Slow motion train wreck?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,601
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From: Virginia
Slow motion train wreck?
So my local Harley dealer was sold couple of months ago, Grove harley Davidson in Winchester Va to Skyline Harley Davidson (same building, new owners). I stopped in last week and was surprised to see the Service Manager had quit, the Parts Manager had quit, some of the girls on the sales floor had quit. Not a good way to start in a new town for an ownership group.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From:
Dealers are getting pinched by the MoCo and the new dealership likely "advised" current employees of new policies, compensation and practices that didn't go over so well. The MoCo has created monsters and those monsters are crushing their cost side (employees, etc.) as well as the revenue side - us! Don't feed the monster.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,971
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From: Omaha
So my local Harley dealer was sold couple of months ago, Grove harley Davidson in Winchester Va to Skyline Harley Davidson (same building, new owners). I stopped in last week and was surprised to see the Service Manager had quit, the Parts Manager had quit, some of the girls on the sales floor had quit. Not a good way to start in a new town for an ownership group.
Seems like some of the old employees took the highway.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,145
Likes: 6,167
From: SE Michigan
So my local Harley dealer was sold couple of months ago, Grove harley Davidson in Winchester Va to Skyline Harley Davidson (same building, new owners). I stopped in last week and was surprised to see the Service Manager had quit, the Parts Manager had quit, some of the girls on the sales floor had quit. Not a good way to start in a new town for an ownership group.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,999
Likes: 11,439
So my local Harley dealer was sold couple of months ago, Grove harley Davidson in Winchester Va to Skyline Harley Davidson (same building, new owners). I stopped in last week and was surprised to see the Service Manager had quit, the Parts Manager had quit, some of the girls on the sales floor had quit. Not a good way to start in a new town for an ownership group.
New Boss in town. They have to go. Few people ,hire those you can pay less and train your way.
Always bad when the group owners take over.
I could write a book on the BS when group owners pushed Harley to shut down Mischler's after 62 years.
Good INDY and aftermarket parts. Better service better parts.
Last edited by smitty901; Apr 15, 2023 at 09:12 PM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 2,056
From: Phoenix
This new Harley business model sucks.
Investors buy up all the franchises in an area, jack up prices, hire staff that has no clue what they're selling but will work cheap, and take advantage of previous customer loyalty.
After all, where else are you going to go? You can't even buy online without them getting credit for it.
Investors buy up all the franchises in an area, jack up prices, hire staff that has no clue what they're selling but will work cheap, and take advantage of previous customer loyalty.
After all, where else are you going to go? You can't even buy online without them getting credit for it.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Ft. Wayne IN
Sometimes new ownership of a HD dealership can work out ok.
Bluegrass HD (Louisville, KY) bought out Jim Bailey's in Fort Wayne and quite a few locals said the dealership improved greatly. It seems that Evan Schipper (Owner of Bluegrass and more) is doing most things right. They also bought out River City HD in Fort Wayne a few years ago when Don Ehlerding wanted to retire. They kept the "best people" by offering them jobs at Harley Davidson of Fort Wayne. A year or so ago, I heard that they bought out Doc's HD in St. Louis and kept all the people to maintain continuity and preserve the heritage of the dealership.
Bluegrass HD (Louisville, KY) bought out Jim Bailey's in Fort Wayne and quite a few locals said the dealership improved greatly. It seems that Evan Schipper (Owner of Bluegrass and more) is doing most things right. They also bought out River City HD in Fort Wayne a few years ago when Don Ehlerding wanted to retire. They kept the "best people" by offering them jobs at Harley Davidson of Fort Wayne. A year or so ago, I heard that they bought out Doc's HD in St. Louis and kept all the people to maintain continuity and preserve the heritage of the dealership.