My Latest Experience With HD/Buell Dealership

[Rogue]

So there is this "new" Buell dealership on South Orange County, CA.  Before that, they were just HD.  And before that, they were HD/Buell when HD made ALL dealerships sell Buells.  This dealership dropped the Buell name years ago and only picked it back up 6 months ago.

So 2 weeks ago I brought my Buell in to Orange County HD-Buell for service and warranty work.  The warranty needed this little part (clutch cable clip that broke in half) that needed to be ordered.  They said they will call me when the part arrived.

4 days later, they actually CALLED ME to say the part arrived!  Wow!  This sounds funny but I was surprised.  A week went by and I didn't call them back because I was too busy and they called me AGAIN to make an appointment to install the part.  Well......there is such a thing as customer follow up at dealerships!  

So today, I rode my bike in around lunch time.  The part was a tiny little clip that I could have installed myself.  I wasn't expecting the service dept. to go out of their way to install it while I waited, but I asked anyways.  Well, they did install it within 20 minutes!  Okay.  I was happy about that.

Here's the surprising part:  while I waited for them to do the work, I went into the showroom to look at bikes.  I went straight to the Buell section of course.  They had ONE Buell:  A Ullyses.  No surprise there.  As soon as I got to the bike, a salesman approached me asking if he could be of help.  I said I was looking for the 1125R.  I was half expecting the salesman to ask me what that was, but he knew what it was.  Not only that, he gave me the 1125R brochures, told me the bike will be in next month, and he will call me as soon as they came in!  

Holy Moly!  Was I dreaming or was this HD dealership actually taking Buell seriously?  It seems as though this one is interested in selling Buells!  

[PlayWithGravity]

See if you can bottle that, and spread it around.  

Glad you had such a nice experience, and is sounds like it's close for you, too!

[TBone]

There are good ones out there. When I went to buy mine the salesman took me around to the service  department and the service manager and one of the mechanics proceeded to rave about the Buells! Not only that, they didn't rag me for riding a Japanese bike, AND someone went out to the parking lot and put a wood block under my Kawasaki's kickstand. After all the horror stories I'd read I was pretty much blown away. Needless to say, I rode the Lightning, fell in love, and bought it that day. This dealer has a customer for life because  of the way I was treated that day.  

[FiremanBob]

While HD's bikes don't appeal to me, their dealers offer the best retail experience I have seen anywhere in the motorcycle industry. They consistently make an extra effort to make sure that people are happy to visit their store.

I'd like to introduce Home Depot's senior management to Harley.  They could learn alot.

[Prubert]

Not only that, he gave me the 1125R brochures, told me the bike will be in next month, and he will call me as soon as they came in!  

No to let any air out of this positive experience, but the 1125r will not be out until 1/08.  They just finished the initial run of pre-production bikes and have some work to do to get the line ready to produce bikes for the public.  They look good tho, Rouge...I think you will like the 1125.

Good to see some dealers are trying to sell the Buells tho.

I will give you a report after I get a chance to ride one...maybe next week.  Woot!!

[steve.ski]

Good on you, Jordan. Nice to hear a dealer has the customer in mind!

The multi-line delaership near me has excellent customer service as well. The guys behind the parts counter are pretty much all flatbillers, but they always call me when my SO parts come in.

[ray6576]

It is good that you found one that treats you right and is interested in your business. Here is a link to get good and bad info about HD dealers: http://www.stealer-dealer.com/

[nanbil]

Glad to hear this.  I'm really considering a Buell and I hope that Harley dealers start to come around.

[naustin]

Reading that made my day.    I was at my dealer recently too - he asked my how my trip to homecoming was and what I thought about the new bike.  It was really nice.  He even knew some of the specs of the bike - watercooled 140hp etc.  I told him I was really excited, but I wasn't sure if I could give up my saddlebags.  

Common GIVI!  I hope they're working on a hardbag and topcase  kit....

[Mastros2]

My dealership (Brian's HD of Langhorne, PA) calls me too when parts arrive!   Isn't it a great feeling?  I usually send the wife to pick them up before they need a 2nd call though.
I'm glad you found a good dealership.  Stick with them!  

[sagerat]

Cascade H-D, formerly Bears and Roses HD, is kind of lost when it comes to Buells.  

The good news is they had several on the floor and let me demo a Uly.  The bad news is that they really couldn't tell me anything about the bike other than what the brochure said.

Still, they're trying and my buddy who bought a Road King from them has nothing but positives to say so far.