Dealers arm-twisted to take inventory?

[John in PA]

My dealer, a multi-brand motorcycle shop, is considering dropping Can-Am. He says he's being told he has to take 44(!!!) 4-wheelers in addition to his generous Spyder inventory, or he can't keep his Spyder dealership. Can-Am ATV's, though very well made, are not priced competitively and are a tough sell, at least around central PA. He figures that's 4 years worth of product, and he's still got 2009 product on the floor.

This is a GOOD dealership, beautiful showroom, great tech services, large inventory of 4 brands of bikes/scooters plus Can-Am. Why would Can-Am try to shoot themselves in the foot by muscling this guy to take way too much inventory on a slow-selling item.(Current economic conditions already have their sales 33% down from same time last year)

So, anybody else hear of their dealer being arm-twisted to overstock inventory they don't want/need to keep Spyders?

[Roaddog2]

because they are greedy

[Smylinacha]

Sounds like the Harley dealerships.

[spyderrider44]

My dealer also lost all Can-Am produtcts because BRP wanted them to take in 70-80 Sea-doos on top of what they already had, they did'nt have roon for that much inventory, so BRP pulled all their products including the Spyder. Sucks it is a super dealer here in Modesto,Ca , they even tried to get them to let them stay as a service and parts dealer , BRP said no wayand pulled all of thier equipment from my dealer. BRP puts on this big show , but it doese'nt look like they really care about their consumers. The nearest dealer for me is 45 miles and i don't have a trailer to transport if i have break down or need to leave for service.
Took my to dealer break failure alarm and it just died on me going around a corner , that is when i learned taht they are no longer a Can-Am dealer .

[Titanspyder]

Polaris was doing this to Victory dealers for awhile, and that kind of attitude really hurt Victory sales.

[slather1]

This is not limited to BRP as most brands pull this crap with dealers. Sales reps job is to push product not help the dealers or consumers.

[412Spyder]

John thats not good to hear... i just made my appt for my spyder today for this monday coming up ( kissell in state college , pa)... i guess im glad that i made my appt this soon. My closest dealership out here is terrible and im finding myself driving 3 hours to take my spyder to a dealership i know is good. this is disappointing.

[ataDude]

John thats not good to hear... i just made my appt for my spyder today for this monday coming up ( kissell in state college , pa)... i guess im glad that i made my appt this soon. My closest dealership out here is terrible and im finding myself driving 3 hours to take my spyder to a dealership i know is good. this is disappointing.

welcome

[SpyderGirl]

The dealer I purchased my Ninja from wanted to carry the Spyder but when they were informed they had to carry 4 Can Am ATVs for every one Spyder they decided not to do it. ATVs do not sell well in downtown San Francisco.... now if they said SEADOO... that would have been another story. They already carry those.

[bigiron]

SRS Powersports in Mobile, Al dropped Can Am due to inventory requirements. They have a good service dept. and still service my Spyder.

A dealer can't afford 10 to 12k per mo. floor interest in this economy.

[Motza]

Honda needs to get that piece of the market by using their newer model the DN-01 and producing it with 2 front wheels..."DN-03" Same pricing as the Can Am but with a much better and proven auto type of transmission, and good national service centers...I'd bet they would do rather well.

http://powersports.honda.com/street/crossover.aspx

[BRPjunkie]

My local Sea Doo dealer has carried their PWcs for 20 years and the full line of their jet boats, but when he inquired about the Spyder, he was also told that he would have to carry a full inventory of the ATV line. You would think that BRP would be happy to let any any of their BRP product line dealers sell the Spyder.

[zzneonzz]

I know the most rescent dealer here had to take on the ATV's to be able to sell the spyder. Luckily for them there are lots of Farmers / Hunters near by to help take them off their hands.

[John in PA]

John thats not good to hear... i just made my appt for my spyder today for this monday coming up ( kissell in state college , pa)... i guess im glad that i made my appt this soon. My closest dealership out here is terrible and im finding myself driving 3 hours to take my spyder to a dealership i know is good. this is disappointing.

Bad news! It's Kissell that they're screwing with.

[nater1]

This is a two way street also. Take Walmart for example they pull so much weight in the market that I learned by personnel example when I did some work for P&G that Walmart wanted a two cent cost reductions from P&G which equals some dollar amount in volume that made the P&G upset. Walmart told them two cent reduction or we will stop retailing your products. Walmart got their way, and work continued. I was told by one of P&G's marketing people it was not a big deal, and would not effect his P&G bonus because P&G was raising the price they sold products to other retailers to cover the difference that Walmart got a discount for. What I learned is the little guy get screwed every time.

[Firefly]

All new Honda shops have to be Honda-Only shops - that is what Honda wants to change them all to. Might be a mistake, but I would think they know a little about marketing.

Victory may have had some hiccups at first - but they are selling very well.

Most BRP dealers that I've been to already carried the ATV's - but that is a pretty popular sales model in Michigan and the surrounding states.

[Firefly]

This is a two way street also. Take Walmart for example they pull so much weight in the market that I learned by personnel example when I did some work for P&G that Walmart wanted a two cent cost reductions from P&G which equals some dollar amount in volume that made the P&G upset. Walmart told them two cent reduction or we will stop retailing your products. Walmart got their way, and work continued. I was told by one of P&G's marketing people it was not a big deal, and would not effect his P&G bonus because P&G was raising the price they sold products to other retailers to cover the difference that Walmart got a discount for. What I learned is the little guy get screwed every time.

Walmart did this to Rubbermaid and put them into bankruptcy. The cost of the material to make their items went way up due to oil increases - all the other retailers understood and agreed to the increase - except Walmart. Walmart refused and said they would pull all Rubbermaid items off the shelf - which they did and Rubbermaid went belly up.

This is one of many things they have done like this - it is their way of doing business every day - which is why they will never get a dime of my money - ever.

[Smylinacha]

Walmart did this to Rubbermaid and put them into bankruptcy. The cost of the material to make their items went way up due to oil increases - all the other retailers understood and agreed to the increase - except Walmart. Walmart refused and said they would pull all Rubbermaid items off the shelf - which they did and Rubbermaid went belly up.

This is one of many things they have done like this - it is their way of doing business every day - which is why they will never get a dime of my money - ever.

Ever see the South Park episode about Walmart? It was funny!

[NancysToy]

BMW has done the specified minimum inventory thing, too, plus has required a certain amount of floor space, certain interior decor, and has also gone the "BMW only" route. It has closed down some real nice dealerships.
-Scotty

[dltang]

Walmart did this to Rubbermaid and put them into bankruptcy. The cost of the material to make their items went way up due to oil increases - all the other retailers understood and agreed to the increase - except Walmart. Walmart refused and said they would pull all Rubbermaid items off the shelf - which they did and Rubbermaid went belly up.

This is one of many things they have done like this - it is their way of doing business every day - which is why they will never get a dime of my money - ever.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but this is a sore spot. Walmart did the same thing with Levi's that is why they are not made in the USA anymore. That is one of many reasons we will not shop at Walmart. Stepping off soapbox now.

[Firefly]

Ever see the South Park episode about Walmart? It was funny!

Yup - huge SP fan---- great stuff--- many times with a good point to make!

[draboo]

Walmart did this to Rubbermaid and put them into bankruptcy. The cost of the material to make their items went way up due to oil increases - all the other retailers understood and agreed to the increase - except Walmart. Walmart refused and said they would pull all Rubbermaid items off the shelf - which they did and Rubbermaid went belly up.

This is one of many things they have done like this - it is their way of doing business every day - which is why they will never get a dime of my money - ever.

The Man Who Said No To Walmart

Support your local Snapper dealer.

also, my favorite JibJab flash movie..BIGBOXMART!!

[RubyRed]

Sucks to hear its Kissells. I talked to them up there a few times. Actually took a ride up there only to find them closed for the day.. hehe yes I didnt call before we left.

[Some Guy]

Walmart did this to Rubbermaid and put them into bankruptcy. The cost of the material to make their items went way up due to oil increases - all the other retailers understood and agreed to the increase - except Walmart. Walmart refused and said they would pull all Rubbermaid items off the shelf - which they did and Rubbermaid went belly up.

This is one of many things they have done like this - it is their way of doing business every day - which is why they will never get a dime of my money - ever.

[ameobe]

This is not good at all, one of our favorite places to ride to. Hopefully with Craig's ingenuity he will figure some thing out.