Interesting Article about Harley
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
It’s what happens when you have a “Franchise”.
Just ask any car dealer, McDonalds or Wing Stop. I personally know the owners of a Toyota dealership, a Chrysler/Dodge dealership, 5 McDonald stores and a Wing Stop. They all bitch about having to do (spend money on) chit they don’t want to do. But if they don’t, the parent company will pull their franchises.
Just ask any car dealer, McDonalds or Wing Stop. I personally know the owners of a Toyota dealership, a Chrysler/Dodge dealership, 5 McDonald stores and a Wing Stop. They all bitch about having to do (spend money on) chit they don’t want to do. But if they don’t, the parent company will pull their franchises.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: arapahoe N.C.
I have been a loyal HD customer for over 45 years and have seen many changes take place. We lost our HD dealer here in the 80's when the mom and pop business was told to expand at their expense or close, well they closed. Now I have to go 40 miles to get to the nearest dealer in an upscale part of town. I have bought my last Harley due to my age but, I can tell you the bikes are not as good as they were during the "Evolution" days. My 08' is in the shop again for the 5th time in 15K miles.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 944
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
I bought my bike from C&S in Nashville. Phil still had his small time roots and I would search near and far for a dealer like his before I would buy from one of the big box dealers who don't or care who you are.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 954
Likes: 3
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
I totally agree!!!!!!! When the dealer sells a tiny rubber oring for the oil drain plug for $2.00 each and you can buy a bag of 50 for $8 and some change elsewhere, something is terribly wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last edited by hawg08; Sep 24, 2009 at 09:19 AM.
Corporate America is not to blame. If the Moco wants to try to guide dealerships into their own vision, I don't always see that as a problem.
Remember the dealership would not be there without the Harley-Davidson name. And yes, the dealer sells the bikes, blah, blah, blah, etc.
Big companies do not kill off Mom & Pop stores. It does bring competition and that is good for business. At times yes, Ma & Pa Bell can't compete with Big Business, but again that's Capitalism.
Part of Republican de-regulation is sending jobs overseas. As much as it sucks, this is how America works.
Remember the dealership would not be there without the Harley-Davidson name. And yes, the dealer sells the bikes, blah, blah, blah, etc.
Big companies do not kill off Mom & Pop stores. It does bring competition and that is good for business. At times yes, Ma & Pa Bell can't compete with Big Business, but again that's Capitalism.
Part of Republican de-regulation is sending jobs overseas. As much as it sucks, this is how America works.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 944
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
I have been a loyal HD customer for over 45 years and have seen many changes take place. We lost our HD dealer here in the 80's when the mom and pop business was told to expand at their expense or close, well they closed. Now I have to go 40 miles to get to the nearest dealer in an upscale part of town. I have bought my last Harley due to my age but, I can tell you the bikes are not as good as they were during the "Evolution" days. My 08' is in the shop again for the 5th time in 15K miles.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 752
Likes: 5
This sadly is a sign of the times, nothing more or less, get used to it?
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,716
Likes: 103
From:
Been calling them that for 15 years. Nothing but t shirts, jackets, etc, no parts but chrome doodads. Gotta wait a week for anything but a spark plug. Glad my local dealer didn't fall for that bigger, better, more, more, more attitude of the MOCO.
