A dealer's perspective - life at Oxford H-D

[SX 150]

Originally Posted by Phil

Nice one (you never fail to crack me up)......You can come work for me. Do be prepared to be frisked on the way out though. You`ll fit right in with this odd lot!
Service

I don't mind being frisked at all, you do, do shipping no??

John- the stakes are higher now Folsom want me,- I may be needing a parking bay now.

[Principal]

Originally Posted by L.V.

I don't mind being frisked at all, you do, do shipping no??

John- the stakes are higher now Folsom want me,- I may be needing a parking bay now.

Well, Sir, I may have to politely withdraw. I feel you are probably going to command a salary that is outside my budget.

May I wish you good fortune.

with regards

John Phelan
DEALER PRINCIPAL

(Neil, ffs, remind me to send Phil a case of beer! That was too close for comfort!)

[SX 150]

F**k - I've never had to sue for unfair dismissal this early in any employment before..

Mr Phil,- Boss, what bus is it from the airport.

[PhillSpace]

Originally Posted by L.V.

Mr Phil,- Boss, what bus is it from the airport.

L.V. you sure you want to be going to a place called Folsom ..... bit too close for comfort innit

Phil....

[kiwidave]

OK, what would you guys want us to stock for older stuff? No promises mind!

I am not sure I would expect you to stock much. People with really old bikes tend to be pretty independent and resourceful, as you will know and you are running a business.

But can it hurt to stock complete gasket sets for Shovels and all Evos, oil filters and a few cables, if nothing else specific? Maybe you do already?

I was told at one dealership last year, when seeking base gaskets for my 1985 FXEF ..... and being politely incredulous that they did not stock them...''we don't get much call for them now, mate''. But that base gasket fits 1984-1999 Harleys!!!!!!!!!

(It has grated me in the past to stand at a parts counter with pictures of Shovelheads and Panheads on the wall, and be told....''nope, you must have an FXR.....'' . These days i just smile as the shrink-wrap is taken off the 84/85 FX parts book that has never been opened. I still do visit the dealerships for parts.....)

When a company trades on its tradition as much as H-D does, it is surely a matter of principle to stock such basics. There's not much investment, you won't offload many, but you will make someone's day, and keep him/her on the road!

On the up side.....for some crazy reason many dealers still have a good stock of the throw-out bearings last used on 1986 Big Twins!! Maybe there is a Twin Cam usage.....

I know you probably see just a handful of chain-drive/kicker/even pre head-breather Evo bikes outside the window all summer, but think of the PR value if one day one of those people does call and you can sell the gasket set / throttle cable that has gathered dust for nine or 29 months.....

Is there, by the way, any mandatory requirement nowadays for a dealership to have a certain basic parts stock to cover pre-1984? or even pre-1999 Big Twin? Maybe I am talking mince and indeed you do keep such.


Yours.... interested, and objective....

[Principal]

Originally Posted by kiwidave

I am not sure I would expect you to stock much. People with really old bikes tend to be pretty independent and resourceful, as you will know and you are running a business.

But can it hurt to stock complete gasket sets for Shovels and all Evos, oil filters and a few cables, if nothing else specific? Maybe you do already?

I was told at one dealership last year, when seeking base gaskets for my 1985 FXEF ..... and being politely incredulous that they did not stock them...''we don't get much call for them now, mate''. But that base gasket fits 1984-1999 Harleys!!!!!!!!!

(It has grated me in the past to stand at a parts counter with pictures of Shovelheads and Panheads on the wall, and be told....''nope, you must have an FXR.....'' . These days i just smile as the shrink-wrap is taken off the 84/85 FX parts book that has never been opened. I still do visit the dealerships for parts.....)

When a company trades on its tradition as much as H-D does, it is surely a matter of principle to stock such basics. There's not much investment, you won't offload many, but you will make someone's day, and keep him/her on the road!

On the up side.....for some crazy reason many dealers still have a good stock of the throw-out bearings last used on 1986 Big Twins!! Maybe there is a Twin Cam usage.....

I know you probably see just a handful of chain-drive/kicker/even pre head-breather Evo bikes outside the window all summer, but think of the PR value if one day one of those people does call and you can sell the gasket set / throttle cable that has gathered dust for nine or 29 months.....

Is there, by the way, any mandatory requirement nowadays for a dealership to have a certain basic parts stock to cover pre-1984? or even pre-1999 Big Twin? Maybe I am talking mince and indeed you do keep such.


Yours.... interested, and objective....

Thanks for this. All useful stuff.

Don't know all of the answers to the questions you pose, so won't answer any - yet.

I'll get back to you.

John

[Principal]

Originally Posted by L.V.

F**k - I've never had to sue for unfair dismissal this early in any employment before..

(Neil, ffs, he's a bloody tribunal-hopper too!)

[Phil]

The old chestnut Dave. You have been to our parts counter & I believe we had in stock all the parts you needed for that old Blunderbuss of yours.
We obviously have a lot more bikes here, & we like to keep the basics. We order our parts by studying the history & probability of a sale. Don`t forget that we get taxed on inventory value here, so we don`t like to keep stuff on the shelf we are not likely to get rid of.
There is the heritage thing, but try going to a car dealer & getting a part for an old Vauxhall Viva.

[CrazyIvan]

Originally Posted by Phil

We order our parts by studying the history & probability of a sale.

Clever stuff! You'll be telling us that you open on Sundays next

[Phil]

Er, yes we are............Not service though. We sell a lot of bikes on sunday....Sorry John.