Service

  • OEM Report Card 2017: Warranty and Recall Work

    Sunday, December 31, 2017 | Dealernews special report

    Executive Summary (PDF download) of the December 2017 Warranty/Recall Reimbursement Survey.

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  • Which tire is right for your adventure-touring customers?

    Tuesday, March 25, 2014 | admin

    MORE SO than any other class of motorcycle, adventure-touring machines are defined by their wheel and tire configurations. Two similar machines might possess hugely differing performance envelopes and attract vastly different customers simply because of the respective manufacturers’ choice in wheel sizes. And while the engine and chassis of an adventure bike are certainly important to its broadband abilities, the bike’s tires are what allow the rider to make full use of the machine. 


    Aggressive adventure wheel and tire combinations are part of the allure of adventure-tourers, promising the ability to go anywhere the rider could dream of. “Knobby tires further the visual aspect of the off-road fantasy,” said Michael Okano, Yamaha Motorsports’ national sales manager. “It’s just another bike without them.”

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  • Spring servicing: Get ready for your first customers

    Friday, January 17, 2014 | Tracy Martin

    They’ll be here before you know it, so be ready with batteries, tires and other items they’ll need off the bat.

    MANY ENTHUSIASTS’ magazines run stories in their September or October issues about how to store motorcycles or ATVs over the winter season.

    These articles typically offer useful advice about how to prepare batteries, tires, engines and other components to survive cold winter months with the goal of easy spring “reactivation” of two- and four-wheel vehicles.

     

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  • Organizing obsolete parts: Learn from a master

    Monday, June 24, 2013 | admin

    INVESTOPEDIA.COM defines obsolete inventory as a term that refers to inventory that is at the end of its product life cycle and has not seen any sales or usage for a set period of time usually determined by the industry.

    Obsolete inventory also can be referred to as dead or excessive inventory. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, also known as GAAP, require dealers to write off obsolete inventory as soon as it’s identified. In general, accounting rules direct dealers to establish a reserve account for obsolete inventory on their balance sheets and expense it as they dispose of it. But this practice reduces profits and can create huge losses.

    There are several causes for obsolete inventory. One of the most common is the requirement from OEMs to stock quantities for specific part numbers for each model of vehicle that the dealer has for sale. If the particular bike model doesn’t sell as well as expected, these parts will still be on the shelves long after new models have replaced the slow sellers.

     

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  • Tune up the service department for big profit potential, says Dave Koshollek

    Friday, February 15, 2013 | admin

    DEALER EXPO, Indianapolis, Ind. — Identifying the threats and opportunities your service department can face is the first step toward turning the area in a powerhouse contributor to the dealership’s overall success, explained Dealernews columnists Dave Koshollek during his service workshop session Friday morning.

    But, before you can start counting the green, it’s imperative to identify and tackle each challenge, and figure out the best steps for tapping into the profit potential of the service department. All of this and more was hashed out by Koshollek and the more than 200 years of service experience of the crowd assembled for the morning session.

    So what threats are dealers and stores facing today? How about the liability of customers not wanting to pay for safety-related repairs, the profit drain of warrant work and recalls or customers claiming previous damage be fixed by the dealership.

     

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  • Winter to-do: Floor work, big rebuilds, and getting rid of ‘that one guy’

    Friday, October 26, 2012 | admin

    IT IS NOVEMBER, and that means it’s transformation time; time to transform your Service department by taking advantage of the slow winter months to revise processes and procedures, create a new workplace culture and transform customers’ vehicles so they stand out in a crowd.

    Starting with the customer, we all know that “downtime is show time” in Service. When the mercury falls, Service slows to a crawl, which opens up the capacity needed to perform major projects that transform a mundane motorcycle to a higher plane of powersports performance.

    Engine rebuilds are the norm when the snow flies, but we should also consider transforming stockers into bobbers — converting a standard into an expert dual sport machine. Or serve the needs of your local “Chromo-sexuals” and “Dark Knights” with a full complement of chromed or powdercoat-painted accessories.

     

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  • SHADES OF GRAY: Selling and installing aftermarket exhausts, and the legal liabilities for dealers

    Friday, October 1, 2010 | admin

    There are many black and white issues in the motorcycle industry: This motorcycle makes 134 horsepower. That motorcycle is not available in red. Yes, your credit application has been approved. No, it hasn’t been approved. However, there is a huge, gray area for dealers when it comes to selling and installing aftermarket parts, particularly exhaust systems.
    The problem begins for many dealers who are not familiar with state and federal laws regarding modifications and is then compounded by the inconsistent enforcement of these laws. The end result is that many practices common in shops across the country are potential legal issues, forcing dealers to choose between customer wants and possible fines, and lost sales.

     


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