Big Time Congrats!!! I know I'd be bouncing off the walls[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
Hmmm, about that big time ATV connection discount for members....yea, that's what we're talking, just kidding, but think of the mail internet busines you could build. Ching!!!!

Ken

 

Good luck with the new venture .

What is your job going to be ? What do you want to do there ?

 

Hi Rick, good question. I am putting together a significant, modern, 8,000 square foot dealership, starting with Polaris, hopefully with Suzuki and Bombardier by the time it opens Dec 3rd. Yamaha is taking a wait and see attitude. Honda's 'tude is "Later dude".
There is no franchise ATV or motorcycle shop here, just a hole in the wall ATV repair shop that has a KTM dealership and a custom "Iron Horse" Harley shop. It is not a big town, 31,000 people in the county. There was a Yamaha shop here in the 70's that went under in the late 80's. Tough times for here and for the motorcycle industry everywhere. The 90's were good, and we saw quite a bit of growth. I have a great location at a decent price, a great building plan and the bucks to pull it off.
.....With that bit of information as groundwork I will now answer your question. As the owner my job will be a lot of everything, especially at first. I am a pretty good mechanic but I have to run the business and sell quads, motorcycles, parts and accessories. I need a good mechanic, better than I am for sure. I have a great counter guy, and some part time sales help. Establishing the business and getting it on a solid footing is the first priority. Customer service is key. I have been on both sides of retail and seen a lot. I have seen a lot of screwed up shops, with real attitude problems toward the customer, I even worked in one.
.....Besides just being a really good dealership, down the road I may branch off into doing some internet parts, or even some welding based specialty work, like manufacturing trailers or A-arms, making Raptorettes or something might be in the offing.
.....Did that answer your question?

 

Yes , you answered my questions . I am in the business too , (as you know we have done business before) I always like to hear about how others are going to go about being in this business .

I wish you the best .

 

Thanks Rick, I appreciate it.

 

Congrats! You have a test track? WoW! You're almost not allowed to sit on the machines here is southern CA let alone start one up and ride it. Ask to do it and you get stupid looks and smart a$$ remarks. Overall customer service and integrity go a long way. Good luck![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Hey Fourlix,

I am a Polaris Dealer in Arizona with two locations. Welcome to the Polaris Family. If I can help you in anyway let me know, I know when we became a Polaris Dealer in 1996 we sure learned a few lessons the hard way. We sold 22 ATV's that first year at our main location and are now selling 350+ using the same strategy you talk about in your post.

We also had a riding course because we had the room to make a nice one
(15 acres).

Good Luck

Scott Osborn scott@gotocmco.com
Central Machinery Company www.go2cmco.com
Copper Mountain Motorsports www.gocoppermountain.com

 

Hey ScottyO Thanks, I've heard good things about you guys on the Riding Arizona Forum.

 

Congrats. This might be a little lenghty, sorry.

I have purchased both of my quads from Laurel Yamaha, the largest Yamaha dealer in the country three years ago. They had the kind of dealership you are going to have. This went on for two years. Then the owner started treating his mech/sales people bad. The top two people in each of the afor mentioned departments left at one time. Since then it was all down hill. There is NO customers service, the mech aren't worth changing oil, and the parts people don't know anything about the products they sell. Needless to say I don't think they are the largest dealer any more.
About a year ago our local Honda shop moved to a brand new building near my house, same city. This is now where I and a few x-consumers from the Yamaha shop now buy ALL of our parts/goodies. They are helpful and know who you are. Small things like that are very important to alot of people I know.This dealership is now taking over the area because of the new building and their practices as a co.
I don't know what the point of this story actualy is, I might be just venting. I think, from the few times I have read your responses, you will be VERY successful as long as you remember what it is like to be a consumer.
Thanks for listening. If I ever have the need for a Polaris I will look you up.
Ward660R

 

Congrats Fourlix!! Now get a space to fabricate some Raptoretts!!

A few observations from a consumer.
Your parts counter guys will be the people that your customers deal with the most. From buying a new spark plug to pipes, tires & all kinds of bolt on goodies. I seem to be at my dealers parts counter a couple of times a month at least!
Make sure they're freindly outgoing people.
Have them study the catalogs from all your suppliers. There's nothing more frustrating than a parts guy that doesn't know what he's doing. Inagine standing in line 10 min to buy some oil while the parts guy is having to search every book on the shelf to find someone a part.

The parts guys at my local dealership are sharp. I go in looking for something & in no time they have 3 or more catalogs from diffrent suppliers with my part in them, They tell me what they know about each one & when I decide what I want they call the supplier to see if it's in stock.
They know me by name & recognize my voice on the phone (I think I spend way too much time there!!LOL) & when they're not too busy they'll shoot the $hit with me. Basicly they make my shopping trips a pleasure instead of making me think I'm taking up their time by asking so many questions. I've taken their recomendations about Splitfires (Boy did they have opinions about those!!), oil, brake fluid, brake pads, ETC, ETC.

Make customer service number 1. I didn't buy my quad from the dealer that I go to now because another dealer was cheaper. It only took a couple of trips to the parts counter where I bought my quad to make me change dealers. My new dealer wiil sell me my next quad even if it's a few hundred more than my old one because my new dealer really treats me like they appriciate my buisness.