| Author |
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Blake
| | Posted on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 10:23 pm: | 
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Anony,
Post as "Anonymous" (Offered only for those having valid reasons for hiding their identity.)
Do you meet the requirement? |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 10:41 pm: |
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I work at a dealership so request that my name is withheld. Failing that, please delete my post.
The owner of this shop and the Harley management I've met have been VERY supportive of Buell and I believe that this year will mark a turnaround in the marques' fortunes.
The difficulty lies in changing the attitudes of the dealership employees and if that can somehow be accomplished, customer satisfaction can not help but be improved. |
99x1
| | Posted on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 07:00 am: |
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Somewhat related:
On March 6, 2003: MotorCycle NewsWire,
"With only Johnson & Johnson scoring higher, Harley-Davidson ranked second in the annual Harris Interactive Inc. survey of the nation's most reputable firms...."
John |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 08:32 am: |
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John:
Excellent news and it certianly is related...HD has a top reputation for standing behind their prodcut and keeping their finger on the pulse of thier owner.
I've had the pleasure to meet and visit with some of their top executives and, in a day where Corporate chicanery is rampant, I view them as talented, honest and genuine.
One of the KEY elements that is a predessor to DOING RIGHT is THINKING RIGHT.
I do not beleive that Harley-Davidson yet understands the true demographics of the Buell owner/market.
I think they are learning.
I think they have a ways to go.
I think that Buell will have to lead HD, not depend or wait on HD to "get it".
I think this is happening and I think, tying back to this topic, that one of the ways Buell is establishing credibility with the HD execs is by making huge strides in their ability to "read, predict and avert" possible pitfalls.
It appears, and I'm eager to watch this unfold, that the XB platform is going to be a model for how excellence can result from "leveling" quality across developemtn, engineering, vendors, production....
The next step is the distribution network.
Court |
Tripper
| | Posted on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 09:23 am: |
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Quote:the Buell brand would be best served by being offered for sale not only at Harley Davidson dealerships that wish to carry them, but at stand alone dealerships (Buell only) and in European dealerships as well.
The Buells are more akin to a Guzzi, Triumph, Ducati, etc. than they are to a Heritage Springer Softail and the customers will always be unhappy if the dealership's employees could frankly care less.
Say it again, say it loud! This should be a BadWeb Banner at "The Party", since Buell owners no longer rate a Homecoming.  |
Jim_Witt
| | Posted on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 11:30 am: |
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Court mentioned:
.... It appears, and I'm eager to watch this unfold, that the XB platform is going to be a model for how excellence can result from "leveling" quality across developemtn, engineering, vendors, production ....
Humm ...
I thought that's what the Vrod was noted for.
Cheers,
-JW:> |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 12:34 pm: |
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>>>>I thought that's what the Vrod was noted for.
That is an accurate statement...just at the opposite end of the contiuum as I understand it. |
Mikej
| | Posted on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 09:09 am: |
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"I do not beleive that Harley-Davidson yet understands the true demographics of the Buell owner/market. "
Riddle me this: Does Chrysler understand their customer demographics? Are they learning?
"Hey, let's market this 1940ish looking van-type thing to the puppers and 20-somethings."
"Hmmm, what's with all these 40-55 year olds buying this car, and why aren't the 20 somethings buying it much?"
"Well, shoot, guess we misjudged the market on that one. Let's start building hot rods then with an early 60's look. Anybody want a streamliner lowrider?????"
Yep, marketing interprets what they think the market wants or needs or is saying. Reality proves them right or wrong. |
Court
| | Posted on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 09:15 am: |
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Agreed.....now go place your order for the Chrysler Tomahawk and let me finish reading this crud from the dealer on the Porsche Cayenne  . . . actually, I live too far from New Jersey to pay $70,000 for an SUV. |
Dynarider
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 09:10 am: |
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Most all of the backlash from the physical falterings could have been better dealt with on a personal level. Training, in customer service, of personel, on EVERY level, should have been paramount at the onset of the first sign of trouble. A little finesse goes a hell of a long way, as those of us in the 'ass kissing' business well know.
A bad experience is shorter lived in ones memory if there is something pleasant to take it's place. People as a whole want to be validated on a personal level and shown respect.
The dealer network should have been and should be held accountable for the relationship that they have with the customer. Good for good, bad for bad. There are good dealers out there and they should be studied and used as reference for the dealers that don't have the skills necessary to deal with the normal customer, much less the customer who feels as though he or she has been molested and ignored and ultimately, raw.
You have very well stated exactly the way I feel about this Pammy. At least someone here understands what should be done.
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Iamike
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 11:00 am: |
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I don't know if this comment is off the track or not.
Even though in the 37,000mi. I've ridden my '99 S3 I've only experienced 2 of the problems that Buells were noted for (rocker box gaskets and side-stand switch.) I had all the recalls done soon after being notified.
I did go ahead and proactively replace items that people were having problems with (wheel bearings, isolators at 30,000mi. & chain tensioner at 36,000mi.)
I don't fault Buell for any of these other than the rocker box gaskets since I had them leak on my '93 sportster too.
What annoys me is when the dealer's service shop blows off questions about the bike, doesn't do recalls when they are supposed too and doesn't even talk to the customer about the bike. I retract that, at the HD/Buell Cycle Center (Daves' stomping ground) I had one of the HD techs ask me how it was doing. It doesn't give one a whole lot of confidence.
But then I am sure that everyone has heard of Motorola. We had just had a batch ot new commercial 2-way radios put in service when they started having a problem. When I called the service manager he claimed that he'd never heard of the problem before. A few weeks later I get a service bulletin in the mail describing the exact problem. It was dated 2 months before I called and had his name on the bottom. Not exactly a confidence building situation for future conversations with this guy.
It isn't so much the fact that the bikes had problems but how truthful the shops treated the users. I am sure that they were hoping that people didn't have some of these problems but I am the type that would rather know about a potential problem and be able to head it off than to be told "Oh that's been a problem" after I broke down on the road somewhere. I didn't even mind paying for the replacement parts knowing that they were a whole lot cheaper than the tow back in.
I want to thank the Badweb because even though it raised my concern about the bike it also taught me what problems to look for and how to fix them. |
Smitty
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 08:21 pm: |
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I had a similar problem years ago with a hvac manufacturer. I talked to the engineer he said that I must have the charge or a voltage problem or there is a problem in the application or installation. My employer got tired of the customer complaints and
asked me why it isn’t working correctly. I told him it is set to spec and the factory tech support said essentially it is an application or installation problem. He asked what I thought and asked me if I had any ideas. I told him I had a few and id
like to try them. Well my fixes worked it was a win win the owner my boss and the customer were happy. I had a great deal of personal satisfaction also.
The owner had a sign in our shop (the customer is King they make our paychecks happen). How true only if the dealers can get it. Now with no waiting lists and supply almost exceeding demand I think they will.
Court : Check out the VW Tourag, same car not quite the same curb appeal but the same nuts & bolts. V6 V8 or sophisticated V10 diesel
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1atom12
| | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 06:11 pm: |
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Smitty,
Not quite true about the VW's. VW uses their own drivetrains for the Tourag. Nothing is really shared between the two except the sheet metal.
(My wife works for Porsche, I spent most of my off hours there drooling over the Pepper thinking how wonderfully the 500hp twin turbo would pull my trailered M2 Cyclone form Florida to Sturgis) |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 04:54 am: |
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Little newphew just bought a Tourag and I had a chance to put it through it's paces. Nice car, but lots more than I'm intersted in paying for a truck.
Youngest son just bought a new Jetta in CA yesterday and reading up on it, it looks like it'll serve him well.
I'm with you on that Twin Turbo lust-mobile....like the Vette, the 911 urge never leaves a true gearhead.
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Charlieboy6649
| | Posted on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 11:22 pm: |
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"the Buell brand would be best served by being offered for sale not only at Harley Davidson dealerships that wish to carry them, but at stand alone dealerships (Buell only) and in European dealerships as well."
God if only I had a heap more $$$ I'd open a BUELL dealership in a heartbeat. I know just how I'd do it too... San Diego baby, an industrial looking showroom in the gaslamp district. I could move the used tubers and XB's there I just know I could! Besides, I fit that "target audience" (I'm 29) LOL!
Enough about my dream job... I feel this thread has hit the nail on the head in so far as the people moving the product should have the same passion for the product as the originator, DUH! I don't feel Buell will EVER get the respect it deserves under (most) of the dealers roofs. I say most because there are many exceptions out there and from a consumer standpoint I thank all of you. If you really take my thanks to heart; you know who you are!
Charlieboy |
Frank_sinatra_1
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 08:14 am: |
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 Being an old company might be holding HD from jumping fast enough on a good thing. Sportbikes are just not a passing fad. 7 or so years of BUELL standing up against 100 or so on the HD side can't really be expected to do anything earth shattering.(I know there are old prototype Buells in the 80s) I'm glad }to see the V-Rod is winning ProStock at Gainsville,FL. this week with Vance & Hines and WILLY G. there to see it happen.
I'd also like to add this link or recalls to review since some of the newer X9's are mentioned and start checking up on my own X1 Lightning. http://www.lcbiker.com/safety/recall.htm |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 01:29 pm: |
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>>>I know there are old prototype Buells in the 80s
Tell us more....I'd be eager to learn about them.
Court |
Awprior
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 03:10 pm: |
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Court,
nice sarcasm.
Frank,
Check out Dave Gess's site, www.davegess.com for more info about the '80's Buell prototypes'. 1983 to be exact, and it was a race bike, the RW750.
Alex |
Buelliedan
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 03:27 pm: |
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7 or so years? Hell, even if you start with the S2s thats 10 years since they started being sold in 94. |
Hootowl
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 04:12 pm: |
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He may be referring to the number of years Buell has been owned by HD. |
Hootowl
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 04:23 pm: |
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Frank. Thanks for the link. Lots of good stuff there about all brands. |
Frank_sinatra_1
| | Posted on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 02:08 am: |
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Hey, It took a while I must have 2000 pics on this hard drive. I have a color pic of a 1987 RR1000 and a 1983 RW750 I grabbed web surfing one night. THERE ARE OTHER ONES I DIDN'T GET. You can see and admire the work done at keeping up with the designs back then. If anyone wants them or would upload them here. I'm at Frank_Sinatra_1@hotmail.com  Its just late and can't remember off hand how its done here. |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 09:09 am: |
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Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . . |
Frank_sinatra_1
| | Posted on Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 06:28 am: |
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Gentlemen.....START YOUR ENGINES !
  }
edited by frank_sinatra_1 on March 28, 2004 |
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