Disappearing Dealership
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,282
Likes: 1,139
From: southeast PA
Maybe Harley can step in and try to educate the dealers on improving customer service. If they are doing this already it seems like it's not working with many dealers (according to many posts on this forum), so they might need to hire an outside company that can advise them. There are some excellent business models in the auto business, and even though I agree that car dealers make lousy bike dealers (I once worked for one) the same attitudes and practices still apply and people will react positively if they are treated right.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
it is a shame to see MC dealerships close...though over the last view years I have seen way to many MC dealers that behave and run their shops like bad carsales people. Not sad at seeing those disapear.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,523
Likes: 1
From: South Florida
Hate to see good people lose their job. There are great people and really bad people at every job in the world. Some customers are very unreasonable and some employees are really bad. it is a balancing act. I telll my employees is ok to say"NO" it is just how you say it. The biggest question when it comes to service issues "was it a defect or was it self induced" and that about takes care of 99% of the problems pertaining to service.People are in business to make a profit but then you get some people that think that it is not ok for a business to make profit, threat people right, under promise and over deliver, tell the truth no matter how bad it is. Price things accordingly and dont rip off the customer and you would be in business long after the recession is over.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 632
Likes: 0
I think before long it will go back to the Days when you had to get in line and order a Bike, I believe the Market is Flooded with too many, New and Used. Better get yours while you can
because you never know who will be running the Dealers in the Future and what will happen!
because you never know who will be running the Dealers in the Future and what will happen!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 6
From: Simpson County Kentucky
The dealer in Hollister CA closed too, which means there is nothing between Fresno and San Jose. These folks need to get a grip on pricing. I paid just over $300 for the exhaust on my Harley and an exhaust for my crotch rocket was almost $800 and there isn't a lick of chrome on it anywhere. Polaris charged $21 for 2 headlamp bulbs that are designed to only fit that unit. The Yamaha dealer wanted $185 for a 180 Z rated rear tire and it didn't even come with free Christmas wrapping. A K&N air filter was $67 for the Sporty and that didn't include the oil and cleaner. Owning a bike is the easy part, maintaining it is the tricky part.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,356
Likes: 1
From: Lansdale, Pa
We all know that the ecconomy sucks. Car dealerships everywhere are going under and now our local HD dealership has become history. Santa Cruz Harley was a terrible shop, but it was the only dealership in town. Now the closest dealership is 40 miles away in San Jose. Hopefully somebody that actually knows how to run a dealership buys the place and makes something out of it, rather than some yuppie lookin' to cash-in.
Stage III
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Try Salinas HD
I live in Santa Cruz about 4 blocks from the old dealership and went down to Salinas to buy my FXDF 3 weeks ago. They offer free pick-up/return for service which puts them a cut above the guys in San Jose.
There's some talk of new ownership but only time will tell...
There's some talk of new ownership but only time will tell...
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 715
Likes: 0
From: 22 miles west of South Bend
They need to get more agressive with their pricing on accessories, clothes. Example: the wife and I were visiting our daughter/SIL in Ohio over the Turkey holiday, we took a cruise and ended up at a Harley dealership SW of Columbus. It was Friday after T-day, the place was slow, parts guys trying to stay awake, few customers were wandering in. We were checking out some of the clothes, everything at regular pricing, why not get a little agressive and be creative, do like the other merchandisers do for that friday, we would have bought some stuff but not at full sticker. So you lose 20% on your already double plus marked up goods...create some traffic, some excitement, might even turn into a bike sale just by getting the folks in the door. I heard there were other dealers around country doing some promoting...this dealership was putting me to sleep. Just my $.02
