Dealers dont cater to racers

hammar81 wrote:

Being a parts guy for the last 6 years at the local Suzuki shop, I know first hand how hard it is to compete with the...

Being a parts guy for the last 6 years at the local Suzuki shop, I know first hand how hard it is to compete with the internet anymore. I try to cater to everyone who rides, mx, street, atv, cruiser crowds and touring. Its way too hard to stock everything that every crowd wants or needs. At the same time, I try my hardest to match internet prices and to be an overall nice guy with a smile on my face behind the counter willing to spend sometime bench racing, regardless of what sport you are into. Its even harder being a single line dealership, but I work my butt off on getting parts in by Wednesday or Thursday for the anybody, not just racers.

Flesh206 wrote:

I have a 2T so I'm not worried about it breaking. I just worry about where to go ride.

Flesh206 wrote:

I have a 2T so I'm not worried about it breaking. I just worry about where to go ride.

flarider wrote:

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers? Because all racers want and...

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers?

Because all racers want and expect not only the lowest price, but they want a "racers discount" as well and they also want sponsorship in the way of a sticker on their bike, making them think they deserve an even greater discount.

Fact of the matter is, for the most part with most dealers, racers are a pain in the ass with minimal profit margins....they're a money loser.

Look at a dealer floor....five or six street bikes to every dirt bike on the showroom floor. Look at the service department, eight to ten street bikes to every dirt bike.
On volume alone, dealers make more on street by selling not just basic parts, but by selling chrome, accessories, and more...and keep in mind, street bikes usually carry two passengers, so it's twice the leather and accessories.

That's the fact and dirty little secret no one likes talking about and admitting to in this business, for fear of alienating or hurting someone's feelings, but the fact of the matter is, dirt bikes for most dealers contribute only a small amount to the overall bottomline.

and yes, there are always exceptions to every rule

flarider wrote:

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers? Because all racers want and...

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers?

Because all racers want and expect not only the lowest price, but they want a "racers discount" as well and they also want sponsorship in the way of a sticker on their bike, making them think they deserve an even greater discount.

Fact of the matter is, for the most part with most dealers, racers are a pain in the ass with minimal profit margins....they're a money loser.

Look at a dealer floor....five or six street bikes to every dirt bike on the showroom floor. Look at the service department, eight to ten street bikes to every dirt bike.
On volume alone, dealers make more on street by selling not just basic parts, but by selling chrome, accessories, and more...and keep in mind, street bikes usually carry two passengers, so it's twice the leather and accessories.

That's the fact and dirty little secret no one likes talking about and admitting to in this business, for fear of alienating or hurting someone's feelings, but the fact of the matter is, dirt bikes for most dealers contribute only a small amount to the overall bottomline.

and yes, there are always exceptions to every rule

flarider wrote:

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers? Because all racers want and...

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers?

Because all racers want and expect not only the lowest price, but they want a "racers discount" as well and they also want sponsorship in the way of a sticker on their bike, making them think they deserve an even greater discount.

Fact of the matter is, for the most part with most dealers, racers are a pain in the ass with minimal profit margins....they're a money loser.

Look at a dealer floor....five or six street bikes to every dirt bike on the showroom floor. Look at the service department, eight to ten street bikes to every dirt bike.
On volume alone, dealers make more on street by selling not just basic parts, but by selling chrome, accessories, and more...and keep in mind, street bikes usually carry two passengers, so it's twice the leather and accessories.

That's the fact and dirty little secret no one likes talking about and admitting to in this business, for fear of alienating or hurting someone's feelings, but the fact of the matter is, dirt bikes for most dealers contribute only a small amount to the overall bottomline.

and yes, there are always exceptions to every rule

bt260 wrote:

I wanted to put that same thing in my rant, but it was long enough already. And the "sponshorship" or "racer discount" usually amounts to nothing...

I wanted to put that same thing in my rant, but it was long enough already. And the "sponshorship" or "racer discount" usually amounts to nothing for the dealer other than lost profit. I worked at two dealers heavily involved in the moto market and of all the guys we "sponsored" with a discount, I think there were 3 maybe 4 guys who ever actually sent in customers. And they weren't the fastest guys either. In fact my farmer buddy who only ever raced one track in his life sent me 10 times the customers Paul Carpenter ever did when he was riding Kawasaki's out of our shop.

flarider wrote:

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers? Because all racers want and...

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers?

Because all racers want and expect not only the lowest price, but they want a "racers discount" as well and they also want sponsorship in the way of a sticker on their bike, making them think they deserve an even greater discount.

Fact of the matter is, for the most part with most dealers, racers are a pain in the ass with minimal profit margins....they're a money loser.

Look at a dealer floor....five or six street bikes to every dirt bike on the showroom floor. Look at the service department, eight to ten street bikes to every dirt bike.
On volume alone, dealers make more on street by selling not just basic parts, but by selling chrome, accessories, and more...and keep in mind, street bikes usually carry two passengers, so it's twice the leather and accessories.

That's the fact and dirty little secret no one likes talking about and admitting to in this business, for fear of alienating or hurting someone's feelings, but the fact of the matter is, dirt bikes for most dealers contribute only a small amount to the overall bottomline.

and yes, there are always exceptions to every rule

bt260 wrote:

I wanted to put that same thing in my rant, but it was long enough already. And the "sponshorship" or "racer discount" usually amounts to nothing...

I wanted to put that same thing in my rant, but it was long enough already. And the "sponshorship" or "racer discount" usually amounts to nothing for the dealer other than lost profit. I worked at two dealers heavily involved in the moto market and of all the guys we "sponsored" with a discount, I think there were 3 maybe 4 guys who ever actually sent in customers. And they weren't the fastest guys either. In fact my farmer buddy who only ever raced one track in his life sent me 10 times the customers Paul Carpenter ever did when he was riding Kawasaki's out of our shop.

TeamGreen wrote:

How about the notion...

The Idea...

That a f'ck'n rider ever say,"Thank you!" to a shop/sponsor?

tyler durden wrote:

wait. hold on. 1) even if you ordered on the net, you still wouldn't receive the part faster. 2) most dealers that close on Mondays (AS...

wait. hold on.



1) even if you ordered on the net, you still wouldn't receive the part faster.



2) most dealers that close on Mondays (AS THEY SHOULD) are the ones that are run by enthusiasts. They are out riding sunday thru monday JUST LIKE YOU.

That means, they are more fun & less painful to deal with; most truly share your passion.

They generally have better prices because they are in the business for the right reasons and they are more knowledgeable than the volume high-turnover car-dealer shops so chances are the part you ordered will actually be the one you receive.

The ones that open on Mondays are the ones trying to be car dealers by going after every last dollar.





And besides, Ask any Racer. Any real Racer. Racers buy spare parts in advance

Blake wrote:

You must have more spare parts than a factory team.

Im sure most non factory guys have a spare gas tank in their gear bag.

flarider wrote:

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers? Because all racers want and...

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers?

Because all racers want and expect not only the lowest price, but they want a "racers discount" as well and they also want sponsorship in the way of a sticker on their bike, making them think they deserve an even greater discount.

Fact of the matter is, for the most part with most dealers, racers are a pain in the ass with minimal profit margins....they're a money loser.

Look at a dealer floor....five or six street bikes to every dirt bike on the showroom floor. Look at the service department, eight to ten street bikes to every dirt bike.
On volume alone, dealers make more on street by selling not just basic parts, but by selling chrome, accessories, and more...and keep in mind, street bikes usually carry two passengers, so it's twice the leather and accessories.

That's the fact and dirty little secret no one likes talking about and admitting to in this business, for fear of alienating or hurting someone's feelings, but the fact of the matter is, dirt bikes for most dealers contribute only a small amount to the overall bottomline.

and yes, there are always exceptions to every rule

flarider wrote:

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers? Because all racers want and...

Dirty little secret, you know why a lot of dealers don't cater to racers, be it road racers or off-road racers?

Because all racers want and expect not only the lowest price, but they want a "racers discount" as well and they also want sponsorship in the way of a sticker on their bike, making them think they deserve an even greater discount.

Fact of the matter is, for the most part with most dealers, racers are a pain in the ass with minimal profit margins....they're a money loser.

Look at a dealer floor....five or six street bikes to every dirt bike on the showroom floor. Look at the service department, eight to ten street bikes to every dirt bike.
On volume alone, dealers make more on street by selling not just basic parts, but by selling chrome, accessories, and more...and keep in mind, street bikes usually carry two passengers, so it's twice the leather and accessories.

That's the fact and dirty little secret no one likes talking about and admitting to in this business, for fear of alienating or hurting someone's feelings, but the fact of the matter is, dirt bikes for most dealers contribute only a small amount to the overall bottomline.

and yes, there are always exceptions to every rule

MX4EVR wrote:

"Fact of the matter is, for the most part with most dealers, racers are a pain in the ass with minimal profit margins....they're a money loser...

"Fact of the matter is, for the most part with most dealers, racers are a pain in the ass with minimal profit margins....they're a money loser. "


Did they hold a gun to your head and make you sell them parts at little or no profit????
Be realistic.
If a racer spends $8K per year on Parts and Supplies, should he/she get a discount????

You say no ok lets switch.....................

Lets say YOU ( a dealer ) buy 1000 dunlap tires per month to sell to your customers and the other dealer in the town over buys 100 dunlaps per month you guys should have the same price correct???? Not hardly, volume comes with discount.
You have to be on one side of the fence, not both.