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Service is where it is at. If the shop thinks it is 1999, they will go under.
Even Yamaha offers online shopping delivered to the dealer and the dealer gets 5% of the order. It is then the DEALER who needs to step up and install those accessories. If not, then they will loose that market too.........
par·a·digm shift
a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.
The dealers that adapt to the changing times will thrive.
The others? Well, a lot of them are gone already.
Even here in Southeast Texas our dealers in the 60's and 70's were building their own Dynos, heading up racing for Triumph at Daytona, turning the cylinders around backwards on their Can-Ams with hand made watercooled heads and fairing and setting records at Bonneville, ending up on the big screen in On Any Sunday, competing at the highest levels of flat track and even outboard boat racing national champions with engines built in the bike shop. Not only were they motorcycle enthusiasts, mechanics, tuners and racers, some of them were inventors and patent holders.
Me: "Do you have brake pads for 91 CR 125?"
THEM: "Sure do! I will hold them for you. Come get them tomorrow"
Me: "Thats great thanks! See you tomorrow"
Me (next day in the shop) "Yes Im here to pick up the brake pads you held for me"
THEM: "Yeahhh......uhh we dont have them anymore. Well we do, but someone called this morning and put them on layaway".
Me: "Huh? But you said...." (And confused. Isn'y layaway what you do at Kmart when you cant afford the TV you want? What the hell is he talking about??").
Them: "Yeah things move fast around here".
Me: "Ok, bye"
Long story short I had to go sit in this shop's parking lot and call around other shop to find the brake pads. Had to drive another 30 minutes away. A big black eye for this shop. I TRY to support local retail. But seems like I always get the short end of the stick.
I don't really expect them to stock much. But brake pads, air filters, spark plugs, etc is not asking too much.
The Shop
I see you have moved on to not liking Fox? If I showed you what Pete, Geoff and Bob have done for me you would most likely shit your pants. I know I almost did once. Trust me, they do care. Maybe someone there had a bad day and pissed you off? There are 1800 or so employees between the two Fox companies.
They just want you in and out and aren't very friendly. So I do almost all my purchasing online. It helps that I live 30 minutes from any shop because I have a track and can't stand being in the city. It's great to just grab my phone and place an order and have it at my door in two days. I get the right parts all the time too. Not like the shift shaft issue above. Good riddance to parts depts.
I've been running the anti Fox avatar for just over a year now. Coles notes. We had been selling Fox for around 15 years. We got dropped. A few soft years of sales, two missed emails that went to the wrong department (that told us we needed to step it up or else) and boom we were cut off from purchasing. I tried to talk with them (Fox Canada) but they didn't want to hear it. I offered a decent booking order to get the ball rolling again but I was told and I quote 'there are other brands you can sell we don't need your business' I was blown away. And just like that 15 years of selling the brand and roughly 25 as a loyal consumer we got kicked to the curb. Big corporate Fox forgot about the little shops and customers like me that helped support and build the brand.
I tried contacting Pete Fox via social media but didn't get a response. I didn't expect to, I'm sure a guy like him has a million things to take care of.
End rant
Isn't that a band from the '60s? Wow. Vital has Rockstars!
Nice edit ,bruh.
Pit Row
Now, boy was I pissed when my small shop didn't have that brake rod pin and kick shaft seal for my YZ465 and had to wait 2 days for it.
I went into the Yamaha dealer that was closest to my house because I needed a clutch cable for my Son's yz85. They didn't have one but said "We can order it for you". I said no thanks I'll try to find it local. The guy gives me a smartass reply.
"Good luck with that"
Went home and called a multi line dealer that was about 40 miles away. They had it in stock. Guy told me that the parts dept was closing in about 30 min. I told him where I was coming from and he said no problem I'll wait for you if you can get here with in an hour.
I couldn't believe he offered to do that especially since it was a Saturday. I ended up leaving the dealer with the clutch cable and a brand new Honda crf150r for my Son.
Dealer: I have one...its $120
Customer: But I can get it online for $100. Can you match that price?
Dealer: Sorry I cant, I understand your situation, but I do have it in stock and you can come get it right now.
Customer: Your an asshole, trying to steal from the little man, you think I'm made of money?
Oskaloosa Iowa
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