On the topic of dealer experiences, I had a very different one. I never bought the bike, but I did have some positives and some negatives. I was already a Buell owner and was looking to upgrade, if the price was right.
Positives
1. salesman called back, often
2. salesman knew the bike well
3. salesman was personable, and respectful
Negatives
1. salesman never asked if I was OK with the price before asking me to sign a bunch of stuff
2. salesman sent me on a tour of the dealership that I had zero interest in taking (but I found out where to drive my new bike in for its $500 oil change)
3. salesman referred to me as the guy that had just bought a Buell, before I agreed to it (and I said I was simply looking from the very minute I arrived)
4. salesman wasted at least 1hour of my time (see above tour) while I had clearly stated I was in no interest of buying a bike that day (and I finally just left)
5. salesman left me a voicemail saying how much my payment would be, instead of what the total sale price was and what the best interest rate he could offer was (as I described he would be competing against my credit union)
6. service department quoted my trade in, about where I expected, but then marked off a lot in labor and service, which I knew was going to happen... BUT the quote was definitely not in my favor, for example, if you are going to do a fork seal AND brake pads, do you really think that full labor is fair for both? I mean the caliper has to come off to do the fork seal. (not to mention I refuse to give a skilled tech 5.5hours to change oil and plugs, or $30 for "shop supplies"... you'll wash your hands on someone else's dime)
End result, I never called back. Bought elsewhere. #5 was actually the real downer for me, because it showed that the salesman wasn't actually interested in selling the bike or fulfilling my request, which was price shopping. Profit is the key, and I respect that... BUT knowing now what the dealer invoice is on the bike that I was looking at, and how many of them the dealer had in stock with almost no interested buyers... I'm a little upset that my requests weren't taken more seriously.
Now in the defense of the dealer, it was painfully obvious that the "dealer experience" was catered to the typical yuppie HOG member. Everything was about what clothes you're gonna buy to go with you bike, and what accessories can we get you, and will you pay us $85/hour to install some chrome wizbangs? My answer was always a blank stare and a simple... no. That's not their fault, its the fault of the little checklist that someone had in place for how to ring more money out of the yuppie-hog, while introducing them to all of their new friends at the dealer (I mean just imagine all the other new friends you'll find by owning a motorcycle, because that's why you bought a bike, right?)
DO I blame HD?? No, it's a dog eat dog world out there and money makes the world go round. HD saved themselves with the new exclusive image that can be bought for more money than it's worth. That worked up until the economy tanked, false demand for a product is the best way to drive prices and profit up. Remember when there were waiting lists for harleys?
I just left with the overwhelming feeling that I was nearly a cash cow for this dealer, and that hurt my pride more than anything. Now, that said, I am cheap, I use the living crap out of my motorcycles and I expect others to expect that of me... but not take advantage of it. $500+ and 5.5hours for plugs and an oil change? I did it myself in 2hours, with a primary adjustment, and spent $50 on parts. I bargan shop, and I'm not afraid to get dirty, but when undermining my bargain shopping is a tactic of the dealer I'm not impressed.
TO me its been obvious all along that Buell doesn't fit the HD business model, especially when my tour took me to the "accessories guy" so we could stare at each other and a $50 battery tender for a couple of minutes, since there wasnt 500pages of chrome to peddle on me. Maybe the new low prices will drive the used market down for a while so that cheap-***** like me can pick up a nice used bike from someone that always wants the latest new thing. IN the meantime I'll go back to riding the crap out of my Buell as I enjoy that a lot more than sitting in dealerships and drinking free coffee and buying clothing accessories. Have fun guys, enjoy the bikes while they last, or at least while your love for them does.
but i agree with ya
