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Crusty
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 05:52 am: |
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Pizza and beer woulda been better anyways. I love good Pizza. When we went to the Montecello (NY) 1/2 Mile last month, we found a little pizza joint that had the best Sicilian Pizza that I've had in years. It's worth the trip just for the Pizza. The Super 8 in Monticello, on the other hand, is a different story. |
Court
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 08:54 am: |
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Buellgrrl: We got a deal or not? Are you willing to lend the slightest credibility to what you write?
quote:Within the next year we may see more than half the dealerships go under, and HD itself may go belly up.
Let's be honest . . . most of what you said is pure stupidity. If you can't see the problem, it's going to be quite difficult to solve. We on our not? Make me think you believe one thing you are saying . . . . |
Buellgator
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 09:06 am: |
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I'm just here to see if anyone has any spare change! |
Jerseyguy
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 09:06 am: |
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This has to be the dumbest thread ever. Court, I'm surprised that you are wasting your time with this one. |
Xl1200r
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 09:07 am: |
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This thread makes my head hurt... |
Jaimec
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 09:42 am: |
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Ft_Bstrd said: "Never seen a Fischer out and about. " That was the point I was making... |
Buellgrrrl
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 09:47 am: |
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Now that the the dealer and HOG shills have had there say... Court, if you want to bet, just buy some HOG stock, I dumped mine before it dropped. I know well the economics of Harley dealerships, and the factories required investment is nowhere near what it takes to build up a dealership to Harley's standards. I know of a small town Harley dealership that paid half a million dollars just for the land their new store sits on... Figure at least a million more for the building. It's not rocket scince that a lot of Harley dealers have five digit monthly mortgage payments. You can see the warning signs already- one three store operation I know of has more "late model used" (probably repo) bikes on the floor than new ones. Obviously they can't get financing for "flooring" new bikes, and are stuck trying to sell repos to appease their financiers. A heavily leveraged dealership can afford that kind of hemouraging for a year or so maybe before they go belly up. So yes, if this recession deepens, Harley dealers will indeed be dropping like flies. If the economy recovers next year, most will survive. Meanwhile, my favorite dealership is warm and comfy in a building bought and paid for-you can buy and rehab a really small town building for less than one years payments on a new Harley store. Even though I've never bought a new bike from them, they treat me well and stock almost everything for my quarter century old BMWs. Compare this to most of the local Harley stores that would strain to find the parts to do a minor service on a Buell. Or worse yet, the Harley store whose salesperson right on this forum said they'd throw me out of their store... What a way to treat a customer, especially one with enough cash to buy up their whole Buell inventory. |
Ryker77
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 10:48 am: |
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I actually knew the part owner of the local dealership in my last hometown. He told me to check out the new Uly. I went down there twice walked around the sales floor and not a single Buell was on display. Saw the owner at the gym and we talked about the Uly. I mentioned that I didn't see the bike. "they are in the back" IDK much about selling Bikes. But seams to me if you want to sell something it needs to be up for sale. |
Jaimec
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 11:04 am: |
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Factory direct is a dumb idea. But getting Buells OUT of the Harley dealerships has been something I've been wanting to see for YEARS. Maybe now that Harley owns MV Agusta we'll be able to see Buells in MV dealerships? I don't think Harley would be STOOOOOPID enough to try and sell MV Agustas alongside their line of chrome dinosaurs, would they?? |
Court
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 11:07 am: |
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Let me make it easy. . . Is our bet ON or OFF. A one word answer will do. (Message edited by court on October 03, 2008) |
Buellgrrrl
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 11:16 am: |
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Court, are you gonna have the money to pay me back in a year? Like I said, if you want to bet, buy some HOG stock. I don't plan on adding any HOG to my portfolio anytime soon... |
Court
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 11:21 am: |
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Court, are you gonna have the money to pay me back in a year? Yes. Now . . . your YES or NO answer please. |
Bomber
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 11:22 am: |
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I can think of a a number of manufacturers of semi-expensive stuff (none vehicle, for what that's worth, but a couple of durable goods and a couple with vehicle-like priced products) that have attempted to sell directly, bypassing the established dealer network -- none of these efforts suceeded for any of the parties in the passion plays, and all of the efforts were suspended (until the next wave of 25 year old MBAs with no real world experience washes in, and re-invents the idea) -- this isn't to say, of course, that all is rosey in dealership-land, as it clearly isn't buying direct IS an interesting concept, and the fact that no one has made it work to date doesn't make it impossible -- just makes it an idea that hasn't succeeded yet. me, I woulnd bet on it, but i"m an old dog ;-} |
Ironken
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 11:35 am: |
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I've been reading this shit....Sounds like a Meth Tweeker rant. WTF!!!!???? Court, give up on the cash....She'll realize how silly this crap was when she comes down. |
Slaughter
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 11:43 am: |
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Tomorrow will be Pizza at Glendale HD/Buell on a Buell open house day. Pizza provided by Glendale. Free pizza is good - I can suffer without the beer since I'll be riding or driving. Dang now if I could only get some better coffee at work. Industrial Folgers just doesn't get it for me. |
Court
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 11:44 am: |
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My point exactly . . . sometime calling someone stupid is not an insult but rather an informed and accurate statement of fact. I'm out. Damn . . . and I'd already planned on spending the money! |
Slaughter
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 12:16 pm: |
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Lightstick
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 12:30 pm: |
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"Free pizza is good " Always a true statement. Hey, Trollgrrrl, how many BMW dealers will go tits up in the coming year? |
No_rice
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 12:33 pm: |
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i knew it was a bad sign when i saw that user name pop back up on here a bit ago. i thought she left with the intention of never coming back again. damn our luck. |
Jaimec
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 12:36 pm: |
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More likely, how many BMW dealerships will be shut down by BMWNA because they don't live up to corporate standards? Of course, BMW's corporate standards seemed to be designed to make it as financially difficult as possible for ANYONE to have a BMW motorcycle franchise. They've been dropping like flies here in the Northeast. |
Reepicheep
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 12:36 pm: |
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The Cincinnati BMW dealer went out of business. If you live in Cincy and want a factory authorized oil change, I think its a bout a 200 mile ride now. Hope they do it while you wait... Bomber, couldn't you buy a Sears badged motorcycle for a while? Buy from the catalog, ship to your door. How'd that work out for them? |
Ducxl
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 12:43 pm: |
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What is it with these "Rocket Types" P.S...sorry if i offended you Rocket! |
Cityxslicker
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 01:04 pm: |
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There is the fleet purchasing program where you can order the bike like off of a menu (just like at a fast food place without those pesky sales guys) The dealer still has to PDI it. ONLY catch is, you have to join the military service and perform duty overseas or at sea for 90 consecutive days. Bootcamp is only 8 weeks. Your UNCLE SAM has your solution. What else you doing for the next 56 days ? Looks like Winter comes early this year. |
Chellem
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 01:28 pm: |
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I was actually considering buying some HOG stock now. It's only gone this low a few times, and it's traditionally bounced back. I could kick myself a few times for NOT getting in. Not that I'm rolling in discrecionary cash right now. I work at a dealership. I have no knowledge of any other dealers, but I think the estimate of 50% is a tad high. Dealers who want to stay in business will find a way to do that. The economy is affecting everyone - especially retailers of things that might not be considered necessity by some (although some might argue that fact!) But it's not the first time it's happened. Harley has been through a lot. They have some bright folks working out there. And they have a strong desire to stay in business. As do I! So I hope buellgirrrrrrrl is wrong. ->ChelleM |
Cityxslicker
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 02:26 pm: |
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The best stock in a company that I own....
Rolling stock. Pays me in dividends every time I am on it. |
Bomber
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 02:36 pm: |
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Reep -- zactly my point -- yet another example of where it didn't work -- doesn't mean it CAN'T, but it sure didn't Actually, I truly wish I'd bought one of those American Eagles from Sears, back in teh day -- looked an awful like a Laverda ;-} |
Ryanhook
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 02:37 pm: |
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I hear Harley Davidson ads on Stern all day, them some advertising dollars. |
Sparky
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 03:14 pm: |
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There was a time when you could buy a Harley with a phone call through their Fly and Ride (Fly and Buy?) program. You actually bought through a participating dealer, and for $500 more, they'd ship to the West Coast. That's how I bought my '87 FXRT. It was such a sweet deal. I got it at dealer's cost by stating that I was an employee at my friend's sidecar shop and that we were designng mounts to put an Equalean sidecar on a Harley (I was and we did). What a priceless memory -- seeing the driver forklift the box off the flatbed, and me opening the crate, installing the windshield, connecting the battery and firing it up for the first time. I don't think Harley does this any more. Too bad if they don't. |
Thumper74
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 03:34 pm: |
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I think they still do, but at the factory |
Court
| Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 - 05:26 pm: |
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>>>Bomber, couldn't you buy a Sears badged motorcycle for a while? They also sold Cushman's branded as Allstate. HOG is facing an interesting dynamic. Buying it in 1986 worked out well. For the chance to turn every $100 investment into $10,000 I'd do it again. |
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