Dealers dont cater to racers

MX4EVR
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MX4EVR 12/13/2010 4:52pm
12/13/2010 4:52pm
Blake wrote:
Break a part on Sunday, cant order till Tuesday and hope you get it by next weekend? WTF? That sends someone right to the net...........and people...
Break a part on Sunday, cant order till Tuesday and hope you get it by next weekend?

WTF? That sends someone right to the net...........and people wonder why the local dealers are hurting.
Looks like you only read what you quoted did they have a gun to your head to?
smit9722
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smit9722 12/13/2010 5:06pm
12/13/2010 5:06pm
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.
not a very good argument as helping out the local guy gave you increased sells where helping out the national guy did not. From a marketing stand point if you are only selling local products why do you advertise nationally ie paul carpenter? Being a racer for many years helping out the local racers has a direct impact on the people coming into your store!
sharkey
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sharkey 12/13/2010 5:10pm
12/13/2010 5:10pm
bt260 wrote:
I've spent more than ten years working the parts counter in various motorcycle dealerships and have almost 20 years experience in parts deptartments of various types...
I've spent more than ten years working the parts counter in various motorcycle dealerships and have almost 20 years experience in parts deptartments of various types of machinery. I can and will tell you a lot of the people working in those places are only casual fans of motorcycles and usually have at least some malcontent for aspects of the sport that differ from their own personal interest. Very few people seem to be all around motorcycle enthusiasts. The dirt bike kid that thinks only pussies ride street and the sportbike nazi that thinks all dirtbike guys are dirtbags. And both of them hating on the sport-touring crowd and cruiser guys. Closed Mondays is a tough gig, makes it a real pain in the ass to be sure your parts are going to arrive in time for you to install them and be on the road to the next race on time. It's about 50/50 around here (central NY) with some being closed Mondays and some being closed Wednesdays. Most of the ones I've worked at were open 6 days a week, but at least one of them is now closed Wednesdays, the economy no doubt to blame. The mail order places tend to stock more and can have it to your dour in a few days time in most cases. That said, I still try to buy my stuff local, but damn, it's getting harder and harder to tolerate the dickhead behind the counter always thinking he's the most bad ass parts guy to ever sell bike peices for a living and that no customer could ever know what he knows, because, hell, he's been doing it almost 2 whole years!

Sorry about the rant. Not all places are this bad, but very few actually have me enjoying my trip to the dealership. And I'm not even going to get into the pricing debate, where I can buy online and save a hundred bucks for the exact same shit even when factoring in my discount at the shop...
thats what kills me is when you go into a dealership find what youi want and walk out the door becuase the shit is marked up so bad. i dont get it. went in the other day a bought a tire and it was within $5 of buying it on the web but i found a helmet that was double. i mean come on
ebers
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ebers 12/13/2010 5:46pm
12/13/2010 5:46pm Edited Date/Time 12/13/2010 6:01pm
Blake wrote:
Break a part on Sunday, cant order till Tuesday and hope you get it by next weekend? WTF? That sends someone right to the net...........and people...
Break a part on Sunday, cant order till Tuesday and hope you get it by next weekend?

WTF? That sends someone right to the net...........and people wonder why the local dealers are hurting.
In your case, I've noticed alot of shops cutting back on the amount of times they place orders per week because of the economy, and it sounds like maybe thats what your running into.

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jmar
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jmar 12/13/2010 5:58pm
12/13/2010 5:58pm
Blake wrote:
Break a part on Sunday, cant order till Tuesday and hope you get it by next weekend? WTF? That sends someone right to the net...........and people...
Break a part on Sunday, cant order till Tuesday and hope you get it by next weekend?

WTF? That sends someone right to the net...........and people wonder why the local dealers are hurting.
MX4EVR wrote:
Looks like you only read what you quoted did they have a gun to your head to?
I didn't write that. I just agreed with it.

The competition dirt bike market, which in turn means those who race, are not a money maker for the majority of the dealers in the US.
groggylbc
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groggylbc 12/13/2010 6:12pm
12/13/2010 6:12pm
waaaa, im mr. racer and i cant get a part exactly when i want it...waaaa.....deal with it cry baby. the moto world doesnt revolve around you!!! in life you dont always get what you want, when you want it! waaaa
MX4EVR
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MX4EVR 12/13/2010 6:22pm
12/13/2010 6:22pm
Blake wrote:
Break a part on Sunday, cant order till Tuesday and hope you get it by next weekend? WTF? That sends someone right to the net...........and people...
Break a part on Sunday, cant order till Tuesday and hope you get it by next weekend?

WTF? That sends someone right to the net...........and people wonder why the local dealers are hurting.
MX4EVR wrote:
Looks like you only read what you quoted did they have a gun to your head to?
jmar wrote:
I didn't write that. I just agreed with it. The competition dirt bike market, which in turn means those who race, are not a money maker...
I didn't write that. I just agreed with it.

The competition dirt bike market, which in turn means those who race, are not a money maker for the majority of the dealers in the US.
you must not attend any races? you should come out some time, bring the kids.
wreckitrandy
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wreckitrandy 12/13/2010 6:23pm
12/13/2010 6:23pm
MX4EVR wrote:
Looks like you only read what you quoted did they have a gun to your head to?
jmar wrote:
I didn't write that. I just agreed with it. The competition dirt bike market, which in turn means those who race, are not a money maker...
I didn't write that. I just agreed with it.

The competition dirt bike market, which in turn means those who race, are not a money maker for the majority of the dealers in the US.
MX4EVR wrote:
you must not attend any races? you should come out some time, bring the kids.
HAR!!!!!!
partialperson
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partialperson 12/13/2010 6:28pm
12/13/2010 6:28pm
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
I'll be that exception! I've had a working relationship with a local dealer since '99. Our first dealings together I went in with several hundred in YZ bucks and set up an open account for my son. He offered a normal discount up front, which was probably standard. I told him more important than a discount would be honesty, a heads up on parts availability and a call to let me know when they arrive. I've spent close +or- to 20g since that day on parts. Some people expect too much from dealers. I don't use mail order, probably 2g since '99. I feel guilty sometimes for the few sets of tires purchased mailorder. In the 70's my family operated a very successful speed shop. Mailorder and the economy of the early 80's screwed that up. The comment about having a semi full of parts at the track, that's me. I carry bars,levers, grips, clutches, piston kits, gaskets, pipes, reeds, reed cages, tubes,tires and numerous other things in my piece o crap looking 6 by 12 factory race rig. Something I learned at an early age traveling with the family sprint car is goin' home early is not an option.
Moto East Mag
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Moto East Mag 12/13/2010 6:34pm
12/13/2010 6:34pm
It's true margins are tiny for dirt bikes but they can be small for street bikes too. MX'ers will be very loyal to a shop that treats them well. Plus, you don't see cruiser riders buying a new bike every 1-2 years. A racer will think nothing of dropping $500 to $1000 monthly on accessories, not to mention oil, lubes etc.
Most racers are looking for a shop to call home, but I think a lot of dealers want that Goldwing rider. I don't really get why dealers blow off dirt riders. It really depends on your location. The small rural dealers will give motocrossers the time of day, but a large urban dealer doesn't give a crap about dirt riders.
I've had crazy experiences- like a dealer wanting $100+ just to mount two tires. (I brought the tires in). When I question it the guy gives me crap- "you ever change a tire? It's difficult."
the dumbassedery goes both ways. Stick with dirt friendly dealers. They are out there. In general dealing with dealers can be a nightmare, from snotty, too-cool employees to outrageous prices. Find a shop with moto racers and you are better off.
bt260
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bt260 12/13/2010 6:36pm
12/13/2010 6:36pm
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.
smit9722 wrote:
not a very good argument as helping out the local guy gave you increased sells where helping out the national guy did not. From a marketing...
not a very good argument as helping out the local guy gave you increased sells where helping out the national guy did not. From a marketing stand point if you are only selling local products why do you advertise nationally ie paul carpenter? Being a racer for many years helping out the local racers has a direct impact on the people coming into your store!
Ever think that Paul may not have always been a pro? He rode out of our shop with Team Green support starting in the 125B class and did a lot of local races besides the big amateur national stuff.
jmar
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jmar 12/13/2010 6:39pm
12/13/2010 6:39pm
MX4EVR wrote:
Looks like you only read what you quoted did they have a gun to your head to?
jmar wrote:
I didn't write that. I just agreed with it. The competition dirt bike market, which in turn means those who race, are not a money maker...
I didn't write that. I just agreed with it.

The competition dirt bike market, which in turn means those who race, are not a money maker for the majority of the dealers in the US.
MX4EVR wrote:
you must not attend any races? you should come out some time, bring the kids.
Not any more. But trust me, I have attended many races over a number of many years. More than most, and at all levels of the sport.

Competition dirt bikes are not big money makers for not only the local shops, but are also just a very small percentage of the overall OEM sales.
WhipMeister
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WhipMeister 12/13/2010 7:34pm
12/13/2010 7:34pm Edited Date/Time 12/13/2010 7:36pm
Kimmey speaks the truth. If a dealer is supportive, it's because he is a dirt biker, not because it makes him money. They sell more volume, at a higher price, of damn near everything on the floor than the four or five MX'ers in the corner. Road bikes, ATVs, Side by Sides, PWCs are all way more important to their bottom line, and their owners don't bitch about racer's discount.

And jmar has forgotten more about MX than most of us will ever know.
Driveby
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Driveby 12/13/2010 7:50pm
12/13/2010 7:50pm
Blake wrote:
Break a part on Sunday, cant order till Tuesday and hope you get it by next weekend? WTF? That sends someone right to the net...........and people...
Break a part on Sunday, cant order till Tuesday and hope you get it by next weekend?

WTF? That sends someone right to the net...........and people wonder why the local dealers are hurting.
Dealers usually don't consider fatass 40+ novices, racers. Sorry they don't have a kick starter for your '89 CR 125 "blake."

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