Local HD dealer laying off
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 987
Likes: 2
From: Sierra Nevada Mountains of N. Calif
>>As bad as things are, it seems that HD's hand will forced eventually to keep alive<<
...at the expense of the good individuals who love HD, support HD and have been loyal employees for years. They know though, where are we going to go? Kawasaki? Suzuki? Not me, not after having fallen in love with this RKC.
...at the expense of the good individuals who love HD, support HD and have been loyal employees for years. They know though, where are we going to go? Kawasaki? Suzuki? Not me, not after having fallen in love with this RKC.
I with you on that one. After my S/G I could never settle for anything else.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 6
From: Greensboro, NC
Remember too though that the bikes at the dealers are Floor Planned through HD. So if they don't sale them and the dealership folds they just turn them back in with no real expense there. So, if they are already in trouble they would rather sale t-shirts than bikes. More profit in them and they did pay for that inventory already.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 987
Likes: 2
From: Sierra Nevada Mountains of N. Calif
I went to the Amador Hd last summer during a ride. Huge store, not many bikes at all on the floor like Folsom, and store was very quiet and not much going on. The store is in a bad area of low population and poor local jobs. I agree, I thought that was going to sink even before the economy took a dump.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
From: Berdoo, So Cal
I have been told hat HD won't let them deal on the new bikes to keep the prices up, don't know if that is true but makes since b/c none of them will deal the price even with the sales as south as they are. I do know that dealers are throwing in things like 5yr warranty and 3yr maintenance plans to try to entice people but I have been searching for a dealer to give me a deal on a SG and it ain't happening
They're dealing here in NC. depending on the local market. I got a great deal on my SG.
All I can say is shop around. It sounds as though they'd rather layoff than drop prices out where you are. Too bad, they could drop a thousand or two and still make money. Dealers have been boning buyers for years with above MSRP but times are a changin'.
All I can say is shop around. It sounds as though they'd rather layoff than drop prices out where you are. Too bad, they could drop a thousand or two and still make money. Dealers have been boning buyers for years with above MSRP but times are a changin'.
A manufacturer (like HD) or even a distributor cannot dictate to a dealer or retailer what the selling price is. If they did, it would be price fixing and it would be illegal.
What HD and others can do is implement a MAP policy or Minimum Advertised Price. HD can say you can't advertise a bike for a certain price, but a dealer can sell it for whatever the dealer wants.
I think dealers used and new are still thinking like its 2006 and come march/april bikes are going to fly out the doors and they will be backordered again for a year. Probably isn't going to happen. They are in for a rude awakening. 2008 was a strong year for many used dealers, but $4.00 per gallon propped up sales.
2009 is going to be a tough year for HD (GM, Ford, Home builders, etc). There is more supply than demand, good for those considering a new bike, bad for HD. (also bad for anyone wanting to trade in/up or sell their bike outright as the value isn't what it was.)
Anyone considering a new HD should def shop around. The two shops around me are ying and yang right now. One refuses to sell under msrp, the other is selling at $1500-1900 off msrp + some freebies.
What HD and others can do is implement a MAP policy or Minimum Advertised Price. HD can say you can't advertise a bike for a certain price, but a dealer can sell it for whatever the dealer wants.
I think dealers used and new are still thinking like its 2006 and come march/april bikes are going to fly out the doors and they will be backordered again for a year. Probably isn't going to happen. They are in for a rude awakening. 2008 was a strong year for many used dealers, but $4.00 per gallon propped up sales.
2009 is going to be a tough year for HD (GM, Ford, Home builders, etc). There is more supply than demand, good for those considering a new bike, bad for HD. (also bad for anyone wanting to trade in/up or sell their bike outright as the value isn't what it was.)
Anyone considering a new HD should def shop around. The two shops around me are ying and yang right now. One refuses to sell under msrp, the other is selling at $1500-1900 off msrp + some freebies.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
Took the wife on a ride to ring in the new year and went to the new Indian casino here. While there I ran into my favorite parts guy from the dealer, he's working security at the casino. I asked him if he is still working at the dealer and he says he got layed off along with 16 other employees because the dealer cant get any bikes sold.
This is a real big dealer with a lot of bikes on the floor. Now how the hell can a dealer still expect to sell msrp and not deal?? If they dealed a little they might sell more bikes, hence sell more add-ons, hence more bikes that need service, more people keep their jobs. Does HD dictate to the dealers that they are not allowed to wheel and deal much or what??
This is a real big dealer with a lot of bikes on the floor. Now how the hell can a dealer still expect to sell msrp and not deal?? If they dealed a little they might sell more bikes, hence sell more add-ons, hence more bikes that need service, more people keep their jobs. Does HD dictate to the dealers that they are not allowed to wheel and deal much or what??
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 1
From: Matthews, NC
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,398
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From: Newport news, Virginia
They won't let them deal because if Harley starts lowering prices the value of bikes already sold (and the name) will drop. Harley doesn't want the AMF days to rear their ugly head.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Pine Mountain, Ga.
Looks like to me more and more of us will keep riding our motors we have now. I don't think anyone should pay more than MSRP. Here in the southeast 09s can be had for 1k under but you will pay for ABS/SEC. And they don't want to give you much for your trade. They offered me 13k for my 06 w/8k.