| Author | Message | ||
     Captnemo |
Of the hatred of the Buell Crowd at the Motorcycle Chrome and Accessory Shop that sells some bikes too. I called the Buell Dealer on Tuesday after the 1125R announcement ( the Buell Salesman is off on Mondays ) to put my name on the list for an 1125R when they are available. He says "No Problem I'll put you on the list and I'll find out when it'll be here." A couple of days later the salesman calls back and needs a deposit to hold the bike. No problem, I give him a credit card number for the deposit. He doesn't have a estimate of when the bike will get there yet. A few days after that, the salesman calls back and leaves a voicemail that the bike isn't scheduled to be here until after the first of the year and that he never charged the credit card and destroyed the card number. I followed up with him yesterday and asked what the hold up was. I worked the info that the sales manager DESPISES Buells and didn't order a single bike at the dealer show. Nice to know that there's this much support for the Buell line at the dealer level. I did place a refundable deposit on a bike yesterday, and I'm the first one on the list at the dealer. This means that most of the orders placed at the dealers show will get built before mine. The upside is: Most of the bugs will hopefully get worked out and I won't be making payments on a new bike during the winter. The down side: I won't have the bike until the dead of winter and most of the other owners will have their bikes before me. | ||
| Court |
>>>I followed up with him yesterday and asked what the hold up was. I worked the info that the sales manager DESPISES Buells and didn't order a single bike at the dealer show. Name of the dealership: ___________________ | ||
| Captnemo |
PM sent. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
In fairness to the dealer, H-D Net which shows the delivery and allocation of the new Buells, doesnt even reflect the model 1125R, and I certainly wont have one prior to OCTober as it is showing now. If there is a way to get one sooner than that, let me know. Way out on the West coast we love the Buells, we would like to have more of them ;) | ||
| 98s1lightning |
The thing that gets me is when a guy goes to a BUELL/HARLEY dealer and he does'nt sell Buells at all. Theres a huge Buell sign on the front of the store, the only reason I stopped, and you go in only too find that your speaking in a different dialect. I think all Harley dealers should sell Buells also, why do they not? Its sorta like a Chevy dealer that sells the whole line except the Corvette. Oh and Court, the dealer is right off hwy 99 in Visalia Ca. I beleive, you should tell them to pull the sign and sell it too me. | ||
| 98s1lightning |
You know there is a lot of hatred/animosity towards the Buell line and you'll see this when you go to buy a part for your S1W even though YOU know its a sportster part. I have learned that the local HD dealer in Bakersfields parts dept is amazingly stupid, I called to ask for a push rod, an exhaust valve and even gave them the part # and the parts guy asked me what those parts were and where they went, maybe I should have asked for a chrome bolt cover insted. Once he just looked up the part # he confirmed that he did not have it, I did get rocker box gaskets there but only after showing the salesman on the computer what they were. | ||
| Iamike |
So much of that is from the pervasive "If it isn't a Harley, it isn't s__t" attitude. If I owned an HD/Buell dealership and caught any employee with that attitude, I'd fire them on the spot. | ||
| Ryker77 |
In fairness. A parts guy makes less than 12/hr. A salesman gets pid more but that is based on commission of big dollar HD. I doubt they even like to sell a plain jane 883 sportster unless they can "upsell" you a few grand in chrome. A buell can't be "up sold" with fancy chrome do dads - so the salesman and owner doesn't make the profit. A retail store only has soo much floor space and that sq/ft of floor space needs to move (aka Sell) stuff. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
True, the commission on the Buell product is less than the New Sportsters that I sell. But I would wager that any sales staff that rides the Buells, is EXCITED about the Buells, not from a monetary standpoint, but from a passion level and a common ground. Yes I own a Harley, yes I sell 12-1 Harleys to Buells. But I ride with the Buellers, so it is my best interest to fill this group out and to get people excited about the brand. Money is money, when it is all done, its a pile of paper that pays the bills. The rides that I have been on with my CityX,and the local Buell riders... Well I wouldnt trade it for any heap of cash or chrome. If you cant have fun and be excited about motorcycles, stay home, or go sell pre need burial plots. ( I have done that before) Bikes are fun, get with it. But in the end, I cant force anybody to have FUN ;P btw, both the BMW rider and KTM rider that came into the store today were damn glad it didnt call their bike $hit, and even invited them to ride with us. Some people just dont get it, their loss. | ||
| 98s1lightning |
I agree, but I dont think what you make an hour should regulate what your attitude is like, after all YOU TOOK THE JOB right? Now were you saying that the hourly rate should allow you too be stupid? | ||
| Sanchez |
Move to Atlanta at your earliest convenience. Stone Mountain HD rocks.  | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Nemo, Was this at the Buell dealer just to the east of us? I've gotten the "don't care" attitude there before in my limited experience with them. I've been meaning to take the extra drive to Dothan to see if they're more Buell friendly. The guys at the HD dealer here in town have been assholes for the most part. I love to hear "We can't get that part, we're not a Buell dealer" when there is an '03 XB9S sitting directly behind me. I wonder how bad the guy got raped on that trade in. I looked at it for about 20min before I finally went to the front desk and requested a salesman come speak with me about it. Which he was only good for telling me the price and that the guy that traded it in was an older fellow. He claimed that they had done all the scheduled maintenance on it. I'm not sure how they did that when they "don't sell Buell parts." | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Also, is your XB12R going to need a new home soon? If so, let me know. Don't worry you're the only other Buell rider I know in town. And although there are 2-3 others I'm sure you'll be the first one with an 1125R in Mobile. (Message edited by not_purple_s2 on July 24, 2007) | ||
| Rainman |
Again I feel very lucky. Although my dealer isn't a big go-gettum Buell dealer, they sell their stock, they treat me well and they speak fluent speed with dynometers and hop-up parts for Blasts and hogs. I feel better about Shenandoah H-D all the time. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I'm happy with Farrow's (Northstar). They're very excited about the new 1125r, and they're looking into devoting a section of their showroom to make a Buell area, Complete with bikes, parts, and merchandise. Apparently they sold 5 Buells last month alone. That doesn't sound too bad! Now, if they would just get a Buell specific Sales/marketing guy.  | ||
| Xl1200r |
I'm waiting for the day I get attitude like that from a Buell dealer. Mine isn't bad at all. They always stock up on bikes and I've seen as many as 8 or 10 on teh floor at once. They don't stock much in the name of accessories, but they do have designated Buell stand with some t-shirts, jackets, leather, gloves, hats, grips, bike covers, helmets and frame pucks. And they'll get any part you want. One of the cute girls that works the front counter rides a Firebolt, and the one parts guy is into the brand and knows his stuff for the most part. The sales people? I don't even deal with them. When it comes to vehicles, I've always been one to know what I want before I walk in the door, so all the salesman does is tell the sales manager what I want. The last time I bought a new bike, I rode to the dealership in December (I live in Upsatate NY, thank you), parked the bike outside and grabbed the sales manager. "That's my old bike. That black Firebolt in the corner is my new bike. Make it happen." 20 minutes later it was a done deal. Brunswick Harley-Davidson in Troy, NY. Sruart is great (sales manager), Toby is excellent and easy to talk to (parts guy). The service department is decent. They used to have a real good service writer that knew Buells (he rode an X1), but he moved to NJ or something. More than one tech in the back rides Buells, and they are eager to talk to you about your bike and any mods or anything. Hell, there's even an old-timer sales guy, short, long beard... total "harley" look. he just bought a Ulysses last year for himself. I got a kick out of that. Anyways, I like them. Sorry for the rant. | ||
| Essthreetee |
98s1lightning - Regarding the Visalia dealership...I don't know when the last time you were there, but I do believe that they pulled the sign (finally) and I am already in line for it. It bothered me too, when they stopped carrying the Buell line but didn't take the sign down...now it is the all important HD Eagle  You know the one that draws in the "Chrome Army". I have spent many hours talking to the owners (friends of my parents) trying to get them to understand the greatness of Buell, only to get the "Buell Boy" title. | ||
| Chasespeed |
Brunswick Harley-Davidson in Troy, NY. Sruart is great (sales manager), Toby is excellent and easy to talk to (parts guy). The service department is decent. They used to have a real good service writer that knew Buells (he rode an X1), but he moved to NJ or something. More than one tech in the back rides Buells, and they are eager to talk to you about your bike and any mods or anything. ON a ride a couple years ago, pulled into their parking lot(on a sunday), and took a break...(I personally rode from Monson, MA) Looked inside, and it looked WELL stocked, Buell Banners, etc, I remember making the comment to Nate, and Signguy about, too bad the stealership in Virginia Beach isnt 1/4 as good.... Though, Sheldons HD/Buell in Auburn MA is pretty good as well... Chase} | ||
| Crusty |
Sheldons HD/Buell in Auburn MA is pretty good as well... Yes, they are. And they're getting better all the time. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Farrows is about to get on the Buell wagon big time....... I wouldn't be shocked to see them become a BadWeb sponsor in the near future...... | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
Farrows always treated me with respect and decency. No attitude at all. I only wish I lived a little closer. | ||
| Captnemo |
I just got back from Galveston, Tx from a dive job. I got your PM's Court, and we'll see what we can do to help the faithful. It's just difficult to help the "man in the trenches" if the Sales Manager doesn't want to see that brand do well. I guess that it becomes a choice of loyalties. Andrew ( the salesman ) has been pretty good to me, so he's earned my support. Curtis, the 'bolt may be looking for a new home, but I would rather sell the Kawi Z1000 and pay off the 'bolt. I'll check with the banker tomorrow and see where the dollars and cents are. Did you get the house ? If so, congrats, if not there are several on my street to choose from. | ||
| Chellem |
Every time one of these threads comes up, it makes me sad. But I do need to speak a little bit in defense of parts guys and Buell. We can hire parts guys who already know a lot about H-D parts. They already exist. But try to find someone off the street who already knows enough about Buell Parts and Accessories to impress a badwebber. Not easy. And I know what you're thinking, just hire a Buell guy. That works great, for whatever type of bike THEY have - for example, if they have a tuber, they know lots about tuber parts, but little about XBs. So they still have a lot to learn. Plus, they usually already have jobs of their own. Buell employees have to be built, almost from scratch. And there's a lot to learn. Plus, as human nature goes, people tend to stay inside their comfort level, and H-D is these people's comfort level. We provide all the training we can get from Buell, which boils down to a giant PDF file and a DVD each year, and the catalog. So to drag a parts guy who's been selling H-D for 10-15 years out of his comfort zone, teach him a completely new bike, and about a completely new type of customer, and then make him comfortable in it, well, it's just not easy. Add to that that Buell questions come up maybe 20% of the time, compared to the 80% or so of H-D questions, and they don't get to practice their new knowledge that often anyway. Not impossible, but not easy. And I agree, it should not be related to how much they make. Just throwing that out there, as I always do in these threads. Don't assume that the lack of Buelliness comes from the top. It could just be natural resistance to learning something new. I know *I* would appreciate it if someone told me, as a manager, about an experience they had that was less than pleasant. Of course, it would be great if they did it without yelling and swearing at me, THAT would be even better. :P | ||
| Xl1200r |
Of course, it would be great if they did it without yelling and swearing at me, THAT would be even better. :P Where's the fun in that? |
