I've been to many dealers, and have owned 7 Harleys in the past decade or so. When several parts on my brand new FLHTCUSE5 proved defective less than 6 months after handing them a check for over $37,000, they did nothing to have the bike repaired.
In fact they have a habit of accusing the customer when something goes wrong.
A friend got his bike back with the oil plug stripped. I had a 1999 Road King there for minor service and the four z-clips that hold the saddlebags on were all bent. They accused me of doing it.
I am amazed they stay in business, but until now there was a craze for Harleys. With that ending, and HDs not being necessities, it's a matter of time.
I'm sorry to say I will get a feeling of satisfaction when Dave Lang is unemployed.
Crossroads HD could have easily solved a problem that will now go to litigation:
Who wins: The lawyers who get paid huge amounts even on small settlements. The executives. They have healthy pensions locked up. Insurance companies pay the judgments against them. And when they lose more money, the people who need it most lose their jobs.
Who Loses: I do. Harley loses a good customer. Crossroads loses a good customer. Harley workers lose jobs.
I bet Keith Wandells martini was still chilled after he squeezed the union so they could at least keep some jobs, froze wages, and laid off workers to be replaced by ""casual workers"", a euphemism for temps. No benefits, no health care, no overtime, no obligation to hire and fire them at will. It's the latest concept in American manufacturing.
Great country we live in.
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