H-D/Buell layoffs
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,182
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
HD per se sucks, period. The last place I buy from is the dealerships, they're rude, condensending, just punks..You go to buy a part[s] and they give you this **** that you can't return it if it don't work.. Let them fold, only the strong survive, they're quality has never been very good, and now its even cheasseier..[sp] they out scored everything, what do they expect..My friends who have bought new bikes, which hopefully I will never do, complain all the time..My stance is only the good survive, plus they fold the scoots will be worth more, hehehe..
I haven't experienced anything that you're talking about in your rant.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 31
From: southeast pa
I'm with SlowRain,
My ultra is the second bike we've purchased from my current dealer. As far as customer service goes, they have been nothing short of exceptional. As a "thank you" for buying a new bike from them, you get your 1k svc for free, you go on a 5 year parts discount plan, and you get 50 bucks with of free stuff like t shirts or whatever when you take delivery of your bike. And yea, 20k bike so ok, you'd think they should do something, none the less I think what they do it a great thing.
Actually, I don't have anything bad to say about any of the three local HD shops.. And one thing for sure, there is almost always something fun going on at one of the HD shops which definitely isn't the case with most of the metric shops around here.. Obviously, it's not a perfect world but so far, I'm very happy with my HD dealer.
Cheers
mavrick
My ultra is the second bike we've purchased from my current dealer. As far as customer service goes, they have been nothing short of exceptional. As a "thank you" for buying a new bike from them, you get your 1k svc for free, you go on a 5 year parts discount plan, and you get 50 bucks with of free stuff like t shirts or whatever when you take delivery of your bike. And yea, 20k bike so ok, you'd think they should do something, none the less I think what they do it a great thing.
Actually, I don't have anything bad to say about any of the three local HD shops.. And one thing for sure, there is almost always something fun going on at one of the HD shops which definitely isn't the case with most of the metric shops around here.. Obviously, it's not a perfect world but so far, I'm very happy with my HD dealer.
Cheers
mavrick
Last edited by mavrickFLHR; Sep 16, 2009 at 10:32 AM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,217
Likes: 3
From: Southern Ohio
Is the sky falling again? Is Harley-Davidson going down the toilet?? again...Nobody told me...again...guess I'd better get out my sackcloth and ashes...again...better start working on my weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth...again...
Last edited by *NIGHT TRAIN*; Sep 16, 2009 at 11:05 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Pennsylvania
According to the numbers I have read - Harley has GAINED market share. Granted this is because they have lost less than the others but.........its still growth in market share.
Some of what is going on is of your own doing - How many people on here say that "anything with a batwing is an 'ol man's bike". A lot of this stuff is "image" and we have condemned the batwing. Makes no sense to me, the Street Glide is a hot bike that I think any 25 year old would look cool on. I can see it in EVERY face of every Sportbike rider that pulls up next to me at a stoplight as I listen to the tunes and lean back on my backrest he is sayin' "man that don't look all bad".
The "Sportster is a girl's bike" now THAT will help sales. I realize alot of it is in fun, but once it get's into the psyche.........
How many posts are on here about going to 10 dealers to get the Best Price? If you want dealers to be ******, then fine. But don't come back and then bitch about the service. If you think you are riding a commodity maybe you have the wrong idea of what a Harley is.
Do what the Secretary of our local HOG group did when we were on our Yamaha and on our 1st poker run. She came and got us, put our bike next to her Road King and said "stay with me, I'll look out for you", rather than looking down her nose at a "metric". Guess what our next bike was?
Saw a single tailight in the breakdown lane Monday night coming home, Didn't know or care what kind of bike it was. I carry a flashlight and a cell phone and thats about the extent of my motorcycle mechanical skills, anyway, I pull over, he is on a Ninja that quit on him. Tried to start it, I smell gas, ask if its carbed, smells like its flooded. We shoot the breeze for a few minutes, it starts and he appreciated this 'ol geezer on his big 'ol HARLEY geezer glide offering to help. (as 4 Sport bikes passed him by)
Then I crank up that 'ol man's bike, fire up the tunes and....well....you could see the look on his face too.....maybe that Harley and the people that ride them ain't all bad.
You want to help the Brand - quit knocking the others, quit knocking your own, quit treating it like its a commodity and whoring it up. Then maybe more will see ALL the VALUE in riding a Harley Davidson.
Some of what is going on is of your own doing - How many people on here say that "anything with a batwing is an 'ol man's bike". A lot of this stuff is "image" and we have condemned the batwing. Makes no sense to me, the Street Glide is a hot bike that I think any 25 year old would look cool on. I can see it in EVERY face of every Sportbike rider that pulls up next to me at a stoplight as I listen to the tunes and lean back on my backrest he is sayin' "man that don't look all bad".
The "Sportster is a girl's bike" now THAT will help sales. I realize alot of it is in fun, but once it get's into the psyche.........
How many posts are on here about going to 10 dealers to get the Best Price? If you want dealers to be ******, then fine. But don't come back and then bitch about the service. If you think you are riding a commodity maybe you have the wrong idea of what a Harley is.
Do what the Secretary of our local HOG group did when we were on our Yamaha and on our 1st poker run. She came and got us, put our bike next to her Road King and said "stay with me, I'll look out for you", rather than looking down her nose at a "metric". Guess what our next bike was?
Saw a single tailight in the breakdown lane Monday night coming home, Didn't know or care what kind of bike it was. I carry a flashlight and a cell phone and thats about the extent of my motorcycle mechanical skills, anyway, I pull over, he is on a Ninja that quit on him. Tried to start it, I smell gas, ask if its carbed, smells like its flooded. We shoot the breeze for a few minutes, it starts and he appreciated this 'ol geezer on his big 'ol HARLEY geezer glide offering to help. (as 4 Sport bikes passed him by)
Then I crank up that 'ol man's bike, fire up the tunes and....well....you could see the look on his face too.....maybe that Harley and the people that ride them ain't all bad.
You want to help the Brand - quit knocking the others, quit knocking your own, quit treating it like its a commodity and whoring it up. Then maybe more will see ALL the VALUE in riding a Harley Davidson.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 3
From: Texas City, TX
If you're having the issues you describe with any dealer, it's time to go find another dealer!
Good luck & Ride Safe,
Steve R.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 246
Likes: 5
From: Norfolk VA
I've had nothing but a good experience at my Dealership.
Granted, they didn't give me a great deal on the Iron I bought.
But I got it the week it came out and they only had 1, so I paid full price.
I did get 20% off my gear, it was groundhog day.
I found this #1 Harley logo online with the Pinup girl on it.
Did some research and found it was a limited run for promoting the Dark Customs.
Asked my sales guy, he went digging for it and gave me 2. (See album for pics).
A few months ago they had a deal where you test drive a Buell and get a cable lock. I walked in and asked for one, handed it right over without a test drive.
I really felt like a part of the family when I got my bike. It was nothing I had experienced before.
I'm a very happy customer and if I decide to trade my Sporty in for the Ride for Free program I'll work with the same sales guy and dealership.
Granted, they didn't give me a great deal on the Iron I bought.
But I got it the week it came out and they only had 1, so I paid full price.
I did get 20% off my gear, it was groundhog day.
I found this #1 Harley logo online with the Pinup girl on it.
Did some research and found it was a limited run for promoting the Dark Customs.
Asked my sales guy, he went digging for it and gave me 2. (See album for pics).
A few months ago they had a deal where you test drive a Buell and get a cable lock. I walked in and asked for one, handed it right over without a test drive.
I really felt like a part of the family when I got my bike. It was nothing I had experienced before.
I'm a very happy customer and if I decide to trade my Sporty in for the Ride for Free program I'll work with the same sales guy and dealership.
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Joe Kucinski
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,763
Likes: 371
From: North of Hell, South of Heaven
1) Make Harley's "special" again by limiting production (rightsize)
2) Appeal to the youth market. I think the XR1200 and Nightster are a good start, but what surprised me is that Buell has not brought in the "crotch rocket" crowd like they hoped.
3) this may sound crazy, but under the Buell (or MV Agusta) name start a scooter line. Maybe Buell could sell watercraft, which saved the bacon for many metric dealers.
4) Continue to encourage its dealers to be customer focused. We may complain from time-to-time, but overall, the dealers have come a long way over the years in regards to service.
2) Appeal to the youth market. I think the XR1200 and Nightster are a good start, but what surprised me is that Buell has not brought in the "crotch rocket" crowd like they hoped.
3) this may sound crazy, but under the Buell (or MV Agusta) name start a scooter line. Maybe Buell could sell watercraft, which saved the bacon for many metric dealers.
4) Continue to encourage its dealers to be customer focused. We may complain from time-to-time, but overall, the dealers have come a long way over the years in regards to service.
