I just returned from one of Bruce Rossmeyer's famous Harley Davidson stealerships. I went to the parts counter to obtain an accessories catalog. The young kid behind the counter said yea, I have plenty BUT!..... there is a $5.00 charge for 1!!! Plus tax!!! I asked him why was this? He said Bruce Rossmeyer 'and' Harley Davidson are now charging for them. I said I was a national and a local H.O.G member and have been for years, I even produced both cards to prove it. I told him I have "never" had to pay for an accessories catalog in the past, EVER!!! I looked him in the face and said, "just another Harley rip off, thanks for nothing" and I walked out, disgusted. It didn't even matter that I've been paying dues to the national and local H.O.G. chapters for years. It didn't matter that I and my family have spent THOUSANDS of dollars in that stealership over the years, he even knew me by my first name. It seems to me that Harley Davidson is doing nothing but getting on the airline band wagon, charging you for 'everything' that they could possibly get out of you. This is why I've talked to and know so many Harley riders who are becoming more and more disgusted with HD to the point of where they are riding their last Harley motorcycle. I am too. When does it end?

 

When the sheepish masses stop paying the asking prices? Ya gots to pay to play I guess.

Charging for a parts catalog is a bit ridiculous though.

The odd thing...I got one in the mail for free a few weeks ago. /shrug

 

Our dealership mails one out to every customer in the database on "active" status for free. If someone comes in and wants one, as long as they are purchasing product in our store, they will get one. But yes, they do show a retail price of $5 or you can simply go on line and download them and save yourself the money.

 

Its not harley its your dealership you need to find a new one... they tried that at a dealer near me, now they are back to free. but I still boycott that dealer and go to the one that never tried that!!!! its b.s. meet the owner and tell him he lost a customer

 

How much $ did you spend the last year at that Dealership on parts? If the ans is none that is why they want to charge for the catalog.
My dealership always sends me one (but I buy parts from them).
Oh, Hog has nothing to do with the catalog!

 

Harley has Always charged the dealers for the books... at our dealer we give them to our customers for free, HOG member or not!!!
this is up to the individual dealer... come to Pa, ill hook ya up with a free book..

 

Kuryakyn has charged for their catalogs for years, and they only carry a fraction of the stuff found in the HD catalog.

That said, I believe hotpursuit is correct, the dealers have always been charged, and they haven't passed on the cost to their customers. I usually pick up two of them at the annual bike shows in January...

 

Before you ride your last HD perhaps you should check out the other brands' dealers. My guess is that the grass is not greener on the other side. I have owned other brands....

 

The catalogs are shipped to the customers directly from HD with your local dealers info printed on it. The dealers pay HD for the catalogs. If your on the dealers active list, you get one in the mail.

That's a lot of catalog and probably is worth the $5. I myself would not spend $5 on a catalog and if I need parts, I look on the HD Main Site under accessories for my model bike.
Then go to Chicago or Hales HD sites for the 20% discount price.

 

Got my first one at the counter free. Got the second one in the mail...free(after I bought a bike). I ain't buyin one...hell, I haven't even bought any accessories for the bike so far.