Yes, I'm into manuals. I'm into just about everything from '38 on. That's why I need specifics. Ever get confused by a P&A catalog's description? "Fits '93 to '99 FLHTC except FLHTCU's equipped with blah blah blah and '96 and later FLHT with blah"...
I'll accept the job of official "Harley-Davidson Parts guy for HCG as long as you'll forgive me if I don't reply right away. I WILL reply, when I know that I'm not guessing.
A heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter, you'll become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there wrapped up in a trap of your very own chain of sorrow.
-John Prine
And yes, in the last photo, I've had licensed bikes in Ontario, Washington and Pennsylvania.
A heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter, you'll become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there wrapped up in a trap of your very own chain of sorrow.
-John Prine
Kagan,
I would offer that the parts person bear in mind that for most of us the purchase and ownership of a Harley is the culmination of years of window-shopping and mumbling "some day" to ourselves. And that the cost of a new or used Harley is substatinally higher than an import, which we owners already know and have decided to incure anyway. Not to mention the fact that Harley riders ride Harleys by choice, most don't start out looking for a bike and end up in the Harley dealership, we are in there because we want a Harley!
By the time we get to you SOME of us have been through the new bike purchasing ordeal with the cockey salesperson and sales manager and their indifference to this new costumer. The service contracts and extended warranties, and no budging on the price. All obviously designed to perpetuate the Harley mystique, but under the guise of accentuating the Harley ownership. All to culminate in getting to ring a bell, (WTF?). Then there are those who have been riding for some time and have been in few dealerships around the country and have found the same meathead behind the counter with a shit-bag oil-pisser in the parkinglot looking down his nose at us acting like he is doing us a favor by being in our presence. We are in your dealership because we decided to purchase a Harley part, maybe because it can't be found aftermarket or I just want a genuine Harley part. And we want to be able to go in and get that part by just walking in and saying hey I need..................no attitudes and no bullshit. And if I don't have a part number or want to solicit some advice, again we want no attitude, we paid for that right when we bought our motor company scooter!
It's no secret that Harley dealerships have and continue to operate in this self-percieved and self-perpetuated etheral plain, that transcends conventional wisdom. Why would I buy a bike that is abit behind the times in its mechanical design, when an import that is light years ahead in design and reliability can be had for half the price. We have all either had or known someone who had an old this or that import that ran for years with little or no maintance and traded hands ten times and still ran well.
We buy these bikes because we want a HARLEY, nothing else will do. They have a soul and live and breath like our trusted dog. When we look at them in our garages and our driveways, even though they are inanimate, they still are alive. When some of our buds show up for a brew and some chat time, we don't hang in the house, we gravitate to the garage to commune with the bikes.
So when someone walks in and wants a part, remember that we all have "been there and bought the t-shirt" when we bought these bikes, save the hype for guy still kicking tires. Help me make in informed decision, be the advocate for the costumer and not just the company. Yeah there alot of newbs with money to burn and not alot of common sense, but we are all not like that, and above all else, a customer is still a customer. I don't want to have to drop 20k on a bike and another 5k at the parts counter to earn the "respect" from the guys at the dealership. I want it the first time everytime.
Kagan, I am sure that you are not like this, but I for one have seen and dealt with too many just like this at too many Harley dealerships. And have heard the same from too many folks to dismiss my experiences as nothing more than bad luck. I am off my soap box. Peace bro!
zed[/u]
"He who knows not and knows not that he knows not, is a fool, shun him. He who knows not and knows that he knows not, is a wise man, follow him."
Point well taken. I may be in the minority, but as a counter person, I KNOW that I'm there to serve. Some people let their egos get in the way. Sometimes I do too, but if I do, I try to get back on a professional track.
Mutual respect comes over time. I have customers who will wait in line for 15 minutes to talk to me even if someone else is free and some people won't deal with me at all. Personality clashes are inevitable, but I hear you. If you are in a good mood and want to deal with someone who is equally pleasant, having a "fuck you" guy in your face is a total pisser.
Before you write off the dealership, see if 1] he was having a bad day or 2] he's a dick without a future and someone else there can serve you better.
Thanks for your comment!
A heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter, you'll become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there wrapped up in a trap of your very own chain of sorrow.
-John Prine
Great post. Over the years I have invested a lot of time with counter folks, developing aOriginally Posted by Kagan
positive relationship, which works for our mutual benefit. When you buy a new ride you
spend a day or so with a sales person and off you go. With counter folks (parts department
service or merchandise) your going to work with these folks and spend more time with them
so why not invest the time wisely. The Harley dealer I prefer is Destination HD and I have to
admit it took some time to find the right folks to work with but it is worth the effort.
For the most part, I think the crowd of customers flowing to the parts counter varies between "know nothing, but refuse to acknowledge it" and "know everything, and wanna make sure you understand". I have a lot of respect for the parts guys and gals, because they see it all. Myself, I know my bike and it's functional pieces pretty well, but realize that the person behind the counter probably knows them better.
This is one of my favorites though:
Under the seat of my 03 Road King Classic (and most touring bikes too, I think) is a Deutsch 4-pin "accessory connector". On the Road Kings, there's the switch on the left side of the triple clamp area that controls power to the connector. I installed some amplified speakers on the King, and thought I'd just wire it to the "accessory connector". I have an unfair advantage in this case, as the company that I work for supplies molds to the Deutsch Co. and I've seen most of their products, and am familiar with the metal terminals, runner seals, etc. I asked the local parts counter for the male plug connector that fits into the accessory plug, and the response was "we don't sell those". When I asked what the connector under the seat was for, "I don't have a clue". When asked whether they carry Deutsch connector parts (what happens when you "break" a Deutsch connector?), "I don't think so". After visiting the service desk ("they should have all that stuff"), I found a service tech on my own that gave me the male connector shell, two metal terminals, and the seal, apparently from his tool box. I thought I was very courteous throughout though. Thanks to you parts folks though! On the whole, you do a great job.
lostduchman, if that counter person would have had his head on stight he would have showed you the power ass kit for that asserory it has a short wire on it with the plug all set to go and they trow in a power port , look's like a cigerrt liter the kit cost like 15.00 and i know you did it cheaper as did i but he should have offered you the choice
Bucket list are for Sissie, men do it while they can enjoy it
Ok, here is my part counter guy story.
First I should have known better, I have 2 dealers each 50 miles away. The one I bought the bike from, and the one I let touch my bike.
I had ordered a set of Progressive 440s online and they came in damaged, so I thought I would stop at the dealer and order from them. I was near the dealer I bought from so I stopped in. Parts guy spends time to talk me out of the 440s (I was looking for HD shocks for 2 up riding the 440s were highly recommended). I listened to the parts guy and agreed to order replacement springs for the stock shocks. Parts come in, Parts guy calls me, then conf in the shop. Shop guy "You can't put those springs on this bike" . Oh boy. Stop down at the dealer, Shop guy explains if installed the rear tire will scrap. Now the fun part. No return policy on part orders. So I ordered parts on the suggestion of the dealer which don't fit my bike and it's my problem.
Well took some time but I got full credit for the springs.
Again, this was my fault. I knew I had problems with this dealer and still I went in. Also I have a great dealer and I was giving some else my business.
karma.
Not a good situation for you or the dealer. Sorry to hear about your hassle. Not to sound like a factory-loyal drone... but you are sort of a fair-weather customer. If you were MY customer (yes, I mean possesive, not general) I would have admitted my mistake and had you out the door with a refund or replacement without question.
The fact that you don't really like deling with them is a self-perpetuating cycle. Without your enthusiasm to deal with them, where's their enthusiasm to treat you right?
I'd suggest that for the sake of your ongoing affair with your bike, you pick a dealership, try to pick a parts guy and deal with that person. You don't need to leave your house. Most of my customers will call me first (because I suggested it) and I'll just charge their card and that's that.
Yes, karma. You admitted that you would rather deal online. You admitted that you would rather not deal with that parts dept. Shit. I'd have a hard time being glad to see you.
If you treat your parts guy like a McD's cashier, guess what you're gonna get?
Kagan,
I'm speechless, trying to justify an attitude by the parts guy is crazy, as I stated before "A customer is a customer" and the retailer would be foolish to treat someone different based on their purchasing history! Maybe the correct thought process would be, "hey glad to see ya, where have ya been, haven't seen ya in a while, did everything go alright the last time you where here? But I don't think that will happen, because the dealership still thinks they have a monopoly, but scooters like Victory are making inroads. And the custom market has taken off to the moon.
zed
"He who knows not and knows not that he knows not, is a fool, shun him. He who knows not and knows that he knows not, is a wise man, follow him."
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