Another dealer closing in SE Michigan
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,503
Likes: 94
From: SE Michigan
Another dealer closing in SE Michigan
10 years ago we lost Gilbert HD in Port Huron, a great dealer. 6 or so years ago we lost Detroit HD in Centerline. A very old dealership. Now we are losing Brighton HD this week. The Three area Super Stores are running everyone out. I do truly know its a business, but Im an old guy. I miss my dirty little shops we all hung out in. The new dealers are like going to the mall, and if I say EVO they look at me like Im a freak.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,960
Likes: 6,715
From: WI
Think you'll be seeing this becoming common. Smaller shops getting swallowed up by the bigger boutiques. There are only big boutiques HD Shops in my area. There is one huge main auto dealer that owns most everything from 30 miles north of me to 30 miles south of me.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,612
Likes: 2,853
From: Mostly Florida, some Michigan
I've been to Brighton HD several times and it's a shame to see them close. My girlfriend bought her Deluxe from them just recently and now she has to travel a lot farther to get service/ warranty work done. It sux...
Tourer
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 444
Likes: 305
From: Michigan
They're owned by the same people who own Motor City, so their business model would probably change to the super-store/no price tag style of doing business when Motor City made the change. The small town dealer feel would be gone no matter what. I'm glad I have ABC in Waterford. Nice people who want to earn your business.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,379
Likes: 3,347
From: usa
10 years ago we lost Gilbert HD in Port Huron, a great dealer. 6 or so years ago we lost Detroit HD in Centerline. A very old dealership. Now we are losing Brighton HD this week. The Three area “ Super Stores” are running everyone out. I do truly know it’s a business, but I’m an old guy. I miss my dirty little shops we all hung out in. The new dealers are like going to the mall, and if I say EVO they look at me like I’m a freak.
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 237
Likes: 88
From: SF Bay Area, CA
One group owns the 5 dealers near me. Bought them up in the last few years.
Given market conditions I imagine they will "consolidate" some locations eventually.
There might be a lot of money in the Bay Area but they're buying more Teslas than Harleys by far.
Given market conditions I imagine they will "consolidate" some locations eventually.
There might be a lot of money in the Bay Area but they're buying more Teslas than Harleys by far.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,417
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From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
When you take ( basically ) Mom and Pop businesses and try to turn them into Walmart's, the overhead increases exponentially ... There are very few dealerships that have endured the pressures put on them by the "Mothership" to expand and they are continuing to keep their heads above water ... an excellent example is Gildner's ( https://www.gildnershd.com/ ) a family owned and operated franchise ... They've figured it out somehow !