huskyfrk, on 09 February 2012 - 05:09 AM, said:

YA?... and I just looked at the latest Husqvarna dealer list and they don't have even have Up-Tite listed as a dealer any more... I think George has been their longest running Husqvarna dealer going all the way back to the early 70s.... for all those who don't know George... he's the top Husqvarna Guru in the country and if you needed something for your Husqvarna George was the only guy who had it,,, even for guys like us in New Jersey.

I don't know what these guys at Husqvarna NA are drinking out there, but I'm getting the impression they're working on the scorched earth model... that's where they burn everyone who supported them over the years even during the bad times and rebuild from the ground up with all new dealers.

Problem is that model is destined for failure and those pushing it will all be working back at KTM in 3 years after they drive Husqvarna into the ground.

JustSayen

HuskyRips, on 09 February 2012 - 02:06 PM, said:

Am I a Prophet? Kinda makes you wonder about the Uptite thing. Must have decided Texas was too well served since there are ZERO ZERO ZERO dealers here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did y'all hear me ZZZEEERRROOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YHGEORGE, on 09 February 2012 - 02:31 PM, said:

YHGEORGE, on 09 February 2012 - 02:32 PM, said:

http://www.husqvarna...com/dealers.php

I show three in TX,..........due dilligence is a dog in heat aint it???

Some Dude, on 09 February 2012 - 03:18 PM, said:

Zero currently with Husky in stock and zero wanting to even order. Have been doing business with two of them for 30 yrs plus. That website listing is a joke.

HuskyRips, on 07 February 2012 - 02:36 PM, said:

So they cut shipments to dealers and dropped their shorts in a big way to blow out old inventory, and finally got some of the old iron to move, instead of just sitting there taking up floor space. Now if they can avoid selling any bikes in 2012, they'll be all set up for a super-strong year in 2013.

huskyfrk, on 09 February 2012 - 05:09 AM, said:

I can absolutely believe that. George's shop is the opposite of marketable. There are a ton of people in that area who would think nothing of throwing down the cash for a new Husky. But you really have to be motivated to get there and plan an expedition, with maps, GPS and/or detailed local knowledge of the neighborhood to even find it. And when you do find it, a lot of people just aren't going to believe that the shop is a place they want to do business with. There are more antique used bikes that probably aren't for sale than there are new bikes you could look at and buy, and you have to find George and have him turn the lights on in the showroom (okay, maybe an exaggeration, but it was pretty dim in there) so you can actually see the bikes.

The people at Husky have to move the needle on sales every month, get to a five year plan, or BMW will cut bait and sell the company to the Chinese and put them on the street. George isn't going to make that happen. A guy who will sell parts, but only by COD and doesn't follow up when people are repeatedly calling back, trying to give him money, isn't going to grow. A shop where you can't tell what's for sale, what's a personal artifact and what's just trash that hasn't been cleaned up isn't going to bring in customers who haven't already decided to buy a Husky. I had already decided to buy a Husky when I went there, and I didn't buy one from him. I'm not saying it's right for Husky to burn him, but they absolutely needed to get better representation in that market than George and his location. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they had tried to work with him to change and completely bounced off.

FRECNDY, on 11 February 2012 - 07:38 AM, said:

No offense, but I think even with everything you said about George's shop he still had a bigger loyal following and still would have moved twice as many bikes as the new shop they put in 5 miles down the road from him.

What puzzles me is the other shop is going to continue to push KTMs, because that's what they're all about... go to the new shops website... and it's a KTM/Husaberg shop... that also sells Husqvarna. The only reason the new shop is selling Husqvarna is because Husqvarna's National Sales manager (Ex KTM Sale Manager) is personnel friends with them... Recently one of my west coast buddies went there to look at a Husqvarna and they tried to sell him a KTM... go figure that one out?

With George's shop you knew going in you were there to buy a Husqvarna and if you weren't buying a Husqvarna at least George would talk to you about racing, Baja and Husqvarna... the guy bled RED!

JustSayen

Red, now thats a motorcycle! And I can find one of them. And sell it when I want another.

YHGEORGE, on 11 February 2012 - 04:34 PM, said:

No offense, but Honda's a company that couldn't give a rats-a$$ about the owner.

Have you ever tried to get anything warranteed by Honda?

If you follow anything Honda's been doing over the last 5 years or so you can clearly see that they are getting out of dirt products business and focussing on growing the company as a green company.

No I've owed Honda's over the years and would never buy another one.

Personally BMW/Husqvarna is moving in the right direction... they just have to do some house cleaning in their North American operation and everything will be OK.

justSayen

I grew up on the euro bikes and moved to Honda CR's in '86. Been there ever since with one three month KTM in 2000. Been luck I guess but have NEVER had a defect of any kind. A buddy had an engine problem with his CR in the mid nineties and Honda took care of it. Was a major/fix recall thing affecting a lot of bikes. Keep your BP under control Rips, was just taking another crack at huskys incompetence at their marketing/dealership model.

YHGEORGE, on 12 February 2012 - 11:57 AM, said:

Don't you have something better to do like watching Jerry Springer or preparing for the end of the world......2012 right ?

YHGEORGE, on 12 February 2012 - 11:57 AM, said:

I've had two Hondas and both were junk. My CR250 is still sitting in the garage collecting dust. Big difference on the way the two companies treat their customers... with Honda you don't exist and with Husqvarna they'll talk to you and work to fix the problem. Like I said... HONDA IS GETTING OUT OF THE DIRT BUSINESS!.. If you haven't noticed their race teams are all but gone.... just like SUZUKI.