I'm not fond of salesmen who bash other products...it causes me to question the lengths they'll go to screw me.I'm usually on edge and quite suspicious of every word that comes out of a salesman's mouth...in the end it takes a while to make me trust him.

Send them a thank you note for their business...and maybe a discount card on their next purchase?

Rule #1: Treat them like the friends you would invite to your homerather than another sucker with a big wallet (respect).

Good luck.

 

Never judge people based on appearence, treat everybody as a buyer.Lot's of folks out there have money, but you'd never know it by looking at them. Others have little cash but lot's of credit. Others haveneither, butyou never know until you talk to them.

 

Since HD's are generally a little hard to come by, don't give the arrogance that some dealers do. Truly appreciate the business you are getting. Secondly, when a person buys a bike, it is a big deal to them so share in their excitement. When you have to order a bike for someone, make a special effort to call them and keep them posted on the progress. Finally, as was said earlier, when you say you are going to call someone, call them. When someone leaves a message for you to call them, return their call. Don't ever forget that the purchase for your customer is a big deal to them.

OK, another deal, do things that create dealership allegience. For example, we recently "negotiated" a deal on my wife's new Deluxe. Out here in Hooterville, our dealership sells their allocation quickly so if I turn down a deal, they can sell the bike to the next guy in the door. So, since the price was pretty much fixed, I asked for a store credit of $1,000. The dealership said no way on the store credit. Here's my opinion, if they'd have given a $1,000 credit, it would have only cost them probably $500 because I'd be buying at retail price. If they'd given a credit, I would felt an obligation to purchase motor clothes and accessories from their store. However, since they didn't, that obligation wasn't there. As a result, we were on a trip recently and bought over $500 worth of accessories at another dealership. Sometimes a little give gains you a lot.

Good luck and have fun.

 

Honesty above all. Talk straight like you would to a friend and you will go far. Personally I will not even talk to a greased up mr.cool from GQ magazine, and you better not be wearing a suit. But then again I am a Hic, on the other hand I do have money to spend. More simply stated dont judge by appearence, they might just have 50K in the bank to spend on a new bike. Later, Claire

 

- Add to this, make a note of their phone number and good time to call and every once in a while, give them a call and see how they are doing with bike. Any questions/concerns? They may have something that kind of bugs them but don't want to bother anyone about it. You can be proactive and suggest they bring it down so someone can check it out.

6.Not only know your products but know something about the competition's products. Not to badmouth the competition but to be able to say, "Well, here's where the H-D is different." Always keep it positive. If they like some of the features of a particular brand and you know something about the brand/model, you can talk about how H-Ddoes the same thing.

 

Not sure how it is there in South Africa, but think if you follow numbers 1. and 2. on your list then everything else will work well.

You asked the first 3 things I'd ask a salesman:
A. What's your ride, and past rides?
B. How long have you been selling bikes, and do you enjoy it?
B. What authority do you have to do a good and fairdeal with me right now?

 

Yep, the school teacher approach. You may not know everything, but you must know where/how to find it out and get back to them!

 

All the previous posts have offered great advice, here's one that may very well keep you employed.

Be organized. Make youself a detailed check list of every single requirement. It should cover everthing from making copies of the customer's licenseto ensuring you have a copy of the insurance binder in the package. DO NOT LET THE CUSTOMER RIDE THE BIKE AWAY WITHOUT HAVING A COPY OF PROOF OFINSURANCE!

 

When selling a used bike, at least wipe the bugs off and change the fluids before delivery. [:@]

 

Post#6, by TBone52, hit the nail on the head. The sale doesn't end when the customer signs on the dotted line. If he needs service ,usually means somethings wrong with the bike and the customer is p-ssed off. If you help him get it taken care of, you're the one he remembers can get the job done. Whose he gonna look for everytime? YOU!