Another dealer down

[idahorider]

Just talked with Empire Cycle in Spokane. They dropped Guzzi about three weeks ago. Must not be a Piaggio problem as they still sell Aprilia.

Paul Emerson

[lucydad]

So does Piaggio have Don Corleone's hit man going dealer to dealer murdering the franchises?  Makes you wonder...

[Triple Jim]

Is the net result of dealers coming and going a gain or a loss?

[Daniel Kalal]

this one has previously been reported:

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=81314.0

[canuguzzi]

Aprilia sells faster than Moto Guzzi. Aprilia has the Caponord which competes directly with the Stelvio and the Norge at the same time. Plus, they get discounted better than the Stelvio.

Aprilia also makes sport bikes and naked bikes but not the pull back bars type.

Empire is a good dealer and also services CDA. Their absence will leave a void for Guzzi sales in that region. Its also reachable from across the northern US/ Canadian border.

Maybe someone else will pick up the slack.

[leafman60]

Since 1921.

Yeah.

Guzzi bikes do not sell well.

Dealers quickly wonder why they fool with them and take up often needed floor space from bikes that do sell well.

On top of that, dealing with MGNA is a nightmare for dealers.  I have a good friend who is a hard-core Guzzi man.  He is also a multi-brand dealer that includes the Guzzi bikes.  Even he says that dealing with MGNA, especially on warranty items, is a nightmare compared to such brands as BMW.

Personally, I hope he stays with Guzzi long-term but I can easily understand a business decision to bail on them. On the other hand, being an dealer that symbolizes  motorcycle enthusiasm, may just warrant more than just a business decision (as long as you can stay in the black!).

[pebra]

Aprilia sells faster than Moto Guzzi.

Could be?
I pored over statistics for Germany a few years ago. Twice as many new Guzzis as Aprilias were sold that year. True, that was another market, also the pattern can have changed.
I see only a few Guzzis on the road here in Europe. But I don't see any Aprilias whatsoever. Not even in Italy.

[JeffOlson]

I know of one dealer who sells both Moto Guzzi and Aprilia. Apparently, Moto Guzzi sells more easily and better for him. Surprisingly, better name recognition!

[canuguzzi]

Could be?
I pored over statistics for Germany a few years ago. Twice as many new Guzzis as Aprilias were sold that year. True, that was another market, also the pattern can have changed.
I see only a few Guzzis on the road here in Europe. But I don't see any Aprilias whatsoever. Not even in Italy.

Was referring to the OPs post. Is the US things are much different. Moto Guzzi just doesn't have much appeal for actual buyers. They might look at them but like other exotics what people look at and what they buy are often different things.

Aprilia doesn't set the sales on fire either but their bikes appeal to more buyers, at least in the US.

[ITSec]

Was referring to the OPs post. Is the US things are much different. Moto Guzzi just doesn't have much appeal for actual buyers. They might look at them but like other exotics what people look at and what they buy are often different things.

Aprilia doesn't set the sales on fire either but their bikes appeal to more buyers, at least in the US.

Just like the realtors say - location, location, location (not to mention, curb appeal).

In Las Vegas, we sold as many Guzzis as we did Aprilias, particularly once the Cali 14s came out. There was a very different set of customers in most cases, and we certainly didn't cross-sell very often.