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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | Was it because of cheap bastards like me? I loved the way these guys operated their dealership. They really knew how to treat the customer and overcome obstacles. They treated even those of us who do our own maintenance right. I could buy tools as needed from them. No problem. We are left with a dealership close by that I cannot recommend. They aren't bad folks by any means. I've been there, but just don't feel comfortable dealing with them.
One reason is they charged me over an hours labor once to tell me if my bike had the correct download, which it did. Recently, I asked about ordering a tool from them which Polaris sells for less than $70. They told me their price would be around $90 but were rather vague as to whether or not it included shipping. Now that my regular dealer has closed, I called and asked them to go ahead and order it. I went in to pick it up today and found that not only had they not ordered it, but a different person there is quoting "their price" as over $120 before shipping.
I really don't care what "their price" has to do with anything. I mean, it's none of my business. At my business customers never asked me what "my price" was for their food. Everything was clearly marked and they could observe my establishment and menu prices and either order something to eat or not. My point is, someone had given me a figure for what they paid even though not asked, I researched it to find that it was lower than originally told and then they quoted me an even higher price (even though not asked) on another visit, the question is : Can they be trusted? I have to say no.
Are the margins so poor that the good guys cannot stay in business? What can we as enthusiasts do to keep these guys in business without feeling like it is up to each of us to independently finance the dealership every hour of the day? I don't know. I only wish I had never been spoiled by such a great dealership as the one we had because now I have to just smile and put on the KY before I go in since I know they don't offer that. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I know one thing, I think the variables are to great to put anyone thing to a dealer staying open, or closing. But, one thing for sure, they need customers to survive. I ask myself why I will ride three hours to get my tire changed cheaper than I can do it myself at a dealer. But won't go to the dealer right next door that sells the tire alone for more than the entire package deal at the far away dealer. Some has to do with location, and some has to do with the one dealer having that special feel good about them that keeps customers in the door buying, not just when they need something. If I can save $100 to get my tire change, I'll probably spend that $100 on something else that has a good mark up for them. The fact is, some got, some don't, you'll never figure out why a good dealer goes out and a bad dealer stays open. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | Baadawg...sorry to hear about your dealer. I am fortunate enough to have a good one close by. Their success as I see it is they also offer Yamaha, Suzuki, Water craft and a decent inventory of various accessories. I am wondering if you and others across the country are surprised at the lack of advertising Polaris does for Victory. I see plenty of quad commercials. Victory use to advertise on a regular basis back a few years ago. Lack of Marketing can absolutely sink a dealer.
Regarding margins....the parts guys have shared with me that many accessories have very little margin/markup. Since I spent so much on my new bike, the dealer has been selling me accessories, jackets and pants at cost. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 209
| sorry to here about a good dealer going down. sometimes I've seen it slow at my dealer and I worry a bit about them going under. their at a great location, on my route to work even. I can always schedule an appointment and they are promt on getting it done. get a little one on one with the mechanics now and then. they also build trikes. one great thing is they will order aftermkt parts and I don't have shipping chgs. Cherokee trikes and more. Greer sc. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 209
| sorry to here about a good dealer going down. sometimes I've seen it slow at my dealer and I worry a bit about them going under. their at a great location, on my route to work even. I can always schedule an appointment and they are promt on getting it done. get a little one on one with the mechanics now and then. they also build trikes. one great thing is they will order aftermkt parts and I don't have shipping chgs. Cherokee trikes and more. Greer sc. |
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Tourer
Posts: 573
Central Illinois | I spent a bit of time recently talking to the owner of a Vic dealership. It is one of the biggest and best established ones close to me. He told me that he sells about 25 Vics each year. If you had to support yourself with a single sale every other week, what would be the minimum profit that you could accept on each sale? It is far more than I think I should pay for a new bike. What that means to me is that the Vic sales can no way be the total income that anyone can accept. That dealer needs another source of income or he must somehow sell far more bikes. Parts and accessories will never make up the difference so another MC brand will be what is needed to make the shop profitable and viable as a business. As much as I would like my local Vic dealer to be nothing but a Vic dealer, reality tells me that is not possible on any reasonable volume in today's market. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 281
| Sorry to hear that. Good dealers are hard to come by. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| I hate to see a dealer that actually cared about his service department close. My dealer treats his service department as an afterthought. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | sorry about the loss of a good dealer baadawg  . I never got to visit the Chattanooga dealer. If the bad one you speak of is the Ringold dealer, I agree with you. I do not trust them either. Only thing I have ever bought from them is an oil change kit once or twice. Only went there because it was a good scenic ride from where I work in Fort Payne and I couldn't get to my good dealer in Pelham,AL. I have spoken with them and didn't get the vibe they knew much or cared much about Victory. Once they let me linger in their store forever. I know a guy they really took advantage of on service. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 281
| It's funny, just a few years ago Victory dealers were few and far between. Now I see them popping up all over.
The strong ones will survive, the bad ones will not. Support your good dealers whenever possible. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1340
Gainesville Fl Home of the Gators | Couple of thoughts from the other side of the coin.
Dealers close from poor management or a poor model. Don't charge and you make no money. This is a investment intensive arena, and not a charity.
Special tools have no retail price and if a dealer is willing to violate its dealer agreement; selling it to you. Don't bitch...
Tires are rediculas. Dennis Kirk often sells them shipped CHEAPER then a dealer can buy them. Parts Unlimited owns DK, and gives them an unfair advantage. Those shops that install free are destined to fail. Seen it hundreds of times.
I can't think of a single Vic/Polaris shop that is getting rich off of the service or parts department. Margins suck, customers are cheap, and their is still way to small of a base. Think about it. If POG averaged its sales across the last ten years it means about 400 bikes on the road. You can only sell so many things to a pool that small.
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | good valid points Kevin. I'm just poor and can barely own my Vision but it's my dream come true every time I get on it which is pretty much every day. So, I'm willing to give up some things and take on extra hours just to have one. I have to cut all corners. I hope to be doing better in the future. I think a lot of people may be in this boat. I love my 99 too. I will never get rid of it, Lord willing. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | I shouldn't say poor. God has blessed us with everything we need. I just don't have a lot of extra $ |
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | I know what you mean, jimtom. We're thinking 2017 should be a good year if we can stay the course. Closed my business in 2011 and should have done it in 2010 or 2009 but just kept operating an awesome restaurant, knowing we were doing a jam up job and kept hoping the financial picture would reflect it. But that isn't the reality of today's business climate.
And I'm not bitching about him selling me a part at a certain price because he never gave me a price. What I do know is that I was quoted several different "our price is" blah blah blah and it was a bunch of horse shit. As far as violating a dealer agreement, if you can't do it then don't do it and say so. I fully expect a dealer to make a profit that enables him to staff his store properly, take care of customers, pay overhead and put some money in the bank. But if someone will lie to me, he will steal from me. If he will lie and steal from me, I don't want him working on my bike. Period.
Think I'll start a poll of dealership experiences, just for shitz'n giggles... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| My 2 cents and I don't need the change back. All these points are good. Also the economy is in the pits. I take Anny 2-1/2 hours to Higgins in Mass and he treats her like I bought her there. He did not get one, he didn't have a new fax with speed dial. Hated that way of buying anyway. People complain about dealers not having accessories. They buy a whole bunch of leather jackets, all the medium and large sell and they end up putting all the small and XXX large on the discount rack. Most dealers are not clothes buyers. They can't see the future and tell what will be the hot item but if they don't have it every person here and on the VMC knows about it. Even HD dealers got hit with the bad economy. Many had just opened up million dollars places near highways like HD "forced" them too and the sales tanked. BMC in FL had that happen and they were a very good dealer to me.
I plan to go to Higgins tomorrow for his spring fling. Who knows what I might buy? I like to go and support him. I talk Victory with anyone whom asks. I tell people how well he has treated me over the years. He does all the service on Anny except oil change.
How else can we as customers help our good dealers? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 262
Flowery Branch Ga | My local dealership is one of two Vic dealerships the guy owns. He doesn't seem to care about the one close to me. They are a great service department. They do all my work for me (except oil changes) including installing aftermarket parts that I bring to them. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | baadawg - 2013-04-13 3:32 PM
I know what you mean, jimtom. We're thinking 2017 should be a good year if we can stay the course.
My youngest graduates highschool in 2018 so maybe I can afford a used 2014 Indian then. I will keep my Victorys though  |
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Chattanooga lost a great Victory dealership last week :-(