My, how things have changed in the last year!

Jun 15, 2013
9,397
9,956
Red Banks, MS
Name
Kevin
I avoid taking any of my bikes/trike to the dealership, unless absolutely necessary for warranty work.

However, the local tire store stopped doing motorcycle tires this last year.

The local Independent Motorcycle Shop closed their doors, permanently, this last year.

I called the local Honda/Kawa/Yammy/Suzuki/Polaris shop to see if they would mount a tire for me, was on hold for their service department two separate times. Once for 10 minutes and once for 30 minutes. They never came to the phone.

SO...I called one of our local HD Dealerships, and my experience was fantastic. I do not know if it is top-down change (from MoCo) or if it is just a change at this dealership.

1. The Service department answered promptly when I called, both times.

2. They were willing to install a tire that I brought in with the wheel. In the past they would only install it if you bought it from them.

3. They set an appointment, AND....AND they KEPT it. Was in and out in 1 hour. That has NEVER happened before where they actually respected the Customers time and did the work when they had set the appointment to do the work.

4. They installed it with the dyna-beads I provided. In the past they either would not do it, or had to be talked into it/bribed to do it.

5. They installed a rear tire reversed on the front wheel. They absolutely would not do that anytime I had asked in the past.

6. They were polite and treated me like a Customer. This is shockingly new behavior.

7. They then did a follow up call the next day to make sure that everything went well and that I was happy.

AND, it was not because they don't have business/are slow...they were busier than I've ever seen them.

It would be great for all of us if this is a corporate policy change being implemented from Harley-Davidson Mothership. But, even if it is just a change at our local Dealership, this is good for everyone in the Memphis area.

Still happily amazed!

Kevin
 
This is opposite of the experience I had with my tire and two different Harley dealers and I was going to buy it from them.

Kurt
 
Since my first Harley in 2011, Ive only dealt with one dealer....Family owned and operated in the same location since 1956.....Even bought a Victory from them...

I never had a problem doing any kind of business with them...I even let them do all my oil changes....I make an appointment drive the 80 miles to their shop and the trike and or bike is done right the first time and when promised ....
 
Thats fantastic. They probably figured out yhat it doesn't cost them anything to be nice to customers. Also as the word spreads as you just did, their business will actually increase with satisfied customers.

I'm currently losing my patience with my RV dealership. No one including the service manager will return my calls or emails in regards to warranty issues that should have been corrected in February. Im fixing to take a road trip to the shop...if I have to do that, they will see my patience are gone.
 
Thats fantastic. They probably figured out yhat it doesn't cost them anything to be nice to customers. Also as the word spreads as you just did, their business will actually increase with satisfied customers.

I'm currently losing my patience with my RV dealership. No one including the service manager will return my calls or emails in regards to warranty issues that should have been corrected in February. Im fixing to take a road trip to the shop...if I have to do that, they will see my patience are gone.

Yes, you are right. I will give them another go...my Softail is close to needing front and rear tires. If my experience with them on that is just as good, I will actually start referring people to them....right now I am still amazed/wondering if this great experience was an anomaly.

This is the same Dealership (AND same service writer) that 15 years ago scratched my bike and refused to acknowledge it. They broke my taillight lens and glued it back together...then when I showed it to them they said they did not do that, maybe I should talk to my wife...she probably did it and never told me. They also gave the bike back to me with several critical fasteners only finger tight. Along with a few other things that I don't even want to take the time to type out.

Anyway, night and day difference, and I will be pleased as punch if it sticks...and they will get more business from me and from people I refer to them.

On your RV, have you called the Mfg. and let them know what is going on? They may turn things around for you with that dealership.

Kevin
 
That’s great Kevin. I think it is the dealer finally getting more involved himself and culling the non-performers.

That would be great if that is the case and it sticks!

You know the guy I'm talking about (service writer). I could not believe he did a follow up call to make sure I was happy with the work they did. Polar opposite of my previous experiences with him...at both locations.

Kevin
 
This is opposite of the experience I had with my tire and two different Harley dealers and I was going to buy it from them.

Kurt

Yeah, same here. Have not had a Dealership willing to install a rear tire reversed ever before...and they both would not install dyna beads either.

Kevin
 
Kevin, that is 'good' news, let us hope it is a trend in motorcycle dealerships. How good would that be? I'm saying, they charge enough to give good service with a smile.

It would be fantastic if this is a trend.

You're right about that...I think $68 is too high a price for mounting a tire, but it did not even bother me because of the quality of service.

Kevin
 
When one of my customers would say to me....That job didn't take you long and you are charging how much.??

My answer was....You are paying me for what i know and not for how fast the job took me to do...
 
It would be fantastic if this is a trend.

You're right about that...I think $68 is too high a price for mounting a tire, but it did not even bother me because of the quality of service.

Kevin

I've no idea what the flat rate is in that area, but assuming $105/hr or so, it looks like they charged you .6 to do it....that's not really out of line.....

YMMV

Lon
 

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