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Ulyranger
| | Posted on Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 10:13 pm: | 
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Good post Chellem. While I would never wish any company to go out of business, putting working people out on the street (Especially an American Co).....I have zero sympathy for Corporate H-D. They made the bed they lie in and we all, owners, dealers and worker-bees alike have to smell the stench of their soiled linens.
I also don't agree that the Board's decision to bury Buell was a "pure" business decision. If it was, it sure smacks in the face of the their stated plan going forward to attract new market share. While I don't hope they go down, they sure are setting themselves up for it. Focusing on the biggest bling machines and T-shirts (not to mention all the made in China crap) in an economy that shows more concern than hope is troubling to say the least.
They make very few products that attract the crowd they are attempting to court.....and they are ceasing production on most of them right now. During down times they should be pushing entry level product. I don't hate their lineup, in fact there are a few models that did appeal to me but I have no desire to support a company I do not feel comfortable with. I have visited very few dealers that treated me with any kind of respect at all as a potential buyer, I know there a many good ones like our sponsors but sadly they are out numbered by the ones that cater to a crowd that dresses a certain way. I have been either completely ignored or glared at in more than one establishment. Even when I had $ and serious intent to spend them. I have never been treated that way in any other brand's dealership, MC, vehicle or equipment. (well, there was that one time a few of us in HS tried to scam a test ride in a Porche/Acura dealership....probably founded then). I used to collect shirts from every dealership I visited when traveling, even the "bad" ones. I will be using them for shop rags. I expect my selling dealer, that tolerates me at best, to be tearing down that Buell sign as soon as the last "red-head" has left the showroom.....happily.
I have said for years that H-D needed to expand their horizons towards a larger audience. That their "core" was eventually going to peak and thus wane. It's so sad, I will support whichever dealers/vendors that support me to keep my XT rolling into the dust, but have no desire to buy anything H-D anymore.
To all the American workers under the bar and shield, I do wish you the best, but hope that you are hedging your bets and covering your backside. Because Corporate sure isn't IMO.
BTW, even though I am obviously emotionally invested in Buell, the issue is much bigger. H-D mananagement has definitely lost their way. They are making decisions that benefit the markets on Wall St, F'in main street. Good luck with that. I have been (used to be) a Chevy customer for years too, but will likely never buy another Gov't Motors vehicle either. Decisions have consequences, especially with conscious consumers. If that's bashing, so be it. I'm more than willing to lie in MY bed.
Soapbox off......... |
Crusty
| | Posted on Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 10:34 pm: |
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" I fart in their general direction!" |
Cyclonedon
| | Posted on Monday, October 19, 2009 - 12:15 am: |
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I like Harley Davidson but their top management leaves a lot to be desired!
lots of bad decisions made lately!
please don't try and sell me on the idea of how spending 125 million to drop a brand name is a good investment. I'm NOT buying it unless I can sell you a couple of bridges, one is San Francisco and the other in New York first. |
Hippo888
| | Posted on Monday, October 19, 2009 - 06:38 am: |
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I won't bash HOG. If you look at the financials, HOG is a mess. They recently started suckling off the gov't bailout teat like GM and Chrysler.
Thanks to the last economic bubble, HOG ramped up to supply a economy that has disapeared. They tried to solve that by making their own subprime loans, which rumor has it, have a default rate of over 50%.
HOG is so underwater now that the MoCo's survival is at stake.
I see getting rid of Buell as a move of desperation. The R&D involved in the development of the XB motor which now powers the entire Sportster line, in my opinion, was probably enough to justify the cost of Buell (develop engine, get free sportbike company).
HOG's future is now a financial game. What they make: Buells, cruisers, MV Agustas is merely a secondary concern. HOG's ability to roll over its debt and securitize HDFS is what will determine if HOG will survive in its current form or is bought out by creditors.
Don't bash - HOG is sick. Buell was just a symptom. |
B00stzx3
| | Posted on Monday, October 19, 2009 - 01:33 pm: |
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Guess after initial angers have flared down, tall make good points. Yes HD killed the greatest American Sportbike company, without regards to its riders or Erik. Yes they say they want a new demographic share...by offering nothing even remotley as capable or sporty as a Buell (dragging knee on a Harley? Eh......). But they are still Murrican company and have many working class employees that take pride in their work. We don't wish Harley out of business, we just wish a pox on their upper level management and executives at all. The original poster is an employee at my local servicing HD dealer here in Maryland, good dude and always gave good customer service for my Buell. I don't wish him to lose his job or any other Harley employees, it wasn't his nor their decision to kill buell, upper level all the way. So to that 10% of caviar guzzling yacht owning Buell-hating execs, I hope they lose their jobs, not the 90% of hardworking HD employees who had no hand in the Buellicide.
(Message edited by b00stzx3 on October 19, 2009) |
Boltrider
| | Posted on Monday, October 19, 2009 - 01:39 pm: |
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quote:Where's an upside down HD avatar? Need one.
Pull a logo image from Google or Yahoo and then throw it on photobucket for some editing. |
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