How Knowledgable is your dealer ?

eemsreno

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The other day a couple of us bundled up for a ride of 100 miles to a large Iowa dealer just to be around and talk motorcycles. When I walked in the door they instantly met and greeted me. Asking how they could help me I said well what do you sell ? The sales man said " we sell motorcycles, mopeds , atvs, generaters, side by sides, and water craft, in Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha. I said wait right there " Yamaha, " I want to see an XT 1200. After a moment the salesman said " is that a boat? " I was floored. No it's a motorcycle!! you know XT He said " no I'm not familler with XT " I said XT as in 125, 200, 225, 250, 350, 500, and 600 and that is just in this country." He said I don't know what your talking about" I said " You need to go study up and I need a new salesman" We left there and went down the road to anouther Yamaha dealer that was just closing ,[ I can't blame them for that on a Saterday after noon] But just a block away is the BMW shop . When we pulled in there on Yamahas She said " do you guys want some coffee? " only if it's already made mam. She said " anyone riding in here on a day like this is getting coffee" I had the best time in there talking to her and customers because everyone in there rides MOTORCYCLES not boats . My point is Dealers should have product specific sales people. What do you think?
 

trinc4me

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It is important to me to get a salesperson who can relate to what I want and find the right product to fit my needs. They should definitely be knowledgeable about the product(s) that I am inquiring about......sorry that you had a bonehead for a sales person. :mad:
 

MortiisMachine

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Yeah I second that pal, I'm lucky in that I have a good dealer who is good on knowledge and always willing to help. However this is not always the case with many sales people in all aspects of business. I myself worked in sales for many years and would always ensure I had a good knowledge of all the product lines we sold, basically the knowledge and ability to build a good rapoor with your customer is what makes you a good service / sales person. You want to feel comfortable with the sales person and trust what they are telling you, sounds like this was not the case for you guy's, guessing they have lost a customer for life there.

Knowledge + Rapoor = Getting the sale and repeat business :)
 

Venture

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Good sales people are rare. I blame the incentive system - they are incented to move product, and not necessarily know every nuance of them.

I was surprised to find out that the last salesperson at the dealership I bought my last bike from didn't even work on commission, and he really knew his stuff. A BMW/Triumph cycle only dealership I might add, so another factor is these "everything under one roof" outfits have too much knowledge for a single salesperson to process (supports your motorcycle only theory).
 

Grunt58

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I have a Yamaha dealer less than two miles from my house. I didn't order my Tenere from them. I shopped dealers and ended up ordering my bike from some folks about 80 miles away. They know the product, they gave me a fair deal and they didn't attempt to kill me with add on fees. When I walked into the local guy to talk about buying, A kid looked at me and said "I don't know anything about those Buddy", then I asked to talk to the service manager. I asked about "Yamaha factory training and certification" for the mechanics. He responded to me "Daryl has been here for 15 years" I don't know about any factory training, but I'm doing an internet class right now". Do you think I'm letting these guys work on my bike? About all these guys will ever get from me is maybe a purchase of oil and oil filters.
 

HoebSTer

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Grunt, I feel the same way about most dealers too. I have the same thing with a dealer 2 miles down the road, who sells Yamaha, but doesn't care to sell them. When I asked if they had sold any Tenere's, they went on and asked if I knew about the KTMs or Triumph's, as they make more profit on them.

I had already placed my order 60 miles away from a guy who owns the tiny dealer, has no salesman and has a Super 10 on order for himself, as does his mechanic also. He has been there for 30 years and is looking to become smaller dealer, not larger to maintain customer quality. I just don't get these parts guys or sales guys, like a kid in Salt Lake City Honda dealer walks up to me with his fox racing hat on sideways asking to help me!!! Shoo..., get away, does someone have a flyswatter?
 

Grunt58

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Maybe I'm a bit crusty..but this kid should have learned how to professionally interact with a customer. That was the first strike, then he should have got up from behind the sales desk and took an interest in what I was wanting. What really got to him was when on my way out to my Jeep was when I unzipped my pocket and flashed a wad of cash and told him I'll find a dealer who knows the product line.
 

eemsreno

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!!! Shoo..., get away, does someone have a flyswatter?



HOEBSTER THAT WAS BRILLIANT!
 

Hipshot

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When I was gathering prices I called one dealer in another town that had never heard of the Tenere. I think he was the owner. It was a short conversation.
 

Swagger

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My local dealer sells only Yamaha bikes. They are totally professional in their approach to the product and are passionately commited to excellent service. I honestly can't fault them ..... except for the fact that their showroom is like a veritable playground ;D
 

Baldrick

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Unfortunately we have too many "powesports" dealers here on the US East Coast, meaning that they are stuck selling the whole product line for several brand names. This means watercraft, generators, motorcycles, snowblowers, lawnmowers, ATVs, etc.

Our local dealer/salespeople hadn't a clue what the Super Tenere was either. I was tempted to tell the sales dude that it was new motorized piano that Yamaha had just come out with.
 

HoebSTer

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Baldrick, I bet if you ask most Yamaha sales people what the significance of the logo means (3 tuning forks) and they won't be able to tell you. I think in a few years, all of Yamaha bikes will be branded STAR instead of Yamaha which will stay with the musical instruments.
 

markjenn

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Motorcycle sales personnel (and dealerships) are just all over the map.

It goes without saying that anyone who makes their livelihood selling a product or line should be completely up to speed on that line, including future products. The only feeble excuse that you can make for some of these buffoons is that the traditional motorcycle (and recreational vehicle, in general) selling business is heavily oriented toward selling what you have on the floor, not what is coming down the pike in six-months. And while you or I may be willing to spend 30-minutes a day scooping up every tidbit of info about a bike, someone who sells 300 different products simply can't be up to speed on everything.

While a smart salesperson will use every opportunity to build a relationship with a customer in the hope of future sales, this isn't how most of them make a living - they make it by selling something today. I've been told by a couple of folks in the business that a sales person may fake not having any knowledge of a future product so they can keep the focus of the customer on buying something they have on the floor.

- Mark
 

supert

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Re: How Knowledgeable is your dealer ?

My dealer knew all about the Tenere and had the big poster up in the showroom. There are a few good enthusiastic and knowledgeable dealers. I was his first Tenere order.
 
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