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Dynasport
| Posted on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - 11:39 pm: |
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My local HD dealership is having a Buell Demo Day next week, on a Thursday. It is even advertised on the Buell website under events. That is how I found out about it. So, I stopped by the dealership to get some info about it. I asked if they were going to have a demo fleet or special bikes there to ride and what exactly the demo day entailed. The salesman seemed a bit baffled. He said they would have a table and you could sign up for a ride. He didn't think they were bringing in any bikes except they should have "one of those new Buells in. We expect alot of young people." Since the dealership only has about four or five Buells in stock now counting new and used, I don't see much in the way of a big demo day. Then I asked how the demo rides would work. He said they have a route they would do. When he described the route, it is the same one you can take any day there. All in all I was very disappointed. A demo day on a Thursday from 10am to 4pm. Not much special planned. Hopefully one of those new Buells in stock to attract a bunch of young people. I love my Harley, but I really think most dealerships don't get Buells at all. I have mentioned this to this particular dealership and they claim to be very Buell oriented. It doesn't seem that way to me. |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 12:17 am: |
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Wow, sounds like mixed messages. Even if they believe themselves to be "Buell oriented" if it doesn't come across to the customers they will stay away in droves. It's the old story of the H-D shop that says they don't do much with Buells because "they just don't sell around here" which is a catch 22. They don't support them so they don't sell so they don't support them..... It has been proven that a Buell dealership that goes the distance for Buell customers will have customers travelling great distances to the dealership. (Appleton comes to mind as does Hal's, and Stone Mtn, etc. etc..) The evidence is there, but with a lucrative chrome aftermarket to sell with every new bike (rumors of add-ons equal to the price of the bike itself abound) why would they waste their time on a brand and bike that hardly has a fraction of the commission? I don't have the answers, but I KNOW Court has done a detailed analysis of just how to sell Buells. The sad part is too many don't want to know how to sell them. They even steer customers that walk in looking for Buells away towards the sportster and v-rod (I've seen it 1st hand) I hope that your dealership gets it together. Buell needs to implement their own secret shoppers that are employees, not contractors trying to make sure that they get the call next time by telling the company what they want to hear with minor criticisms thrown in for authenticity. I have reason to doubt the way the secret shopper system works as is. Here in Columbia MO there was a big news story a while back about a secret shopper gone wrong visiting the dealership. I had a family member involved with the whole incident so I know it wasn't a case of media sensationalism. The 1125r may get new customers in the door, the question remains; How long will they stay if the dealerships don't make drastic changes to SOP? |
Cyclonedon
| Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 02:33 am: |
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I went into a local (Chicago) dealer once with my Buell hat and jacket on, I was sitting on a Buell on their sales floor when a salesman came over (reluctantly) and asked me what I was riding. I told him I had a Buell Cyclone and he proceeded to tell me that most Buell riders were up-grading to Dyna's. After a few minutes of his listening to his B.S., I left! Back in 1998 when I purchased my first Buell, I went to Ukes in Kenosha with the intentions of buying a Harley, But Keith Ulicki (owner) talked me into purchasing the Buell instead and I couldn't have been happier! Last summer when I bought my Ulysses, I went to their Buell Demo Day's event to just ride the new Buells and they ended-up selling me one! I agree with what Brian said that there are some Buell dealerships that go the extra mile for their customers. They not only sell them, they BELIEVE in the product!!! I've visited both Appleton and Hal's and they are great dealerships. |
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