Rant about service @ HD/Buell Dealers

[JSW07]

I have been noticing quite a few of members on here complaining about the service at their local HD/Buell dealers. I don't get this, I have had amazing service from any dealership I have gone to, in fact I have even been found quoting "with the service I have got from HD so far, I will ride HD's forever"! I'm from Canada so, this summer I went on a trip from Calgary Alberta to Vancouver BC, along the way my bike started to ride jerky when at a steady speed and the idle was sticking at 2500rpm at a stand still. Being from Calgary I was wondering what the Vancouver (Deeley Harley Davidson) shop would do for me, but I brought the bike in and within an hour they had my bike in the shop, discovered it needed a TPS reset and I was back on my way!
Maybe its something about the Canadian dealers or the fact that my bike is still under warranty, I don't know its all strange to me!
One thing I have heard/found is that anyone who is a "service writer" in a dealership has to be willing to deal with angry and ticked off people and I think that with the reputation on the people who ride Harleys, this can amplified in a Harley shop, therefore these service writers just learn to say "no" no matter what! We need to understand that these "stereotypical" Harley riders who are ticking off the service writers, consider riding a life style, it is a part of their everyday lives, they literally ride their bikes through anything they can. In my opinion these guys derserve first dibs on service because they know what riding is all about, they created the culture we "squids" are all trying to be a part of. Unfortunatly, most of us will never officially be a part of that culture because we are all to busy working and trying to make a living in stead of riding our hearts out everyday!
So, MAYBE this is just a part of why some might be getting bad service at their dealers and maybe we can learn to understand this.
Give your guys' feed back!

[JSW07]

Ok so that was long winded and very opinionated, so I'll ask a more practical question...

Why do you think people have problems getting good service at Harley/Buell Dealers?

[dmp0001]

I think a lot of HD dealers don’t know much about buells. and as such want to get rid of customers rather than admit their lack of knowledge. as for me Colorado springs HD is great and I would recommend them anytime. I also think we here about the bad ones because only upset people are speaking out

[JSW07]

Agreed dmp001.

I find it strange that these dealers don't like Buells, you'd think that even though Harley selects their Buell dealers, they would still have the option! Maybe those Buell dealers need to get more people on staff that do like them and ride them!

[dmp0001]

do you want to let them know or should I,;) I almost didnt buy a buell because none of the sales people knew anything about them... glad I did!

[JSW07]

I wonder in Harley is aware, you would think it would affect their sales!

[dmp0001]

I'm sure it does, all my buddies that ride had no idea what I was riding when I showd up on my buell! everyone has heard the name but no one knows what they are except a select few, but at the same time I like that about my bike

[JSW07]

That is a huge draw for me! Whenever I stop at a light my buddies eye me up like "what the heck is that noise"!
I think the 112R is going to be huge for getting Buell known. Just watch, next year the XB's are gonna get Rotax motors, then I have an excuss to have 2 Buells!

Wow the topic sure changes fast when you're having fun!

[dmp0001]

I for one hope they keep the 45* are cooled lump. it may not be the most advanced motor out there but it makes me feel all warm and tingly (literally!) I think they would be loosing some their feel, but then again the Italian tins aren’t bad...

[JSW07]

Thats true, maybe they will keep an air cooled model and offer a Rotax version as well!

[dmp0001]

only time will tell...

[zombieBUELLer]

I've had good and bad experiences with Harley dealers.

I live 5 min from a Harley dealer in fort myers and I dont think I will ever step foot in that dealership again simply because of the poor attitude and being jerked around by the salesmen (who wouldn't even talk to me about the Buells and insisted on pushing a sportster on me) and the service department simply because I choose not to ride a "real motorcycle" as stated by the douche cake in the service department. (maybe he was having a bad day, i dont know and i dont care)

If I absolutely need to go to a dealership, I will ride the 130 plus miles to the east coast to Bruce Rossmeyer's Sunrise Harley-Davidson. Thats where I bought my XB and had an excellent experience! They new what they were talking about. They worked with me on a price. And were just generally nice to deal with (almost to the point of kissing my ass).

now, whats really weird... is that there are probably people who have had the opposite of what im saying happen to them. And they won't do business with Sunrise Harley and had an awesome experience at the fort myers dealership. ???

either way you look at it, its a win-win for Harley-Davidson/Buell

but ultimately what I believe the problem to be, and its just my opinion, is that there just isn't enough chrome on the Buells. I mean, I dont think anything pisses off a "chrome specialist" more than having to stop looking at himself long enough in all that shiny **** to order me a piece of black plastic!! ;)

[JSW07]

LOL, there you go ZombieBueller, you nailed it, we need more chrome!

[BuellPartsGuy]

Chrome don't get ya home.... [down]

[buell007]

chrome is the motorcycles knome

[Das Bolt]

If we're giving props. to Harly dealerships I guess I should mention Manchester H/D Buell in N.H.,the parts dept. is great,service at least trys,but sales still sucks.And by the way, isn't carbon fiber "the new chrome"?

[JSW07]

I was kidding...I don't want chrome on my Buell!

[n1hlist]

Chrome don't get ya home....


,but it can get you laid. So, weigh the importance...

[BuellPartsGuy]

,but it can get you laid. So, weigh the importance...

If you think chrome gets you laid, you must be a very lonely boy....

[mrdozer2you]

If you think chrome gets you laid, you must be a very lonely boy....

If you can find a dumb enough chick, tell em that it's white gold:p

[n1hlist]

yes that is correct, I am lonely and my views about chrome are the precise reason why.

[dave_xb12r]

I thinks thats one of Harley's biggest mistakes. The dealership sent me home with a chrome Harley plate frame. How lame is that? I didnt buy a Harley! I think the Buell fanbase could be twice as big if not more if Buells weren't sold in Harley dealerships. I know tons of streetbike guys that would buy the bikes if they weren't a division of Harley. I don't think Harley's marketing department realizes that streetbike guys and Harley guys aren't the best of friends. So what I'm trying to say is, I don't want a Harley and I don't want chrome.