| Author | Message | ||
     Tnxbrider |
Just came off a conference call with Buell's strategy council. It is not a simple see ya gone senario, however Buell has ceased all production. H-D has made a very serious financial commitment to upholding all warranty and technical service and training for the next several years to support the Buell products and owners that exist. Having seen the level of commitment that will be offered and the new "Servicing dealer agreement" that has been offered to myself and will be available to other Buell dealerships who are serious about supporting and continuing this brand. We will be reaffirming our commitment to the Buell brand and to BadWeb and its members. So what will this mean for the future? I don't have a crystal ball, but I will be able to sell and service Buell motorcycles (while supplies last) with full parts, technical and warranty support for the next 5-7 years. This is not the path I wish Buell and H-D would have taken, but I can't control that. I can only control our actions, and today it will be to remain committed to Motorcycling at its finest. Today, I have 31 Buell motorcycles in inventory and have begun the process of negotiating with other dealers to continue a supply into the near future. Today is a good day to own a Buell, and I'm proud of our 21 year history with the brand. Thanks for the ride Buell. Tom Bumpus Buell Rider, Owner, Dealer, Supporter. | ||
| Oldog |
Thanks Tom, I wont need the GPS, just head west | ||
| P_squared |
Thanks for the update Tom & glad you're sticking it out. | ||
| Hammer71 |
If there were more Dealer/Owners like yourself maybe it wouldn't have come to this. That being said though the way in which HD went about this is clearly a stab in the back to Erik as well as those of us who campaigned the Buell/HD product to all that would listen. A pro ported American company completely abandoning another in this way is unacceptable to myself and i'm sure many more. For this reason alone I will not support any HD product and will voice such to as many as possible. HD has just become the new Benedict Arnold. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Tom, Thanks for the update. It's all very surreal to me. Was there any indication of any glimmer of hope that Erik and company could venture out on their own or is the brand simply squashed? | ||
| Tnxbrider |
Everyone of course gets their opinion. I've said on this board before, Buell WITHOUT THE PASSION is not a hard business decision. It has always been a tough business proposition. Most Buell dealers could have bought a Buell for themselves to ride each each year and thrown it away at year end and bought another much cheaper than it was to be in the business. I have asked for years to keep that in mind when you were negotiating your BEST deal. Cut the dealer or the brand and let them bleed long enough and you will kill the them. The Golden Goose has died, or at the very least is severely bleeding. Please be careful with the emergency workers that are helping to save whats left. T | ||
| Sayitaintso |
Sir, you have just earned my business for future parts needs. Unfortunately, your shops are too far away for service but parts orders are only as far as a telephone and the mailbox. Thank you for a calm head in this time of disaster for the Buell brand. | ||
| Barker |
Thanks Tom! For me, a die hard Bueller, this is alot to take in all at once. I need to go ride. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Thanks for the positive note Tom. | ||
| Tnxbrider |
Me too Matt, Me too! I'm out for a couple of hours. T | ||
| Chadhargis |
The question in my mind is can Erik buy his company back? What about an IPO? Buell is seemingly at the pinnacle of their history, and now this. I understand business decisions. I understand supply and demand. I understand cut backs. But to take a brand that is arguably one of the hottest brands going right now and squash it without even offering it up for sale makes no sense. I can't count the number of magazine headlines I've seen with "Buell" in it lately and many of those stories were very complimentary. There is something not being revealed. I understand confidentiality, but it doesn't make it any easier to stomach. It seems to me that they cut Erik's nuts off for spite. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Tom, I'm right there with you. And, if I have anything to say about it, Frederick HD will still be Frederick Buell for a long time. If I don't have much to say about it (I am "just" a salesperson...)...need another staffer? Joe Goetz Buell Sales Buell of Frederick, MD | ||
| Tnxbrider |
Joe my Guess is that there will be about 25 of us left to keep the wheels turning. Hold your head up proud, you and Fresno and Latus, and... Let's go ride. T | ||
| Odie |
It's good to hear that Tom. Your dedication is uplifting. Nice meeting you at BTF by the way. | ||
| Cyclone00 |
Nice post Tom. I agree if we only had more dealer/owners like yourself... Living in New England (MA) I never did understand the relationship between HD and Buell. The dealership I bought my Buell in Boston no longer deals the brand. Other dealerships that once were Buell/HD droped the Buell line. Recently I brought my bike in for service and the service manager told me that if they need to get parts for it the were a week leadtime to get because they could not get them directly from HD, HUH??. They needed to get them from other dealers. My opinion, Buell was never given a fair shot, at least around here. Many people still look at my 9yr old Cyclone and go "cool, what is that"? I am sad for the workers, the company and all of the Buell owners. Owning an older Buell I gues it will be easier for myself to get parts being so close to the sportster? I hope that Erik will be able to do somthing in the future. Sad, Sad day. | ||
| Tnxbrider |
Nice to meet and ride with you also Odie, and Paint, C3, Froggy and the rest. Those were better days, I truly enjoyed the experience. Cyclone your spot on with workers, they put out a very viable product that was just seeming to be gaining a bit of traction, very sad for all of us and them. As for 80% of the rest of badweb postings(other threads) today... ooof! I've had a great ride with Buell, and had a great ride on my Buell this afternoon, went to visit with a dear friend who lost his Mom, and spent the evening around a bonfire talking with many fine friends. My whole day has been quiet reflection and mourning. This understandable bitterness that is being spewed is just not the therapy that I need or care to be a part of. I'll be back in a week. Till then... let the vultures suck up all the sh(t they can store. We'll see where the chips fall. till then... I'm out T |
