That's right. They sell far fewer units and are a much smaller company. That means that each spare part cost is a much larger percentage of the total units sold.

Inventory is an expense.

Do you think it would make much business sense to maintain a rotating inventory of all parts for all bikes made for ten years, discarding (or doing what with) the parts that have been stored somewhere for 11 years as the newest year comes on to the shelves? What do you do with inventory that never sells?

This all sounds reasonable to you guys, for the sake of "customer service", but it makes no business sense at all.

If you choose to keep your bike forever, that's your decision, but why do you expect the manufacturer to incur recurring expenses because of your decision?

An informed decision acknowledges that parts availability will become a growing problem with the passage of time. Rather than accept the responsibility for that decision, you think the company should maintain a historical inventory just in case you need something.

Would you agree with purchasing every part used on your bike when you purchase the bike, putting them into storage, just in case you need one of those parts? That's what you're expecting the company to do!

 

The company has known this is a problem for 2 or 3 years. Look back in the forums! Good business is to have problematic parts available somewhere when you know for sure it will be needed. Customer service is good business practice.

 

After being told 5 weeks ago that the part would be available on July 18 the Mother Ship now says it will be August 19. Why should I be pissed?

 

It's not like this is a discontinued part. It's the same part used on the 2014 models. So, they continue to produce bikes and ship them to the dealers, but won't provide parts to people that have already purchased a bike. My dealer took a 2014 off the sales floor and fixed my bike. Picked it up on Saturday. They also replaced a wire harness.