Should Spyder have its own independent dealer network in addition to BRP dealers?

[UtahPete]

Just a thought. I realize there are many obstacles to this actually happening, but let's talk about it anyway.

After reading through a lot of threads on here in the past few months, it occurs to me that if BRP allowed Spyder division to contract with existing independent motorcycle dealerships, it would quickly create a very wide network of dealerships that have the built-in market, technical expertise and marketing ability within their respective markets to properly sell and support what are essentially highly sophisticated road machines.

Can-Am dealers in many places are not oriented at all toward road machines. Their expertise and interest is in selling and supporting a very different demographic with ATV's, snowmobiles, personal watercraft and the like. These buyers generally do not have to be licensed or properly trained to use their machines and most likely don't socialize together around their chosen brand of machine. Maintenance needs are very seasonal and rather minimal compared to what it takes to maintain a machine that must negotiate public roads safely.

Motorcycle dealers, on the other hand, are familiar with and geared to meet the needs of their buyers. Just think how different the experience would be for Spyder owners to be able to have a choice of local dealers with the interest and expertise to tend to the quirks and intricacies of their machines. This would probably be a bigger factor for the Great Plains and intermountain west Spyder ryders, who generally do not have technical and other after-sales support within a reasonable distance.

Meanwhile, Spyder would enjoy a much greater market presence among its key demographics and probably see a surge in sales.

What do you think?

[oldguyinTX]

Most Spyder dealers, as you stated, sell all of BRP's product lineup. This is because if the dealer wants to sell, ATV's, Ski-doos, etc., BRP requires them to sell Spyders too. All to often at these dealers, Spyders are treated like the "poor stepchild" that nobody wants around. Then there are the Mega dealers who sell 8 different brands of motorcycles as well as BRP products, and have little to no interest in trying to sell Spyders, but again they are forced to by BRP. The hardest thing is finding a dealer that has a certified Spyder technician - and they usually only have one because their Spyder sales volume doesn't justify having more than one - and then hoping that he stays with that dealer. Otherwise it's "on the job training" with a wrench turner reading the service manual as he goes along. This adds a huge cost to maintenance/repair bills as it will take that guy considerably longer to effect any given work needing to be done, and dealers charge by the hour, not by the book. I have been to one of these big multi-brand dealers, and I have never seen more than two Spyders on the showroom floor, and maybe one in for service. In the spring, the sales floor is covered with Sea-Doos, in the fall it is covered with Ski-Doos, ATV's all year round, and one or two Spyders tucked away in a corner. IMHO, BRP needs to tighten the reins on dealers, and make them commit to Spyders as much as they do the rest of BRP's product line.

[ARtraveler]

An interesting concept. I know that in the early days, dealers were stuck with large minimum orders, large parts inventories, requirements for mechanics training, and accessory inventory requirements. It does not seem to be in place any more.

The idea of other brands available can be helpful to the dealers, but there has to be a happy medium somewhere on this.

A few bad dealers have tainted the reputation of the brand a bit.

For once, I am going to sit back and watch what others think.

[Pirate looks at --]

Most dealers here in California are "Motorcycle" shops. In fact the dealer in San Jose sells, Indian, Victory (until they run out) Slingshot and Spyders.......not one single Side by Side watercraft, or ATV. My local dealer, the number Spyder Dealer in the Western Region, also sells Aprillia, Triumph, Moto Guzzi, MV-Augusta and others. They are also the Number1 water craft dealer for Seadoo in the country. In Fresno they carry 12 different lines of Motorcycles Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM and many more. In Roseville they are one of the largest Honda dealers in California. So at least here in California this is happening now, and BROs focus is on working with this type of dealer. The biggest is educating the sales on what the Spyder is and how to sell it.

[Bob Denman]

This'll NEVER happen...
Their Franchised Dealerships would never want to be competing directly against the Company that they work for...
1. Guess who would get the machines first?
2. Guess who'd get what they want: when they want it?
3. Guess who'd have the best lines of communication for technical support?

a very bad idea...

[UtahPete]

This'll NEVER happen...
Their Franchised Dealerships would never want to be competing directly against the Company that they work for...
1. Guess who would get the machines first?
2. Guess who'd get what they want: when they want it?
3. Guess who'd have the best lines of communication for technical support? a very bad idea...

Bob, for once I don't understand your reasoning. According to another post on here, some version of this is already in place in California.

[Chasinsparks]

This subject has to be my biggest complaint about the Spyder, trying to find a dealer that is not only good at sales but even better at service and repairs. If the grim reaper were to come to the take the Spyder out of the market I believe it will be due to the lack of quality of care you get after the sale.

When you spend this kind of money, you kind of expect to be able to get good service. The dealer I bought my bike from was great when taking my money for the bike. I purchased parts and we agreed when they came in they would be installed, I called for two weeks trying to get an appointment to have parts installed, the manager would not even call me back after like 20 calls to him not getting a return call I emailed and got nothing, then I emailed from another account posing as if I wanted to buy a new bike and got a response in 5 min (amazing), I finally got the so called service guy on the phone, he told me he did not know what the shop hour rate was, and that it would take all day to install the entertainment harness but would have to get back to me because he would need to study the schematic. I finally just went and picked up my parts and installed them myself.

BRP calls for 1.5 to install the harness (not all day) I had never even taken a panel off the Spyder and did it in my garage in about 2.5 hours.

[2RTsGV]

This'll NEVER happen...
Their Franchised Dealerships would never want to be competing directly against the Company that they work for...
1. Guess who would get the machines first?
2. Guess who'd get what they want: when they want it?
3. Guess who'd have the best lines of communication for technical support?

a very bad idea...

Not quite sure I am understanding what you are saying here Bob. When you say the franchised dealerships not wanting to compete against the company they work for, which franchise are you referring to, BRP? ... or do you mean say Honda / Suzuki / Yamaha etc … I ask this coz in my mind if it’s BRP then why are these BRP dealers not putting in the effort to support the spyder? If you are talking about other brands, normally dealerships have multiple brands they support, (Ducati / Yamaha / URAL etc so they are not truly working just for one brand anyway and adding another shouldn’t really put too much strain on them

[UtahPete]

Most dealers here in California are "Motorcycle" shops. In fact the dealer in San Jose sells, Indian, Victory (until they run out) Slingshot and Spyders.......not one single Side by Side watercraft, or ATV. My local dealer, the number Spyder Dealer in the Western Region, also sells Aprillia, Triumph, Moto Guzzi, MV-Augusta and others. They are also the Number1 water craft dealer for Seadoo in the country. In Fresno they carry 12 different lines of Motorcycles Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM and many more. In Roseville they are one of the largest Honda dealers in California. So at least here in California this is happening now, and BROs focus is on working with this type of dealer. The biggest is educating the sales on what the Spyder is and how to sell it.

That's good to know. My only experience has been with two dealers in Utah so far.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Most Spyder dealers, as you stated, sell all of BRP's product lineup. This is because if the dealer wants to sell, ATV's, Ski-doos, etc., BRP requires them to sell Spyders too.

Not the case. A dealer near McCall, ID sells Ski-Doos and Can Am UTVs but is not a Spyder dealer. The biggest problem with small dealers is the requirement to buy a minimum number of Spyders in order to be a dealer, a number that is more than a small local market will absorb. If a dealer, like the one near McCall, doesn't think they can sell the minimum they won't take on the Spyder line.

[Bob Denman]

For the record: I'm heart-attack serious about this.
Dealerships will NEVER allow themselves to be put in the position of competing against the parent Company.
They'll drop the line, and sell something else.

BRP would also not want to have to support a network of Dealerships for whom they are responsible. From a liability standpoint: it's dynamite!

[loisk]

Am I missing something?

Competition with the parent company?

We cannot buy from or even talk to the parent company ... What competition? Surely dealers are agents of brp? And independent service shops are just that, independent, not agents.

[Bob Denman]

Non-Franchised shops sill never be allowed in the loop: the current Dealer network has too much invested, to allow that to happen.

[quasi]

For the record: I'm heart-attack serious about this.
Dealerships will NEVER allow themselves to be put in the position of competing against the parent Company.
They'll drop the line, and sell something else.

BRP would also not want to have to support a network of Dealerships for whom they are responsible. From a liability standpoint: it's dynamite!

when brp actually HAS a dealer network, then maybe things will be good for the consumer. until then its a crapshoot.

[Bob Denman]

It's what we have:
Can it be a heckuva lot better? You betcha!
Bringing independent shops into the loop won't be a solution.

[pegasus1300]

Not the case. A dealer near McCall, ID sells Ski-Doos and Can Am UTVs but is not a Spyder dealer. The biggest problem with small dealers is the requirement to buy a minimum number of Spyders in order to be a dealer, a number that is more than a small local market will absorb. If a dealer, like the one near McCall, doesn't think they can sell the minimum they won't take on the Spyder line.

We have a similar situation down here in Richfield. Jorgensen's is one of the best power sports dealers in the intermountain West. People come up from Arizona to buy there. He even sell a number of used Spyders and his staff is somewhat knowledgeable on them. He wont take on the Spyder line although he is a Can Am, Skidoo, Seadoo dealer because BRP wants him to commit to too many units. Really too bad because he would be a good dealer.

[UtahPete]

We have a similar situation down here in Richfield. Jorgensen's is one of the best power sports dealers in the intermountain West. People come up from Arizona to buy there. He even sell a number of used Spyders and his staff is somewhat knowledgeable on them. He wont take on the Spyder line although he is a Can Am, Skidoo, Seadoo dealer because BRP wants him to commit to too many units. Really too bad because he would be a good dealer.

The Intermountain West is surely one of the areas with spotty Spyder support.

[UtahPete]

I thought it might be time to revive this discussion.

[Big F]

right on brother! BRP needs to clean up their act with the dealers. we have a local dealer that sells a ton of other motorcycles and has maybe 1 or 2 Spyders in the showroom.. and NO Spyder gear, etc.?? so why does BRP allow these type of operations??
BIG F

[bikerbillone]

Sure agree with that, went to a dealer in Kissimmee FL, tons of 'other stuff' two Spyders parked outside, no one person around that knew very little, I wanted to see the RTL, he said, "I think there's one in the crate", what a waste.

[Big F]

that is an awesome/idea thought for BRP!! but are they smart enough to consider such a move or are they "bull-headed"??
BIG F

[Bfromla]

think the current survey & rating system has them too confused to know what is really going on, or they just don't care Have responded & completed the surveys (first 2years maybe)& then there were no more, still having warranty/ extended warranty, & service work done. But no more surveys asking about it. Meanwhile my local dealer that I & others AVOID because of their failures has some how jumped in rank up to a platinum level per the ranking system last reported failure this shop left a customers bike outdoors uncovered for 2weeks & when it was picked up (dirty & sun faded) the frunk was stuck shut when the person returned home 100+ miles away (their local dealer no longer services spyders)
So that is just here in the states can only imagine the pains in more remote regions. & just the pain of the proprietary systems onboard, BRP's default "Talk to dealer" answer for everything. figured there would be more improvements after the 10 year anniversary maybe that was just hoping for too much still love mine & gonna keep with it till at least 100k miles LORD-willing

[grumpyoldretiredcop]

I'd certainly like to see service centers/service providers in place. I wouldn't take my F3 to my "local" (45 minutes away) dealer after the delivery experience they gave me. Looks like I'll be making a road trip to get my first service.

[Saluda]

Might be a good idea.