| Author | Message | ||
     P47b |
Alef's Harley Davidson http://www.alefshd.com/ Dan and Paula were talking about taking up the Buell line in Wichita. I think that Buell riders need to persuade them to take up the line. They are trying to change the bad rep for American made Motorcycle dealerships in Wichita. So, Please email them. I would rather have them take the Buell line up other than have one of the stealer shops take them up here in Wichita and not care about you after the sale.  Topeka from what I understand only sold 5 Buell's last year. That in a sales standpoint I understand. Anyway, if you are in the area at least check out the place. Great place for Harley gear at this time. Plus this is the newest Harley dealership building in the Midwest. Check them out... | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I sent them an e-mail. | ||
| Redponcho |
Last time I talked tho them they were still undecided. I would love to have a dealership here. The problem is I dont see me purchasing a new bike anytime soon. I want parts/accessories. Lets get them to hang the Buell sign outside that new building! | ||
| Naustin |
If they are "undecided," then they are definatly not Buell material. It's best if lukewarm HD dealers like this aren't allowed to carry Buells, IMO. It should be a privilege reserved for those HD dealers that really want it. The Majority of Buell dealers should be stand-alone, Buell only stores. Nick | ||
| Gtmg |
Please understand the possibility of a buell only dealer are limited. I have owned a franchise motorcycle business and you can make a decend living ie $60000 per year if you move around 200+ units per year. That is to you after all expenses are paid. Move more units make more money. Look at Daves he has moved 60 units this year. He has a nice profit center running for his dealership but it would be difficult to make it on that trust me. Harley needs Buell to bring in other riders. How many young riders are riding Harleys? The future is not that bright unless they can make the bridge. I am talking about 10 to 15 years from now. | ||
| Naustin |
Buell does not exist to bring younger riders in and eventually convert them to riding hogs. Buell's goal should be to turn the tables on HD as the Baby Boomers wither up and die; eventually selling wildly more units and making HD cruisers the rare novelty item. If buell can't sell enough units to support stand-alone dealerships in a traditional model, they they should locate Corporate Owned Stores in the 10 - 20 biggest cities with all the employees there on BMC direct salary. The goal of these Corporate owned factory direct stores will be to sell the bikes and provide top notch service while growing the brand's market share and building its image. This venture should be bankrolled by HD corporate as an expense associated with growing and establishing the Buell brand and write off that portion of the cost for the stores that can't be made up in the profit on the bikes and the service work. They've got pockets plenty deep enough - if they recognize the need. Many businesses operate certain ventures at a loss for years on end in order to grow the venture enough to ensure sustained profits in the future. The suggestion I'm making is not a radical idea in terms of corporate finance. In 10-15 years, if and when sales volume is sufficient to support stand alone buell dealerships under a traditional franchise model, BMC can start authorizing such dealerships and selling franchise rights. Imagine current HD dealers dropping HD models and switching to Buell Only when their sales drop off as an entire generation of "lifestylers" die off. Or not, if the corporate owned factory direct model works. Who needs the damn Dealership middleman taking a cut anyway? Nick (Message edited by naustin on November 13, 2006) | ||
| Chellem |
Lots of people on the BadWEb have suggested stand alone dealerships. The Buell corporate people are very nice people, but their specialty is NOT front-line customers. They're production, large-scale marketing, etc. Corporate level stuff. I'm not sure you'd get any better service, as a customer, letting them run factory-direct stores. I suppose they could train people, but they train dealers every year too (if they are so inclined). I don't know the details of how much BMC actually made/lost last fiscal year, but trust me, if H-D wasn't invested in their success, at the corporate level, they wouldn't be where they are today. H-D has made a HUGE investment over the years. There are dealerships who don't do Buell right (it's not actually that easy to find employees to balance Buell and H-D enthusiasts - two very different customers). But having very few factory-run Buell dealerships would make another contingent of BadWEbbers angry - those who DON'T live in urban areas and already have to drive hundreds of miles to a dealership. | ||
| P47b |
Thanks you all, Chellem, that last comment is the whole reason I would like to get them to become a Buell dealer. I love going to Topeka and riding around but don't have the time to set Two hours in a car to transport a bike to a shop and wait. And then possibly have to go home without a bike. The ultimate thing I think that needs to be done is to have a Service person that really likes working on Buell's. Sell the parts on a regular basis. Not just the small parts. Hugos ran all H/D business out of Wichita for about Ten years. No dealerships. Mid Continent H/D did such a poor job at service and sales. We finally started calling them Incontinent just because it was so bad. I really am glad that Dan & Paula have gotten the opportunity to turn the H/D dealership around in Wichita. I just hope that they don't start cutting the lower priced bikes out. $15,000 and below. Chrome is not for everyone. It does sell though. | ||
| Slowride |
I am curious, I was talking to my local Dealership on Saturday and the Buell guys were really stoked that the owners had picked up 5 bikes for the showroom. They told me that for every Buell they carry they get 3 free HD to put on the floor. If this is true, that means there is an effort at least for HD to push the line and encourage the dealers to carry Buell. Anyone else heard about this? | ||
| Naustin |
First I'd heard of that... Maybe its a new incentive? | ||
| Daves |
Slowride, That is not true. | ||
| Court |
>>>They told me that for every Buell they carry they get 3 free HD to put on the floor. That's an inaccurate statement. | ||
| Daves |
My boss would love that program here. We'd have a boatload of free HDs  | ||
| Bomber |
can we postpone the boomer's withering and dieing for a little bit? I got a date in Utah next summer. | ||
| Redponcho |
How many Wichita people do we have here? We should go pay Alef's a visit! | ||
| Josh_cox |
Whoever is getting the FREE H-D's needs to tell me how that is done  . Really, that will never happen. You sell Buell because you want to sell Buell. Any H-D incentive is long gone, but there were never free bikes. | ||
| Slowride |
Very good to know... I guess I will re evaluate the information that comes from what I consider a trusted source. Just for the record, it was two of the salesmen on the floor that made that statement. Seems like a waste really, I would have hope for better from them. Thanks for the clarification Daves and Court. | ||
| Daves |
yes, you may want to watch anything else they tell you. They are either mis-informed or screwing with you? | ||
| Tom_b |
I know Paula (Feist) Alefs, the paula half of the dealership. She personally told me they have no intention of carrying Buell in the forseeable future. this was about 5 months ago. I've actually had better luck with the Buell dealership in stillwater,OK than topeka. Topeka, regardless of what I need is always 2 weeks (Message edited by Tom_B on November 15, 2006) (Message edited by Tom_B on November 15, 2006) | ||
| Slowride |
Daves PM Sent | ||
| Daves |
sent back | ||
| P47b |
Thanks Tom. I still would like to get them to carry small parts. Filters, Brake Pads and so on. At least go eight years back on production. Get a cross reference on available parts that interchange with other bikes. Hey it’s a fight every time for parts. Allot of the time I do my own C/R on parts just so I won't have a difficult time. | ||
| Pammy |
Tom_b sez... "Topeka, regardless of what I need is always 2 weeks" Everett(O Brother Where Art Thou) sez... "Well, ain't this place a geographical oddity. Two weeks from everywhere! " That movie cracks me up! | ||
| Tom_b |
Hey Eric (Redponcho)I lost your number and couldn't remember your name here or last name. Lets go ride when the weather is nice. P47b you too! you too. us local buell riders need to organize. I'm staring to see a lot more, but don't know any of them | ||
| Redponcho |
PM sent Tom. Wichita Buell riders network. Lets get it together! | ||
| P47b |
Hey lets get together someplace around Wichita. I was thinking more around down town. If you know or see anyone that has a Buell lets get them talking on here and get them together. Sorry I would of set this up earlier but I made a promise to my wife I would stay off of the computer and help do some Christmas shopping the next two weeks. Yes I am sneaking this in. (Message edited by p47b on November 18, 2006) |
