"stealers"
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
people like to refer to the dealership as a 'stealership', not because they allowed themselves to get suckered but because of the high prices on stuff. $15 for 3 chrome screws, $55 for a pair of gloves that you can get without the bar and shield for $30, $350 for an oil change, etc. but when it comes down to it, they charge these prices because they know that people can, and will, pay it.
can't we find something else to be pissed about? this really seems like it should go under rule #1.
rule #1: don't sweat the small stuff
rule #2: it's all small stuff
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 34
From: Maryland
I think your post is stupid anoying ****.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 431
Likes: 1
From: South Carolina
It just boils down to simple human nature. We will bitch about negative stuff more often than we will pass on positive events. We do that. Remember when you were running calls for FDNY-EMS?? You know you had your frequent fliers and BS calls. Bet you vented about that more than "normal" or great calls.
I don't call them stealers as a umbrella term. But, unfortunately, there are some real PITA dealerships that do treat you as if it's a privilege to even deal with them. So in turn you're going to see that on the forums much more often than the good experiences. I myself have recently had a pretty poor dealership experience. (That admittedly I was pretty freaking hot about and in turn a thread exists.) Simple solution, I don't deal with them and my next bike that I'm currently seeking won't be purchased there. (Also, they lost me as a potential Rider's Edge coach.... but, that's neither here nor there.)
Bottom line, it's business and they can choose how to run their business and we can choose who gets our business.
Good luck to you, though.
I don't call them stealers as a umbrella term. But, unfortunately, there are some real PITA dealerships that do treat you as if it's a privilege to even deal with them. So in turn you're going to see that on the forums much more often than the good experiences. I myself have recently had a pretty poor dealership experience. (That admittedly I was pretty freaking hot about and in turn a thread exists.) Simple solution, I don't deal with them and my next bike that I'm currently seeking won't be purchased there. (Also, they lost me as a potential Rider's Edge coach.... but, that's neither here nor there.)
Bottom line, it's business and they can choose how to run their business and we can choose who gets our business.
Good luck to you, though.
Last edited by zion; Jul 9, 2012 at 09:59 AM. Reason: punctuation and flow.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 205
Likes: 1
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.
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.
Not ALL dealerships are "stealerships," it's just that there's such a prevalence of 'stealing' (ie, unreasonable high markups when compared to other relative items and services of different brands and manufacturers) that the generalization seems to fit.
For me, it's not even so much the price gouging because you expect that from any company-branded service or parts department (ie, Subaru, BMW, etc) compared to the independents.
What really gets me is the incompetence and/or attitude. I've strolled through just as many H-D [and other] dealerships as most of you, either shopping or just wandering through to see the newest wares. Both are valid reasons for visiting a place of business. And time and again, I've encountered either "tuff guy" salesmen who get off on acting distant, uninvolved, insulting or disrespectfully blase, or the MoCo's newest favorite sales hires, the "I don't know a thing about bikes and have never ridden one but look at me because I'm pretty" salesgirls.
I'd never put up with buying a car from some cute gal who doesn't even have a drivers license, so don't give me a fresh-faced sales girl who can give me no more info on a bike except reading out of the H-D brochure in her hand.
Running thru my brain, I thought of one nice salesperson I dealt with one state away from me, and some real cool guys at another dealership which is 5 hours and 4 states away from me. The others? Well, I know why some people enjoy the term Stealership, because sorry to all you salesmen out there but there are occasions where that shoe DOES fit.
PS - Not particularly relevant, but I am not a skilled mechanic, and I patronize a local independant shop. Not the cheapest place on the planet, but I trust them and of course they are still cheaper than the H-D dealers so that's where my $$$ goes.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 11
From: Kentucky
I don't call them "stealers." I like Harley dealerships, generally. I buy things from them - motorcycles, parts, shirts, etc. Since it's my choice to pay the price, they're not "stealing" from me and, other than clothes, their prices are not really that bad when I compare them to other places to get equal quality. Labor on repairs may be high, but I've never asked anybody to repair a motorcycle for me.
The biggest thing is, I buy stuff there, so if I thought they were stealing from me and I still did business with them, that would make me an idiot.
SUMMARY: People who buy stuff and have repairs done at a dealership and then call them "stealers" are calling themselves idiots - same as people who ride Harleys and complain about them.
The biggest thing is, I buy stuff there, so if I thought they were stealing from me and I still did business with them, that would make me an idiot.
SUMMARY: People who buy stuff and have repairs done at a dealership and then call them "stealers" are calling themselves idiots - same as people who ride Harleys and complain about them.
Tourer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Yep I agree not ALL dealers are stealers. I said it before on another post there are good dealers and not so good dealers. If you find a good dealer stay with them,if not look for another they are out there.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 692
Likes: 0
From: kentucky
If they price it and I buy it then its certainly not a Dealers fault. If its too expensive for me and I have to complain everytime I make a purchase then I need to find another hobby. I dont see the need to bash a dealership. Just my opinion.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 0
From: Danville Va, Providence NC
Quick story about a "stealership" with BAAD customer service. A Chevrolet dealership. Farmer looking guy walks in wearing overalls and a hat. Says he wants to buy a nice Silverado truck. Salesman steers the poor-looking guy away, to a low end, cheaper truck. Farmer says no, I want the nicer truck. Went back and forth, the farmer got pissed and walked out. Went up the road 2 miles to the FORD dealership. Pulled around $30,000 CASH out of his pocket, threw it on the salesmans desk and said he wanted a NICE truck right then. They hooked him up with what he wanted. Then they called down to the GM dealership and told em to send all the farmers their way! True story out of Danville Va, Riverside Drive area about 10-15 years ago.
I'm a GM fan, but this still makes me chuckle!
I'm a GM fan, but this still makes me chuckle!
