| Author | Message | ||
     Missin44 |
Just curious if there are any stand alone or Buell only dealerships anywhere in the country? | ||
| Niceguyeddy |
The only one I've ever heard of is in Sao Paulo, Brazil. | ||
| Gunut75 |
If the opportunity was there, I would open one in a heartbeat! | ||
| Court |
No | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
There is not enough volume even at the "good" dealers to justify stand alone dealerships. The "problem" of bad dealerships must be changed from within. | ||
| Froggy |
You can't have a dealership that sells less than a dozen bikes a month. Only way you could justify it would be to sell them over $30k to make up for running expenses. | ||
| Mpolans |
It'd be nice if they were allowed non-Harley affiliated dealers. A Buell/Ducati/Triumph dealership would be interesting. | ||
| Metalstorm |
The only stand alone Buell shops I've seen were large HD/Buell shops that had their Buells located in a different building either close by or even a few blocks away. They had all the appearance of a stand alone shop but were in fact part of an HD/Buell dealership. Dudley Perkins in S.F. used to be a great Buell place with such a setup. It didn't last too long though. | ||
| Froggy |
Mpolans, kinda like this dealer? http://www.arlennessdaytona.com/ | ||
| Delta_one |
that's exactly who came to mind when I read that too | ||
| Missin44 |
Interesting Rossmeyer has HD/Buell dealerships in Ft. Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. | ||
| Missin44 |
I hear what your saying. I one of my other post a few days ago summed up how i felt. I have owned 2 street bikes. 1994 Sportster and my current 2003 V-Rod. Loved both bikes. Dealer support for the Sportster was outstanding, the V-Rod not so much. With the V-Rod it matters little, because it never gives me any trouble. The dealership knows their air cooled HD equipment very well. The water cooled and Buell, next to nothing. So here is what happens, a potential Buell rider walks into the local Buell dealer to consider buying his or her first US made motorcycle. The sales staff knows nothing about the bike except what the can read out of a sales booklet. the same guy walks into his local Ducati, Honda, BMW, etc., and guess what happens. They know the product they're talking about. Where is this person going to buy his next ride? Of course this is a very general statement but I have seen it myself. The truth is, aside from the few Buell dealers that do know the product, what sells a Buell is 3 things. 1. Actually riding one. 2. Knowing someone that rides one. 3. Buell forums like this. But that just my opinion, I could be wrong. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I really wish I could be a part of the "dealer solution". Tom is the PROTOTYPE of the "dealer solution" dealer. Having worked with Abercrombie & Fitch, I have seen merchandising work. The dealer incentive program could use a serious rework as well. | ||
| Missin44 |
Ft_bstrd Not referring to your dealership. Actually I guess I am in a way. Based one the rep you guys have here, Bumpus is one of the exceptional dealers out their. Would love to see sales numbers for dealers like yourself vs. the typical Buell dealer. BTW - I thought my little mini rant was in response to Court, but now I don't see his post. oops... | ||
| Court |
>>> but now I don't see his post. oops... I got rid of it. Too much information for the general public and it'll only anger some folks. The current dealer arrangement does not work. Things that now appear to be "good dealers" are pretty much (and most of them will admit this) "band aid" solutions. Buell marketing is due a big overhaul. | ||
| Froggy |
+1, they can start by increasing the free shirts on the truck 10 fold. | ||
| Teddagreek |
Don't forget we had Seminole buell in Florida that was a stand alone... Good guys, I'm not to sure why they fell apart... I see my local dealer "Fletcher's" is advertising here now. Good mix of long time buell riders over there from the one of the owners on down.. There are dealers that would like to have buell.. Shooting the breeze at the local local Euro dealer.. In a roundabout way I was told it would piss some people off but they would pick up the brand if they could... | ||
| Court |
>>>Don't forget we had Seminole buell in Florida that was a stand alone... They were stand alone ONLY in the sense that the Harley dealer put the Buells in a separate physical location. They played games with that and tried to convince me they had "no association with HD". They soon dropped off the map. The way the system is set up, with Buell ONLY designing and manufacturing, and HARLEY-DAVIDSON doing everything from shipping, parts, warranty and so forth . . it just ain't gonna happen. HD would never give up access to their systems. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
The way the system is set up, with Buell ONLY designing and manufacturing, and HARLEY-DAVIDSON doing everything from shipping, parts, warranty and so forth . . it just ain't gonna happen. So, in that division of labour, who is responsible for Buell PR? | ||
| Niceguyeddy |
...so, is the the Sao Paulo dealership is a myth (in H.D. print)then? (Message edited by niceguyeddy on September 08, 2009) | ||
| Mpolans |
Froggy, wow! I had never heard of them, but it sounds like a great combo! If they were closer, I'd love to check them out. >> Mpolans, kinda like this dealer? http://www.arlennessdaytona.com/ | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
It'd be nice if they were allowed non-Harley affiliated dealers. Amen! One of my favorite dealerships, http://www.corsesuperbikes.com/ , wanted to sell Buells, but was denied. These are the bikes Buells should be in company with, not HDs. If someone wants a sportbike, why would they go to a HD dealership? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Think of HD as McDonald's selling hamburgers. Buells are tacos. Although both offerings are from McDonald's corporate, people don't think of tacos when they think McDonald's. The cooks in the back aren't all that enthusiastic about having to learn to make tacos when they are used to making hamburgers. Tacos are a mere fraction of the total revenue of McDonald's. If they stopped making them tomorrow, it would barely be a blip on the bottom line. Even though McDonald's has a hard time successfully marketing tacos, there is NO WAY they are going to let McDonald's tacos be sold at Taco Bell. Even though people would be able to buy both types of tacos there, they lose control. Not to mention there is no way that McDonald's is going to give up the trade secrets of their organizational, marketing, staffing, and mechanization systems to Taco Bell. They would HAVE to have all these in order to market McDonald's tacos. The trick is to change the way McDonald's markets the tacos not to transfer the marketing effort to Taco Bell. How did Honda attract new riders over to their bikes when they were "new"? "You meet the nicest people on a Honda." Buell MUST provide buyers with a different riding and buying experience. Honestly, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki SUCK at it. There is a HUGE opportunity for Buell to build something unique. | ||
| Court |
>>So, in that division of labour, who is responsible for Buell PR? Entirely done and all shots called by Harley-Davidson. Buell Motorcycle designs the bike, builds the bike and sells it the moment it's crated to HD . . from their Buell is largely uninvolved . .unfortunately. | ||
| Tpoppa |
. .unfortunately. +1 I know a few hardcore sportbike guys that are starting to respect the 1125, but have little to no interest in setting foot inside the local HD boutique. I know it's not going to happen, but if Buells were sitting next to Ducs, Aprilias, Triumphs, etc. more sportbike shoppers would see them in person, sit on them, and potentially buy them. | ||
| Jaimec |
Harley owns MV Agusta, right? Put the Buells in the same shops that sell THEM!! | ||
| Panhead_dan |
I'm dreaming of Buell shops near me with a building similar to just about any honakawazuki shop. Nice but definately not fancy. Inside there are most models represented and a smattering of clothing and gear in stock. Behind the counter, most parts usually needed in stock and ANY OTHER BUELL PARTS only a few days away. In the back resides a tech or two. He knows all Buells inside out and his is parked out front. He lives and breathes Buell and is passionate about them. Just like the sales dude in front. Honestly, how can it fail if Buell sticks to their core values and philosophy? The owner of this imaginary Buell shop rides a Buell and it's all he talks about. He is passionate about the bikes as is every employee down to the janitor. I would take a pay cut to work for this dealership and I WILL bring my passion with me. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Put the Buells in the same shops that sell THEM!! All 15 of them? The closest MV shop is 265 miles away. I would never go that far to buy a bike I couldn't service locally. | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
Think of HD as McDonald's selling hamburgers. That is kinda what I was getting at, even if McD's sold tacos, I don't think they would do well, because why would someone go to McD's for a taco? They sell a lot of different American foods, then throw in a taco. That would be like Taco Bell adding a burger to their menu. Or Olive Garden selling an enchilada dinner. Buells need to be with other sportbikes. | ||
| Missin44 |
The only thing I'm bashing HD for is the way they market and sell Buell. As for HD it's self they are an incredibly well run company. They are truly one of the great American success stories. The know their product, customer base and build the bikes the their customer base wants. Lots of people like to bash the MoCo, but every motorcycle and car manufacturer would kill for Harleys customer loyalty. For what they build, they do it better than anyone in the world. I only wish they would take what they learned when saving themselves and transfer it to Buell. |
