Bonker, Doobie Brother, if you make it out to the west coast, we should get a beer together. I'm seriously enjoying this debate! You make good points.

Perhaps I need to better explain my position. Been riding for over twenty years, and currently don't own a car, only my FXDF. I still have a Cycle World Buyer's Guide from 1990 when the cheapest HD was a Sporty for $3,995. IF memory serves, the Fat Boy was going for $10,990. In 1994, I remember a co-worker who was 122nd on the wait list for a Fat Boy, and was ecstatic when the dealer called him to say they had a cancellation, so they were bumping him up to 63rd, essentially reducing his wait time from 18 months to 6. Imagine that.

Now it's obviously a bit different. HD is cutting jobs, reducing production, and the financing arm is shaky. My perspective is that I don't think ANY negativity is good for the machines that we love, yet perhaps that's where I went astray.

I completely agree, the dealer has to be held accountable, and sorry to hear about your experience, DB. To be blunt, I can't believe they made you come back. What, they couldn't have overnighted it to you? That's an industry standard operating procedure: DON'T make the customer pay for your mistake EVER.

And pertaining to the survey, yes, I did give top marks. By the way, Bonker, do a google on "Harley Davidson JD Power", then go to the msn money arcticle about HD being over the hill. And about the defying me to provide survey results, in 2006 JD Power started releasing the brand names of their customer surveys. They've been conducting the surveys for over a decade. And I'm sure you're aware of what the Gold Bar and Shield award is that HD gives to it's top dealers. That's based off of our surveys.

I just want my beloved HD to get strong again, and continue to be an American company. I don't want them having to take the path of auto manufacturers and start raising costs on bikes, parts, etc to make up for the reduction in units sold. Guess all I can do at this point is share how I went about buying my FXDF.

Called the general manager, got the price, submitted my credit online to HD, picked up the bike the next day. Probably cost me a bit more over the long run, but I feel better knowing the dealer made a profit so they'll be there when and if I need them, HD got my financing, and I did my part to help with a "bail-out".

 

All I'm saying is the survey they send out is for dealers. It's not the same as JD Powers... that's a phone call IIRC.

BTW, I'll be out in Cali next summer on my bike. Santa Cruz, SF, and Southern Oregon. I'd love to have someone to drink beers with!

 

I'm pretty sure J. D. Power & Associates or any 3rd party "expert" does a survey independant of the forms we send to a dealer, whether car or bike.

If they were getting their information directly from H-D or whoever, don't you think corporate would look over all the surveys and ONLY send the ones which rated them 10's? Why would they send a survey where they got all 5's to be included in the data being collected?

 

Tray45, I see you recently joined and want to welcome to the forum. This must be a topic that you feel very strongly about as all of your 6 posts are located within it. That being said, when I bought my bike I too was asked to give high rating to the dealer and asked why. I was told it affected their dealer rating with HD.

They went as far as making a note of their service on their website.

 

Hey all, after re-reading, yup, sure, some over reaction on my part. It all started with OU812's question what to do with the survey. (BTW, love love LOVE the avitar! Good job.) My motivation was that I am very passionate about HD, so very sensitive about anything negative said about the company that people outside the "family" would use to base their opinion on. I was focusing on the company as a whole, not the individual dealers, and after reading Doobie Brother's experience with the business office, I can understand the frustration and need to critique that snafu.

Anyway, just love HD, and felt like it was like having someone talk bad about your family, and got emotional. Apologies all around, but can't change how passionate I am about something that's been part of my life for 20 years. I have a picture of my grandfather on a rented Harley in Hawaii during World War II when he was in the Navy. He's a Pearl Harbor Survivor.

And yeah, Bonker, jealous. I'm further up the coast, but glad you have that dream ride to look forward to next summer. Righteous, brother.

 

The dealer who sold me my last bike said nothing about the survey I would receive, but the dealer I bought from in 2007 made a big deal out of making sure I was aware it would be coming and to please send it back to HD. They never prepped me on how to answer (and they shouldn't, and good for them they didn't try) the questions just that it was important to send it back. I'm sure there is some incentive to the dealers for good feedback from customers.

 

I vote no

 

I must be the only one that didn't get a survey. I purchased two bikes from the same dealer last year and didn't receive a survey for either one. If I had I would've answered the questions honestly.

 

Sent mine in, howbout U

 

Maybe it's cuz you bought a bike without color? LMAO, just teasin ya! Perhaps it could have been because that particular dealer owned his business out right and doesn't rely on customer feedback to HD?

Just my 2˘ worth...
As far as I am concerned, I haven't nor will I ever have the opportunity to purchase a new bike. But I do have a personal distaste for people who want me to 'pad' any survey in thier favor. It's ok to do what you can to make a customer happy, and almost your duty as a vendor or dealer of any type. But to come out and openly solicit some one to fill them out in their favor seems too much like buying votes to me.
If you can't fill them out honestly, why bother filling them out at all? (Just Dave, no need for you to answer that question! LMAO!)

BTW, question for OU812... Why does that avatar look amazingly similar to the 'fishing girl' in a post I read last night? HEH! HEH! HEH!