Profits are down for the MoCo...
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton, IL
Profits are down for the MoCo...
Heard on the news this morning that over all company profits for HD MoCo are down... substantially down. There was no information given if bike sales are down, or parts are not being sold, or if the clothing and personal accessories are to blame. Or, maybe R&D costs are high due to new model introductions.
Does anyone have any insight on this?
Does anyone have any insight on this?
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 596
Likes: 39
From:
RE: Profits are down for the MoCo...
Please get down to your local dealer and buy a t shirt or something. Even a bike if you can swing it.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080125/earns..._davidson.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080125/earns..._davidson.html
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: Profits are down for the MoCo...
ORIGINAL: ajaugust
Heard on the news this morning that over all company profits for HD MoCo are down... substantially down. There was no information given if bike sales are down, or parts are not being sold, or if the clothing and personal accessories are to blame. Or, maybe R&D costs are high due to new model introductions.
Does anyone have any insight on this?
Heard on the news this morning that over all company profits for HD MoCo are down... substantially down. There was no information given if bike sales are down, or parts are not being sold, or if the clothing and personal accessories are to blame. Or, maybe R&D costs are high due to new model introductions.
Does anyone have any insight on this?
https://www.hdforums.com/m_2773873/tm.htm
The only area that showed an increase in sales over last yearwas General Merchandise (clothing)....
General Merchandise sales was 73.4 million, up 4% over last year.
I'm not surprised.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: long island
RE: Profits are down for the MoCo...
Just found this.
http://dailybriefing.blogs.fortune.c...erseas-growth/
MAybe I should have waited for this year to buy a new bike
not last year[8D]
http://dailybriefing.blogs.fortune.c...erseas-growth/
MAybe I should have waited for this year to buy a new bike
not last year[8D]
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Profits are down for the MoCo...
They sure made a killing in recent yearsoff the "newbies", I just hope they haven't strayed so far to remember the folks who have been brand loyal for the past 40 years.
R & D in an attempt to keep up with the metrics has affected the style of their latest creations, but there is still a need to satisfy the riders that like the air-cooled traditional HD stylings.
Seems that HD's have become the latest fashion trend and kinda like boats and other so called "luxury toys", when thecountry's economyoutlook is shaky some folks shy away from spending money on "toys"..
Dealerships have become boutiques and hang-outs for the above mentioned crowd and maybe they have priced themselves into a corner.
I know the kinda people that I ride/hang with have almost given up on going to the local HD dealer and try to deal exclusively with the local Indy's due to fact that HD is catering to the newbies that have flocked to buy a personality for the weekend. [:@]
It wouldn't bother me to see the MOCO take it on the chin for a little while so they can remember their roots and the people that helped save them in the not so distant past..
R & D in an attempt to keep up with the metrics has affected the style of their latest creations, but there is still a need to satisfy the riders that like the air-cooled traditional HD stylings.
Seems that HD's have become the latest fashion trend and kinda like boats and other so called "luxury toys", when thecountry's economyoutlook is shaky some folks shy away from spending money on "toys"..
Dealerships have become boutiques and hang-outs for the above mentioned crowd and maybe they have priced themselves into a corner.
I know the kinda people that I ride/hang with have almost given up on going to the local HD dealer and try to deal exclusively with the local Indy's due to fact that HD is catering to the newbies that have flocked to buy a personality for the weekend. [:@]
It wouldn't bother me to see the MOCO take it on the chin for a little while so they can remember their roots and the people that helped save them in the not so distant past..
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 566
Likes: 3
From:
RE: Profits are down for the MoCo...
ORIGINAL: ajaugust
Or, maybe R&D costs are high due to new model introductions.
Or, maybe R&D costs are high due to new model introductions.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 33
From: Acworth
RE: Profits are down for the MoCo...
Perhaps the R & D is dealing with making an air cooled engine pass all the restrictions that the EPA has dreamed up.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,763
Likes: 371
From: North of Hell, South of Heaven
RE: Profits are down for the MoCo...
ORIGINAL: Mikey 1450
Perhaps the R & D is dealing with making an air cooled engine pass all the restrictions that the EPA has dreamed up.
Perhaps the R & D is dealing with making an air cooled engine pass all the restrictions that the EPA has dreamed up.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: New Bern, NC
RE: Profits are down for the MoCo...
HD should be working with it dealers. I know there are many dealers that are great. However, there's also a lot of dealers that are not so great and have caused great anguish amongst many HD owners.
It does not matter how great the MoCo is if the person you deal with at the local level is not doing his job properly.
Personally, I got ticked off enough, by bad service, to alter my thinking and spending habits. Now, instead of buying an overpriced Chinese made aftermarket item, clothing or whatever, I buy someplace else at half the cost. For example, instead of pay $179 for a 3/4 HD helmet at the dealer I wanted, I went across the street and bought a name brand 3/4 helmet for less than 1/2 that on sale.
Same thing for tires, engine mods, accessories, clothing, etc. The independent with good service gets my money. I usually spend several hundred to a couple of grand a year on these things.
Unless the MoCo steps up I don't see much changing. Because, if I'm paying PREMIUM DOLLARS for parts and service, I EXPECT - Premium Treatment. Otherwise I'm wasting my money.
It does not matter how great the MoCo is if the person you deal with at the local level is not doing his job properly.
Personally, I got ticked off enough, by bad service, to alter my thinking and spending habits. Now, instead of buying an overpriced Chinese made aftermarket item, clothing or whatever, I buy someplace else at half the cost. For example, instead of pay $179 for a 3/4 HD helmet at the dealer I wanted, I went across the street and bought a name brand 3/4 helmet for less than 1/2 that on sale.
Same thing for tires, engine mods, accessories, clothing, etc. The independent with good service gets my money. I usually spend several hundred to a couple of grand a year on these things.
Unless the MoCo steps up I don't see much changing. Because, if I'm paying PREMIUM DOLLARS for parts and service, I EXPECT - Premium Treatment. Otherwise I'm wasting my money.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 8
From: Earth
RE: Profits are down for the MoCo...
The moco knows that the air cooled v-twin has reached the design limit and that the notion of a water cooled h-d does not inspire the public. And the demographic profile of todays rider is 50+ years old, riding a average of 5000 miles a year. So, some shuffling is going on within the moco and they are looking for new markets-----china etc....