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All of the local "Big 4" dealers have consolidated into Megaplex's. If you want a clothing boutique/chrome shop, they have you covered. If you need parts, they can order it for you, if they can figure out what the hell you want because most have never actually ridden a dirt bike in their life. Chains, sprockets, tubes, gotta order those. Tires, yep.....gotta order those too. Need a cylinder bored, not a dealer in the area can do it.
Basically the Japanese dealers all focus on SXS and ATV sales unless they are selling a 20 something a crotch rocket as their first bike. I hear repeat business is pretty good on those, if the rider isn't mangled too badly in the inevitable accident during the first 30 days of ownership.
We really need some dealer principals that understand what being a good merchant is about in this industry. That's what we had when the Mom and Pop single line shops were around. You know, someone who is focused on quality of service understanding that quality drives the bottom line and that relationship selling drives loyalty. The customer doesn't owe a dealer loyalty if it's not earned. I hear a lot of shop employees in this thread that don't seem to understand this.
"No but I can order one and have it here monday for $129.99"
"........."
The Shop
Remember, it's the interwebs where everyone is an expert on shit they know nothing about and means very little to anyone..........
When we sold our last YZ85 I ended up giving away a huge crate of spare parts to racers in need. Nice thing about them is they were the same since '03 and parts were dirt cheap...........
Not all fall into this group...
I own a shop/dealer called ST.HILAIRE MOTORSPORTS up the road from you in Barrington, NH. Maybe you've heard of us. I grew up racing NESC and like a few others that have posted here, I know the grind. I do my very best to stock the necessities (brake pads, tires, tubes, rim strips, rim locks, levers, bars, chains, some sprockets, grips, throttle tubes, all fluids, gear, helmets, goggles, tear offs, etc.), and would be glad to have your business not only when you are in a bind, but all the time. You have to find the right place, and I PROMISE they will make you happy- whether that be us, or a different shop in the area. There are still good ones out there, like mine, that understand we need to earn your business in a day in age where it is so easy to click a mouse to purchase items. I love this business and don't intend to go anywhere anytime soon, but we also know we need to do whatever we can to bring more business into the store than online.
If I don't have something you're looking for, it is generally not a common item, and I make my best effort to get it next day... and if it is over $150 I ship to you for free so you never leave your house.
Either way I hope this doesn't seem like as much of an advertising plug, as a plead for you to not give up on local dealers. Us good ones need guys like you!
That's why he so successful as be one of the top KTM Husky dealers in the U.S.
The internet is for people to bitch and complain. That's all. That's why the worst thing you can do is go research a surgery like back surgery. All the reviews and posts are from people with negative experiences. Which is probably less then 1% of the overall success rate. No one who had a great back fusion go on the internet to talk about it. Or to start a new thread at WebMD to say how much it changed their lives for the better.
Interwebs is for people to complain and gripe about negative experiences. Hell for all we know this dealership in question could be top notch.
Sounds like that Yamaha Dealer I spoke about earlier, But their still in Business.
I guess their SxS sales & repair shop are keeping them running.
Pit Row
Isn't that a head scratcher!!!!
I am good friends with my local independent shop and know their limitations. I also buy stuff online for convenience. Stick to being a parts guy and stop trying to psychoanalyze posters on Vital you suck at it........BTW, I worked for a brief stint in my early 20's as a parts manager for Hillsboro Honda (now Motosport so your post above made me chuckle) so I know how people can be. It was fun but not enough money in it............
Me: I need a NGK BR9EG
Dumb ass parts guy: What kind of bike?
Me: Yamaha YZ 125
Dumb ass parts guy: We don't sell Yamaha parts.
Me: (walk out the door never to return)
That dealership is only about one mile from me. I have bought around 40 new bikes and 10's of thousands in parts. Nothing has been from them after that.
I would not be able to handle being a full time parts guy. I deal with a few customers (mainly moto guys), who are great. But the general public is tough.
Way to passive aggessivly try to talk down on someone over the interwebs, hope it helped your ego bro...
Compound the inventory cost with the likelihood that the essentials that are mentioned in this thread are very expensive from the OEM. (Ever try to buy a tire with a Suzuki, Honda, or Kawasaki part number instead of an aftermarket one?) You'll soon see that a dealership has no choice but to order from a distributor for most of those... and those distributors want payment in full in 30 days, usually.
Also, most OEMs have a minimum limit of essential parts that they require the dealers to order and keep on hand. If your dealer doesn't have a sprocket, fork seals or a piston for a YZ85 they are likely in violation of Yamaha's dealer agreement. ( = Bad dealer.)
My point is this: most dealers are trying very, very hard to have what you want to buy. Some are better than others at it. Go find those guys and give them your business!
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