Sure to a point...
But there are Legions of Ignorant, Self Important folks out there, that show up at the dealership with over blown senses of entitlement, and piss poor attitudes, EXPECTING to get ripped off and treating everyone at the store with scorn. MANY of these, are the Sportbike riders and worse, They are the Busa riders and liter bike owners. Seem to think that they are special. Deserving of extra attention, they strut through te dealership wanting SOMEBODY to notice their fancy Arai or whatever...
Customer service works wonders when customers are there with open minds. So many show up already full of attitude there isn't much that can be done.
Now you're point about Who would sell us the bikes? That is exactly the POINT! Dealership GONE, no more bikes to buy, you will have to travel and deal with NOT having any support locally.
The Art isn't forgotten entirely, but many times it's lost on the clients.
I see the business end of the logic...
However! A place that decides it's more important to stock keychains and t-shirts because they can sit on the shelves longer without losing as much (or any) money on them is just crap.
I could do without seeing a lot less accessories and low end helmets sprawled all of the show room floor and appreciate someone having some actual parts for the bikes they sell on hand.
A parts room should be able to assemble most of a bike not including the frame and major pieces of the engine. Especially anything that is a cosmetic or considered a 'wear item' or consumable.
You can't really stock every part for every bike....but those that sell the most of or the ones that are the higher $$$ models like the Busa and the 1K should be strongly considered....unless your dealership sells mostly small stuff or dirt/cruiser/marine craft oriented machines.
If a Busa owner walks in to the dealership where they spent 11~13K for a bike...yeah, they're going to expect you to have a few parts on hand....and they're going to get pissy about you not even stocking aftermarket windscreens for them. Or having fairing bolts...or chains...or a clutch pack....or so many other common sense items.
If you want cutomers to be a little more understanding and not 'EXPECTING to get ripped off'....try not gouging them with 65/hr rates and 'set-up fees' ...this fee..that fee...
You want us to see your side of it at the time of sale... so understand our side when you can't stock plastic pushpins that should cost a dime a piece...but you do have a dozen of those 'chrome' adhesive overlays for the Busa dash panel priced at 55~60.00 each!
There is only one dealership in my area that is open on Sundays... and do carry some parts...and I will only patron them. They know that people that break stuff racing Saturday night...will fix it Sunday morning. Even if the sales department is closed one day a week...the parts and service people should be they 7 days...if there's work to be done.
That dealership is about 30 miles farther away from the one just a few minutes from me...I almost NEVER go to the dealer on my bike....and still there is poor customer service.
You have to treat every person like they have 10K in their pockets and ready to spend it....get past your personal impression of their attitudes. Their money is just as green as the guy who buys the goldwing.
A satisfied customer will tell tell a few friends ands word will spread.... a pissed off customer will tell anyone that will listen!
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