Harley cuts shipment expectations, as well as more jobs, after Q2 net profit falls 91% from a year ago.

http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0090716?rpc=44

 

I suppose the good news is they were still profitable.

 

I have my own business and I know what it's like to have to deal for this economy. But in order to make , I have had to reduce my cost and and my prices. Most dealers will not deal or even give you thing. Wake up Harley, This is not 1980 when your dealers did not care if you bought the newest Harley at an inflated prices. Give a little and you will get alot or you will wind up like the auto dealers.

 

Does this mean that the saturated used market may dry up a bit and restore a little value to our scoots?

 

Got a dealer in the Atlanta metro area (just North) that has 100 used bikes, not to mention a slew of new bikes. A LOT of inventory to be going into a new model year.

 

I agree with Woodeyewezel's comment. This "we're Harley" attitude does not seem to be holding up. Some dealers are insisting on list for 09's when 10's are coming out in a month? Others however, are making deals and moving product. Change is not a big part of the culture.

 

See, now this pisses me off. Sales fell 30.1%, and I can't get a sales person to return my calls on OTD pricing (my best friend is buying a Street Glide), and this is at TWO dealerships. Also, when I got tired of waiting for return calls, I filled out each dealers "on-line form" to get a price quote. 10 days and counting, and NO RETURN CALLS. NO RETURN E-MAILS, nothing! In fact, I buy a new bike every 2-3 years, and a new car or truck every year or two, and ONLY ONCE in 8 years has anyone ever responded to those "on-line price quote forms"..... yet the parent companies (Chrysler & GM) are SO QUICK to e-mail me a questonaire about "how was I treated by the dealer in question"??? WTF is going on these days???? Sorry for the rant.

 

In another Atlanta dealer this week I saw signs on all 09's (big bikes-not Sportsters) that you get a $3000 gift certificate, thats not bad. If they would knock $3000 off the price I might think about buying.

 

Dealers around this area are making deals to move bikes. Sales guy said they have been going 1k to 1.5k off list and dropping shipping and prep charges and tossing in gift cards to move 09 bikes that are in stock.

Several of the local dealers have also dropped the old "beg for it" attitude.

 

Hmmm...What did you say? I never made it past your avitar! SAAAWeet!