| Author |
Message |
    
Wyckedflesh
| | Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 07:00 pm: | 
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I think I speak for others too.
We were very much disappointed, on account of we didn't attend!
I second that sentiment Blake, I truly love attending events where the sponsors are Buell enthusiasts as well  |
Usroute66
| | Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 07:52 pm: |
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Slaughter...as I have said other places on this board, but worth repeating here, "I can walk home from Bartels, but I rode the bus home from Glendale". Hence, if you find good people at a dealer, you reward them by returning. And if they notice this (as they do at Glendale), they reward you with good service. And then, I would spend more money there! Imagine that. I think they call this "customer service".
Scott |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2005 - 06:20 am: |
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Scott:
A shot straight to the head of the nail.
Thank you,
Court |
Garrett1998s1
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2005 - 07:53 am: |
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Going back through the knowledge vault I found an article about adjusting your shock. Turns out the mechanic didnt set my preload properly im bottoming out. Going to take it back to the dealer again to see if they will get it right this time. Wish me luck. Really glad I found this site getting alot of useful info. My thanks to the people who run it. |
Koz5150
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2005 - 11:10 pm: |
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From Taxman:
Koz:
if the dealers put there mark-up directly on the bike for all to see, do you think anyone wood OPT to pay it just because there dealer is nice?
when i bought my bike i found another dealer that had the bike cheaper. i talked to my local dealer about this. they said that they were unable to match the price, but they were able to throw in all my first two services free of charge. that more than made up for it. if the cost had been as far out of wack as the other story though i'd have to go with the less expensive one.
Well, I wouldn't go to the cheapest dealer. It would probably have a direct effect on what type of service and employees that dealer has. I know it is a far fetched idea though, fun to think about though. Do you buy the cheapest tires and oil for your bike? why would you go to the cheapest dealer? hmmm....
As far as Blastard's issue goes, NEVER buy a vehicle at night. Even though you should expect a new vehicle to be perfect, never assume. After all Harley dealers are stil human like the rest of us. Mistakes happen... I would log a complaint with Buell Customer Service, and then go somewhere else... |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 - 09:38 pm: |
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Since the topic is dealers - why don't you come out to our May race at Willow Springs. Glendale not only sponsors our BRAG group but the Middleweight Twins class. We've got 8 licensed racers in our BRAG group and together with Bartels, we can have up to a dozen racers pitting together. Here's the pic I missed earlier showing Mario - the COO of Glendale HD/Buell at speed on the track:
Not too many buyers of the generic 4 manufacturers actually get to race against their dealer fercripessakes.
Erik Buell will be coming to our May races at Willow Springs Raceway - seems we've gotten their attention being the only BRAG club with so many active Buell racers. In May a few of the group will be transitioning to expert and I'll still be bitching about not racing yet  .
Race date: May 15th
We'll have our usual group BBQ running so if anybody else shows up, just bring your own animal flesh to char. There's an Albertson's up the road from the track entrance a few miles if you don't wanna carry a dead carcass strapped to your handlebars all the way to Willow.
No reservations required!
Hope to see some new faces - and if you haven't yet met Erik, he's really an approachable guy.
(Message edited by slaughter on April 12, 2005) |
Court
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 04:24 am: |
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Steve:
You make an excellent point about the dealership. I am sitting here the better part of 3,000 miles away, yet very much enjoy the B.R.A.G. Updates I get from Glendale.
May, huh?
BBQ?
Keep talking.
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Ingemar
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 07:03 am: |
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I think some of the problems with dealers on this side of the ocean is that the service techs generally got the lowest form of education possible, their pay is the absolute minimum for that sector and they see your bike as another object to work on to make it through the day. The techs I talked to showed no interest and, more importantly, no love for the brand whatsoever. |
Iamike
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 10:12 am: |
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My dealer is under new ownership so I hope that helps. Not that their service was bad in the first place, I think that they really do try.
I was kind of dissappointed when one of the parts guys made a comment "Oh, those are the bikes that just sit over there and never sell". Well most times I stop by there are different ones, so they must be selling.
I also think that sometimes a shop may not realize what they may be doing to turn off a customer. When I was travelling in Eastern Pennsyvania a couple of years ago I stopped to visit another Badwebber who works at a shop. He was out in the parking lot talking to me when the boss came out and yelled at him about something. I don't know if his boss didn't realize that he was talking to a potential cusomer or not, but if I was I may have thought twice about buying from that shop. |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 10:36 am: |
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Y'know - the dealer is EVERYTHING.
Was down at Glendale talking to Eric (no not THE Erik) - the Buell tech there. He just got back from the Gulf (his reserve unit got activated) and we're comparing notes on collarbone breaks...
I ALWAYS make a point of stopping in the dealership to say HI to the folks. Eric is a coool guy and you find out a lot just by talking to people.
I think that IF you have an active BRAG group, it can serve both ways. Gives you a "voice" with a dealer - also just the fact that a dealer is willing to work with your group helps. Candice Hurley who "runs" our BRAG group is really proactive in setting up rides, working with the dealer offering to run the BBQ for their parking lot sales, wangling discounts for us - working on our fundraising activities - you name it. Yes, the dealer can make or break it but don't think having a BRAG group doesn't make a difference either (not that you SHOULD have a group to influence the dealer but it doesn't hurt)
I've been watching the new Vegas BRAG folks starting to form up together with Henderson/Las Vegas HD/Buell and it's kinda nifty to see it happening. We've asked them to hop over to Spring Mountain Motorsports Park (Pahrump) in June for our annual track day. Last year we had over 25 Buells there. FUN FUN FUN
We may be lucky here being so close to the mountain roads, generally good weather and a lot of like-minded riders - but (BIG BUT) - there are a lot of other HD dealers in the area and very VERY few that support the folks the way Glendale does.
(Oh and Court, I'll be returning to regular authorship of the race report this month unless I crash badly on my crutches )
(Message edited by slaughter on April 13, 2005) |
Starter
| | Posted on Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 11:52 pm: |
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I'm not sure any of the problems are Buell's fault, or in fact the management of the dealerships are aware of them. My experience says that it is more the people working at these establishments. I've had a couple of sour experiences, which at the time made me feel like telling them where to shove their bike, but after I'd cooled off, talked a little higher in the chain and got the truth it always turned out that it was the guy on the floor being lazy, a tech making a simple error and lying to the service manager cause they were having a bad week.
One tip I always give people is Large Dealerships usually have the bike sales volume due to the quantities they move out the door, but the little guy across town will have the customer service volume won hands down cause he will appreciate your business and wouldn't be there if he didn't satisfy customers needs and do a good job. You only have to put up with bad service once, following that you have the choice. |
Blasterd
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 - 10:49 pm: |
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I received my NEW airbox cover & flyscreen today from the dealer, I had them ship it so I wouldn't have to take it in just for the 10 minute exchange. I'll put it on tomorrow night and then it will feel like I got a new bike instead of a scratchy 2005 model.
Ken |
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