| Author | Message | ||
     Az_M2 |
Anon, thanks for the explanation of why I can't order a Buell part at the Harley dealer. Your point regarding manufacturer loyalty to authorized dealers makes sense. I also understand your point about authorized, competent service, however, I'm not sure it's in the context of this discussion. Is an authorized distributor of parts required to install/service them? All I wanted to do was use a gift certificate to get some parts and put them on my bike, instead I have to buy more Harley stuff for the Sportster. Regarding anonymous postings, ditto what Chuck said. Couldn't an anonymous poster setup a bogus email account and use that along with a bogus name? Thanks again for the explanation . . . Chris | ||
| Anonymous |
Chuck hit the nail on the head. (Thanks Chuck! Much humor gets lost in the finger to keyboard algorithm :-) The "Court Plan" for Authorized Buell dealerships stocking parts has always been a "no brainer" to me. It dumbfounds me that more ears have not heard the song and eyes have not seen the light. Hopefully it will be realized soon and we'll all be smiling when we hear; "Sure, I have that part right here. Can you stop in today to have it installed?" Anonymous 2001: Spontaneous creativity has prevailed ... as I am "DAve" so you may be "Anonymous 2001". Now that wasn't so hard was it? ;-) I'd take it off-line but you don't have a hotmail or yahoo account. I respect your post and suggestions, I acknowledged your reply to me as a "good point" and "well received", and admittedly is the best path to take right now to remedy my immediate situation. I even throw in a ;-) for a sure tip off that it was written with a sprinkle of humor. Your item #2. You attempted to give me an accurate explanation as to why authorized Buell dealerships do not stock parts? I may be daft but I guess I missed it on why Buell Authorized dealerships can commit to selling the Buell line but seem to have difficulties with committing to stocking Buell parts. Especially active service bulletin kits. I think you did an outstanding job explaining why HD dealerships don't have access to everything Buell and why it's bad Ju-Ju to attempt to have a Buell serviced at a non-Buell HD dealership. Rock solid sense to me. Consider this though ... your side of the fence may be a Buell dealership that is truly a dealership committed to Buell. Drop me a note if I can spend my $ there. As far as posts in this section. My original post was directed to the factory ... to the BIG HD/Buell mothership and not in an attempt to bypass my servicing dealership nor Buell/HD Customer Service. (Yes ... they rock!) Hey Rocket: Took the XR1000 out for a ride today and it was Shaaaa-weeet. Well ... for an old vibratin', noisy assed', freaky lookin', "highly modified" Sportster ... girls' bike. DAve | ||
| Anonymous |
Sorry DAve, I tend to drift a little when I get to typing... (watch carefully, I may do it again.)  As for Buell dealers not stocking parts. No excuse from me or should there be from them. I think Court has tried to point out many times before that Buell dealers are not "franchise" dealers. The legalities of all that are WAY above my head. What I do know is that HD/Buell only have limited power to “force” them to do much of anything. They can beg, plead, scream, and yell till they are blue in the face and the dealer can still say “Nope, not gonna do it!” That is why I suggested the different approach of the customer going direct to the owners and asking for help. If HD/Buell says “Mr. Dealer, you will stock this and sell it for this or we’ll find someone who will.” An even bigger and badder “Mother Ship” (the federal government and SEC) say its price fixing and other nasty things like that. I believe the strongest words a customer has at his/her disposal are “I need help, can you help me?” I think we all can see that HD dealers operate with a certain level of greed. Use it to your advantage. Take that dealer and show him how he can make more money by helping you and you’ve got a winning combination. Dealers will be excited to the new Buell to sell. What if a sales transaction went something like this? Mr. Dealer, I’m interested in this new bike but in the past I have had a real hard time getting even the most basic of service parts from your store. What can you say to me that will convince me that this trend will not continue? Mr. Dealer, can you show me what support parts you have in stock right now to support my new bike if I decide to buy from you today? Mr. Dealer, Can you show me where you have committed dollars, like you are asking me to do, to support this bike? How many techs have you sent to be trained on this bike that is a large departure from what you have been used to dealing with? Mr. Dealer, If I buy this bike from you today then go out into the parking lot and drop it off the side stand, do you have the parts to send me home with a repaired bike today? (turn signal, shift peg, clutch lever, mirror, maybe a broken foot peg.) Mr. Dealer, if I wear my brake pads out in 1 month will I be able to by them from you without having to order them? Will you have more than one choice of pads available? Mr. Dealer, can I buy an adjustable clutch lever from you for my new bike? Mr. Dealer, why should I choose your shop over any other shop? Mr. Dealer, I introduced myself when we met. What is my name? Mr. Dealer, I am interested in this high performance motorcycle. Can I buy my high performance riding gear from you or do I have to go down the road to Mr. Honda dealer? No sir, that beanie helmet is not exactly what I had in mind… Mr. Dealer, do you feel that any of the questions I have asked you today are in any way unreasonable expectations on my part? (Caution, possible deal killer question. Use with caution!) Mr. Dealer, I like your answers to my questions. Given my past experience with my bike and your dealership, would you be willing to commit to me as a customer and put those commitments in writing? Will you, the service manager, parts manager, and general manager all sign this commitment? A few years ago the Republicans had a contract with America. Did I just write the makings of the “Contract with Buellers”? Quick… Copyright: Anonymous 2001 If you left the dealership in possession of satisfactory answers to all these questions would you leave on a new Buell? I think I would. 01’ | ||
| Court |
>>>I believe the strongest words a customer has at his/her disposal are “I need help, can you help me?” The words could be gospel. Harley-Davidson dealers, not unlike Buell owner's, are independant to a fault. The line along which loyalties lie are vauge and dynamic. There are, within the ranks, a number of "sub strata" such as the California Dealers...the NY/NJ and other such groups. HD does anything that helps the whole of the group and detracts from one of the sub-groups it's not unusal for these newly cash infused folks to mount legal challenges. Pavlonian classical conditioning is a far better weapon than "forcing" when dealing with a Harley-Davidson dealer. Heck, even with me for that matter. Court - back in New Yawk City | ||
| Jasonl |
Anon (s) - thanks for the insightful writing. Buellers - Could this be the start of a new trend like the XB9? I don't know about you guys but I feel like with this conversation we're on the inside track. Please don't run this "little bird" off because I think he's got more to tell us. |
