I've been reading the Forum for several years and joined a few years ago.
One of the things I've seen forever is people referring to Stealerships, yes I know what they mean.
There are many here who do their own work, have service manuals, have their own tools (jacks, perhaps lifts, meters, and other specialty tools acquired over years), and a shop or garage and I haven't seen them refer to a Dealership in that way. Guess they understand what's really involved.
If I have lots of time I order parts online, some aftermarket, some OEM, I don't have an endless supply of parts I keep, just in case or to cover various models. If I don't have time, I don't have an issue going to the dealership, hell my son worked there and I know most of them.
Some people have a good Indy they rely on and get better pricing and perhaps quicker turnaround, and I'm all for that too.

I guess what I mean by all this is, if a person goes to a dealership, that has all the parts inventory or orders for you, specialty tools, database, building, and employees on the payroll, and gets either the parts they wanted or the repair or service work done after getting the price and a time estimate, where's the Stealing?

Perhaps instead of complaining, order all your parts yourself, and do the work.

 

Interesting post and I agree wholeheartedly. Those who do so never stop to consider what their employer charges for the goods/services they provide. As Grandma used to say....Depends on whose ox is gettin' gored.

 

After I buy a bike I rarely do business at a dealership any more than I have to. Had some warranty work a couple weeks ago. Never felt that that were stealing from me, any more than anyone else.

 

No where that I can see.

It's a voluntary transaction. Stealing means force was used. No force? No stealing. No one is forcing you to open your wallet.

I get that there was a time in the past when consumers had fewer options. If you needed something, you were more or less stuck with whatever local retailer you happened to have.

But in the world we live in today, you can buy about anything you need, from anyone, anywhere. Don't like your local dealer's price or attitude? That's fine. Don't buy from him.

 

I could not agree more. The term has always bugged me.

 

 

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.

 

 

if i approach the parts counter with my hands dirty as hell, their "i know more than you attitude" goes into hiding. i know what parts i need and the numbers. they punch up the numbers in their computer get me the parts, i pay, then leave. i don't go there to visit or hang around. i've walked out on difficult parts scrubs that failed to realize i'm smarter than they are when it comes to my bike. i'll drive the extra 20 miles to get what i need if they **** with me.