| Author | Message | |||
     Ebrfan |
Just like it sounds, we owners need to help get potential dealers involved, with LAP, to keep EBR a viable American brand for decades to come. Take your bike to the local multi-brand power sports dealership and ask to talk to the owner or sales manager or, if they happened to be closed while you are out tooling around, take a few pictures of your bike in front of their dealership. Then sell them with a few words of the EBR attributes, how the American sportbike company needs new dealers to survive competing with the foreign bikes, and that four EBR sportbikes does not take up a lot of floor space! Keep it short and sweet, just enough to get them interested and willing to look into it further. And don't forget to link EBR and LAP's websites in the email. I am pretty sure that becoming an EBR dealer at this point would take little capital to bring dealers on board, on both the LAP end and the dealers end.  | |||
| Noone1569 |
So, Dean Hodel, one of the creators of the increasingly popular Bay Area Racing, and a buell owner (turboing an xb right now), posted this up in the 1190 owners group on facebook: I just worked out a deal with Yahoo Autos, they will be posting some of my content to their website once or twice a week. (weekends at peak hours) I also get decent prices on track rentals as I own a company that hosts track days. How hard would be be to get a group of EBR's together, to make a trip to northern California for a private track day out at thunderhill raceway. I bet we can make an awesome video and the publicity would be huge. Maybe even get 650ib out there with with a few of his high end bikes and get some shots of some heads up drag racing, as well as cool road racing shots. EBR's latest video wasn't exactly doing much for the brand IMO. - - - I messaged him and asked if he had spoke to EBR about this as it would be a great opportunity for the brand for some cheap, great marketing. His reply: "yes, simply a "we have no plans to going to the west coast any time soon" as a response" - - - I don't care how you shake it, that's not good. | |||
| Buelliedan |
If you really want to get dealers interested in signing up to sell EBRs they need more incentives IMO. What I would suggest is walk in with a check for $2,000 as a deposit. tell them if they become a dealer you are committed to buying an EBR at full MSRP. Sign a contract that states if they do not become a dealer they have to refund your money but if they do you are committed to buying the bike at full MSRP. if you back out of the deal they get to keep your $2,000. This is how i see folks are going to need to be if they want dealers to take the risk on becoming an EBR dealer. I know if I got 2 people to do that at my shop I would seriously consider re-applying to be a dealer and if 3 people did it I would do everything I could to be a dealer again. Unfortunately most dealers will just see you as a "tire kicker" otherwise. Floor space is too valuable to risk taking them on with no guarantee of sales. (Message edited by buelliedan on March 29, 2016) (Message edited by buelliedan on March 29, 2016) | |||
| Deanh8 |
People want to see videos of what the bike is capable of, what it sounds like, what it looks like going down the road, how it stacks up against the competition. EBR needs videos of these bike plastered all over the internet, once videos get out there showing the bike is capable, people will start to want it. Dealers would be stupid to not pick up and sell a brand that people "want" right...? Good luck trying to get a dealer to sell a bike no one knows about, no one has ever seen, or even wants because they dont know how it performs (Message edited by deanh8 on March 29, 2016) | |||
| Noone1569 |
Dan, that's exactly how I got my dealer to become an EBR dealer the first time around! Then they went on to sell 8 + EBRs. | |||
| Buelliedan |
Glad to hear someone likes my idea!!!  | |||
| Hughlysses |
It was interesting to see what Ed of former EBR dealer AF1 Racing had to say about this at ebrforum.com this morning (hosted by their dealership). He had previously said they hadn't yet decided whether to become a dealership or not. He said if he could get 4 people to put down a $500 deposit for a 2016 EBR they'd probably do it. Unfortunately he says they haven't had one phone call asking about EBR since production resumed, much less any deposits, so they likely will not be a dealer. | |||
| Buelliedan |
Ed and I have had several talks on the phone recently as we think very much alike. | |||
| Buelliedan |
The other thing I do not understand is EBR stated that they had more than 30 dealers signed up at the open house. But I have not yet heard of anybody who is saying they are actually signed up to be an EBR dealer. If there are truly more than 30 dealers why is nobody saying anything? Something just doesn't add up there????? I really want to be proven wrong about this and if someone knows more about LAPS long term intentions please school me in how I am wrong in my way of thinking. PLEASE!!! (Message edited by Buelliedan on March 30, 2016) | |||
| Deanh8 |
"Unfortunately he says they haven't had one phone call asking about EBR since production resumed, much less any deposits, so they likely will not be a dealer." BECAUSE THERE IS NO MARKETING, NO ONE KNOWS THEY EXIST! I know a lot of people in the Motorsports industry and 99% of people I talk to dont even know what EBR is or that they make bikes. They need marketing, they need to get the word out there that the bike exists, and it works, and it performs well. People want to see it work, hear it work. Watch it race. | |||
| Buelliedan |
I agree with you 100% Deanh8. It was the same problem with the old EBR. They have this idea that it is up to the dealers to do the marketing for them. | |||
| Hughlysses |
The other thing I do not understand is EBR stated that they had more than 30 dealers signed up at the open house. But I have not yet heard of anybody who is saying they are actually signed up to be an EBR dealer. If there are truly more than 30 dealers why is nobody saying anything? Something just doesn't add up there????? Dan- this is what EBR is responding to dealer inquiries (from a response a guy on ADVrider received last week):
So apparently they can't legally say someone is a dealer until (a) EBR is registered as a manufacturer in that state and (b) an agreement with the dealer is signed, which has to wait on (a). I'm guessing they have 30 dealers who have signed paperwork saying "we want to be a dealer" but who legally aren't dealers yet and therefore they can't announce them. | |||
| Buelliedan |
I understand that but don't you think some of those dealers who have signed up would be announcing they are in the process? That just seems like common business sense to me. Maybe I am wrong but I know I announced I was becoming an EBR dealer before the state approved me last year. I just worry that they are going to lose any momentum the launch party brought and folks will lose interest. (Message edited by buelliedan on March 29, 2016) | |||
| Blackm2 |
Is AF1 racing a chain? I was just at the store here in Austin inquiring on Saturday. They said they were "in talks" of continuing being a dealer. Their issue was the 2 RX's and one SX currently on the floor. Not to mention the gorgeous 2012 RS stuffed into the corner. On another note, I asked about Motus. They said when they came by to showcase their bikes they were leaking oil everywhere. That was a "no" for being a dealer for them. | |||
| Hughlysses |
^ I think they have at least a couple of dealerships. | |||
| Ebrfan |
^^^ Dealers having (owning) 2014 model bikes sitting on a showroom floors collecting dust due to lack of warranty, lack of prior marketing, or unable to be sold in that particular State due to legal regulations is the very reason I say that the new EBR owners and potential dealers need to come up with an unconventional agreement on a sales strategy. It could be along the lines of EBR renting floor space to sell the bikes, with the dealer carrying liability insurance on the units and test riders. Then, at the point of sale, per the contract, each party gets their agreed on amount of the sale. And, why can't these bikes in states like Texas who aren't now on that State's manufacturer list be sold in other States? There are a lot of people running bikes, cars and rv's through auction houses in other states and getting them titled that way. 2014 EBR's are still (slowly) selling in dealerships in other states and being titled based on the original MSO to this day. (The list on cycle trader.com is getting smaller and smaller.) In any event, both parties need to be involved and negotiate an equitable solution; not each waiting for the other to make a move based on the "old rules of the game". (Message edited by Ebrfan on March 29, 2016) | |||
| Malott442 |
Is it time for me to pull out my secret stash and put it on youtube? | |||
| Malott442 |
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| Blake |
Dan, Having concerns is one thing, sharing them publicly is another. You sure don't want to add to the proverbial poison pill effect. Best to give folks the benefit of doubt when there's room to do so. It's that old rule, treat others as we would be treated.  | |||
| Buelliedan |
I amended my post Blake but I am still concerned | |||
| Stevel |
I think this whole thing is a chicken and egg situation. Being a dealer represents significant investment on the part of a dealer. (Referencing so many of Dan's comments)This cost must be offset by EBR sales. No dealer will do this unless he can see a good chance of his business case being successful. At the same time, no investment in advertisement will be made unless future sales will pay for it. There is significant financial risk here. I think direct sales is the best solution at the moment for the new company, at least initially. This does put some risks back on the new owner, but may be more doable than establishing a dealer network. | |||
| Buelliedan |
I do not think it is legal for EBR to sell directly to customers. I know the old EBR could not. | |||
| Court |
>>>I do not think it is legal for EBR to sell directly to customers. I know the old EBR could not. You would be correct. For an interesting discussion . . . . https://www.quora.com/Why-cant-car-manufacturers-sell-direct-to-consumers For the Federal Trace Commission (FTC) discussion on how they have discussed handing "attocycles", such as Elio and how they might deal with Tesla . . . https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/competition-matters/2015/05/direct-consumer-auto-sales-its-not-just-about-tesla
During the "Buell years" whenever we did what "appeared" to be a factory sale or delivery actually involved selling the unit to a local dealer (Hal's or Uke's), having the set-up done and then simply making the physical delivery at the factory. We did this in some special cases for some special bikes. It was one of the chapters, "The Special Buells" that ended up on the cutting room floor. | |||
| Hughlysses |
I need a sanity check here. A guy on the EBR forum posted that AF1 couldn't move the EBR's even when EBR ads were "in all the magazines". I don't remember seeing a single print ad for EBR from its inception until the closure in April 2015. Did I miss them? | |||
| Court |
It's a long story and I'll not interfere with the trajectory of the "yutes" here but the worst place to advertise a motorcycle is in a motorcycle magazine (if they still have them). I used to attend the Buell marketing meetings with Buell Distribution Corp. when we hired the high priced, firms like Laughlin-Constable, to do the Buell ad campaign (some of you recall PRAY FOR PAVEMENT). We spent hundreds of thousands of $$$ determine the best places to advertise Buells. One of my favorites was the wheelie half-way down the deck of an aircraft carrier and the stoppie down the 2nd half . . .ending at . . . yeah . . . .the VERY edge. There are effective ways for EBR to get the word out. Summarily dismissing anything based on "old tech or new tech" would be ill informed. It can be done. | |||
| Court |
Somebody asked . . . photos from Buell photoshoot . . .          | |||
| Reepicheep |
Very cool. Imagine what Barker could do today. | |||
| 1313 |
This ad - for the 1190RX - ran in every issue of Roadracing World magazine for at least a year.
Those on FB with a good memory might remember that EBR gave away a small number of poster-sized prints signed by Erik. Yes indeed, would I like to find one of those posters... My 1190RX is Galactic Black, after all... When it quit running, I expected to see 1190SX ads to start appearing in more mainstream media outlets - like the ill-advised motorcycle magazines (such as Cycle World and the like). All tech... 1313 | |||
| Buelliedan |
Just got off the phone after a very nice call with William Melvin (CEO of LAP if you don't know) There is I would say a 50/50 chance NRHS might be a new EBR dealer after all. Just trying to work out a few things and I would have to go thru the hassle of redoing my dealer liscense from scratch again with CO state. I will update as things progress. | |||
| Hughlysses |
This ad - for the 1190RX - ran in every issue of Roadracing World magazine for at least a year. OK, well that's an ad I missed. I did subscribe to RRW for a couple of years but I haven't read it much recently. Buell used to advertise heavily in Cycle World and I never saw an EBR ad there. So the answer is they did some magazine advertising but it's pretty certain they didn't run ads in "all the motorcycle mags". There is I would say a 50/50 chance NRHS might be a new EBR dealer after all. Dan- glad to hear it. I hope you can work it out. |
Legal Discussion of Direct Sales to Consumers