Customer Service at Buell Dealerships

[PlayWithGravity]

I don't know what I'm going for here, but I have a question to pose about H-D/Buell dealerships customer service, etc. toward Buell riders.  Why is it that Buell riders get dirty looks and poor customer service at most dealerships.  Granted, I understand that the bread and butter in those establishments is the H-D line up, but maybe with better service, aftermarket selection, etc. for Buells they'd start turning more dollars there.

I bought my Buell last summer from F&S in Dayton, which is about a 250 drive, with a half dozen other dealerships in between.  Seems crazy.  I don't hear about that with other brands.  What gives?  

[tankhead]

I am sure you have heard of Badweb.  If not here you go:www.badweatherbikers.com they have lengthy discussions on this subject.
Anyway, Harley dealerships in general do not like the whole deal with BUELL.  I went to a dealership yesterday in Wildwood to get my BUELL cap.  (This time I called before I drove down)  They said they were participating.  GREAT!  Drove down with my neighbor, we get there and I get the hat and then ask where are all the BUELLS.  She said with a laugh, "I don't know. Hey Bill where are all the BUELLS?  They are in the shed."  (the f'n shed)  Oh well, I got my hat and high tailed it out of there.  Not a Harley fan at all.

[Scratch33]

[AngelDeville]

I guess Buells with their HD engine aren't as cool as the latest FXWTF, and are not accepted by the Harley snobs, (I guess even the V-rods aren't accepted either)
My dealer has ONE guy that actually knows anything about Buells, and for some reason they still have two 2005 XB12S's on the floor.

any Buell is cooler than any Fat-tired abortion, with an S$S motor.

[PlayWithGravity]

FXWTF

LOL.

I'm glad I didn't realize the "customer service issue" before I bought mine, otherwise I may not have, then I'd be missing out in a big way.

[Mastros2]

There are only a few HD/Buell dealerships that I enjoy going to in the vicinity of Central NJ.  Like others have said, it's a shame that some dealerships do not want to be bothered.  Buell has a similar following of loyal owners as HD does.  The Buell owners might be a smaller group but loyal none the less.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Come on Buells are the redheaded stepkids of HD   I hear all the rumors of this going on but I have not seen it yet from dealerships from other Harley owners yes but dealerships no. You want a nice shop see below.

Uke's Harley-Davidson
5995 120th Ave (I-94) Kenosha WI 53144
Phone: (262) 857-UKES Fax: (262) 857-4444

[Geezer]

I would bet that the service department makes a bunch more Money on all the chrome and stuff the typical HD rider pays them to install than they do an any Buell they service.

[Mastros2]

I agree with Geezer's and CBRXXBLACKBIRD's comment 100%.  Especially since there is a strong gathering of baby boomers buying Harleys now during a mid-life crisis.  I would have to assume that most do not want to be bothered with maintenance or upgrades and would rather let the dealership do it.  
Look at the typical Buell owner.  What is one of the reasons you buy Buells?  The ease of maintenance and simplicity.  

[desert_rider]

I went to Quaid H-D/Buell here in SoCal to look at a Ulysses and check out pricing.  I have to say that it was the nicest treatment I ever got at a dealership (car or bike).  They went out of their way to answer all of my questions.  I think that it's a dealship by dealship experience.  They either want to make a sale and money or they don't.

[PlayWithGravity]

Yeah, I guess I agree with deser-rider.  That's what took me 250 miles from home to buy my Firebolt.  F&S in Dayton, Ohio is one of the good ones

[Rogue]

Desert Rider, I've been to Quaids and although they are professional, they're selection when I was there was very thin--2 Ullys.  

I have since gone to San Diego Buell, of which there are two in Down Town SD.  I went to the one in Kearney Mesa.  Wow!  Not only were they very knowledgeable, they were friendly and had just about every Buell model.  These two are full on Buell dealerships that push Buells.  

[PlayWithGravity]

Rogue, that's excellent!  Enjoy your spoils enough for (most of) the rest of us!  lol

Think any Buell dealers, or corporate, or Erik ever surf these threads??

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

Think any Buell dealers, or corporate, or Erik ever surf these threads??

I doubt it.

[desert_rider]

Rogue - thanks for the info.  I'm sorta, kinda thinking of replacing the Bandit with a Ully but I'm on the fence.  If I decide to take the plunge I'll check San Diego Buell.  Heck, maybe I'll check them out anyway - it would be a good excuse for a ride - not that I need one with this beautiful SoCal weather!

[roadrailer]

Rogue, that's excellent! Enjoy your spoils enough for (most of) the rest of us!  lol

Think any Buell dealers, or corporate, or Erik ever surf these threads??

Erik Buell (as well as other Buell employees) are allegedly pretty active at badweb. There are quite a few dealership employees who post over there as well.

[roadrailer]

Rogue - thanks for the info.  I'm sorta, kinda thinking of replacing the Bandit with a Ully but I'm the fence.  If I decide to take the plunge I'll check San Diego Buell.  Heck, maybe I'll check them out anyway - it would be a good excuse for a ride - not that I need one with this beautiful SoCal weather!

In my totally unbiased opinion  , the Uly is an awesome motorcycle. Do it. DO IT!!! (peer pressure, peer pressure)

[PlayWithGravity]

 If I decide to take the plunge I'll check San Diego Buell.  Heck, maybe I'll check them out anyway - it would be a good excuse for a ride - not that I need one with this beautiful SoCal weather!

Ugh, you're killin' me.... it's snowing in beautiful (TIC) northeast Ohio.

[desert_rider]

Roadrailer - hey no problem.... if you're willing to help out with the payments.

[PlayWithGravity]

Erik Buell (as well as other Buell employees) are allegedly pretty active at badweb. There are quite a few dealership employees who post over there as well.

I'll have to give Badweb another chance, the format of that site is so hard for my feeble mind to grasp....

[desert_rider]

Ugh, you're killin' me.... it's snowing in beautiful (TIC) northeast Ohio.

85F and not a cloud in the sky  the car hasn't  moved in 2 weeks!

[PlayWithGravity]

In a few short weeks I'm movin' to Raleigh, NC     Not quite SoCal, but MUCH better weather.

[roadrailer]

Roadrailer - hey no problem.... if you're willing to help out with the payments.

  Can't help with that (I've got my own to worry about), but how about some nice, free visual encouragement   :



You know you want it.....  

[roadrailer]

I'll have to give Badweb another chance, the format of that site is so hard for my feeble mind to grasp....

I HATE the format of that site. There's lots of great information there, but finding it is almost impossible. God forbid you have to use the search function.  

[AngelDeville]

I HATE the format of that site. There's lots of great information there, but finding it is almost impossible. God forbid you have to use the search function.  

The site does suck, but the info is great, I joined a few months ago, and while I may not end up with a Buell I do check it out from time to time.

[naustin]

BWB takes some getting used to.  It works best to specify your "favorite topics" in your profile, and then use the search function to see posts for the last day or whatever in just those areas.  The more selective about what you read and get sucked into on that board, the happier you'll be.  Its a great resource as long as you stay out of the BS threads.

Erik Buell does post there.  He has an alias, and there are frequently anonymous posts containing technical descriptions and familiar discussion about racers and other connected people in the Buell world that you can pick up on it pretty fast when somebody from East Troy is on the board.  There are even pictures somewhere of the inside of the factory with BWB on the computer in the background.  

As far as the Dealer mentality - I can't explain it or understand it.  There a culture of intolerance for anything that isn't an 800 pound chrome hippobike made in Milwaukee.  I really think a lot of Harley people actually hate Buells.  They treat sportbikes like an inferior race, and a Buell is like the one that snuck through the back porch and knocked up their daughter or something.  I really have no time for the "lifestyle crowd" as i call them.  It just burns them that Buells even exist.

My local HD dealer is not really a "buell" dealer, but they have a few Buells around - in the back shed with the used stuff...  Check out my profile over at BWB to read about my experience with them.  I will never trust them with my bike again.

There are some good Buell dealers out there.  Just don't expect your local HD shop to be one of them.

[Rogue]

I've only been to 3 HD dealerships, and two of them supposedly sold Buells.  Yeah.  I didn't like their attitude either.  They were NOT unfriendly but weren't helpful either.  

I can't understand the attitude really.

This is why I'm willing to ride 120 miles to San Diego for a REAL Buell dealership.  I agree with a lot of people's opinion:  if Buell had MORE good dealers like SD Buell, they would sell a whole lot more bikes!

[BigHoss]

I have been wanting an XB12 since they came out. Problem is I have to sell the XX to get it.

I plan on a test ride this week or next and I'll see if it's impressive enough to part ways with the XX.

Here in NM we have a lot of great unpaved roads and I'd like to get on them.

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

I have been wanting an XB12 since they came out. Problem is I have to sell the XX to get it.

I plan on a test ride this week or next and I'll see if it's impressive enough to part ways with the XX.

Here in NM we have a lot of great unpaved roads and I'd like to get on them.

Parting ways with my XX was tougher than I thought it would be.

[Asphalt_Carver]

I have to second Rogue's opinion regarding San Diego Buell.  Not only are they are truly monstrous in size H-D dealer, but their Buell department is excellent!  They have a wide selection of bikes on the floor and a truly knowledgeable staff.

They had a XB12Ss on the floor with my name on it and after discovering that it had a scratch on the fork, they went and procured another bike to replace that one!  After that, they even took the time to proplerly adjust my front and rear preload for me.  Truly a first class dealer with a great attitude.

I would definitely buy another bike there without question or hesitation!

[Kootenanny]

They had a XB12Ss on the floor with my name on it and after discovering that it had a scratch on the fork, they went and procured another bike to replace that one!  After that, they even took the time to proplerly adjust my front and rear preload for me.  Truly a first class dealer with a great attitude.

I've only heard about this kind of service...when I picked up my new Buell, the salesman spend 20 minutes showing me where the controls were ("This is the throttle, this lever is the front brake...) even though he knew I could ride (hell, I'm a former motorcycle instructor).  Told me it was required for insurance purposes.  But not only did they not set the suspension for me, they never even mentioned it (and to be honest, I don't think I'd trust them to set it up anyway...).

Beyond that, the Buell I bought had some peeling plastic on the front fender--this was a known problem on some of the early plastic parts (my bike is an 03), but even so the dealer refused to do anything about it at all, and Buell Canada couldn't help me either.  I've since bought a new fender on my own dollar--I still have the peeling one.

I wonder if they wonder that I've never bought any parts from them (I get all my parts online).  It's weird, I love the bike, but dammit I simply can't recommend that dealer.

[Flingit1200S]

I would love to replace my Bandit with a Uly.  We have a new HD dealership in Wichita with a new multimillion dollar building that just opened.  Was close by today so I stopped to see if they had Buells.  They had one Uly which was used for 900mi by the dealership owner.  They priced it at new retail price.  The sales guy was nice enough but knew nothing about the bike and had no literature.  He said they were just "trying out" the Buell thing to see if they wanted to be a dealer.  Gosh.......I wonder why that bike hasn't sold yet.......

[Yankee Dog]

I am a litttle confused by this thread.  I mean, what dealership of ANY brand motorcycle give good customer service.  Heck, I walked into the local Howasuki dealer the other.  Walked around and looked at bikes for 20 minutes.  The salesmen were all sitting around one of the desks and shooting the shit.  After 20 minutes I left.  

Yankee Dog

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

This is true I had this at other shops.

[PlayWithGravity]

I am a litttle confused by this thread.  I mean, what dealership of ANY brand motorcycle give good customer service.  Heck, I walked into the local Howasuki dealer the other.  Walked around and looked at bikes for 20 minutes.  The salesmen were all sitting around one of the desks and shooting the shit.  After 20 minutes I left.  

Yankee Dog

Guess the grass is always greener.  Sometimes I prefer to go drool over the latest rides w/o Joe Salesguy trying to get into my wallet.

The gripe I started this thread with had less to do with getting NO attention at a Buell dealer, but getting Negative attention.

I think someone mentioned already, as long as I can get parts on-line and continue to not need much factory authorized service, then I'm good to go.