Glad you didn't say, "dog bowls", cause I've GOT them, 'in stock'.



I basically walked away, 20 yrs ago, when the MoCo started 'pushing' dealers to either go "boutique" or GET OUT.

A few years ago, I heard, and it is jus' that, "heard", that you had to put up a minimum of $1 mill in bankable assets, in order for the MoCo to bankroll the rest of your "boutique".

When I think of the Ma and Pa shops/dealers, the GREAT people, the GOOD service, etc, thrown aside, it pizzes me off.

Do I want the MoCo to fail ?? 'Bout as much as I'd really like to see our Gov't/country fail. NEVER. BUT, I do wisht they'd worry a bit more 'bout WTF they're s'posed to be DOING, and who they're s'posed to be doing it FOR, and not jus' the "F"in' checkbook.

I'll pick up a shirt here or there, and I have TONS as gifts.

BUT, I know enough indys, I know how to use CraigsList, I know how to use catalogs, And I ALWAYS know where there are scoots and parts, for sale.
Boutiques ??????? Same as banks and credit cards. 2 words - "F" U.

They are like casinos to us, we go rarely, we look, we eat, and we leave. We work too dammt hard for what li'l $$ we have. Peshally when you charge out the azz, and pay your employees 'chit'. Someone is gonna pay for those castles. Jus' aint gonna be me, IF'N I have anything to say 'bout it.

PLUS, as I stated, got my own, DOG BOWLS.

 

I bet every dent in that old panhead dogbowl has a story!

Or at least a few swear words that went with it.

 

Gumby, you're quite correct. I recently spent a bit of time talking to a new dealer....they're very wealthy people from a completely different business background....and not even local people. They had to compete for the right to receive a franchise...and told where it would be located. They're very customer oriented (at least for now anyway) and I hope they know what they're doing. They picked up some of the good employees from the local sh*tbag dealer that just went under.

Right now I wouldn't be investing in a Harley dealership even if I were Bill Gates.

 

The MoCo also has territorial restrictions. You cannot own a franchise within a certain distance from another franchise so as to keep the dealerships from competing with each other.

 

That makes sense. MoCo is smart...just like the assh*les on Wall Steet we bailed out now awarding themselves huge bonuses and screwing their shareholders. They live by the motto "Socialize the risk, privatize the profits".

 

True but what's funny is if you move an existing dealership, say for expansion, it can be closer to other dealers than a new one.

 

We need more folks like this!
My hat is off to you Krusty1!!

 

Exactly. Good for them, bad for us. That means that they dont have to treat customers very well and if theyre the only show in town ppl still gotta go to you. Hell, i have to compete with 3 other shops within 10 miles of where im at(one of those within a mile of me) so if i treated ppl like the dealerships did i wouldnt last a year...

 

Sorry to hear Legends is closing it's doors, I like to visit different dealers to shop for different clothing. Last year I bought my sportster at Tramontin HD. I heard a lot of things have changed there. Their service department is really great, I heard they were voted in the top 50 in the country. The new manager ( Nancy) has been really helpful to make me feel welcome and I feel like part of the family. I hope we don't lose them.

 

Ya that's the answer , lower the prices, make less profit, flood the market, that will work, it worked for GM.....oh wait...........