We know the customer decides. Did you buy the latest One Direction download? Do you follow Alec Baldwin on Twitter? Do you have a Blackberry?

You got time, so if and when a decision need to be made relating to a purchase (or a SuperBowl Pick)  you have time. For me, it is instantaneous, or maybe minutes. I'm walking through a shopping joint or a website, looking for an item or gaining information. Just for example, I was looking for information on a Samsung 9000 Series TV that I had won in a raffle. Sounds cool, right? But here's the real story. It was a cool "State-of-the-Art" TV when it came out in 2009, and they quit making it in 2010. Internet Apps, connectivity, blah...blah...blah. It even had a remote that the TV pic showed on when you walked away from the TV to go to the bathroom. Just watch it on the remote. Problem was, nothing works as advertised. Original price was about $9000 and now you can buy one for about $1500. The picture is SPECTACULAR, the rest is CRAP!

That brings me to my point. You want to buy a Harley-Davidson you want the bike you were promised, either from the ads or for from your expectations. You don't want to pay too much for a $10,000 bike. If you bought upgraded exhaust on your 2010 Ultra Classic, you want those exhaust. If you bought a Chrome front end on your 2009 FLHX Black Street Glide you want that. If you bought it serviced with New Tires and a 10k that what you want.

I get it, and I never want to run into you at Sturgis or Daytona and have to apologize for the actions me or my staff. Call/tweet/email or comment on this post. If you want to know how to buy the right bike, I gotcha.

@TheHarleyGuy
Ricky Kelley

So you wanna be a Harley Rider?

I'm starting to ask myself some questions. As a life-long businessman who has always grown up in a sales environment, I'm pretty well versed on the sales environment. I have been selling cars and eventually motorcycles since 1977, but quite honestly, I sold the stuff that kids sold in elementary schools and was never scared of asking a customer to buy from me.

Fast forward to 2012. I'm constantly trying to improve my business. When I go into restaurants, Department Stores, and the mall, I'm always comparing my efforts to those sales environments around me. I went into a friend H-D dealership today, and while I have no idea as to their success compared to mine, I couldn't help but notice the obvious differences between our business's. I'm not saying mine was better (or worse), I'm just saying that I run my business to the best of my ability and the customer decides.

It's a dynamic market out there. You see TONS of TV ads about a product, then undoubtedly look at that product offering at a million online sites (that's why it called the World Wide Web), then decide if you are a prospect or potential customer for that product at the best offered price. No matter what, the customer decides.

Whether you are looking for a Black 2010 Ultra Classic or a Blue 2008 XL883 I can offer some help. Whether you are trading a 1998 Goldwing or a 2005 Heritage Softail, I can help. I know that geographically there are people that will not want to buy from me, but I can still help. I know that people are loyal to their local dealer, but I can help. You see, I do this about 1000+ times per year, for a lot of years. Sure, you can ask you neighbor of a buddy for some advise, but really, who is the expert?

If I were taking a trip to Russia, wouldn't I want to talk to people who had done it? Someone who went to Russia once or someone who went many times per year for many years? Do you go to a dentist for oral health or do you ask a friend who goes to a dentist one per year? Do you play a pretty mean guitar and get to play onstage with Springsteen? Thing is, the customer decides, I'm just thinking I can provide some insight.

Harley, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Financing, Trade-in values, Extended Warranties, Service recommendations, Great Places to ride to, Honky-Tonks, favorite Music, Strugis. I'm all good.

So I'm on a mission. From here on out I'm posting about real situations relating to my industry and the relationships that develop as a result of Harley-Davidson and all that we enjoy.

Ride Safe,
TheHarleyGuy

9 Most Scenic Roads In The U.S. (PHOTOS)

9 Most Scenic Roads In The U.S. (PHOTOS)

Me and a bunch of my folks were sitting around talking about the importance of Social Media. We know people don't want to be "sold" but they do want to gather information. Information that isn't just based on opinion buy rather based on True Experience. If I sell 1000+ New and Used Harley-Davidson motorcycles every year, and you only get to buy 1 every year or so, do you think it would be a fiar statement to say that my experience my be helpful to you, whether you are buyng from me, another dealer, the internet of a neighbors garage.

Vehicle overall condition, the cost of reconditioning, mileage, color, god models vs bad models on resale, tires, paint repair, aftermarket accessories, year, make, model.....you get it.

Like we talked about earlier, just being straight up, talking bikes, dealers and buying/selling, etc

That's the direction this blog is headed, so join in.