===Orig Mess===
From: "West Hovland"
I agree with "most" sentiments about local dealers... they leave a lot
to be desired in some cases. I still try to buy from the good ( OK)
ones. For those of you who won't support the local dealers, I invite
you to try on helmets at your online store and take virtual test drives
at Kawasaki.com etc... Without a local shop we will have to wait for
the Cycle World show to come around before we can even touch the new
models. Then order one through the catalog and wait for the new bike to
show up on my door step. Damn...wrong color... guess I'll box it up and
send it back.
Off my soapbox,
West
===End Mess===
West,
A well deserved venting indeed! You bring up a point; one that some
may forget, and some may just assume... It's not the dealer *concept*
that's protested, it's the fact that many of them are operated so
poorly on one basis or another (pricing, service, attitude, etc.)
I live in an area that has *one* franchise dealer. The next closest of
the Big Jap Four dealers is 80 miles away (although a new Honda dealer
is/ has just opened only 40 miles away. Whoo Who.)
On a good day, my dealer is "OK" at best. My dealer couldn't pronounce
"test ride" even if you showed him a cashier's check for MSRP. I may
"use" the local dealership; that is, play touchie feelie with the new
meat, try on helmets and then order online, etc. It is a rare day that
I leave any cash behind.
So, I won't "support the local dealers". I think it's a bad idea.
Why? Simple market based economics. If I were to support him, he'd
think it's acceptable to be just an "OK" dealer. Instead, if business
were to drop off, (assuming he's an intelligent businessman) hopefully
he'd do a little research to determine why, and correct the problem.
So for now, I buy from my dealer's only competition (the internet) and
get product in the same time (my dealer can't pronounce "stockroom",
either) and much reduced cost with no attitude.
In the worst case scenario, which you elude to, the local dealer goes
under. So what? In our economic system, that's not the end of the
story. Either this was a market correction in an area that has
multiple dealers that can be adequately served by the remaining, better
dealers. Or, if the local dealer was the only dealer (like my town),
there is now a business need and unfulfilled demand. Some smart
motorcyclist entrepreneur will erect a new dealership and be mindful of
the fate of the original.
To their credit, I'll bet a dealership would be hard to staff,
especially parts/ sales/ and service "manager" (not the guys actually
doing the wrenching).
Would you want to work at/ for your local dealer?
Now, remember that dealerships are open on Saturdays. Some are open on
Sundays, I'm told. And, no matter what day of the week it is, people
are zooming in and out on their bikes all day in front of you, but
you're still there. Oh, and the pay is likely to be crap.
Do you still want to work at/ for your local dealer?
Chris Elledge
Roanoke, VA
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