New Moto Guzzi Door Mats Available Now
I also feel fortunate to be only two hours away from a terrific MG dealer. They have been super to deal with, most importantly they are there to fully support what they sell, no bs. They seem to have all the necessary service parts on hand for modern guzzis, and they have no problem shipping if you can't make the trip. A great bunch of people, and when they say they will call you back, they do,every time. I can highly recommend Seacoast Sport cycle,in Derry N.H. to anyone searching for a dealer who has there poo together. dave
Curtis, I just noticed that you surepticiously edited my original comment by removing the reference to an "o-ring". My earlier post in this thread emphasized the importance of context. Do you care to comment on why you felt compelled to edit that context out of the original quote without saying that you did so?
Correct. The problem though is the lack of models of MGs people want to buy. We can say MG evolves and offers great designs until pigs fly. The market speaks and the fact is that the typical motorcycle buyer doesn't want what is being offered by MG. Then, without MG doing more than hosting a website and praying for an honorable mention in a cycle magazine wenhave what we have, a sparse dealership network.It doesn't matter what we say, it only matters what customers buying new motorcycles say and they are saying that they don't by and large want what MG is selling.
Why is that ??
Because Moto Guzzi is not selling a lifestyle, or a reality TV show, or a Tough Boy image - they're selling what they hope are competent road motorcycles.But the vast majority of motorcycle buyer in the US are not looking to buy the most competent road motorcycle. They are looking to be Sons of Anarchy, or to be a Hell's Angel once they put their futures-trading software away for the weekend, or to be able to tell their friends that they saw 280 MPH on the speedometer on River Road last Saturday.It's hard to sell into that sort of environment.Lannis
What you say is true...but some or many buy a Guzzi because of it's style. A practical buyer might buy one of many competent Japanese machines for less money...And what is a competent bike? A Harley ridden within it's limits is quite competent. Is a Guzzi competent? Yes, within the limits of a 550 pound shaft drive bike...
Brand awareness is also a huge problem for Guzzi.Many people have never heard of the brand. I get that all the time. More people don't know the brand than know of it from the 1970s.Increasing brand awareness is expensive, and in the end you still have an Italian exotic that many US customers are going to be scared of. The second question I get asked about my Guzzis is always, "where's the closest dealer". They lose interest when I tell them it's in the next State, 120 miles away. US customers want dealers on every corner, and that is why Honda and Harley rule the roost. And for them, it's a snowball effect. They are able to grow because they are already big. They have name recognition. And, they have dealers in every little Podunk down in the USA.I find that people who drive European cars are much more open to the idea of a Moto Guzzi than people who drive Honda/Toyota/Ford/GM. The European car owners are used to the bigger commitment required to own and maintain their machines.
But Guzzi dealers do not have bikini girl bike washes, free hamburgers, huge lifestyle (clothing) sections, poker runs, and dozens of hang-arounds on Saturdays.
They sold 22 Guzzi's last year and I don't know how they are doing this year but they may only be around for another year(with Guzzi) if things don't pick up for the brand.
After re-reading all the comments, I did a little research and if I go to the dealer as suggested I'd pay $2.20 for a $.30 o-ring. If you can't see what's wrong here I'm not the guy to 'splain it. Paul B.
I'd love to support a local dealer. At one time, the sole Guzzi dealer in the area was a well-known shop not too far north of Coors Field -- about 30 miles from me. When I worked in Denver (and commuted on the T) I went in there a couple of times with a list of parts, to be told that they wouldn't stock parts for a bike that old. Not even a clutch cable. So I'm a loyal customer at Harper's etc.
Funny thing, 22 units sold makes them a top Guzzi dealer in the USA, but I'm sure it's just a drop in the bucket to the Indian and BMW sales.I'd imagine the hot nature of Indian has caused them to think less and less of Guzzi. It's more work to be a Guzzi dealer. People are knocking down the doors to buy Scouts and Chiefs. And those customers probably never heard of Guzzi !!!
Stick, if you are in Worcester your closest dealer is probably Gill, and they are now Guzzi only as BMW decided they were no longer sufficiently modern to be a BMW dealer.
This discussion is all over the place with lots of good points. But I had to think about the dealer who will pick up/deliver for $25.00There's not way he's not getting killed at that price. How do you own a truck, trailer, insure it, pay your man, etc. for 25 bucks?So, is this the guy that has to match internet pricing? Or do we pay him list (or close to it) so he can continue to provide a negative cost service? This is really an involved topic. I have no value judgement, good or bad, just adding to the conversation.
Are dealership "co-ops" a thing? Like, different from a traditional small business, where several people are co-owners and people come in at different contribution levels in starting it up? Not a business person here, can ya tell. Wonder what it would take to do something like that... We desperately need a Guzzi+ dealer somewhere like Santa Rosa or Petaluma or something, Napa is too small and Fairfield is the wrong direction, Elk Grove fills that area. Does anyone know what it takes in terms of legalities (zoning, licenses, permits, etc.) for a lease that a dealership would need? Super curious now...
The ownership structure is mostly up to the participants - depending on the company's bylaws, it can behave like a co-op (though technically it is still an incorporated partnership) but it would be difficult to make it a co-op in the same way that REI and MEC (for example) operate. A retail operation has the opportunity to structure as a co-op because it is built as a collective buying agent for the co-op members; dealing with the liability, warranty support, licensing and other issues that a vehicle dealership faces makes a co-op something that can be emulated, but not duplicated.In most jurisdictions that I know, setting up a vehicle dealership takes a minimum of six months and a pile of cash and credit. Vehicle sales are typically regulated at both the state and local (county and municipality) levels. You will need a location with appropriate zoning, a use-specific local business license and various permits to convert the location (if not already a vehicle dealership) to that purpose. You will need construction permits for any required renovations. At the state level, you will need a business license, articles of incorporation and all related business documents, and a sales tax permit. In most states, you will need DMV approval as a dealer and DMV authorization to issue temporary license placards. You may need DOT permitting to inspect vehicles for safety before resale. Your vehicle sales staff will all need to have criminal background checks and be licensed by the state, and in some areas by the county or municipality.If you are taking on a franchise as a new product dealer (not a used vehicle only dealer), you then have a bunch of contracts to negotiate to obtain the dealer franchise for your area of choice. This may have geographic restrictions (no other dealer within xx miles and you are also not within xx miles of another), requirements for dealer presentation (floor plan, signage, exterior appearance), requirements for inventory (new vehicles, parts and supplies, clothing and accessories), requirements for training (sales staff, techs, parts staff). You will need to commit to move a certain number of units to establish pricing levels and if you're lucky, co-op advertising reimbursement.You will need the senior investors or officers of the company to sign over their hearts, souls and first-born children to one or more banks or investment financiers to obtain what is called "flooring" - interest-only financing for all the vehicles you keep on the floor, so the previous owner (manufacturer/importer, or person you bought that used bike from) gets their money, and you have some time (30-120 days, usually) to sell the bike before you have to pay off the vehicle or move it into your pool of 'owned' assets (and make payments on the principal as well as the interest).You will need those same people to sign various instruments to attempt to cover themselves, the business, and its staff from all the various ways the courts have found to make them liable for anything from a bad brake job to a butterfly sneeze.Other than that, it's simple.
And the most obvious answer to the original question........... ....there's almost NO money in it.
