| Author | Message | ||
     Xbpete |
I just returned from a week of riding down where there is no freakin rain. I drove 560 miles south with my XB in the back of my Ranger and yesterday came home. I went to a couple HD dealers while down south looking for some Buell merchandise. I was so bloody disapointed. Seaford Del HD Buell was previously a source for Sportster parts and service for me when I lived in Delaware, I rode Sporties from 1968 through 2000 when I sold my last XL. I had a dear friend working there as a mechanic ( he has passed away ) and I always thought well of the dealer. So I have been in New York for 10 years now and on Thursday walked into my former dealer with my Buell hat and t-shirt on. So into the door I went, there were three salesmen sitting, one got up and walked toward me, read my t-shirt and sat down again and turned his back to me. I was standing next to a Nightrod and was VERY interested. I am a 57 year old man, clean cut and should be the target demographic for any HD salesman.... perfect age for a geezer glide. I was ignored by the salesmen, the parts guys in the accesories room and the owners. My only deduced reason for the cloak of invisiblity would be my proudly displayed Buell attire. They should be ashamed, they have lost a sale as I was truly contemplating adding this bruiser to the garage. This dealership has the Pegasus logo on a race trailer outside and Buell on the building also. There was not a single Buell outside of a Blast in the building. They had four t-shirts, and a tail bag for a 'Bolt. WTF is up with the attitude of HD they should be embracing the Buell, expanding their alloted space and they don't. Two other dealers were much the same. Why on earth does HD still think that their bikes will sell themselves at full retail, Buell is treated like the bastard child and we that drive them with pride are constantly insulted by the HD dealer and service departments. I guess the answer is they don't give a shit, shame on them and be assured that I will not buy another.. | ||
| Patches |
Did you ever say Hello? Ask them about the Nightrod? Smile? Greet them in any way? Or did you just walk through the door with the Meanest Look on your Face that you could think of and Stair at them? A Friendly Greeting always seems to work better. (Message edited by patches on October 10, 2009) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
You just didn't make it far enough south. We have 10 Buells on the floor right now. We have 15+ different styles of T-shirts plus hats jackets bags helmets sliders luggage ... And a race bike covered in the last three first place trophies from the last race day. Ridden by the owner in those races BTW.  Come see us for a Buell experience that is "different in every sense".  | ||
| Xbpete |
Absolutely greeted all of them ( the seated salespeople ) with a smile and a big ... " How you guys doing today? Great day for a ride! " my 12R was in the parking lot... Maybe the owners did not recognize me with a clean shaven look and no pony tail and 10 years of road, that I understand, the inaction of the sales staff is my indicator. Impression was they don't like our Buells and the HD line should sell itself. p.s. there were no other customers on the floor. | ||
| 46champ |
Obviously you have meet the first independently wealthy motorcycle shop employees on record. | ||
| Xbpete |
Let me phrase that correctly, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY buy another Buell, in a New York minute..... But HD.... sorry, that would be a no, their attitude is a big turn off no matter what I think of the history. I would without reservation use a good dealer like our sponsors or any of the others, including Sovie HD in Potsdam NY. They sell both lines and service both lines. I would buy privately also but not new from Harley. Mike's Famous HD did have an 1125R but that was all, they don't seem to like Buell too much but the salespeople did try... I had never been through the door. It is the attitude of a shop that I frequented for many years upon which I am commenting. I see other threads on the same subject lines of dealer indifference to Buells but had not experienced it first hand since I became the proud Papa of my Firebolt... As a rider and buyer of HD bikes for over 4 decades it is beyond my comprehension that dealers would not fully embrace Buell lines in totality. I bought my first new XLCH in 1973 from a shop that raced the XR750 that I eventually bought. My current 2004 XB is the bike I was always hoping for, a Sportster based platform with ruthless engineering lovingly applied. The performance far surpasses my old 750 race bike or my early strokers in both straight line acceleration and twisties...OMG! This last season of Buell racing was and is the best I have felt about American made motorcycles since 1972, I love to go fast and I love my Buell, they should open their eyes... It should be a marriage, this seems more like divorce court with HD losing. | ||
| Froggy |
I need to drop by one of these days and check those dealers out | ||
| Bob_thompson |
From what I'm seeing in at least a few parts of the country HD is not selling just bikes, ther're trying to sell "a life style" and its working for many of those weekend, get away from family and work(wild hogs,from the movie) type of people. Usually with good disposable income. Those buyers live that for a year or two and finally decide,for whatever reason, its not for them and sell their bikes at a fair loss. I see so many for sale on many different websites. Usually only a couple of years old with low mileage. For HD it means a big sale with an expensive(gotta have it) bike and many expensive accessories. And then expensive service. All this means for HD is a continuing, very lucrative market, which is at least ten times what they get from Buell sales. A little example is a Buell $20 T shirt or an HD leather jacket, chaps, etc. for $1000.00. Its a no brainer for HD. Its a shame though for us Buell riders and others who like Craig(Xbpete) want to enjoy both rides. There just does not seem to be any solution right now except to endorse those dealers who are Buell friendly and for some of us to pull together with info on this fine website and help each other when we can. Stay positive about Buell. Bob | ||
| Patches |
I will never Understand it where they have a Business Selling a Product to the Public and Treat the Customers with such Disrespect and Still Expect you to buy Product from Them. The way to get them back is to buy the New Bike you want from a Respectful Shop/Salesman and have him call the other Shop and Explain to them how they lost out on a Sale. I today's Economy losing out on a sale for being Stupid is Unbelievable! | ||
| Doerman |
I understand your disappointment, Pete. My dealer is top notch. However, I was back in Cincinnati and visited the dealer i frequented when I lived there. It used to be an enthusiastic Buell dealer then. Today there's a bunch of Willie G look alike working the sales floor with no clue about Buells. Things change. Change with it (find a good dealer). They do exist. | ||
| M2nc |
Did you ever say Hello? Ask them about the Nightrod? Smile? Greet them in any way? Or did you just walk through the door with the Meanest Look on your Face that you could think of and Stair at them? A Friendly Greeting always seems to work better. WHAT?? I know many dealerships do not have sales people and are just order takers, but if you are at least pretending to do the role, they need to "up" first. Hell, back in the old days in Cincinnati, if you wanted their attention the last thing you did was smile at them. Cuss at them yes, smile no." I have been to too many dealerships with this attitude. I usually expedite it. Once I pulled up to a HD dealership on a Blast. I pulled up next to some great garage art and parked. As I walked past the owners of that art snickering at me, I looked at them and said, "They say the bigger the motorcycle, the more you're substituting for other short comings. I'm sorry." On another occasion I walked passed looked at Webe within ear shot and said, "If you want to prove your a man, pull up to a Harley dealership on a Blast". Another time walking to my CB750 a Harley fan shouted, "When are going to buy a real bike and get a Harley?" I replied, "When I am old and slow enough for one." After you get it out of the way they treat you like your rode up on a Harley. For crying out loud, they're Harleys not Piaggos, kick'em in the shin and say, "Come here!" Figuratively of course.  (Message edited by m2nc on October 10, 2009) (Message edited by m2nc on October 10, 2009) | ||
| S1wmike |
Another time walking to my CB750 a Harley fan shouted, "When are going to buy a real bike and get a Harley?" I replied, "When I am old and slow enough for one." I rode my Honda CB900F to a HOG Meeting back in the 90's and was asked the same thing by a HOG Brother. I just asked him to spell Harley Davidson without H O N D A. | ||
| Kyrocket |
I haven't been to my dealer in months, maybe years for just this reason. I get everything I need from sponsors of this board. Enthusiastic, knowledgeable and shipped right to my door, usually with pens, keychains and stickers to boot. I'd much rather wait 2-3 days than be P.O'ed when I walk out the door. | ||
| Treefrog |
Where are you at Xbpete? | ||
| Tnxbrider |
I always hate to hear of this kind of treatment regardless of where it happens. We at our store talk weekly about how easy it is for a customer to walk in and be completely invisible. The thought of seeing a potential customer and completely blowing them off is quite offensive. On behalf of every retailer everywhere and particularly H-D and Buell, I apologize and ask for another chance to serve you well. Life is easy, retail is harder than you might imagine,and ignoring a chance to serve is wrong. T P.s. Bob Thompson I'm sorry to hear about Joe Timmons decision to drop the Buell line. I spoke with him about exactly this topic a few months back. He truly is good people, and Buell WITHOUT the emotion is a not a tough business decision. | ||
| Xbpete |
quote "Where are you at Xbpete?" I am in a little town called Skerry, it is south of Bangor / Malone area bordering the blue line of the Adirondack Park in Franklin County, see you are in Ft. Drum. Mike, Thanks for your service to our country, might get together over at Sovie HD next spring for a putt...??? Pete | ||
| Nevrenuf |
when my daughter worked down here before she moved up to wisconsin, they had secret shoppers come into the shop to see how people were doing and not just once did she get hit with them and pass with flying colors because of her attitude toward people. she got lucky and got to go to work at another dealership up there and although things are slow and on temporary layoff this month,she'll go back next month. when her evaluation came up, they said they couldn't give her a raise but they gave her an extra weeks vacation instead. there are people that ask for her only because of how she deals with people. unfortunately, not everyone has that same attitude. it's good to see that the ones on here do get it. | ||
| Treefrog |
Xbpete wrote, "might get together over at Sovie HD next spring for a putt...???" Sounds like a plan, Pete. I figured you were somewhere north of me to mention Sovie. I haven't been there yet, but have passed through Pottsdam a couple of times. (Message edited by treefrog on October 12, 2009) |
