Posted by oasysco on April 28, 2008, 11:10 am
My local Honda/Suz/Kaw/Yam dealer had an open house Saturday.
This is the same place that won't let you test ride a bike until
you've paid for it, reteating their timeworn corporate mantra of
"there's plenty enough time to ride after you've signed!" My son
bought a bike from them and while the corporate mantra wasn't trotted
out, it was clear he'd sign before he rode.
And to top it off, this dealer is the only Honda/Kaw/etc dealer on my
side of the water and they're owned by the largest multi-brand, multi-
location auto dealership in the area, yet they do not sponsor any
riding clubs, HRCA chapters, benefit rides, etc.
Back to the opne house... they moved 1/2 of the bikes outdoors and
rearranged the other 1/2 to make walknig around the showroome asier.
OK, where's the hotdogs? Don't all MC open houses have drinks and
dogs? I'm even willing to pay for the food... uh, no food.
OK then I'll check out this bike... ooops, looky there, they have the
"Do No Sit" signs on bikes like they do when they're in the showroom.
Guess they don't want anybody tipping one over.
There's a guy... let's see if they let him ride. Yup and sure enough a
little while later he almost rode. He had signed the deal and bought
the bike, but it had to be prepped, so no rides even for him until
later.
It was one of the stiffest, least inviting open houses I've ever been
to. OK, to be honest all is not bad... I did see one little girl walk
off with a balloon, but figured she must have stolen it 'cause I
didn't see anybody handing them out.
Compare that to a HD open house, Victory open house or even one of the
dedicated Honda dealers across the water. Free food and drinks, DJ,
test rides (OK, you've got to be serious about buying at the HD
dealer), finance people out the wazoo. The only problem is that except
for a HD and Victory dealer, other MIJ bike dealers are an hour or
more away.
Greg
Posted by Ben Kaufman on April 28, 2008, 4:58 pm
wrote:
>My local Honda/Suz/Kaw/Yam dealer had an open house Saturday.
>This is the same place that won't let you test ride a bike until
>you've paid for it, reteating their timeworn corporate mantra of
>"there's plenty enough time to ride after you've signed!" My son
>bought a bike from them and while the corporate mantra wasn't trotted
>out, it was clear he'd sign before he rode.
>And to top it off, this dealer is the only Honda/Kaw/etc dealer on my
>side of the water and they're owned by the largest multi-brand, multi-
>location auto dealership in the area, yet they do not sponsor any
>riding clubs, HRCA chapters, benefit rides, etc.
>Back to the opne house... they moved 1/2 of the bikes outdoors and
>rearranged the other 1/2 to make walknig around the showroome asier.
>OK, where's the hotdogs? Don't all MC open houses have drinks and
>dogs? I'm even willing to pay for the food... uh, no food.
>OK then I'll check out this bike... ooops, looky there, they have the
>"Do No Sit" signs on bikes like they do when they're in the showroom.
>Guess they don't want anybody tipping one over.
>There's a guy... let's see if they let him ride. Yup and sure enough a
>little while later he almost rode. He had signed the deal and bought
>the bike, but it had to be prepped, so no rides even for him until
>later.
>It was one of the stiffest, least inviting open houses I've ever been
>to. OK, to be honest all is not bad... I did see one little girl walk
>off with a balloon, but figured she must have stolen it 'cause I
>didn't see anybody handing them out.
>Compare that to a HD open house, Victory open house or even one of the
>dedicated Honda dealers across the water. Free food and drinks, DJ,
>test rides (OK, you've got to be serious about buying at the HD
>dealer), finance people out the wazoo. The only problem is that except
>for a HD and Victory dealer, other MIJ bike dealers are an hour or
>more away.
>Greg
What's the name of this dealer, "Big Brother Motorcycles?" :-)
Ben
Posted by Larry M on April 28, 2008, 6:32 pm
Buy a Vic...I did, and I couldn't be happier...way more bike than a HD or
import! Wow, what a motorcycle.
Big Lar
> My local Honda/Suz/Kaw/Yam dealer had an open house Saturday.
> This is the same place that won't let you test ride a bike until
> you've paid for it, reteating their timeworn corporate mantra of
> "there's plenty enough time to ride after you've signed!" My son
> bought a bike from them and while the corporate mantra wasn't trotted
> out, it was clear he'd sign before he rode.
> And to top it off, this dealer is the only Honda/Kaw/etc dealer on my
> side of the water and they're owned by the largest multi-brand, multi-
> location auto dealership in the area, yet they do not sponsor any
> riding clubs, HRCA chapters, benefit rides, etc.
> Back to the opne house... they moved 1/2 of the bikes outdoors and
> rearranged the other 1/2 to make walknig around the showroome asier.
> OK, where's the hotdogs? Don't all MC open houses have drinks and
> dogs? I'm even willing to pay for the food... uh, no food.
> OK then I'll check out this bike... ooops, looky there, they have the
> "Do No Sit" signs on bikes like they do when they're in the showroom.
> Guess they don't want anybody tipping one over.
> There's a guy... let's see if they let him ride. Yup and sure enough a
> little while later he almost rode. He had signed the deal and bought
> the bike, but it had to be prepped, so no rides even for him until
> later.
> It was one of the stiffest, least inviting open houses I've ever been
> to. OK, to be honest all is not bad... I did see one little girl walk
> off with a balloon, but figured she must have stolen it 'cause I
> didn't see anybody handing them out.
> Compare that to a HD open house, Victory open house or even one of the
> dedicated Honda dealers across the water. Free food and drinks, DJ,
> test rides (OK, you've got to be serious about buying at the HD
> dealer), finance people out the wazoo. The only problem is that except
> for a HD and Victory dealer, other MIJ bike dealers are an hour or
> more away.
> Greg
Posted by David T. Ashley on April 28, 2008, 6:34 pm
> My local Honda/Suz/Kaw/Yam dealer had an open house Saturday.
> This is the same place that won't let you test ride a bike until
> you've paid for it, reteating their timeworn corporate mantra of
> "there's plenty enough time to ride after you've signed!" My son
> bought a bike from them and while the corporate mantra wasn't trotted
> out, it was clear he'd sign before he rode.
Yeah, that is a general problem with bikes. Usually gotta knowbody with the
same model who will let you try it out.
Posted by timeOday on April 29, 2008, 1:33 pm
David T. Ashley wrote:
>> My local Honda/Suz/Kaw/Yam dealer had an open house Saturday.
>>
>> This is the same place that won't let you test ride a bike until
>> you've paid for it, reteating their timeworn corporate mantra of
>> "there's plenty enough time to ride after you've signed!" My son
>> bought a bike from them and while the corporate mantra wasn't trotted
>> out, it was clear he'd sign before he rode.
>
> Yeah, that is a general problem with bikes. Usually gotta knowbody with
> the same model who will let you try it out.
Do your local dealers not even let people SIT on the bikes? To me that
borders on bizarre. A smart dealer gets a customer straddling the best
bike he can barely afford, twisting the throttle and saying "vroom, vroom."
XML Sitemap
>This is the same place that won't let you test ride a bike until
>you've paid for it, reteating their timeworn corporate mantra of
>"there's plenty enough time to ride after you've signed!" My son
>bought a bike from them and while the corporate mantra wasn't trotted
>out, it was clear he'd sign before he rode.
>And to top it off, this dealer is the only Honda/Kaw/etc dealer on my
>side of the water and they're owned by the largest multi-brand, multi-
>location auto dealership in the area, yet they do not sponsor any
>riding clubs, HRCA chapters, benefit rides, etc.
>Back to the opne house... they moved 1/2 of the bikes outdoors and
>rearranged the other 1/2 to make walknig around the showroome asier.
>OK, where's the hotdogs? Don't all MC open houses have drinks and
>dogs? I'm even willing to pay for the food... uh, no food.
>OK then I'll check out this bike... ooops, looky there, they have the
>"Do No Sit" signs on bikes like they do when they're in the showroom.
>Guess they don't want anybody tipping one over.
>There's a guy... let's see if they let him ride. Yup and sure enough a
>little while later he almost rode. He had signed the deal and bought
>the bike, but it had to be prepped, so no rides even for him until
>later.
>It was one of the stiffest, least inviting open houses I've ever been
>to. OK, to be honest all is not bad... I did see one little girl walk
>off with a balloon, but figured she must have stolen it 'cause I
>didn't see anybody handing them out.
>Compare that to a HD open house, Victory open house or even one of the
>dedicated Honda dealers across the water. Free food and drinks, DJ,
>test rides (OK, you've got to be serious about buying at the HD
>dealer), finance people out the wazoo. The only problem is that except
>for a HD and Victory dealer, other MIJ bike dealers are an hour or
>more away.
>Greg