Harley-Davidson Dealers Who Have Gone Above and Beyond
A Harley-Davidson motorcycle will always be special to ride but the buying experience should be just as good. These are stories from Harley-Davidson forum members who received that special service, and then some.
1. Mistakes Rectified (and then some)
Ever had work done on your bike that wasn't quite right and then, one way or another, you end up paying for it? Well, you're unlikely to find yourself in that situation at Shumate Harley-Davidson (now Rattlesnake Mountain Harley-Davidson) in Kennewick, Washington. According to Harley-Davidson forum member Springer, when a mistake was made while putting on some new apes, Shumate Harley-Davidson paid in full for the work, pickup and delivery of the bike, and his motel room. If that isn't a mistake fully-rectified, I don't know what is.
2. A Dealership That Gives Back
A dealership is a business, there's no onus on them to give back to the community, so it's all the more special when you find one that does. House of Harley-Davidson, in Anchorage, Alaska, was brought to our attention by Harley forum member AKHD for their charitable activity in the community. Not only do they have promotions for non-profits but they also "provide free camping to motorcycle travelers which includes a code access shower room." So, if anyone is up for an adventure, head to Anchorage and spend a night or two camping.
3. Get The Bike You Want
Harley-Davidson forum member Wolhar found the 883C he wanted at Harley-Davidson of Greenville in Greenville, South Carolina. Unfortunately, Wolhar had no cash on him at the time and the dealership was hosting a Red Cross charity ride the next day and expected a lot of business. The salesman, Tommy, saw how much Wolhar wanted the bike and said he'd hold onto it until 4 pm the next day. Wolhar arrived the next day at 3 pm and the 883C was "serviced, cleaned, and ready to go." Although the bike was used, it was sold as new with an owners manual, t-shirt, hat, key chains, beer koozies, and 10% off on all parts as long as Wolhar owned the bike. Talk about getting the motorcycle you want, and then some.
4. Owner's Motorcycle
Nothing will crush a motorcyclist more than buying the bike of their dreams and then realizing they've bought a lemon, which spends more time in the garage than on the road. Well, this is exactly what happened to Harley-Davidson forum member Alonzo when he bought a 1999 Ultra from Lake Erie Harley-Davidson in Avon, Ohio. But Alonzo wasn't left stranded; instead, he spent most of the summer riding the dealership owner's bike. When the problems to the Ultra couldn't be fixed the dealership did a buyback and gave Alonzo a new Ultra, as well as "first dibs on the first Screamin' Eagle Road Glide that they got in."
5. Safety First
The roads can be treacherous in winter and, although salt is laid down to help road conditions, when it crystallizes it's nearly as dangerous as black ice. The last thing you want to do is lay your brand new Ultra down on freshly salted roads, which is what Harley-Davidson forum member dfirecpt was in danger of doing after buying the bike from Wilwert's Harley-Davidson in Dubuque, Iowa. But the service manager wouldn't let them drive home, offering instead to deliver the bike that afternoon, free of charge. Unfortunately, Wilwert's is no longer in business in Iowa, but clearly they were a dealership that cared.
6. Not just a Number
Harley-Davidson motorcycles are special, none feel like just another bike off the production line, and as a customer you shouldn't feel like just another number. Harley-Davidson forum member kjriv could have been just another number after negotiating a sale from Harding Harley in Corning, New York, over the phone and finalizing via fax. Two months after the sale, the owner of the dealership, Jeff Harding, sent kjriv, "the coolest laser etched glass plague," personalized with their name, bike picture, and VIN. Needless to say, kjriv wasn't left feeling like just another customer. Sadly for those who would love the same treatment, Jeff Harding sold his dealership to American Twin Harley-Davidson several years back and that business is also out of business.
7. Harleys Are For Everyone
Donflstn is a Harley-Davidson forum member witnessed some borderline sexism when his girlfriend wanted to buy a 100th-anniversary V-Rod but wasn't taken seriously by dealerships when she was shopping around. Dealers seemed uninterested in answering her questions while. That was until she went to Fink's Harley-Davidson in Zanesville, Ohio, where the sales team "went out of their way to answer any and all questions she had about the bike." She spoke to everyone from the salesmen to the mechanics and the dealership even called her back to see if she needed to know anything else - all resulting in the purchase of a new V-Rod. Harleys are for everyone and it's great to see a dealership go out of their way to ensure that.
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