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Have an MBA from Syracuse in Marketing.
The Shop
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DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
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I try and help the guys down at JWTF so I basically try to stock everything I can within reason for all modern MX bikes.
Hey Chip, for my 2008 KTM144, I need a... He interrupts, Got it! Also, I need a... Got it! Hey Chip, I haven't even told you what I... Got that too!
Tomorrow at lunch time, 250 miles away, the box of parts arrives on my desk with regular ground shipping. Occasionally it may be the following day.
Call to 50,000 Sq Ft Taj Mahal dealer for a set of six spark plugs for a Goldwing. Yeah, we have three.
Do you sell riding gear?
Was at the No Carolina training camp.
Now who goes to training camps in DROVES? Answer: Minis
There were more YZ85s and SuperMinis there than you could count.
The camp and resident pros all pointed to one local dealer as having a kick-ass parts department. They were close mind you... close to the training camp that's open year-round with more freakin YZ85s every day.
This local dealer is a Yamaha dealer.
I wanted to change sproket ratios for one of my bikes.
Not only did this dealer not have my 51T sproket, but they did'nt have ANY YZ85 sprokets....with a training camp...with tons of little shits on 85s and superminis.
Why didn't I call first? Because the camp folk went on and on about how mega and awaseome their Parts Dept was.
LOL!!!
I can call & ask for parts person by name & if I ask for the part or give them the part number, they will check inventory.
I've called the dealer & had them put it their hands, then put my name on it so it didn't get sold if it was the last one!
The even pulled parts of a brand new bike for me, so I could make a race!
I have a Yamaha/Suzuki shop just 8 miles from me & if I'm work on one with a friend I'll drive 25 miles to the Yamaha\Suzuki\Honda\KTM dealer, Cause I know that I'll get great service from them.
The only problem I had with the parts department is that they had one Nut Job (RPM 68)
J/K Brother I still love ya
I use a independent shop for much of what I buy but they are across town from my office and I live in the sticks so being able to go online, pick exactly what I want and know it will be at my office in a day or two makes a ton of sense. .............
Since you asked:
SALES TIP FOR DEALERS:
Build a relationship with the local tracks. If I'm at a track, the staff ought to know WHO is around for parts. WHERE they are and HOW to get there.
When I ask a track OWNER where I ought to go for some gloves cuz it just got real fnk cold and my daughter is hurting, that track owner ought to have a card in his shack that has the name number and directions just for such an occasion. Now WHO needs to build that card? The Parts Store. Do they do this. FK NO!
How about the Yam deaaler down the street from a professional traning camp loaded with YZ85 tells the camp owner, "we'll stock everything for your campers and tranees!!"
iTS COMMON SENCE: But dealers are lazy lazy lazy
Im just saying theyre not going to do it because its a risk. Most parts sit on the shelf for years. Even if its a set of brake pads for a trr125. Or a common spark plug. Its money just sitting there instead of their pockets.
Even iron pony in ohio. Its a walmart sized motorcycle store with bikes gear and parts. Very rarely do they have what i need. theres literally millions of different parts and its all subjective as to what is considered common. Youre better off ordering online from the get go.
Pit Row
I was having a conversation the other week with a fellow employee (whom ironically has just lost his job after 16 years working here because of decreasing sales)
"Remember when we used to stock, full top ends, all suspension bearings and seals, cables, levers gaskets, plastic kits, moto gear etc etc ?" "What happened?" "The internet happened."
Over time we were forced to stop stocking certain items because they longer sold or sold so few it made no sense to stock anymore. I believe most smaller dealers are faced with these challenges.
No doubt there are shit dealers out there who don't try hard to win your business. I get that. If we don't have it I can normally get it within one to two days. I always encourage our customers to call in with their needs. Saves them one trip down to the shop.
For those that think most of these online places stock EVERYTHING well that is just foolish. Most have to order from the supplier just like the dealer and can ship it out within a day or two granted I know some of the giant places like (Rocky Mountain MC) are massive and stock probably millions.
It drives me nuts when people come in here and crap on dealers when likely they (the customer) are likely a part of the problem. customer A buys 90% of stuff online, is in a pinch runs down to the dealer they haven't been in for 10 months expecting the world. Again I know not all dealers are equal, but man there are those of us who are fighting hard every single day to keep our jobs and keep the doors open.
I carry cylinders, cables, pistons, 2 of every engine gasket, 3 clutches (soaked), tires, tubes, water-pumps, seals for all externals. Over $2000 in parts. so go pound sand
Like I mentioned before, internet sales have created this shit storm of supply and demand (or lack thereof) within dealer showrooms.
Me: Give me 2 B8ES please
DS: For what bike...smart ass attitude
Me: I just need 2 B8ES is all
DS: For what bike...getting pissed
Me: I just need 2 B8ES please, I already know what I need
DS: For what bike....now just flat out rude
Me: Ok, then, I need a plug for a 1975 Bultaco 250 Pursang.....
DS: Uh...uh..I don't know I can't find it
Me: No shit....peace..out
Never spent a dime in there again....the shop is no longer around
The GOOD shops and there are many, have been around for years and built a rapport with customers ( Sales 101 ) Those guys I'll drop coin with and don't mind paying more....hey we all got to eat.
Congrats to Chip, for taking the effort to be outstanding.
Its funny this whole "Internet Thing" conversation has not come up before now, given that this forum in ON the internet.
I hate to see good business (or really ANY business) go neglected, and this is one very very neglected business sector.
If bricks and mortar sales was doing its proper job, the internet would have had a very hard time taking our business. "Buy my bike's parts over the internet??? NO WAY!"
But the conditions of the market were ripe for being picked to death. I'm beginning to think the patient has died, and just not hit the floor yet.
There is no issue here with parts departments and dealers.Thanks for the warm welcome.
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