You say that the business is really taking off. If you are truly living up to the things that you are talking about here, then there is no wonder. Your attitude is great, and I'd be willing to bet that the rewards will keep coming for many years to come. The ATV industry is booming right now. If all the dealers out there would take your approach to doing business, then there's no telling how popular it could get. It sounds like you are already off to a great start, and I applaud your being open minded to new ideas.

If I could only add one thing that I don't think has been mentioned here.....that would be to preach safety. You have the power at your shop to get a plug in for safety every time someone comes in your door. Whether it be to buy a new quad or get an old one fixed. Unfortunately, I see many new riders that take safety for granted. I love to see the ATV population grow, but we all want it to grow safely. If you try to preach safety to the kids and their parents early, then maybe it will stick with them as they get older.

I wish you continued success....

 

I've actually lost at least 1 sale over safety isues. When the kid can't grab the hand levers, and stand on the running boards, I don't care what my profit is, I refuse the sale. I'm the biggest safety freek alive. Thats why I'm still alive. Thats the reason I offer to spend time with new riders (at no charge)to give them a safe start. My 8 year old adds about 7.5 lbs of gear before swinging a leg over the seat. Helmet and goggles are a gimme. Gloves, knee, and elbow savers (Thor)are the added stuff. Kids grow so fast, they can outgrow gear in a season, so the knee savers are 1 size fits all, and the third of the price of MX boots. Knee and shoulder injuries are the most common from off road riding, and can put a damper on many aspects of life, for the rest of the kids life. 4 reconstruction surguries on my right shoulder, blew out the left one once. Knee has been worked on more times then I can remember, so trust me, I preach safety, and show the scars to prove I'm right.

 

I find that when I go into a shop, If they remember my name, what kind of ATV I own, ect. Then it makes it alot nicer to deal with the sales persons. Kinda makes it feel like they actually know you. I have also ridden with some of my local dealership guyz, This was nice as they saw how I ride and can kind of make suggestions as to what parts will compliment my riding style. I think it is important that shops show an interest in the sport, not in the profit.. If a dealer is smart, they should know that if they treat a customer right, maybe even give them a deal on the machine, Then the happy customer will probably be more inclined to return for maintenace, parts, gear, ect.. I like the fact that you help new riders learn a bit about riding, That is a good show of how you care about the sport. I bet you will have many return customers and good customer relations based simply on that.

 

I have 3 atv/motorcycle shops in my town.I only use 2 of them.I don't use the one because It is a kawasaki shop only and I don't have a kawasaki.But the other 2 I use about 2 times a month.

One of them My dad bought his first 3 wheeler there and it has had the same employies since then.They know me by name(same as my dad's)And know what type of qauds I have.I know there names and they know my voice.I don't have to prepay for special order parts.I ussaully do anyway If I am therew and have the money on me.I bought a helmet there today.it was 120 but he gave me a discount and I got it for 112 after taxes!I will always keep going there and buying qauds,parts,riding gear there.And Anything else I need.we also bought our 300ex new there.I have never heard a complaint about this shop.


The other one is more of a joke than anything.They charge extremely high prices for there parts and qauds.(7500 cash for new raptor)(12 dollars for the little clutch cable adjuster for my old blaster)My dad went to school with one of the salesmen but we would rather drive to 30 miles than go there.The cashier there is HOT and she knows me by name know.Plus they have stuff like atv movies the other place doesn't


I used to go to a high performance atv shop but i stopped.I started going there when they first opened.I got to know all the guys well and bought just about everything for my 250r from them.They set up my front end on my 250r and helped me alot.I even went to a couple races with them.But as they got bigger the prices went up the guys I knew at the beggining left and the new employies are lazy and can't order anything right.(I ordered a holeshot front from them and it took 3 months!)I called about my old blaster's top end they had and the kid told me he didn't know and he didn't feel like looking!I quit going there and will probably never go there again!


so basicly high prices and rude emploies will break a business.