Ya cause the dealers are the greatest. They give you your lifestyle and all your HOG friends can be found their on sat. mornings. This guy here sure is stupid and annoying. https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...0-service.html Imagine him having the nerve to demand the STEALER take a little time out of them planning your next HOG meeting and actually do what they are supposed to do.

 

not sure why this posted twice

 

I find it very funny that posters create a post whining about "stealers" - yet they voluntarily took their bikes for service or purchased parts there.

Are these people forced to go to the dealer? It's not stealing when someone GIVES someone what they are asking for.

I think most are just trying to sound cool when posting.

Here's a tip - If you took your bike to a Harley dealer for service and paid what they were asking - its not stealing and you can't bitch about it. No one forced you to do this. If you don't like their prices - do the work yourself or find an independant shop that will do the work for less $$.

 

If your in any kind of sales your a stealer/bandit might as well get used to it...I avoid the term at all cost and do not like it...so I join in on the fun terms because thats really all it is.

Must be cause I sell to provide for my family.

 

we had a "stealer" here in n.e. wisconsin. he was so good at it the moco pulled their bar and shield sign out front. someone else got the official HD dealership now.

 

I imagine my dealer is like most others. The majority of folks seem to be good people but there's always an idiot or two that rubs you the wrong way.

 

Generally the people who call them "stealerships" are the people who allow themselves to be suckered, they are also the people who will defend HD in all things regardless of truth.

 

i got my bike from WARRS in london.

they gave me a better price on my trade in than any other harley dealer i phoned. i never had a harley before, and they spent a good few hours with me before i decided to buy. there was no guarentee of a sale, but they took the time to answer all my dumb *** questions. they still know my name when i pop back to them.

the only issue ive had with the bike was sorted straight away. no fuss, they just did the job. the reason dealers charge high prices is they have a large staff head count to pay for. i get my serviceable items from them. tyres i get else where, as they dont have to be "harley specific parts".

as one of the posters said, you dont have to buy from them.
if they want "X $$" for a part that i can buy from another manufacturer i weigh up the cost, then decide where i spend my cash. use some common sense.

 

I chuckled @ the first time I saw the word "stealership" on these & other forums.

It's not only the dealers. IMO Anyone who sells HD parts is making us pay the premium for parts. My big WTF is for exhaust MFG's..... $700+ for 2 pieces of chromed steel pipe?
It just seems any part made for the HD is overpriced.

 

Salesmen have a reputation that goes waaaaaay back. Not just with cars and bikes. Nobody can deny it.

We seem to reserve this cute term for Harley dealers though. Why?

1. Starting with sales it is b/c so many will not come off MSRP. The main part of the word dealership is deal. Many don't deal so much as operate a bit like a store. I know of no other vehicle seller that acts like this. No, I am not a victim. The 5th dealer I talked to finally wanted to deal AND had the bike in-stock. Brought the deal back to my local, giving the opportunity to match, who still stuck at MSRP.
Then there is the low balling on trades where accessories never seem to help with value. It is frustrating.
Is it the salesmans fault? No. Well, it could be, but the term isn't stealsman. Or stealsperson to be PC. I think everyone knows that the dealer is to blame for a deal that feels like theft. So the OP should keep in mind it is not a personal attack on salespeople but an attack on the machine that is the dealership.

2. Parts & Accessories: Prices are astronomical!!! Is it the dealers fault? No, it is Harley's fault. We sometimes mistakenly blame the dealer b/c they represent Harley. So stealer is misplaced blame. Again, not a victim. I get the right deals on parts one way or another.

3. Service: The bread and butter of the dealership. Well, I do my own work but I hear stories. I also was a parts manager for a decade, parts counter for an additional decade, so I've heard many stories, from all perspectives. Just as any car/truck/bike repair facility they will try and screw ya. Not all the time and not all the dealers. When they try it could be the tech, the adviser, or the dealer, and yes, you can take your business elsewhere. Only thing I haven't done myself was new tires. Went to a great independant who took care of me. I did give the dealer a chance. There was even a recall on the front tire that would've let them really help me, but sadly, the did try to steal from me so on to the independent I went.