After 15 years of waiting, I finally got the Harley I've always wanted. Unfortunately, my experience at the dealership left me less than enthusiastic about being "part of the family".

I ordered my 05 Softail Deluxe six months ago from Autosource, the company that sells bikes and cars to service members overseas. Six months of daydreaming and planning during my ship's cruise to the Gulf and back ended yesterday when I went to a local dealer to finalize the deal. The sales rep. that had the account was pleasant, but not overly excited. After I waited for ten minutes while she conducted business with her doctor's office over the phone, she went over the paperwork (sign here, initial there...done), introduced me to the key employees at the dealership, and handed me over to service. 20 minutes later, I was fully briefed on my new ride and I was on my way.

"So what's the problem", you ask? Well, first, it was the, "oh, you're the military guy who's getting this bike for a great price...the one we didn't make a killing on...the one we're doing all of the work for and only getting a $65 dealer prep fee" attitude. The disdain was subtle, but perceptable. No explaination of the famous (infamous) warranty. "You'll get all that in the mail" was what I was told. Plates...DMV?? "Just wait for the mail......" "Want parts and accessories now? Sorry, should've ordered em' while you were out there on your ship daydreaming about all this.....I can have that backrest you want here by sometime next week. And howzabout we put it on for you, just double the price, and call it even?"

Out in the service department, the manager was also pleasant, but gave me the impression he had better things to do, like a $275 1,000 mile oil change or a $495 5,000 mile check up . "Don't do ANYTHING to your ride, bring it to us for EVERYTHING", is what he told me, "you don't want to void the warranty!!!" Now, having owned several bikes (albeit Japanese) in my 15 year riding career, I've had my share of expensive visits to the dealer, but NONE of them come close to highway robbery HD is perpetrating! V&H pipes with carb. mod... $1,200!! Want us to install those chrome controls??? Sign over your newborn! I'll admit, I'm a bit naive when it comes to the Harley culture, but now I understand why more people never achieve the dream: it's just too damn expensive! ANd I can go on and on about $35 t-shirts and $9 quarts of HD motor oil (don't want to void that warranty), but I'm sure my whining is getting old!

I know, I know: stop being such a crybaby! I guess I'm just a little bitter that I've been sucked in and now they have me. I plan to buy a book and a few more tools to do some of the routine stuff in the garage, but now I'm scared to death that if something serious were to happen to my bike, I may have to mortgage my house to get it back on the road. Definitely NOT the feeling I was planning on, but every time I look in the garage, it's great to know I'm back in the States and the daydream is finally a reality.

 

Hi Mike,

I read your post with something like kinship because it was very reminiscent of my experience when I bought my first (and only) Harley. I went along to the shop and paid cash for my Sportster, in advance, wanting it on the first day of the new models (scheduled for 01/09). I even ordered my accessories in advance and I also asked for it to be delivered as I didn't want my first ride on a much heavier bike to be in front of a showroom full of enthusiasts and staff...

Well it did get delivered (after many 'phone calls) - around about the 4th of the month (not too much to worry about, I thought - only 3 days late...) and it rode like a dream. I did the first 500 miles in two days and amazed the staff when I took it back in for it's first (free) service.

I did exactly what I was told to do - I ran it in properly, I only used HD Oil, I put it in for service every time I was supposed and all to the same official dealership who were obviously laughing all the way to the bank.

During the much discussed warranty period (1 year) my rectifier went south and took the battery with it, and these were replaced free of charge at short notice! And then the rot set in...

Having replaced the battery (which required them to remove my pillion pad and seat), they scratched my rear fender, under the seat; not something that I noticed until I removed the seat myself some time later. I fought for nearly a year for them to replace the fender; which they did, extremely reluctantly.

I also asked them to replace some of the chrome - mirrors and suchlike that had become pockmarked during the year but they refused saying it was not bad chroming, but that I hadn't looked after it properly.

Adding to this, and around the time the warranty expired I went through 3 rocker cover gaskets in a very short period of time and the dealership refused to acknowledge that there was a problem with the gaskets and I had to pay for new ones to be fitted each time.

All of which left me feeling that the minute the warranty expired, the dealership were no longer interested in me or my bike, only in my money...

I decided there and then that I would take my bike to 'unofficial' shops and get work done at half the price which I have continued to do to this day; unfortunately the problem that I have now cannot be dealt with at a small 'one-man' shop and I am now looking at having to go back to a dealership and getting stung again!

I love my bike, and have had it for 4 years now; I can't envisage ever selling it! But I have a real problem with the attitude of that initial dealer that has soured me from ever going back to them and in the event that I buy another HD (quite likely if I can persuade my new husband that it's a good idea) I will be researching other UK based dealerships first.

I guess what I am trying to say is that my faith in Harley Davidson as a motorcycle manufacturer is not gone, but I have serious problems with the post-sales and dealership cultures that have spoilt both yours and my experience. Sadly, you and I being in two different continents and having similiar experiences suggests that it is more widespread than I had originally thought!

Having said all that - enjoy your bike; I have done nearly 40,000 miles in 4 years and I love it to bits. And once it is back on the road again, the pleasure I get from it is more than worth the cost! I hope that you will find yours the same!

Ride Safe

Alison

 

Mvcrez, Welcome to hthe forum and H/D. not all dealers are like the ones both of you have ran into. I don't know where you are stationed (East coast or west) but look around for other dealers. If you are in Norfolk, the guys at Southside in VA Beach and the Newport News shop were good to me back when I was there. Find a dealer that treats you right when you walk in the door and then become a regular, there are plenty of things you can get that don't cost a fortune. It's like anything else, if they don't know you they don't really seem to care. Good luck with the bike and fair winds.

 

Don'tallow your experience with one HD dealer to sour you on ALL HD dealers.

I hope one bad date didn't sour you on women.

A guy shops around before you decide who to commit your bike to.

This website has alot of info and I am positive you can find someone who will take care of your ride.

 

Welcome to da joint! And what is the dealer's name? Everyone should know it so our displeasure at your treatment can be expressed.

You've plenty of shops in the Tidewater area to choose from. And you don't have to use HD oil, and you can do the 500, 1000, etc. checkups yourself, or have an indy shop do them. Get a service manual. Best $60 you'll spend!

There are a bunch of us in here who've been doing the HD thing for 20 or 30 or even more years. We'll give you any help you need, as long as you're willing to do a little research, and can take advice!

This "I'm dissatisfied with the HD experience 'cause my dealer sucks" is a new thing. Pretty much used to be the only times you went to a dealer is if you were a middle-aged garbage barge rider who didn't work on his own bike, or needed to pick up some parts. Weren't many other people making parts back in the '60s & 70s. And the dealers didn't have a 2500 sq. ft. display with most of it devoted to t-shirts. T-shirts were folded up on a corner of a table and smelled like used oil!

I guess what I'm saying is don't depend on the dealership, any of 'em, to make you happy. And don't depend on us for making you happy. Happy is riding your bike, wrenching on it as you can, and shining on everyone and everything else. You don't depend on the XO to make you happy, do you?

 

Don't let those jerks get you down. Like Skip said, get a manual, that, with this forum will get you everything you need. Then you can smile to yourself everytime you drive by these jerks and know that they ain't making nothing off of you. Order your parts online through www.mandmcycles.com

Mac

 

I can relate to some of the frustrations, but at my dealership they took down the "Church of Harley Davidson" sign and I expect them to make a profit from me. As an educated consumer, I keep them honest by calling other dealers or checking this site to see what I should be paying for services. This business is very cyclical and they need to make money while the sun shines and I need them to be there to service me (at a fair price) because I have trouble tying my own shoes!

Kicks

 

Myself......Been to two dealers. One good experience, one bad experience. I guess I'm batting 500. Not too bad. Don't give up. The ride and the experience is well worth it. Got my first Harley now and will never be without one again.
Bernie

 

Everyone's already said everything else so I'll just say welcome to the forum. Post pics of that ride when you get a chance.

 

First welcome to the forums. Sorry to hear about your experience. I bought a new EG from a great dealer, talked me into the extended warranty and all that jazz, no prep fee, free 1000 mile service, and a free t-shirt and book bag. Unfortunately I was wiped out and bike is totalled with 2000 miles. Dealer has been great, gap insurance covering difference on loan, getting extendended warranty balance returned and $1000 voucher towards new bike (next season.)

Sorry about your dealer, but there are alot of good ones out there.