Posted by saddlebag on February 7, 2009, 8:08 pm
So I go to the HD shop today with thoughts of riding American dancing
in my head...
The salesman approaches me and asks if there's anything in particular
I'm interested in. I asked him if he has any Softail Customs in
stock. "Yes" he replies, "let's go to the service shop, we just got
one in." So I sit on it, the misses jumps on the back and it feels
real good save the tall "ape" handlebars. Nice, light, and low enough
to flat foot easily, while still having wonderfully, thick and comfy
seat to enjoy some mileage beyond the next watering hole.
So I ask him the price...he breaks out the calculator, punches some
buttons then proceeds to tell me the list price. Great! what a
deal...
He then tells me he can give me a $500 store credit with the
purchase. I tell him that I'd really like to put Deluxe floorboards
on it as my inseam doesn't work with the forward controls once moving
fast enough to cut air becomes reality. He says "well, we can get a
parts estimate, but I can't tell you labor costs," that's okay, I
reply I can put them on myself. "Well," he says "we do have *some*
customers who do that sort of thing." "Really," I think to myself as
I look down at the solitary bolt that holds the bracketry to the
frame.
So we get to the parts counter and go over the request and he looks
astonished at the request. He says, "we don't have a kit for that,"
you'll have to buy the parts separately. "Okay, I think I can piece
them together" I reply. "Sure" he say "anything can be done." Who
knew replacing a footpeg with a floorboard was the second building of
Rome, I'm thinking.
Finally, a knowlegable motorcyclist and salesman overhearing the
conversation approaches me and shoos away the glad hander guy. We
shoot the shit for a little while and he tells me about the Road Glide
he just bought from a customer who spared no expense on the engine and
was known to take extreme care of his machine. He also has a short
inseam and was putting floorboards back on his new acquistion as the
previous owner had removed them, sold them on E-bay, and affixed
forward controls...fookin tall people!
Anyway, while enjoying the banter, along comes parts guy to tell me
that while he hadn't had the hour needed to look up all the nuts and
bolts (musta been three or four of them), that the brackets and boards
would run $799. I looked at knowledgable salesman and told him I put
floorboards on my Warrior for like $99. He said he felt my pain, but
even with his employee discount, returning his new Road Glide to
floorboards was going to cost him over $400.
The wife and I wondered away and sat on some mega heavy and tall
touring models and we both noticed how tilted the headlight was in a
particular Road King. $18+k, lots of shiney bits and still such a
glaring defect. Did not bring me joy.
As an American and a motorcycle loon, I sincerly want to see Harley
suceed. And maybe selling glitz to well heeled consumers craving a
bad boy fantasy was the surest way to making a buck. But here's
hoping for a machine mfg, getting back to basics i.e. making a
motorcycle built for excessive usage by the DIY masses...
As for now, I'm still on the sidelines.
Posted by MoParMaN on February 7, 2009, 8:26 pm
> So I go to the HD shop today with thoughts of riding American dancing
> in my head...
> The salesman approaches me and asks if there's anything in particular
> I'm interested in. I asked him if he has any Softail Customs in
> stock. "Yes" he replies, "let's go to the service shop, we just got
> one in." So I sit on it, the misses jumps on the back and it feels
> real good save the tall "ape" handlebars. Nice, light, and low enough
> to flat foot easily, while still having wonderfully, thick and comfy
> seat to enjoy some mileage beyond the next watering hole.
> So I ask him the price...he breaks out the calculator, punches some
> buttons then proceeds to tell me the list price. Great! what a
> deal...
> He then tells me he can give me a $500 store credit with the
> purchase. I tell him that I'd really like to put Deluxe floorboards
> on it as my inseam doesn't work with the forward controls once moving
> fast enough to cut air becomes reality. He says "well, we can get a
> parts estimate, but I can't tell you labor costs," that's okay, I
> reply I can put them on myself. "Well," he says "we do have *some*
> customers who do that sort of thing." "Really," I think to myself as
> I look down at the solitary bolt that holds the bracketry to the
> frame.
> So we get to the parts counter and go over the request and he looks
> astonished at the request. He says, "we don't have a kit for that,"
> you'll have to buy the parts separately. "Okay, I think I can piece
> them together" I reply. "Sure" he say "anything can be done." Who
> knew replacing a footpeg with a floorboard was the second building of
> Rome, I'm thinking.
> Finally, a knowlegable motorcyclist and salesman overhearing the
> conversation approaches me and shoos away the glad hander guy. We
> shoot the shit for a little while and he tells me about the Road Glide
> he just bought from a customer who spared no expense on the engine and
> was known to take extreme care of his machine. He also has a short
> inseam and was putting floorboards back on his new acquistion as the
> previous owner had removed them, sold them on E-bay, and affixed
> forward controls...fookin tall people!
> Anyway, while enjoying the banter, along comes parts guy to tell me
> that while he hadn't had the hour needed to look up all the nuts and
> bolts (musta been three or four of them), that the brackets and boards
> would run $799. I looked at knowledgable salesman and told him I put
> floorboards on my Warrior for like $99. He said he felt my pain, but
> even with his employee discount, returning his new Road Glide to
> floorboards was going to cost him over $400.
> The wife and I wondered away and sat on some mega heavy and tall
> touring models and we both noticed how tilted the headlight was in a
> particular Road King. $18+k, lots of shiney bits and still such a
> glaring defect. Did not bring me joy.
> As an American and a motorcycle loon, I sincerly want to see Harley
> suceed. And maybe selling glitz to well heeled consumers craving a
> bad boy fantasy was the surest way to making a buck. But here's
> hoping for a machine mfg, getting back to basics i.e. making a
> motorcycle built for excessive usage by the DIY masses...
> As for now, I'm still on the sidelines.
I feel your pain. I think I told this a coupla months ago, but what the
hell. My wife I rode over to the Harley dealer in Longview Texas. I was
looking for a trunk that might match my saddle bags and I was told on
another noosegroop that the Harley dealers had one that matched pretty
close, had all the lights already installed and all that. So we get there
and park. We go inside and look at some really high priced jackets and
gloves and finally a salesman comes around and ask me if he can help. I say
yes, that I'm looking for a truck with lights that match my bike. He asks
what I;m riding and tell him that red and black Vulcan in the parking lot.
He looks at me and the wife and walks away....Never says shit, no FU or
anything. We looked at a Sportster cause my wife is shopping for a bike,
but no one would talk to us after they noticed the Nomad in the parking lot.
The chances of me owning another HD product is really slim. HD is reminding
me of GM, both are heading down the toilet.
JMHFO.
--
--MoParMaN--
---Scud Coordinates 32.61204 North 96.92989 West---
---Remove "Clothes" to Reply---
VROC-27911
Cedar Hill and Hawkins Texas
2008 Vulcan 1600 Nomad
Cedar Hill or Hawkins Texas
http://www.vroc.org/view_profile.php?user_id2113
Posted by saddlebag on February 7, 2009, 8:49 pm
wrote:
> > So I go to the HD shop today with thoughts of riding American dancing
> > in my head...
> > The salesman approaches me and asks if there's anything in particular
> > I'm interested in. I asked him if he has any Softail Customs in
> > stock. "Yes" he replies, "let's go to the service shop, we just got
> > one in." So I sit on it, the misses jumps on the back and it feels
> > real good save the tall "ape" handlebars. Nice, light, and low enough
> > to flat foot easily, while still having wonderfully, thick and comfy
> > seat to enjoy some mileage beyond the next watering hole.
> > So I ask him the price...he breaks out the calculator, punches some
> > buttons then proceeds to tell me the list price. Great! what a
> > deal...
> > He then tells me he can give me a $500 store credit with the
> > purchase. I tell him that I'd really like to put Deluxe floorboards
> > on it as my inseam doesn't work with the forward controls once moving
> > fast enough to cut air becomes reality. He says "well, we can get a
> > parts estimate, but I can't tell you labor costs," that's okay, I
> > reply I can put them on myself. "Well," he says "we do have *some*
> > customers who do that sort of thing." "Really," I think to myself as
> > I look down at the solitary bolt that holds the bracketry to the
> > frame.
> > So we get to the parts counter and go over the request and he looks
> > astonished at the request. He says, "we don't have a kit for that,"
> > you'll have to buy the parts separately. "Okay, I think I can piece
> > them together" I reply. "Sure" he say "anything can be done." Who
> > knew replacing a footpeg with a floorboard was the second building of
> > Rome, I'm thinking.
> > Finally, a knowlegable motorcyclist and salesman overhearing the
> > conversation approaches me and shoos away the glad hander guy. We
> > shoot the shit for a little while and he tells me about the Road Glide
> > he just bought from a customer who spared no expense on the engine and
> > was known to take extreme care of his machine. He also has a short
> > inseam and was putting floorboards back on his new acquistion as the
> > previous owner had removed them, sold them on E-bay, and affixed
> > forward controls...fookin tall people!
> > Anyway, while enjoying the banter, along comes parts guy to tell me
> > that while he hadn't had the hour needed to look up all the nuts and
> > bolts (musta been three or four of them), that the brackets and boards
> > would run $799. I looked at knowledgable salesman and told him I put
> > floorboards on my Warrior for like $99. He said he felt my pain, but
> > even with his employee discount, returning his new Road Glide to
> > floorboards was going to cost him over $400.
> > The wife and I wondered away and sat on some mega heavy and tall
> > touring models and we both noticed how tilted the headlight was in a
> > particular Road King. $18+k, lots of shiney bits and still such a
> > glaring defect. Did not bring me joy.
> > As an American and a motorcycle loon, I sincerly want to see Harley
> > suceed. And maybe selling glitz to well heeled consumers craving a
> > bad boy fantasy was the surest way to making a buck. But here's
> > hoping for a machine mfg, getting back to basics i.e. making a
> > motorcycle built for excessive usage by the DIY masses...
> > As for now, I'm still on the sidelines.
> I feel your pain. I think I told this a coupla months ago, but what the
> hell. My wife I rode over to the Harley dealer in Longview Texas. I was
> looking for a trunk that might match my saddle bags and I was told on
> another noosegroop that the Harley dealers had one that matched pretty
> close, had all the lights already installed and all that. So we get there
> and park. We go inside and look at some really high priced jackets and
> gloves and finally a salesman comes around and ask me if he can help. I say
> yes, that I'm looking for a truck with lights that match my bike. He asks
> what I;m riding and tell him that red and black Vulcan in the parking lot.
> He looks at me and the wife and walks away....Never says shit, no FU or
> anything. We looked at a Sportster cause my wife is shopping for a bike,
> but no one would talk to us after they noticed the Nomad in the parking lot.
> The chances of me owning another HD product is really slim. HD is reminding
> me of GM, both are heading down the toilet.
I actually asked the glad hand salesman guy if they accepted trade-ins
(they didn't use to) and told him that it was a metric and he was okay
with that, but they would need to see it prior to appraisal...fair
enough.
FWIW, I don't see GM and HD at all on the same level. I've owned many
fine quality GM cars. In general, I've been happy with the
negotiation process, product attributes, price competitveness, and
service experience.
In fairness with Harley, I did not attempt a negotiation, I think the
product is competitively reliable based on a good deal of research,
has an outstanding service experience, but STIINKS in price and
attributes! How the fuck can some bent, mild, steel tubing and a flat
metal board with a rubber cover cost $800!!!!
Posted by MoParMaN on February 7, 2009, 9:09 pm
wrote:
> > So I go to the HD shop today with thoughts of riding American dancing
> > in my head...
> > The salesman approaches me and asks if there's anything in particular
> > I'm interested in. I asked him if he has any Softail Customs in
> > stock. "Yes" he replies, "let's go to the service shop, we just got
> > one in." So I sit on it, the misses jumps on the back and it feels
> > real good save the tall "ape" handlebars. Nice, light, and low enough
> > to flat foot easily, while still having wonderfully, thick and comfy
> > seat to enjoy some mileage beyond the next watering hole.
> > So I ask him the price...he breaks out the calculator, punches some
> > buttons then proceeds to tell me the list price. Great! what a
> > deal...
> > He then tells me he can give me a $500 store credit with the
> > purchase. I tell him that I'd really like to put Deluxe floorboards
> > on it as my inseam doesn't work with the forward controls once moving
> > fast enough to cut air becomes reality. He says "well, we can get a
> > parts estimate, but I can't tell you labor costs," that's okay, I
> > reply I can put them on myself. "Well," he says "we do have *some*
> > customers who do that sort of thing." "Really," I think to myself as
> > I look down at the solitary bolt that holds the bracketry to the
> > frame.
> > So we get to the parts counter and go over the request and he looks
> > astonished at the request. He says, "we don't have a kit for that,"
> > you'll have to buy the parts separately. "Okay, I think I can piece
> > them together" I reply. "Sure" he say "anything can be done." Who
> > knew replacing a footpeg with a floorboard was the second building of
> > Rome, I'm thinking.
> > Finally, a knowlegable motorcyclist and salesman overhearing the
> > conversation approaches me and shoos away the glad hander guy. We
> > shoot the shit for a little while and he tells me about the Road Glide
> > he just bought from a customer who spared no expense on the engine and
> > was known to take extreme care of his machine. He also has a short
> > inseam and was putting floorboards back on his new acquistion as the
> > previous owner had removed them, sold them on E-bay, and affixed
> > forward controls...fookin tall people!
> > Anyway, while enjoying the banter, along comes parts guy to tell me
> > that while he hadn't had the hour needed to look up all the nuts and
> > bolts (musta been three or four of them), that the brackets and boards
> > would run $799. I looked at knowledgable salesman and told him I put
> > floorboards on my Warrior for like $99. He said he felt my pain, but
> > even with his employee discount, returning his new Road Glide to
> > floorboards was going to cost him over $400.
> > The wife and I wondered away and sat on some mega heavy and tall
> > touring models and we both noticed how tilted the headlight was in a
> > particular Road King. $18+k, lots of shiney bits and still such a
> > glaring defect. Did not bring me joy.
> > As an American and a motorcycle loon, I sincerly want to see Harley
> > suceed. And maybe selling glitz to well heeled consumers craving a
> > bad boy fantasy was the surest way to making a buck. But here's
> > hoping for a machine mfg, getting back to basics i.e. making a
> > motorcycle built for excessive usage by the DIY masses...
> > As for now, I'm still on the sidelines.
> I feel your pain. I think I told this a coupla months ago, but what the
> hell. My wife I rode over to the Harley dealer in Longview Texas. I was
> looking for a trunk that might match my saddle bags and I was told on
> another noosegroop that the Harley dealers had one that matched pretty
> close, had all the lights already installed and all that. So we get there
> and park. We go inside and look at some really high priced jackets and
> gloves and finally a salesman comes around and ask me if he can help. I
> say
> yes, that I'm looking for a truck with lights that match my bike. He asks
> what I;m riding and tell him that red and black Vulcan in the parking lot.
> He looks at me and the wife and walks away....Never says shit, no FU or
> anything. We looked at a Sportster cause my wife is shopping for a bike,
> but no one would talk to us after they noticed the Nomad in the parking
> lot.
> The chances of me owning another HD product is really slim. HD is
> reminding
> me of GM, both are heading down the toilet.
I actually asked the glad hand salesman guy if they accepted trade-ins
(they didn't use to) and told him that it was a metric and he was okay
with that, but they would need to see it prior to appraisal...fair
enough.
FWIW, I don't see GM and HD at all on the same level. I've owned many
fine quality GM cars. In general, I've been happy with the
negotiation process, product attributes, price competitveness, and
service experience.
In fairness with Harley, I did not attempt a negotiation, I think the
product is competitively reliable based on a good deal of research,
has an outstanding service experience, but STIINKS in price and
attributes! How the fuck can some bent, mild, steel tubing and a flat
metal board with a rubber cover cost $800!!!!
Yeah, it's insane....But people will pay it for that HD stamp on it.
--
--MoParMaN--
---Scud Coordinates 32.61204 North 96.92989 West---
---Remove "Clothes" to Reply---
VROC-27911
Cedar Hill and Hawkins Texas
2008 Vulcan 1600 Nomad
Cedar Hill or Hawkins Texas
http://www.vroc.org/view_profile.php?user_id2113
Posted by saddlebag on February 7, 2009, 9:35 pm
wrote:
> wrote:
> > > So I go to the HD shop today with thoughts of riding American dancing
> > > in my head...
> > > The salesman approaches me and asks if there's anything in particular
> > > I'm interested in. I asked him if he has any Softail Customs in
> > > stock. "Yes" he replies, "let's go to the service shop, we just got
> > > one in." So I sit on it, the misses jumps on the back and it feels
> > > real good save the tall "ape" handlebars. Nice, light, and low enough
> > > to flat foot easily, while still having wonderfully, thick and comfy
> > > seat to enjoy some mileage beyond the next watering hole.
> > > So I ask him the price...he breaks out the calculator, punches some
> > > buttons then proceeds to tell me the list price. Great! what a
> > > deal...
> > > He then tells me he can give me a $500 store credit with the
> > > purchase. I tell him that I'd really like to put Deluxe floorboards
> > > on it as my inseam doesn't work with the forward controls once moving
> > > fast enough to cut air becomes reality. He says "well, we can get a
> > > parts estimate, but I can't tell you labor costs," that's okay, I
> > > reply I can put them on myself. "Well," he says "we do have *some*
> > > customers who do that sort of thing." "Really," I think to myself as
> > > I look down at the solitary bolt that holds the bracketry to the
> > > frame.
> > > So we get to the parts counter and go over the request and he looks
> > > astonished at the request. He says, "we don't have a kit for that,"
> > > you'll have to buy the parts separately. "Okay, I think I can piece
> > > them together" I reply. "Sure" he say "anything can be done." Who
> > > knew replacing a footpeg with a floorboard was the second building of
> > > Rome, I'm thinking.
> > > Finally, a knowlegable motorcyclist and salesman overhearing the
> > > conversation approaches me and shoos away the glad hander guy. We
> > > shoot the shit for a little while and he tells me about the Road Glide
> > > he just bought from a customer who spared no expense on the engine and
> > > was known to take extreme care of his machine. He also has a short
> > > inseam and was putting floorboards back on his new acquistion as the
> > > previous owner had removed them, sold them on E-bay, and affixed
> > > forward controls...fookin tall people!
> > > Anyway, while enjoying the banter, along comes parts guy to tell me
> > > that while he hadn't had the hour needed to look up all the nuts and
> > > bolts (musta been three or four of them), that the brackets and boards
> > > would run $799. I looked at knowledgable salesman and told him I put
> > > floorboards on my Warrior for like $99. He said he felt my pain, but
> > > even with his employee discount, returning his new Road Glide to
> > > floorboards was going to cost him over $400.
> > > The wife and I wondered away and sat on some mega heavy and tall
> > > touring models and we both noticed how tilted the headlight was in a
> > > particular Road King. $18+k, lots of shiney bits and still such a
> > > glaring defect. Did not bring me joy.
> > > As an American and a motorcycle loon, I sincerly want to see Harley
> > > suceed. And maybe selling glitz to well heeled consumers craving a
> > > bad boy fantasy was the surest way to making a buck. But here's
> > > hoping for a machine mfg, getting back to basics i.e. making a
> > > motorcycle built for excessive usage by the DIY masses...
> > > As for now, I'm still on the sidelines.
> > I feel your pain. I think I told this a coupla months ago, but what the
> > hell. My wife I rode over to the Harley dealer in Longview Texas. I was
> > looking for a trunk that might match my saddle bags and I was told on
> > another noosegroop that the Harley dealers had one that matched pretty
> > close, had all the lights already installed and all that. So we get there
> > and park. We go inside and look at some really high priced jackets and
> > gloves and finally a salesman comes around and ask me if he can help. I
> > say
> > yes, that I'm looking for a truck with lights that match my bike. He asks
> > what I;m riding and tell him that red and black Vulcan in the parking lot.
> > He looks at me and the wife and walks away....Never says shit, no FU or
> > anything. We looked at a Sportster cause my wife is shopping for a bike,
> > but no one would talk to us after they noticed the Nomad in the parking
> > lot.
> > The chances of me owning another HD product is really slim. HD is
> > reminding
> > me of GM, both are heading down the toilet.
> I actually asked the glad hand salesman guy if they accepted trade-ins
> (they didn't use to) and told him that it was a metric and he was okay
> with that, but they would need to see it prior to appraisal...fair
> enough.
> FWIW, I don't see GM and HD at all on the same level. I've owned many
> fine quality GM cars. In general, I've been happy with the
> negotiation process, product attributes, price competitveness, and
> service experience.
> In fairness with Harley, I did not attempt a negotiation, I think the
> product is competitively reliable based on a good deal of research,
> has an outstanding service experience, but STIINKS in price and
> attributes! How the fuck can some bent, mild, steel tubing and a flat
> metal board with a rubber cover cost $800!!!!
> Yeah, it's insane....But people will pay it for that HD stamp on it.
Ya know, for some things I can actually buy into it. For instance, I
pick a little and have listened to a number of guitar amplifiers. I
still prefer the sound of tube Fenders to anything else. It sounds
old and to some outdated, but I myself still love them. I can
appreciate how others feel the same about their hogs. But in a world
full of IPOD owners listening to shoddily produced *music,* stored on
compressed recordings, and reproduced thru bandlimited ear
plugs...please offer something suprerior for the price.
No one expects an air-cooled tractor motor Harley to run with a GSXR,
but how about just making one with pretty paint that at LEAST has
reasonable ergonmics for average sized people without spending $2k in
replacement parts!!!
XML Sitemap
> in my head...
> The salesman approaches me and asks if there's anything in particular
> I'm interested in. I asked him if he has any Softail Customs in
> stock. "Yes" he replies, "let's go to the service shop, we just got
> one in." So I sit on it, the misses jumps on the back and it feels
> real good save the tall "ape" handlebars. Nice, light, and low enough
> to flat foot easily, while still having wonderfully, thick and comfy
> seat to enjoy some mileage beyond the next watering hole.
> So I ask him the price...he breaks out the calculator, punches some
> buttons then proceeds to tell me the list price. Great! what a
> deal...
> He then tells me he can give me a $500 store credit with the
> purchase. I tell him that I'd really like to put Deluxe floorboards
> on it as my inseam doesn't work with the forward controls once moving
> fast enough to cut air becomes reality. He says "well, we can get a
> parts estimate, but I can't tell you labor costs," that's okay, I
> reply I can put them on myself. "Well," he says "we do have *some*
> customers who do that sort of thing." "Really," I think to myself as
> I look down at the solitary bolt that holds the bracketry to the
> frame.
> So we get to the parts counter and go over the request and he looks
> astonished at the request. He says, "we don't have a kit for that,"
> you'll have to buy the parts separately. "Okay, I think I can piece
> them together" I reply. "Sure" he say "anything can be done." Who
> knew replacing a footpeg with a floorboard was the second building of
> Rome, I'm thinking.
> Finally, a knowlegable motorcyclist and salesman overhearing the
> conversation approaches me and shoos away the glad hander guy. We
> shoot the shit for a little while and he tells me about the Road Glide
> he just bought from a customer who spared no expense on the engine and
> was known to take extreme care of his machine. He also has a short
> inseam and was putting floorboards back on his new acquistion as the
> previous owner had removed them, sold them on E-bay, and affixed
> forward controls...fookin tall people!
> Anyway, while enjoying the banter, along comes parts guy to tell me
> that while he hadn't had the hour needed to look up all the nuts and
> bolts (musta been three or four of them), that the brackets and boards
> would run $799. I looked at knowledgable salesman and told him I put
> floorboards on my Warrior for like $99. He said he felt my pain, but
> even with his employee discount, returning his new Road Glide to
> floorboards was going to cost him over $400.
> The wife and I wondered away and sat on some mega heavy and tall
> touring models and we both noticed how tilted the headlight was in a
> particular Road King. $18+k, lots of shiney bits and still such a
> glaring defect. Did not bring me joy.
> As an American and a motorcycle loon, I sincerly want to see Harley
> suceed. And maybe selling glitz to well heeled consumers craving a
> bad boy fantasy was the surest way to making a buck. But here's
> hoping for a machine mfg, getting back to basics i.e. making a
> motorcycle built for excessive usage by the DIY masses...
> As for now, I'm still on the sidelines.