In it for the Love or the Money?
According to every news cast we are in the biggest Recession since the Depression. I don't know about you but for us little people, you know the ones who work for a living things are just about the same as before the Recession. The big change I see is people might have some money to spend on their passion but if they are spending their hard earned and somewhat scarce money they want a good value for their money.
Most of the people that are in the motorcycle business, got into this business, _originally_,for the sheer love of motorcycles and the freedom that they offer you when you are out on the road. _Most_ of us that took the life altering step and got into the motorcycle business did not get into the business to become millionaires. Rather, we just wanted to be around motorcycles and the people who ride them, everyday of our lives. I mean everyday, 24/7 and 365 days a year and every waking minute, never tiring of be totally immersed in the life of motorcycling. During the boom of the 1990's and the early years of the millennium the HD dealerships got larger and became Walmarts of sorts designed to move as many motorcycles as possible and to efficiently accumulate as much money as possible from as many customers as possible. Then to increase their bottom line, HD started to shop over seas, especially in China, for suppliers for more parts for our "American Made" iconic motorcycles. The "Made in China" stamps became more and more prevalent on parts that cost hundreds of dollars. Made in China and Made in India are even more prevalent in the Motor Clothes section in the Multi Million Dollar HD Wally Marts. Who wants to pay $500.00 for a official HD leather jacket made in China?The owners and staff become focused on the dollars that could be made rather than the sheer love of motorcycles. It became a matter of quantity over quality in respect to product, service and customer service for many of these HD Wallymarts. Owners became millionaires and customers became a pain in the rear that _had_ to be dealt with to maintain the almighty flow of cash it takes to now operate the huge stores. Customer Service became an exception rather than the rule.
It is the time we get back to our roots so to speak. The small, qualified independent shops that are still in business are in the business for the love not the millions of dollars. They will go that extra mile for you and your motorcycle. Now is the time to spend your money with the shop that appreciates your business.
Buy American. Be an American.
Ride them if you got them.
Ugly Gene
Most of the people that are in the motorcycle business, got into this business, _originally_,for the sheer love of motorcycles and the freedom that they offer you when you are out on the road. _Most_ of us that took the life altering step and got into the motorcycle business did not get into the business to become millionaires. Rather, we just wanted to be around motorcycles and the people who ride them, everyday of our lives. I mean everyday, 24/7 and 365 days a year and every waking minute, never tiring of be totally immersed in the life of motorcycling. During the boom of the 1990's and the early years of the millennium the HD dealerships got larger and became Walmarts of sorts designed to move as many motorcycles as possible and to efficiently accumulate as much money as possible from as many customers as possible. Then to increase their bottom line, HD started to shop over seas, especially in China, for suppliers for more parts for our "American Made" iconic motorcycles. The "Made in China" stamps became more and more prevalent on parts that cost hundreds of dollars. Made in China and Made in India are even more prevalent in the Motor Clothes section in the Multi Million Dollar HD Wally Marts. Who wants to pay $500.00 for a official HD leather jacket made in China?The owners and staff become focused on the dollars that could be made rather than the sheer love of motorcycles. It became a matter of quantity over quality in respect to product, service and customer service for many of these HD Wallymarts. Owners became millionaires and customers became a pain in the rear that _had_ to be dealt with to maintain the almighty flow of cash it takes to now operate the huge stores. Customer Service became an exception rather than the rule.
It is the time we get back to our roots so to speak. The small, qualified independent shops that are still in business are in the business for the love not the millions of dollars. They will go that extra mile for you and your motorcycle. Now is the time to spend your money with the shop that appreciates your business.
Buy American. Be an American.
Ride them if you got them.
Ugly Gene
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