| Author | Message | ||
     Orclover |
Ok I am still fuming so excuse the rant style. My wife went to central texas Harley today to test drive a Lightning or Firebolt. She has been riding her Buell Blast for over a year and is feeling the need for more horsepower (Austin Traffic is dangerous). The only guy there to ask about test rides tell's her that she cant test ride a lightning or firebolt, but he would be happy to show her a 883 sportster. She explains that she's been riding a Blast for over a year, shes able to handle my 95 XL1200 screamin eagle modded out the ass stoplight burner no problem and shes ready to test ride a streetfighter like the lightning's. But oh no, thats "too much torque for a lil lady, you might be much more comfortable on one of our 883's". *Insert swear words here* Sexist Bastards! What the frickin hell? Why do I have to go and vouch for my wife so she can ride a frickin bike she wants? I have seen that place try and sell a brand new V-Rod to a first time MALE rider fresh out of a thier motorcycle safefty coarse who is half my wifes size!(she's 5'10, 135lbs fyi) This is the second time I have seen a member of my family deal with a uninterested staff person there and its really starting to piss me off. The first time was a few weeks ago when my mother was there looking to get a blast for herself, and she went through 3 different male sales staff that kept sending her to someone else till she ended up with the ONE female saleswoman there who was extremely helpfull. The rest simply couldnt be bothered. Is this behavior official Harley Davidson policy or what? Maybe the rice burner dealership will be less sexist. -STILL pissed off! | ||
| Diablobrian |
You may want to speak to someone (*cough* Court) here on the board that can help to... influence ...the behavior of a dealership that is sub-standard. Please do not post details like the name of the dealership here yet, give that data to Court and try to give him time to work. The sexist and anti-Buell attitude is unacceptable. They were looking at the perspective commission for the H-D (and the usual chrome add-ons) versus the Buell purchaser that only buys the (less expensive) bike just as much as they were being sexist. I'm actually surprised there though, I've routinely heard all Buells referred to as "chic bikes" in H-D circles. | ||
| Disturbed |
Umm.....WTF does Court's influence have to do with this. Grab the Lil' Lady, go down there, ask for the Owner or Sales Manager at a minimum, ask to go into an office and raise a bit of hell. Your wife WAS a potential customer. The salesman should be written up at least, EVEN IN TEXAS! This is inexcusable! | ||
| Orclover |
Wife says she's not gonna let me go anywhere near there till I calm the hell down. I swear this is the most sexist crap I have dealt with in years. Somebody needs to do a dateline undercover special on this kinda crap that they pull. "Good name of Harley Davidson" be frickin damned to hell. Gonna go mix a drink or sumthin, need to chill. | ||
| Ratyson |
Heck, I would just find out who his closest competition is, and go there. Then write a letter to the owner of the shop and explain why you went to his competitor to buy your buell. Sounds like this shop has a real jackass working for them. (Message edited by RATyson on April 21, 2007) | ||
| Fullpower |
Well, if 5 foot 10 is a "LIL LADY" down in texas, I dont think i wanna tangle with any of your BIG WIMMINS. | ||
| Disturbed |
.....have her test a V-Rod or any of the larger cube bikes, than have her ask the guy if the buell is still too much. LOL I'd calm down a bit and then go down. I'm sure the owner would not take kindly to his sales staff pushing customers away. I'll be in Ft. Worth tomorrow on business. May head down to Austin during the week to hang out. | ||
| Orclover |
Well theres a Woods Fun Center honda/kaw/Suz/Yam dealership next door owned by the same people I think, but different managers. But my wife has her heart set on a buell lightning or firebolt, might check out Cowboy Harley-D in south Austin (centeral texas harley where this happend is 2 blocks away). We really are Buell fans in this family with even my mother looking to get a blast, sucks that we might have to drive across town to deal with sales people that wont treat us like were some kind of scum (we hope). Those guys should be fired and my wife should be doing that job. Hell shes a certified mechanic (god I love her), I wonder if any of them can claim that. Going to call over there Monday or Tuesday, see if I can talk to one of the women working there and get the scoop on what the hell is going on. | ||
| Navygunner |
Wow! Central Texas Harley is a sponsor. You would think they would be Buell friendly. | ||
| Ironhead1977 |
I went in to buy my Buell SS and the salesman tried his hardest to show me anything except what I wanted so I bought my Buell at the next closest dealer. I am getting ready to trade my 8 year old Roadking in, guess were I'm going. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Requirements for a demo. Valid Drivers license with motorcycle endorsement, or licensing (state specific) Dry Pavement (thank you Washington state lawyers). And a desire to Ride! I firmly believe that the customer should be able to demo any bike that they feel comfortable and confident on. That is for them to tell me, not for me to "assign" a bike.  And if they love the bike but need to make some adjustments for size, style or ride performance, then have at it. Buell girls rock, we want more of them. Come to Silverdale for the Fly and Ride program | ||
| Bake |
Go buy at another dealership and take it there for warranty work. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
That's a shame. Aren't they a Badweb sponsor? I'm disappointed to hear how your wife was treated. I don't get it. If I were selling bikes, I'd be trying to get ANYBODY to get on one. Isn't that the name of the game? And the guys up there need to get over their machismo. I was down in Galveston a few weeks back and saw a Hayabusa cruising ahead. When I pulled up at the next light beside it, It turned out to be a girl. I think I'm in love. (-: | ||
| Orclover |
And the guys up there need to get over their machismo. I was down in Galveston a few weeks back and saw a Hayabusa cruising ahead. When I pulled up at the next light beside it, It turned out to be a girl. I think I'm in love. (-: Ok now thats hot  Thanks for the kind words all. She appreciates it as well. | ||
| Altima02 |
While I think it was the wrong excuse, it was probably less about the whole female thing and more about getting you all to buy an HD over a Buell. Either way, I would have a serious talk with the manager. | ||
| Roro |
Orclover, I'm in Austin too...I bought my CityX at Cowboy Harley (before they became Cowboy Harley). Rick S was the guy I worked with there. Real cool guy. I was never pressured into looking at a Harley at all so that's shocking what they told you up there. I have a old mountain bike buddy at Central Texas Harley name John A. He came back from Iraq not too long ago. Good guy. If you want I can give him a call. By the way that treatment is unacceptable. | ||
| Orclover |
While I think it was the wrong excuse, it was probably less about the whole female thing and more about getting you all to buy an HD over a Buell. We have run into that as well plenty of times (red headed stepchildren). But I just asked her and he was definately "talking down to her" like she didnt know what she was doing or what she needed. She says she sometimes gets the same tone from auto-parts stores when she is buying parts to work on vehicles (shes a trained mechanic), she's learned to avoid those particular stores and stick to the ones that dont question what shes trying to buy or keep asking her(and I quote) "are you sure this is what yer husband wants you to pick up", which is hillarious as I dont know a damn thing about auto-mechanics, thats her job. Thing is shes not even mad about it, Its all me being upset over this not her. She says shes used to it. If it was just the anti-buell tirade that were all used to I would just be iritated. But they talked down to and belittled my wife's abilities and experience that she has most definately earned and didnt bother to listen to her when she tried to explain that. Hell they might as well have patted her on the head and told her not to worry her pretty lil head about it. There seems to be all new crew from when we first bought bikes there (plural) a year and half ago, by comparison theres a new guy (Chris) and the only female sales woman I have seen there (Joan I think) who have both been extremely helpfull to both me, my mother and my wife on multiple occasions. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Influence can be exerted to change the way that the franchise holder (not owner) conducts their business. If they allow their salesmen to behave this way they are condoning the attitude of the salesman. That being the case the boom should be lowered. The loss of one customer buying a bike with the lowest profit margin will not have a huge impact on the dealer and will not have the impact of an inquiry from "above" Like I said they were not only trying to dissuade her from riding the Buell they were hoping to sell her a bike that most HD owners go immediately to the parts counter and accessorize it. Not one that is properly deccorrated by bugs on the windscreen  | ||
| Dbahm |
Don't know what happened or with whom, but the GM/owner's door is always open. There are 2 Hellbuellys working there that you could ask for, too, though they aren't salespeople. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
It is a shame that this happened. I really don't understand the sales persons position on this. If I was a salesperson (bike, or other product) I would focus my time catering to woman. Most woman control the money. | ||
| Orclover |
Hey Dbahm, whats a HellBuellys? Didnt ask if my wife knew his name or not, wouldnt post it on the net if she does know it though. I might however call the GM's office next week just to put in my .02 cents on the matter. My wife suggested that I take her younger brother down there soon, hes 5 foot 6 inches and weighs 105lbs. I'll have him tell the guy that he has 0 hours of riding experience and just now got his learners permit. With his 3 grand tax return hes looking for a 1200cc firebolt or V-Rod to put a down payment and learn to ride on. See what he says then. | ||
| Galloper |
She's 5.6, 123lbs and blond.   | ||
| Fpresky |
Orclover , find a dealer you you like and get your wife the bike she really wants My buddies girlfriend rides a 883 and I let her test my 07XB12R Bolt she now begs to ride it whenever she can and is going to trade her 883 for one. By the way she's only 5'7" and about 115 pounds and flicks the bike around like a racer.Nothing worse than being stuck riding your second choice for a bike if you can get the one you want. | ||
| Court |
Think solution. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
What Court says. "Expect the best" is another one of his sayings. Instead of getting pissed off, as much fun as that always is, I might be thinking about the best way getting the missus the ride she wants. Perhaps calling Christy Wall, one of the owners, and explaining that your lady would like to test a Buell XB9 S and R, because she wants to upgrade from her Blast would be a good place to start. Keep us informed. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Orclover, I would let her take care of it. Have her go back in and tell them that after thinking about it, she would really like to ride the Buell. If the sales guy says no, take it higher. I think on the other side of the issue is the fact that many sales guys see guys who want their wives/girlfriends to ride so badly that they are forcing them into it. They try to get the 883 because it's the smallest bike HD makes and the bike HAS to be a Harley. The women don't want it and are really not suited to the Sportster. They would do much better with a smaller more maneuverable bike to start with (like a blast). If they still won't do it, shop elsewhere. Don't reward bad behavior with your dollars. Feed the dealerships that are devoted to Buell. Starve the ones that aren't. | ||
| Motomeow |
ERG!!! Let me tell you my story about HD. I had been riding my thumper for about 2 years +. Yep, I'm female, 5' 1" and about 108 lbs. Before I bought my XB12Scg, I was testing riding a few bikes. I had already test rode the XB12S in Sturgis but I wanted to ensure I got all the test rides in I possibly could. I stopped by one of the larger HD shops in town and ask to test ride the Night Rod. I was in full leathers and helmet in hand. This bike was low and the foot controls where not forward reaching so that was not a problem either. They ask if I had a moto cert on my license and "yes I do". The sales person said hold on and then they told me that I could not test ride their V-rod. That's the only bike I wanted to ride. I felt so put off and pissed off. I mean the looks I received from that sales staff was amazing. I will never go there again! The next HD dealership was awesome! I test rode a V-rod, the new 1200 Nightster, and once again the XB12Scg. Yep, I knew the XB12 was mine! Ladies, don't let those male hawgs push you around! Find a dealership that will fall over backwards to help you and treat you with the respect you deserve. I have had so many friends who own HDs express their disappointment over this bad behavior and respond with "this was extremely unacceptable behavior." I totally agree so the best way to get back at them is to never drop any cash in their establishment. That's my two cents worth. | ||
| Buellerthanyou |
Howdy, y'all! Jesse, I'm sure we can get this situation settled amicably. I work at Central Texas H-D/Buell and as Dbahm said, the Managing Principal's door is always open to listen to customers' concerns. As a board sponsor it is especially painful to hear about situations gone wrong like this at our dealership and I hope we'll be given the chance to earn your business back. I believe I spoke with your wife because I noticed that she had a BRAG patch on her riding jacket and I try to talk to any Buellers that come in, but I wasn't aware of her test ride difficulties until I read of it here (I'm not in the Sales department). Anyway, call Scott and I'm certain that everything will work out.  James M. Howze (aka HellBuelly J) Central Texas H-D/Buell Austin, Texas 512-973-8521 P.S. If I'm right about having met her, I gave your wife a HellBuellies card with our URL on it. Here is a link to pictures from a recent ride posted by another HellBuelly as well: http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topi c,7404.0.html | ||
| Orclover |
Hey James, yea my wife mentioned you and showed me the card, she seemed very interested in the group  I appreciate everyones responses and will talk it over with the wife on what she wants to do about this next week, ultimately it is her decision and I dont want to go and press anything if she would rather just avoid the matter, but I definately dont want to be passing a commision onto somebody who acts like my wife should be barefoot and pregnant in a kitchen. James I would like to give you a call next week regardless, thank you for your time. | ||
| Buellerthanyou |
My pleasure. J |
