleaning the buildings every night as well as the overhead of the building maintenance, property taxes, etc.
Go to the Dealership if you want advice and quick solutions. If you have the time, go and order online and do the maintenance yourself.
If you do not want to do the maintenance or wait for the part do not complain about the higher price.
This is simple business arithmatics.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 10,298
Likes: 7,779
From: West Central FL
I withdraw my post. Some of my comments were uncalled for and I shouldn't have made them. They were unfair and possibly hurtful to some people I know. Like others have said if you think the prices are fair then go for it. If you don't, then don't. Either way if both sides part satisfied all is good. So "ro-o-o-o-o-o-o-ll another one." Know when you're right and more importantly know when you're wrong.
And that's all I have to say about that. Peace out.
And that's all I have to say about that. Peace out.
Last edited by Hey Man; Nov 10, 2018 at 04:47 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
Judging by some of the horror stories I've seen in here, even if only 1/2 of them are true, Chuck's Deluxe being the worst example, and many tales of misdiagnoses and people being told of voided warranties if certain things are not done at the dealer, I can understand why some call them "stealerships."
The dealer I frequent for parts has very good parts guys that call me by name although I'm only in there once every 6 months or so and know what they're doing. I may even buy a bike from them in the future after talking to a salesman. They supposedly have a good service shop, but I haven't used it as I do all my own work.
On the other side of town is another dealer I won't set foot in because of what I've heard being done to people. They even had a bike I was VERY interested in.
The dealer I frequent for parts has very good parts guys that call me by name although I'm only in there once every 6 months or so and know what they're doing. I may even buy a bike from them in the future after talking to a salesman. They supposedly have a good service shop, but I haven't used it as I do all my own work.
On the other side of town is another dealer I won't set foot in because of what I've heard being done to people. They even had a bike I was VERY interested in.