Things Dealers tell Customers

[Vertical C]

Originally Posted by Chip Seal

Years ago I was hanging out with a couple of other riders at local Beemer shop. The one that went out of business in 2003, lol.

A potential customer walked in. Owner went up to him and asked if he could help. Well dressed potential customer asks, what's the difference between the 3 cylinder engine and the 4 cylinder engine? Owner looks at him at him and responds, "The 3 cylinder model is one cylinder short of real power". Guy looks at him, turns around and walks out.
He ended up going to Honda shop and bought a 750 VFR same day for cash.

Why would you buy your second choice bike because a salesperson missed a trick question?

It just sounds like some wanker on a superiority trip.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by Rucksta

I hate it when they take my first offer, it makes me think I'm paying too much.

Then that shouldn't have been your first offer. Or, and this may be the point, you offered what turned out to be a fair price for the bike, from both the seller's and buyer's perspective.

When someone takes my first offer, I figure we cut out a lot of wasted time and I'm happy.

Barry

[wb57]

Originally Posted by Barnone

So you work at a Harley dealer that also sell Triumphs? I though Harley did not allow that?
Just curious.

HD dealer here picked up Triumph several years ago.

www.rayprice.com

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by Barnone

So you work at a Harley dealer that also sell Triumphs? I though Harley did not allow that?
Just curious.

Harley doesn't own the store. George Latus does. It is a common misconception that you hold... And it is true that both Harley and Triumph would prefer stand alone stores, so what we did is put two stores in one. Separate areas in the same building.

Missoula's Harley store is also a Ducati dealership.

[1911fan]

And I worked at a Harley-Davidson/Kawasaki dealership.



19111fan

[kraven]

Originally Posted by Vertical C

Why would you buy your second choice bike because a salesperson missed a trick question?

It just sounds like some wanker on a superiority trip.

Yeah. "lemme verify your expertise before I buy this bike and never see you again."

People find the weirdest things to be huffy about sometimes.

[dwoodward]

Originally Posted by Barnone

So you work at a Harley dealer that also sell Triumphs? I though Harley did not allow that?
Just curious.

If you think about it, it's the match that Erik Buell was trying to get- between the two you have a full range of motorcyles (except dirt bikes) with very little overlap. This works because both are established lines, and because George Latus wants to do it- it wasn't forced on him from above. Buidl a relationship with the customer no matter what style of riding they want, and when they want something different, they'll be back.

The Harley Davidson(tm) dealer in Salem, Oregon also sells...











Vespas.

[pebble35]

I work at a H-D shop - we also sell Ducati, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi and Peugeot as well as a good mix of used bikes as well .......

Bottom line is that 99% of the time we can sell something to anyone who comes in the door ................

[dwoodward]

Originally Posted by Vertical C

Why would you buy your second choice bike because a salesperson missed a trick question?

What's a trick question about knowing the difference between a K75 and an overweight vibrating pig with too many cylinders?

My only question- West side, or east side? I have my suspicion, but want to be sure.

Anyway, Would you rather have your second choice of machine, or your first choice where your only hope for maintenance where the staff suffer from chronic recto-cranial inversion disorder?

It just sounds like some wanker on a superiority trip.

And now the wanker's out of business. (I'm sure you didn't mean the customer, who asked a perfectly fair question, and the response, while correct, was completely inappropriate.)

[WVhillbilly]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

Harley doesn't own the store. George Latus does. It is a common misconception that you hold... And it is true that both Harley and Triumph would prefer stand alone stores, so what we did is put two stores in one. Separate areas in the same building.

Missoula's Harley store is also a Ducati dealership.

I honestly thought Harley wouldn't allow that too.
I have never seen a Harley dealer as anything but a stand alone store.

[crazyjeeper]

Originally Posted by WVhillbilly

I honestly thought Harley wouldn't allow that too.
I have never seen a Harley dealer as anything but a stand alone store.

The Harley dealer in Grand Junction, CO also sells KTM and BMW.

[Ghostyman]

Originally Posted by dwoodward

Anyway, Would you rather have your second choice of machine, or your first choice where your only hope for maintenance where the staff suffer from chronic recto-cranial inversion disorder?

False dichotomy much?

"Only hope for maintenance"...

[dwoodward]

Originally Posted by Ghostyman

False dichotomy much?

"Only hope for maintenance"...

Not everyone wants to- or should- attempt their own maintenance. If you can't trust the local dealer, and the next one is 100+ miles away- that's a deal breaker for some.

There was quite a spell in Portland where people would go to Seattle for BMW maintenance. If my Aprilia broke down beyond my ability to repair it- I still would. Not because the delaer closer to me has bad techs, but because I can't imagine taking a bike to a place for repairs where I can't trust them not to lie about small things, like whether they've even tried to order the parts I already paid for.

[dman]

Originally Posted by Little Bike

If you're ever in Richfield, UT there is an amazing dealership there - I think it's all Hondas, Kawas, etc. I was on a trip, they serviced my bike for $212 (did a great job), less than half what my local shop would charge and they washed my bike! They also checked the bike over for anything else and did some minor stuff for no extra charge. Except for the wash this is the kind of repair shop I remember taking my cars to years ago - people who knew exactly what they were doing and went above and beyond. Few and far between now a days.........

I needed a chain in Richfield back in 1987, a thousand miles from home and in the middle of the rainstorm to end all rainstorms. The Honda dealer had the chain and sprockets in stock, good price, and let me use their chain tool, stand to support the bike and let me roll it in the shop out of the rain for me to install it myself. A very positive experience I still remember after 25 years.

-dman

[woodnbow]

Originally Posted by crazyjeeper

The Harley dealer in Grand Junction, CO also sells KTM and BMW.

They may even have the Buell sign up there yet... They are one of the best HD dealers I've ever dealt with.