What would bring you into a dealer in the cold months??? Need serious feedback - Page 6 - Harley Davidson Forums: Harley Davidson Motorcycle Forum

phx11 · 12-01-2012, 10:43 PM

Winter here in the Phoenix area is our prime riding season. I'm too busy out riding to hang around the dealership.

**misinlink** · 12-02-2012, 05:42 AM

You could do classes like Dave said or other events, but add a twist. Each person that attends gets a punch card and when the card is full (determined by number of events) they get entered into a drawing to win something at the end of winter. So the only way you can enter the drawing is to have a full card.

Or Poker Run Style. Each event is draw of a card, you can prize winning hands accordingly.

Also, if you do these events I think people tend to spend something if there is a cause to support. A portion of all accessory or merch sales on event days goes to a local charity.

Just my .02

Nathang · 12-02-2012, 07:03 AM

I think attention-getting winter-time engine work specials could benefit a dealer

ANYTHING good to say about winter should be welcome, in a market with a seasonal down time.

HD expenditures to look forward to over the winter, already in their minds as the answer

to cabin fever and biker blahs, winter sucks, except for the off season engine work specials...

I can imagine some good promotional posters,

"What the hell, if you can't ride, you might as well split the cases."

"Is your Harley cold and lonely? Bring it to the shop!

It deserves the extra attention and camaraderie"

--

Another point, there was a time when performance mods did not relate much to the new models,

the new model wasn't larger displacement than the one you were wanting to do mods on,

but today the more you look into spending on engine upgrades, the closer you come

to the displacement at least of a newer model. A dealership could promote

a layaway plan going all year towards anticipated big ticket wintertime shop work,

that layaway $$ could be converted into down payment if the urge ever strikes.

--

Have a really big screen Harley Rider SAD Treatment area, big video and big sound of Harley rides,

guys with winter-time rider withdrawal would find it comforting, worth stopping in for a refresher.

.

buckanear007 · 12-02-2012, 07:37 AM

what i like about the dealer i go to is if i make a apointment for sevice they are ready for my bike and all parts are there its done when they say i drop bike night before pickup next night i want my bike with me not in shop if its a long job they tell the truth about how long it will take

RDU1961 · 12-02-2012, 02:04 PM

Its been echoed before, but I'll echo it again...I would love to see a "Home Depot" style workshop. That is one e-mail notification I would look forward to seeing in my in-box. You might also encourage some "Parent-Child" workshops. Hey Dad, bring your boy along for some cool bonding time...while we start building our future customer-base.

murf · 12-02-2012, 02:11 PM

During winter, the local dealer has maintenance/tech seminars on the weekends, and lunch is provided at these seminars. Food definitely brings in the crowd. Engine build specials are going on this winter, with substantial discounts, ie 600 to 1K bucks depending on the package you chose.

They also do halloween parties and xmas parties for the kids, complete with face painting, free pictures with santa, etc. and lunch is served. These events pack the dealership, and the motorclothes dept. does very well. Other events include dinners honoring veterans, active duty military, and loyal customers also bring lots of people to the dealership.

KJW · 12-02-2012, 07:26 PM

I agree with those that advocated the to-do and do it yourself possibilities. These are always well-attended and give you an excuse to leave the house on the bitter cold days.

If you're looking to kick it up a notch, advertise it and offer some giveaways- clothes, tools, etc. Everyone likes the handouts. You could even solicit these freebies from some of your vendors, many have budgets to support such events.