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Sep 11, 2012 | 11:37 AM

#11

frenchbiker

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 3,948

Likes: 54

From: The Burgh

Quote:

Originally Posted by plutnicki

Why not take them up on the price matching though? Go to LSHD1, compile a list of parts at their sale prices and bring it in. If I could get 20% off from the dealership, I'd probably never order online again...

Even if they match the price of LSHD1.com, you'll have to pay sales tax. So you won't get a real 20% off. For me with 7% sales tax, I'll get only 14.4% off. To get the same exact price as LSHD1.com with 7% sales tax, they will have to give me a 25.24% discount, which they won't do.

Sep 11, 2012 | 11:45 AM

#12

plutnicki

Road Master

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 923

Likes: 43

From: New Hampshire

True, I live in a state without a sales tax, hence if I could get 20% off parts locally, I'd have no reason to shop online again.

Especially for small things, when I really don't want to have to save up $500 worth to get free shipping from LSHD.

Sep 11, 2012 | 11:46 AM

#13

jeffreydsilver

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 6,508

Likes: 169

From: WPB, FL

I understand the dealers dilema. I run an automotive machine shop and base my business on the following -

There are 2 sets of labor charges - one if you buy the parts from me, one if you don't.

I only guarantee my labor if you buy the part from me or my labor proves to be the culprit. Before anyone chimes in, yes, we have made mistakes in the past and have owned up to them.

We get paid for labor BEFORE the job is processed!

If your part fails it's your problem. If you want me to do the job over again you pay for a second time IN ADVANCE!

My shop has a reputation for accuracy and fair business practice. We have no problem keeping busy with a steady stream of clientel.

Sep 11, 2012 | 11:52 AM

#14

Texas Fat Boy

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 10,045

Likes: 36

From: ST. Louis

My dealer won't price match or discount anything at all.
I always ask before if they will install what I want if I buy it off the internet.
Keeping everything up front works the best.

Sep 11, 2012 | 11:55 AM

#15

Fast Aire

Former Sponsor

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 865

Likes: 3

From: Reno, NV

In my shop owner days, people bringing in their own parts was a common happening. The metric guys seemed to do it more than the HD guys did. Early Spring was the worst because they spent the Winter on Ebay & other places collecting all their goodies, both new & used then come in with a box of stuff to be installed.

I had two labor rates clearly posted, one for items purchased thru my shop & the other was for stuff the customer brought in. I also made them sign a waiver saying I wasnt responsible for the firment of the item they purchased & my warranty was for labor only. You would be surprised at how many parts didn't fit correctly due to model changes, poor quality, warped covers, etc.

Shops are in the business to make money and the mark up on parts is just part of the process. Shops know the prices are stupidly high on many parts and understand why customers seek to save the money. But shops have bills to pay as well. Then theres the liability issue like on Tires, brake pads & electrical parts. Ive seen new tires that were date coded 6-10 yrs old.

Imagine the customers reaction when the GoldWing alternator he brings in doesnt work & you have to charge him 4 hrs labor plus the cost of a new part.

If a rider wants to save money, buy a manual and tools & learn to do it yourself. Many of the parts are bolt on designs and can be installed in a persons garage. The hard stuff should be left to the shops that have the know how. It may cost you more up front but if that part fails, leaks, breaks, etc... you have the shop to go back to.

Sep 11, 2012 | 01:52 PM

#16

frenchbiker

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 3,948

Likes: 54

From: The Burgh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fast Aire

Shops are in the business to make money and the mark up on parts is just part of the process. Shops know the prices are stupidly high on many parts and understand why customers seek to save the money. But shops have bills to pay as well.

Nobody disputes the fact that business must make money to survive but this doesn't mean that the customer should pay for the inefficiencies and/or, incompetence and/or poor business decisions. That's what I call subsidizing and I'm not into it. I'm all for performance based models.

Nobody disputes the fact that a skilled worker should be paid more than a rookie. At the end of the day, a skilled worker will be more productive and generate more $$$ to the company that a beginner. Now, if we divide his higher salary + benefits + overhead charges by a higher number of jobs billed without waste, each client should benefit from it too, no? In reality, it's not the case and the customer rarely benefits from it. It's more a win-lose situation than a win-win. Why is that?

I don't have a problem paying more for labor if I bring the part than if you provide it, but it all depends how much more it'll cost me in total. The value of "one stop shop" is not 50% more than if I deal with 2 separate businesses, one for the part and one for the labor. If your rates and prices are competitive, and if you are competent in what you do, there's no reason you won't be successful and there's no reason your customers won't be loyal to you.

Unfortunately, there are too many joints run by people who have no clue what it takes to be successful and too many joints treating the customer poorly. These business don't realize that with the emergence of the web, it doesn't take long for a p*ssed off customer to alert 000s of potential customers and it doesn't take long to tell 000s of customers who has the lowest price for a part.

That's what businesses should realize and they should adjust accordingly. If they can't compete by providing higher value than their competitors, then they should do something else.

Sep 11, 2012 | 02:52 PM

#17

motorlessons

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 306

Likes: 2

I can't help but wonder how they treat you at the diner when you bring in 2 eggs, 2 slices of bread, and a slice of ham; and ask them to "Just do the labor".

Harris
Denver, CO

www.youtube.com/conedown

Sep 11, 2012 | 04:15 PM

#18

longrideshields-1

Premium Sponsor

Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 6,185

Likes: 92

From: Sparks NV

It sounds to me like a dealership PR problem. Not every shop country wide will have the service that makes them excellent. I know that in my dealings with different nation wide chains I've noticed that some are markedly better than others.

My suggestion would be to keep going out of town and maybe drop a bug in the better dealers ear. You never know how far up the chain it might climb.

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