HD Dealer
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: LAS VEGAS NEVADA
HD Dealer
I bought a couple of parts, and called my Dealer to get them installed. The Service writer was nice, asked me all the information and everything and then he asked me if I had all the parts already. I said I had all the parts. He then asked me if I bought the parts from them. I said one part yes, and one no. He said in the future, we only install the parts you buy from us, we install it this time but not after this. I was taken aback a little by this, and it made no sense to me why they would do this, so I contacted the Service mgr.
I explained to the Service Mgr what took place and my concern about this being what if you get temporarily transferred from one town to another for your job, or are in the service and get sent TDY or something, and lastly what if I find a genuine Harley part cheaper at another Dealer on line .
He explained that the issue is that people are buying parts off ebay and that people bring in the bikes and parts to get installed and the parts are defective. He explained that Harley wont stand by the part because they were not bought from a Dealer, and the people get mad because now they have a useless part and still have to pay for the labor.
He said if I could show a receipt that the part I want installed is from a actual Harley Dealer he would install it, and if I found a part someplace at another Dealer cheper then print it out and he would price match.
Anyone else run into this?
I explained to the Service Mgr what took place and my concern about this being what if you get temporarily transferred from one town to another for your job, or are in the service and get sent TDY or something, and lastly what if I find a genuine Harley part cheaper at another Dealer on line .
He explained that the issue is that people are buying parts off ebay and that people bring in the bikes and parts to get installed and the parts are defective. He explained that Harley wont stand by the part because they were not bought from a Dealer, and the people get mad because now they have a useless part and still have to pay for the labor.
He said if I could show a receipt that the part I want installed is from a actual Harley Dealer he would install it, and if I found a part someplace at another Dealer cheper then print it out and he would price match.
Anyone else run into this?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,896
Likes: 29,874
From: PNW
That's standard practice. Sounds like he was being pretty cool about it. Some guys would have shown you the door. No retailer likes being undercut by the net. That takes food off their table.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 9
From: Monmouth, OR
My problem is buying a bike from the local dealer. First time I told them exactly what I wanted. They had it in stock, but for some reason wouldn't return my calls. Ended up going out of town to buy the bike as that dealership kept checking with me to see if I had found my bike yet. Second time, they told me they didn't have the color I wanted in stock. No effort to find one, so again, I went out of town to buy it.
I was thinking about trading up this time. Stopped in to look at the bikes. They had just what I was looking for, but nobody to talk to in Sales. I went back to work and filled out their "internet inquiry". Didn't get a return call until late the next day. I was told the bike I was looking at was "possibly" sold to someone from out of town and they would call me back. Five days later no phone call. I'm guessing the local HD dealership doesn't really care to sell bikes.
I was thinking about trading up this time. Stopped in to look at the bikes. They had just what I was looking for, but nobody to talk to in Sales. I went back to work and filled out their "internet inquiry". Didn't get a return call until late the next day. I was told the bike I was looking at was "possibly" sold to someone from out of town and they would call me back. Five days later no phone call. I'm guessing the local HD dealership doesn't really care to sell bikes.
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 923
Likes: 43
From: New Hampshire
I've heard of it, dealers not wanting to install parts not purchased there, but I've never run into it with my dealer. In fact, I've never had my service department ask where I got the part, I just bring it in and they write on the service sheet "Install customer supplied such and so...". I suppose that gives them an out if the part is defective, that it explicitly states that I supplied the part.
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...
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...
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
I had a small,offroad shop and a kid broughtva bike in that needed valves, after i told him how much they were he said he would buy them on the internet, i told him to have the internet install them. My UPS guy was standing there when this happened and he busted up laughing. I didnt want to be a labor only shop as i was trying to make a living and there wasnt enuf work for that.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 64
From: West Liberty, Ohio
"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..."
I would pay the tax and buy from the dealer most of the time if he matched. I just don't have the extra $1575. I have saved this year buying discounted from other dealers. I offered a volume discount purchase.
I would pay the tax and buy from the dealer most of the time if he matched. I just don't have the extra $1575. I have saved this year buying discounted from other dealers. I offered a volume discount purchase.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: LAS VEGAS NEVADA
I agree the Dealer is pretty cool about it, and I understand why he has this new thing because of ebay, and I support it. I will use the price match thing with him since he is willing to do it.
I had just never ran into this before, and I was thinking about the poor little service dude that gets stuck TDY for 3 months at the last minute and having to wait till he got back home to get the part installed. But sounds like they have it thought out.
I had just never ran into this before, and I was thinking about the poor little service dude that gets stuck TDY for 3 months at the last minute and having to wait till he got back home to get the part installed. But sounds like they have it thought out.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 521
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
I can understand both sides of the issue as far as reliability of aftermarket parts but at the end of the day the dealer gets paid shop labor charge which covers more than his costs to install parts, so whats the issue? Most HD shops charge between 80-100 dollars per hour and have flat rates for certain part installations, example: 4 hours for a lube service when it almost always gets done in 2 hours, dealer comes out ahead?
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
I believe there are also liability issues when you bring in your own parts ...... I just started a conversation with the parts manager when I bought my bike, told him that I was willing to pay full price for anything under $100, the "now and then" stuff, but anything over $100 he could either discount me 20% right away or I would have to shop around. To make the story short, I get everything at 20%, even if I spend under $100 and if I go to motorclothes he puts a bug in the girl's ear over there for my 20% also. Smart guy, I have no reason to spend my money anywhere else .........
