Dennis Kirk sold?

Hearing one of the large e-comm's has purchased Dennis Kirk.

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Brad460
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4606
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5/15/2012
Location
Richfield, WI, USA
Fantasy
18 hours ago Edited Date/Time 18 hours ago

Ive had some good experiences with Dennis Kirk---Just bought some Alpinestar boots a month ago---Price was ~$40 cheaper than anyone else. They showed up like two days later.

For sure this goes to crap...

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BoxcarWilly
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10/5/2023
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Thunder Bay, ON, CA
18 hours ago

DK has always been good to me. Hopefully whoever picked it up retains the same level of service. 

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3strokemx
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3280
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9/2/2010
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USA
18 hours ago

How did DK fumble the transition to online so badly?  They had like a 25 year head start on Rocky Mountain

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The Shop

18 hours ago
3strokemx wrote:

How did DK fumble the transition to online so badly?  They had like a 25 year head start on Rocky Mountain

From what I know and understand; DK just assumed that since they were one of the first in, that they wouldn’t have to innovate basically. 

They also got shopped to PE a few years back and that went horrendous. 

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Nairb#70
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Ivoryton, CT, USA
17 hours ago Edited Date/Time 17 hours ago

Dennis Kirk had been around since the '70's selling snowmobile stuff originally, I think.  We used to get their catalog every year.

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17 hours ago

Used to love looking through their catalogs in the 80s

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Crutcher
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287
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1/12/2023
Location
Lawrence, KS, USA
15 hours ago

I had it in my head DK was LeMan’s D2C retail workaround from their distributor model? 

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Beta480RX
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540
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Location
Helena, MT, USA
15 hours ago

DKs downfall to me was always the idea that "we will list everything at retail, but if you call us we will price match."

F that. Bob's was cheaper than DK even being in state although not as much inventory, Chapparal was next to really put a whooping on DK, then Rocky Mountain took over from their little converted gas station in Payson to become the 800lb gorilla in the room.

That being said, RM isn't cheap anymore either and many, if not most, name brand items are sold at retail or ridiculously close to it.

Can still remember as a kid stopping at the original RM store in Payson to pick up something we forgot on the way by during family trips out to Little Sahara.

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15 hours ago
Crutcher wrote:

I had it in my head DK was LeMan’s D2C retail workaround from their distributor model? 

I had to text Spooner to make sure myself

14 hours ago
Crutcher wrote:

I had it in my head DK was LeMan’s D2C retail workaround from their distributor model? 

That's always been a strong rumor, but never confirmed. I did find a document on Dealernews from 15 years ago that showed Fred Fox of Lemans was also on Dennis Kirk Store Inc Board of Directors. Still doesn't prove ownership, but there's definitely smoke there.

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14 hours ago

I believe most of their business is snowmobile, ATV and UTV parts and accessories these days. I buy my snowmobile parts from them but my dirt bike parts from Rocky Mountain. However since I'm so close DK does next day UPS shipping standard.

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Timo
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1/9/2021
Location
Wichita, KS, USA
14 hours ago
Beta480RX wrote:
DKs downfall to me was always the idea that "we will list everything at retail, but if you call us we will price match."F that. Bob's...

DKs downfall to me was always the idea that "we will list everything at retail, but if you call us we will price match."

F that. Bob's was cheaper than DK even being in state although not as much inventory, Chapparal was next to really put a whooping on DK, then Rocky Mountain took over from their little converted gas station in Payson to become the 800lb gorilla in the room.

That being said, RM isn't cheap anymore either and many, if not most, name brand items are sold at retail or ridiculously close to it.

Can still remember as a kid stopping at the original RM store in Payson to pick up something we forgot on the way by during family trips out to Little Sahara.

I think a lot of OEM's have started to control item pricing to keep smaller dealerships competitive. They don't want RM or motosport pricing things 20% lower than a mom and pop store. The only way things get cheaper is if they go on closeout status.

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MELROSEMAFIA
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87
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3/9/2013
Location
Janesville, WI, USA
14 hours ago

Been buying my sled stuff from them since their beginning...Was looking for a Yuasa YTX20L battery there last week...Ended up @ Amazon for $100.00...BRP was $170.00

12 hours ago

Grew up on Dennis Kirk, Cabelas catalogs and Bob’s Cycle ads in the bathroom (decades before shitting with an iPhone). Fast forward 30 years and I loiter at Bob’s cycle, compulsively use the restroom the moment I walk into cabelas, and stop by DK on my way to the trails or Grantsburg for those emergency parts orders. 

I’ve noticed DK has gotten bad with showing items in stock but then you look closer and they are not available for pick up. Turning into a drop shipper

12 hours ago

Been buying my sled stuff from them since their beginning...Was looking for a Yuasa YTX20L battery there last week...Ended up @ Amazon for $100.00...BRP was $170.00

Just FYI, Yuasa won't warranty batteries sold on Amazon, as Yuasa doesn't recognize them as an authorized 3rd party reseller. The reason Yuasa batteries are right much cheaper on Amazon is because they are old stock.

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MELROSEMAFIA
Posts
87
Joined
3/9/2013
Location
Janesville, WI, USA
11 hours ago Edited Date/Time 11 hours ago

Been buying my sled stuff from them since their beginning...Was looking for a Yuasa YTX20L battery there last week...Ended up @ Amazon for $100.00...BRP was $170.00

woodsryder wrote:
Just FYI, Yuasa won't warranty batteries sold on Amazon, as Yuasa doesn't recognize them as an authorized 3rd party reseller. The reason Yuasa batteries are right...

Just FYI, Yuasa won't warranty batteries sold on Amazon, as Yuasa doesn't recognize them as an authorized 3rd party reseller. The reason Yuasa batteries are right much cheaper on Amazon is because they are old stock.

Authorized dealer warranty is 12 months...Unfortunately for snowmobilers that means maybe 120 days of warranty...By the time the next season starts that factory warranty is over...Amazon has a 30 day return policy on these, so it's best to make sure it's factory charged and periodically test before the season starts...To give it a close to real in season type test, I have been known to put them in the freezer for a few days then hook up to the sled and test the output when extremely cold

Heavyhitter
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375
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3/20/2023
Location
Machias, WA, USA
10 hours ago

Been buying my sled stuff from them since their beginning...Was looking for a Yuasa YTX20L battery there last week...Ended up @ Amazon for $100.00...BRP was $170.00

We have seen some really good fake yuasas on Amazon come in with the same story, or the date stamp is 5+ years old. 

MELROSEMAFIA
Posts
87
Joined
3/9/2013
Location
Janesville, WI, USA
10 hours ago

Been buying my sled stuff from them since their beginning...Was looking for a Yuasa YTX20L battery there last week...Ended up @ Amazon for $100.00...BRP was $170.00

We have seen some really good fake yuasas on Amazon come in with the same story, or the date stamp is 5+ years old. 

Yep...Need to do some quick due diligence and make the decision within 30 days and get your refund from amazon...Fortunately I have been involved with powersports toyz for almost 60 years...Never had a Yuasa battery fail within the factory warranty period ,or even 4-5 years down the road...👏

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Vet57
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2584
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12/13/2010
Location
BRO Town, MA, USA
12 minutes ago

Heard they Planning on renaming the company James T. Kirk

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