Another sad day for Harley owners - Harley Forum

Carl Boyson · #1 09-23-2009, 12:22 PM

The Motor Company has done it again. This past August, Harley Davidson pulled the franchise rights to another "Old Time" shop - Dick's Harley of Rome NY was basically shut out because the current owner, Brad Tibbits, whose father Dick Tibbits openned shop in 1949, would not rebuild as one of the preferred "designer" stores.
I'm just sounding off here, but I, for one, think that it is a travesty to lose another of small owner operator shops that has been around for the last 60 years.
Shame on Harley Davidson.

Buzz Kanter · #2 09-23-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl Boyson

The Motor Company has done it again. This past August, Harley Davidson pulled the franchise rights to another "Old Time" shop - Dick's Harley of Rome NY was basically shut out because the current owner, Brad Tibbits, whose father Dick Tibbits openned shop in 1949, would not rebuild as one of the preferred "designer" stores.
I'm just sounding off here, but I, for one, think that it is a travesty to lose another of small owner operator shops that has been around for the last 60 years.
Shame on Harley Davidson.

I do not know the shop or the owners, but suspect there will be more Harley franchises closing down or being shut down over the next year or so.

It's a pity as many of the old time shops had a more comfortable and friendly feel than many of the new "super" dealerships.

Tn.Heritage · #3 09-23-2009, 03:50 PM

I think one of the dealers will be Knoxville HD, they went and built a super store and now have two, one on Chapman Hwy and one off of Lovel rd., I think the new building will put them under, they have no bikes but a few used ones that they want a new price for, the last time we went in we were there for 20 minutes or so and not one person in the store spoke to us, with a attitude like that they might as well shut the doors, but I do agree it's sorta of sad to see the backbone store forced out by big money, isn't that always the bottom line.

shovelmike · #4 09-23-2009, 06:06 PM

I always liked the mom and pop shops working out of buildings as old as the motor company itself, it's a crime to see a dealer forced out for choosing to stick with the old. We will indeed see how many dealerships survive with that expensive building to pay for.
There is a well established independent shop in Kansas City's Westport District in what was a livery stable back in the Wild West days, the guy has a wealth of old Harley parts stashed in the loft...still smatterings of hay here and there. A lot of history there....art deco can't even come close in my book.

botzman · #5 09-23-2009, 07:33 PM

I agree with you guys. The MOCO shouldnt be dictating what a bike shop should look like. The older shops had a homey feel to them. These new dealerships remind me of a superstore. Kinda like the old time hardware stores. Rather go there than the Depot any day. Too bad.

1haugster1340 · #6 09-23-2009, 08:35 PM

Poor management is what causes the demise of most Company's. The MoCo will live to regret these types of actions.

1haugster1340 · #7 09-23-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by botzman

I agree with you guys. The MOCO shouldnt be dictating what a bike shop should look like. The older shops had a homey feel to them. These new dealerships remind me of a superstore. Kinda like the old time hardware stores. Rather go there than the Depot any day. Too bad.

You hit the nail on the head about the hardware stores! Pun intended.

I worked at the local lumber yard for 20 years. One year after I started they made the store four times as big but kept their focus on hardware, lumber and the contractors. Ten years later they changed again. This time they tried to follow Lowes. They were selling flowers, pots and pans and other non-hardware related items.

Big mistake. They have never recovered to this day.
The HD dealer 25 miles away were the old time shop. I loved going there. The MoCo told them to change or loose the dealership. So $1,010,000 later they had the new shop. This was in 1995 or 1996. Thankfully, through good management they were out of debt the early 2000's.
Give me the old hardware store and the old HD dealer any day.

Trigger87 · #8 09-24-2009, 08:43 AM

I really liked the old Mom and Pop dealerships. Sadly, they are almost all gone. The new corporate dealerships, with their cookiecutter themes, remind me of a trip to an amusement park. The old dealerships had history, and you could smell the gas and oil in the floorboards of the building. They sponsored race teams, often with family members behind the handlebars. They had real mechanics, and hired people who knew and understood the clientelle because they were cut from the same cloth. Its hard to find that vibe anymore...

Elwood · #9 09-24-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trigger87

I really liked the old Mom and Pop dealerships. Sadly, they are almost all gone. The new corporate dealerships, with their cookiecutter themes, remind me of a trip to an amusement park. The old dealerships had history, and you could smell the gas and oil in the floorboards of the building. They sponsored race teams, often with family members behind the handlebars. They had real mechanics, and hired people who knew and understood the clientelle because they were cut from the same cloth. Its hard to find that vibe anymore...

This is so true! When I was a little kid I used to go from shop to shop just to look at the bikes and be a pest like most little kids in bike shops can be. There was always something very special about seeing a brand new bike in an old time shop and yes, the smell of the oil and gas in the floorboards gave the place an atmosphere that couldn't be matched. (no pun intended) The highlight of our family vacations in New Hampshire (for me) would be my old man taking me to the bike shop in Laconia. These new dealerships are more like palaces than bike shops, we shouldn't be surprised when dealers are compelled to try and charge the prices that they do.