Unpopular opinion Ross, but I don't want any of the coffee, pastries or flashy showrooms you mention! Margins are pretty thin on new bikes, and ultimately all of these little extras need to be paid for. The cost gets reflected in the prices of the bikes, the kit and the labour rates the dealers charge their punters, many of whom are already struggling with stagnant wages & the ever-rising cost of living. Having said that, shoddy service is never acceptable or justifiable. Give me a small, old school, well-established, family-run dealership over a corporate glass palace any day!
i think we are both right, meaning there should be a compromise, i think the act of buying a bike should be made to feel special in whatever guise that means! Thank you for your comment, would be great if you subscribed
It's not a luxury item, since they are not selling at luxury prices. The average bike at BMW is approximately £17k. The average BMW car is £55k. You might think that £25k is a lot for a motorcycle, and I'm not saying it isn't, but in relative terms it's not. It's not a question of luxury goods, but poor customer service. My local BMW dealer, Wollaston in Northampton, is excellent and is currently undergoing a total re-build. I don't mean a refit, but the building has been completely demolished, and only a small corner where MIni and the bikes are is untouched. Wollaston will be the first BMW dealer in the whole of the UK to have the new BMW dealer experience. I'm sure a while back Wollaston had porcelain cups for my coffee and pastries, when the cafe served both car buyers and bike buyers, but they went to paper cups when they split the cafes. There's far more important things in life to rant about, perhaps the death wish our Government seems to have for its electorate?
@@RRGS78 Apologies, I didn't mean to be so officious! 😂I get it, my kids (in their late 20s and 30s) always make fun of me. Apparently, I am the king of luxury gadgets having a tool or implement for every conceivable household or kitchen eventuality.....
@@cliveevans5755 I bought my first BMW bike from them in November 2005 for my birthday present to myself. (Which has just gone (17th)). It was a fully loaded 2006 model K1200S in Night Black. Of course, fully loaded in those days meant panniers, luggage grid, alarm, DSA, computer and that was about it! Wollaston have consistently been brilliant over such a long time. Probably around 2009, I was speaking to a guy in the car park there. I was eulogising about how great the service was across the whole of the bike dealership. They always went above and beyond. Anyway, it turned out that he was a mystery shopper and the Wollaston guys said that my feedback pushed them top spot in satisfaction that year! It's why I reckon BMW chose them to showcase the new look for all their car and bike dealers in the UK.
Bought 3 Royal Enfield motorcycles from the dealer in Virginia suburb in Brisbane Australia, once paid for ....here's the keys Bye Had to check the oil myself! Once the kids learnt on them , sold them and will never go back
I agree - most are a bit lazy, I encountered what felt like a take it or leave it attitude, when I tried to buy a KTM690 from 2 out of the 3 dealers I approached last year, price was the price and no followup call or anything. A bike in short supply but building a good relationship might have led me to buy a Super Adventure instead of the GS I bought later that year. Padgets Batley I asked to be put on the list for a demo Yam tracer and still waiting for a call. Shoddy. An ageing bike market presumably buying less means they need to be on top of their game or risk going out of business in a shrinking sales market.
Motorcycle dealers are nothing without access to finance deals. I am sick and tired of watching wanna be plastic bikers signing their finance deals then doing 800 miles in 2 years. This is not biking. Motorcycles dealers have sold their soul and now are paying the price by having to close down. I welcome the change.
The margin on motorcycles is so low it would shock you - between 10% - 18% and that's gross. There is next to no profit in the metal and because the purchase price is a lot lower than a car there is less money to be made on finance as well. Dealers are falling over right now because there is no money to be made in the sector adding some coffee machines and plusher environments wont sell more bikes, it wont open up a new market to sell in to. I wouldnt bikes a luxury purchase, the prices are too low for that moniker, they are discretionary / hobby.
I think there have been too many dealers, the pie wasn’t getting any bigger and everyone wants a bit. A nicer environment hopefully keeps people coming back! Thank you for your comment
100% agree with everything you say, I have been selling all my life and your right these dealerships are lazy they cannot be bothered to build a relationship with the customers, the bikes are boxed in you cannot get close to them and always feel it’s a big ask to get access.
Absolutely spot on mate, people Just don’t like to hear it. You’ll always have people say ‘well I had a great experience at xyz’ or you’ll get someone who works at dealership comment with the poor me stories of how tough it is. The facts are we don’t need bikes we want them. The industry is doomed as it is. The average age at the bike show was well into the 60’s and it’s getting older year by year. Dealerships should be doing anything to get people coming back and customer service training for a lot of them. Being told I was being charged £30 for a test ride of a cfmoto and when questioned told that he didn’t need to let me take it out for free!!! Yeah that’s fine mate, see ya 👋. I’m not overly bothered about coffee or cakes but I do want friendly and respectful manners towards someone who’s looking to spend £6k. The big brands need to also address their prices this would help struggling dealerships. The Chinese brands have improved to where now they are sitting almost side by side. That new 900 Voge all in for £9k is ridiculous sitting next to its rivals at over 25k!!! I am ranting I know I am but something needs to change before motorcycles cease to exist with 20-30 years. The youth of today couldn’t give a toss about bikes. Not all dealers are like this obviously I’m generalising but I think you make some really valid good points. I could be wrong, I probably am 😂
We buy a lot of vehicles. What I want is knowledge, good service and get to the point pricing. Car deletes that want to waste my time by seating me down and ‘talking numbers’, coffee and pastry and as for an unveil I would rather get it dropped off on a low loader. Just bought a Tesla and the experience was just what I want. Everyone is different but i do not need a song and dance routine to make me feel ‘special’ Test drive, Good price, staff knowledge, good after sales when needed.
Agree I called BMW bowler Preston a few years ago asked for a particular salesman to call me still waiting I had 30k to spend on a bike but he didn’t call me back so I went somewhere else his loss and BMW loss as I have never bought a BMW since . I decided to keep the cash spent 2k on a pan European and have never looked back . I don’t feel sorry for any dealers going tits up the writing was on the wall at around 2013/14 When prices shot up for no reason
Thank you for your comment and I totally agree, it’s a shame places are closing, but I wonder if some of the reason is there are too many? Would be great if you subscribed
Anyone who needs a cover pulling off a new bike or car to massage their ego is a product of this sensationalised world. Funny really as for most they don’t even own it, it’s on PCP.
It’s not about ego, why shouldn’t a small amount of effort be made just to make the experience nicer, if that’s not for you that’s fine. But I think a little goes a long way
Personally I don't want the free coffee, cakes etc. I want them to be friendly, knowledgeable, and good on price. I think what many could offer however would be an undercover parking/meet area, with food and drink for purchase. Make it a cool place to be. If they could encourage people to come to the dealers as a destination, maybe when out with their mates, it would massively increase the footfall. But what do I know?
Rode two and a half miles in crap weather to dealership to get bike serviced. Arranged beforehand to wait while service was being carried out. Had to stand around for another two and a half hours...no seats, not even tap water or toilets available. Absolute rubbish...will never go there again.
Not my experience with CCM in Bolton, got picked up from the airport, good test ride on both the bikes I was interested in, comfortable seating area and tea, shown the factory area and their historic bikes. So far the buying experience is good and I don’t expect the delivery to be any different.
My experience of car dealers is they are like a magnificent swan. Everything looks wonderful,but below the water there paddling chaotically. Bike dealers need to understand what professionalism is,good communication is a priority. That goes for sales,after sales and parts. Ignoring customers equals loss of revenue,simple.
Im gonna shout out bob minion in Derby. They have coffee and couches. When i turned up after a year for a service the salesman recognised me by name and asked how I and the bike had been. Thats all i really want.
Ive bought new cars and new bikes , and definatly do not want my ego rubbing by any one , I do my research , I sort my own finance , I was told that the only reason you get a scalding hot coffee is to keep you there and give them time to feel you out , if youve ever seen the car dealerships in the America !! , there a different league , Im far happier going into the small privatley run Royal Enfield dealer (Alcock and Jones in Stafford ) and have bought bikes , parts and made my own tea and tea for the staff whilst there , than I will ever be taking my car to the Bentley dealers for service
It’s different strokes for different folks, I guess my point is a little bit of effort can go a long way. Thank you for your comment, and I’m glad you have a great bike dealer to work with
Where I've bought my last 5 new bikes it depends on the salesperson if you get a coffee irrelevant now as there closing end of the year I got better service when I bought a 3 year old ford than any bike dealer in 20 years at least I don't repeat the experience as I do my own servicing so there the looser not me if I got a great service I probably wouldn't bother doing it myself.😎👍
Thank you for your comment! I always get my bike serviced by an independent. Where they are but more focused on the customer! Where do you buy your bikes? Would be great if you’d subscribe!
Sadly I live the other side of the country, so can only recommend places this side! Frasers of Gloucester who I’ve done reviews with they are good, privately owned and own all there stock. Also Bridge motorcycles on Exeter, same story with them.
Bit off topic, but what jacket have you on? With regards to dealers, they are all a shower of thieves, you can't even get a smile off 99% when your getting shafted let alone any kind of service and you buy a bike online - you can't even get an email from them and everything just seems to be an annoyance to them
Thank you for your comment! This jacket is a Weise Michigan, i have had it for years as a spare, its AA, and very good for the price, SBS has it £143.99 Would be great if you would sub!
Unpopular opinion Ross, but I don't want any of the coffee, pastries or flashy showrooms you mention! Margins are pretty thin on new bikes, and ultimately all of these little extras need to be paid for. The cost gets reflected in the prices of the bikes, the kit and the labour rates the dealers charge their punters, many of whom are already struggling with stagnant wages & the ever-rising cost of living. Having said that, shoddy service is never acceptable or justifiable. Give me a small, old school, well-established, family-run dealership over a corporate glass palace any day!
i think we are both right, meaning there should be a compromise, i think the act of buying a bike should be made to feel special in whatever guise that means!
Thank you for your comment, would be great if you subscribed
@RRGS78 Already done mate! Been with you since the start. Can't wait to see what you do with the BM!
Thanks mate I appreciate it!
It's not a luxury item, since they are not selling at luxury prices. The average bike at BMW is approximately £17k. The average BMW car is £55k. You might think that £25k is a lot for a motorcycle, and I'm not saying it isn't, but in relative terms it's not. It's not a question of luxury goods, but poor customer service.
My local BMW dealer, Wollaston in Northampton, is excellent and is currently undergoing a total re-build. I don't mean a refit, but the building has been completely demolished, and only a small corner where MIni and the bikes are is untouched. Wollaston will be the first BMW dealer in the whole of the UK to have the new BMW dealer experience. I'm sure a while back Wollaston had porcelain cups for my coffee and pastries, when the cafe served both car buyers and bike buyers, but they went to paper cups when they split the cafes.
There's far more important things in life to rant about, perhaps the death wish our Government seems to have for its electorate?
lol thank you for your comment, not sure I was ranting, I mean luxury as in something that you don’t really need rather than cost
Wollaston is excellent, bought my first BMW from them last year and based on the superb service will keep going back 😊
Awesome that you had a great experience, thanks for sharing!
@@RRGS78 Apologies, I didn't mean to be so officious! 😂I get it, my kids (in their late 20s and 30s) always make fun of me. Apparently, I am the king of luxury gadgets having a tool or implement for every conceivable household or kitchen eventuality.....
@@cliveevans5755 I bought my first BMW bike from them in November 2005 for my birthday present to myself. (Which has just gone (17th)). It was a fully loaded 2006 model K1200S in Night Black. Of course, fully loaded in those days meant panniers, luggage grid, alarm, DSA, computer and that was about it!
Wollaston have consistently been brilliant over such a long time. Probably around 2009, I was speaking to a guy in the car park there. I was eulogising about how great the service was across the whole of the bike dealership. They always went above and beyond. Anyway, it turned out that he was a mystery shopper and the Wollaston guys said that my feedback pushed them top spot in satisfaction that year! It's why I reckon BMW chose them to showcase the new look for all their car and bike dealers in the UK.
Bought 3 Royal Enfield motorcycles from the dealer in Virginia suburb in Brisbane Australia, once paid for ....here's the keys Bye
Had to check the oil myself!
Once the kids learnt on them , sold them and will never go back
Nice! Thanks for adding a comment!
Would be awesome if you subscribed
Just remember if the service is bad before you buy , imagine what it will be like once you've paid for it and they don't have to work for your money
I think you are right!
I agree - most are a bit lazy, I encountered what felt like a take it or leave it attitude, when I tried to buy a KTM690 from 2 out of the 3 dealers I approached last year, price was the price and no followup call or anything. A bike in short supply but building a good relationship might have led me to buy a Super Adventure instead of the GS I bought later that year. Padgets Batley I asked to be put on the list for a demo Yam tracer and still waiting for a call. Shoddy. An ageing bike market presumably buying less means they need to be on top of their game or risk going out of business in a shrinking sales market.
I think you are spot on!
Would be great if you’d subscribe
@@RRGS78 I have!
awesome thank you
Motorcycle dealers are nothing without access to finance deals. I am sick and tired of watching wanna be plastic bikers signing their finance deals then doing 800 miles in 2 years. This is not biking. Motorcycles dealers have sold their soul and now are paying the price by having to close down. I welcome the change.
This very true!
The margin on motorcycles is so low it would shock you - between 10% - 18% and that's gross. There is next to no profit in the metal and because the purchase price is a lot lower than a car there is less money to be made on finance as well. Dealers are falling over right now because there is no money to be made in the sector adding some coffee machines and plusher environments wont sell more bikes, it wont open up a new market to sell in to. I wouldnt bikes a luxury purchase, the prices are too low for that moniker, they are discretionary / hobby.
I think there have been too many dealers, the pie wasn’t getting any bigger and everyone wants a bit.
A nicer environment hopefully keeps people coming back!
Thank you for your comment
100% agree with everything you say, I have been selling all my life and your right these dealerships are lazy they cannot be bothered to build a relationship with the customers, the bikes are boxed in you cannot get close to them and always feel it’s a big ask to get access.
Thank you for your comment!
They forget little bit of effort can go a long way!
Would be great if you subscribed
Absolutely spot on mate, people
Just don’t like to hear it. You’ll always have people say ‘well I had a great experience at xyz’ or you’ll get someone who works at dealership comment with the poor me stories of how tough it is.
The facts are we don’t need bikes we want them. The industry is doomed as it is. The average age at the bike show was well into the 60’s and it’s getting older year by year. Dealerships should be doing anything to get people coming back and customer service training for a lot of them. Being told I was being charged £30 for a test ride of a cfmoto and when questioned told that he didn’t need to let me take it out for free!!! Yeah that’s fine mate, see ya 👋. I’m not overly bothered about coffee or cakes but I do want friendly and respectful manners towards someone who’s looking to spend £6k.
The big brands need to also address their prices this would help struggling dealerships. The Chinese brands have improved to where now they are sitting almost side by side. That new 900 Voge all in for £9k is ridiculous sitting next to its rivals at over 25k!!! I am ranting I know I am but something needs to change before motorcycles cease to exist with 20-30 years. The youth of today couldn’t give a toss about bikes.
Not all dealers are like this obviously I’m generalising but I think you make some really valid good points.
I could be wrong, I probably am 😂
Thank you very much for your detailed comment, it’s much appreciated! Especially as you agree 🤣
Would be great if you subscribed
We buy a lot of vehicles. What I want is knowledge, good service and get to the point pricing. Car deletes that want to waste my time by seating me down and ‘talking numbers’, coffee and pastry and as for an unveil I would rather get it dropped off on a low loader.
Just bought a Tesla and the experience was just what I want. Everyone is different but i do not need a song and dance routine to make me feel ‘special’
Test drive, Good price, staff knowledge, good after sales when needed.
You make a solid point, and I guess for me it depends what I buy, I would appreciate a tad more from dealers though!
Would be great if you subscribed
Agree I called BMW bowler Preston a few years ago asked for a particular salesman to call me still waiting I had 30k to spend on a bike but he didn’t call me back so I went somewhere else his loss and BMW loss as I have never bought a BMW since . I decided to keep the cash spent 2k on a pan European and have never looked back . I don’t feel sorry for any dealers going tits up the writing was on the wall at around 2013/14
When prices shot up for no reason
Thank you for your comment and I totally agree, it’s a shame places are closing, but I wonder if some of the reason is there are too many?
Would be great if you subscribed
ST1100 a great choice, been on mine for 34 years now.
Wow that’s an awesome amount of time
Anyone who needs a cover pulling off a new bike or car to massage their ego is a product of this sensationalised world. Funny really as for most they don’t even own it, it’s on PCP.
It’s not about ego, why shouldn’t a small amount of effort be made just to make the experience nicer, if that’s not for you that’s fine. But I think a little goes a long way
You are spot on well said
Thank you! Would be great if you would subscribe
Personally I don't want the free coffee, cakes etc. I want them to be friendly, knowledgeable, and good on price. I think what many could offer however would be an undercover parking/meet area, with food and drink for purchase. Make it a cool place to be. If they could encourage people to come to the dealers as a destination, maybe when out with their mates, it would massively increase the footfall. But what do I know?
I think making it a cool place to be is a good thing, I’m not arsed by the coffee either.
Just a place where they make an effort
Rode two and a half miles in crap weather to dealership to get bike serviced. Arranged beforehand to wait while service was being carried out. Had to stand around for another two and a half hours...no seats, not even tap water or toilets available. Absolute rubbish...will never go there again.
Oh dear, whereabouts was that?
Not my experience with CCM in Bolton, got picked up from the airport, good test ride on both the bikes I was interested in, comfortable seating area and tea, shown the factory area and their historic bikes. So far the buying experience is good and I don’t expect the delivery to be any different.
That sounds perfect! Would be also perfect if you’d subbed!
Buy a used Japanese bike and do the service yourself, nothing but joy.
I think that might not be a bad idea!
Like subscribing to my channel!
My experience of car dealers is they are like a magnificent swan.
Everything looks wonderful,but below the water there paddling chaotically.
Bike dealers need to understand what professionalism is,good communication is a priority.
That goes for sales,after sales and parts.
Ignoring customers equals loss of revenue,simple.
I don’t think you are wrong to be fair!
@RRGS78 worked in the motor trade for years.They are so far behind in so many areas.
This is very very true!!!
Would be great if you subbed!
Im gonna shout out bob minion in Derby. They have coffee and couches. When i turned up after a year for a service the salesman recognised me by name and asked how I and the bike had been. Thats all i really want.
Sounds like a good place, i will check them out online!
Would be great if you would subscribe
This poor service won’t be an issue for much longer since they all appear to be closing down
Indeed, which means they won’t need to try as they will have more customer by default!
Would be great if you’d subscribe
triumph in watton were pretty good and i did not buy a new triumph
Nice thanks for sharing! Would be great if you subscribed!
The average new car is over 40k now.. most bikes will be way less than that
I think it’s just about putting a little bit more effort in, regardless of cost of the vehicle
Ive bought new cars and new bikes , and definatly do not want my ego rubbing by any one , I do my research , I sort my own finance , I was told that the only reason you get a scalding hot coffee is to keep you there and give them time to feel you out , if youve ever seen the car dealerships in the America !! , there a different league , Im far happier going into the small privatley run Royal Enfield dealer (Alcock and Jones in Stafford ) and have bought bikes , parts and made my own tea and tea for the staff whilst there , than I will ever be taking my car to the Bentley dealers for service
It’s different strokes for different folks, I guess my point is a little bit of effort can go a long way.
Thank you for your comment, and I’m glad you have a great bike dealer to work with
Where I've bought my last 5 new bikes it depends on the salesperson if you get a coffee irrelevant now as there closing end of the year I got better service when I bought a 3 year old ford than any bike dealer in 20 years at least I don't repeat the experience as I do my own servicing so there the looser not me if I got a great service I probably wouldn't bother doing it myself.😎👍
Thank you for your comment! I always get my bike serviced by an independent. Where they are but more focused on the customer!
Where do you buy your bikes?
Would be great if you’d subscribe!
I used to shop Colchester Kawasaki but there closing Christmas will be avoiding main dealers from now on and shopping at the independents
Sadly I live the other side of the country, so can only recommend places this side!
Frasers of Gloucester who I’ve done reviews with they are good, privately owned and own all there stock.
Also Bridge motorcycles on Exeter, same story with them.
Bit off topic, but what jacket have you on? With regards to dealers, they are all a shower of thieves, you can't even get a smile off 99% when your getting shafted let alone any kind of service and you buy a bike online - you can't even get an email from them and everything just seems to be an annoyance to them
Thank you for your comment!
This jacket is a Weise Michigan, i have had it for years as a spare, its AA, and very good for the price, SBS has it £143.99
Would be great if you would sub!
Sounds as if you have way more money than any biker I know.
Then you should subscribe and then you can perhaps see that this is not the case!
Thank you for your comment!
Yes I know where you’re coming from. Pissed off so many times.
Thank you sir, I would appreciate a subscribe
AMSmoto Tewkesbury give a good service. free endless coffee and comfy sofas!
Awesome i will take a look!
Thank you for your comment, if you havent already it would be great if you subscribed!