Service Options

[The Mad King Pepe']

What I'd take over a more-local drop-off/pickup spot would be loaner or rental bikes.  I'd probably pay a few bucks for a rental bike to ride home and tool around on while the monster is being worked on and if the monster were my only bike I'd definitely pay for a rental.

I think that is actually a great idea. I don't know how easy it would be to implement due to scheduling and insurance issues, but I would definitely go for it. I also think of it as a reason to check out a different bike that I might end up buying either new or used (with a nice discount ).

[twolanefun]

Harder than you think and expensive. Just ask yourself where in the USA can you rent a Ducati? I have a business plan that I put together to launch a tour company with Ducati's, 2 MTS 1100s, 2 M1100s, 2 796s so I have some idea of what the costs are and I don't see that as viable, probably why no one does it - not even the big multi-brand dealerships. - Gene

[bikepilot]

Maybe true, but there are a ton of bike rental places and many have more expensive bikes than your typical duc (HD for example).  The insurance/liability issues etc really aren't that difficult (says the lawyer ) - between cage-dealer loaners, bike rental places and duc's own bike demo program the track record is there.  From a business perspective it might be really hard to make $$$ on the rentals, but if the rentals need to only break even or maybe not even quite that because they are really a form of marketing for the service and sales departments, then it becomes more viable.  I could be wrong, but I want to say some US BMW moto dealers already do this as well.

I believe duc dealerships in some other countries do this as standard practice already.

[twolanefun]

Insurance is not that expensive suprisingly, maintenance is a killer, and look at the cost to rent a HD from eagle rider as a guage. Just saying... Like I said logic says if this made business sense more dealers would be doing it, I know of none that do now or have in the few years I've been riding, but I don't profess to know everything. Here is a local exception, but there are quite a few caveats http://www.bobsbmw.com/service/loaners.html- Gene

[bikepilot]

I don't know of any that have remote pickup/drop-off locations either (though many offer pickup/drop off as a service for a fee). I am sympathetic to the argument that if it made sense more would be doing it - but that applies equally to the remote pickup location or the rental/loaner bike idea.  Of the two, as a customer, I'd be more likely to take advantage of a loaner/rental than a remote drop off location.

[twolanefun]

I don't know of any that have remote pickup/drop-off locations either (though many offer pickup/drop off as a service for a fee). I am sympathetic to the argument that if it made sense more would be doing it - but that applies equally to the remote pickup location or the rental/loaner bike idea.  Of the two, as a customer, I'd be more likely to take advantage of a loaner/rental than a remote drop off location.

Thanks for the input. Hope this thread gets some more action. - Gene

[zooom]

- between cage-dealer loaners, bike rental places and duc's own bike demo program the track record is there.  From a business perspective it might be really hard to make $$$ on the rentals, but if the rentals need to only break even or maybe not even quite that because they are really a form of marketing for the service and sales departments, then it becomes more viable.   

FROM A CAGE DEALER PERSPECTIVE of experience...

Loaner cars are generally a car that gets an exemption in title and value status from the manufacturer for a specific limitation of miles. a "demo" unit for example can not exceed a general limit of X # of miles whereas a loaner can usually do as much as triple or more miles while still keeping the warranties in tact. Loaners were really the 1st Certified Pre Owned vehicles backed by a manufacturer. When resold, they were considered as used, and not new, but were given a qualification of certainty due to the maintenance having been guaranteed by said dealer using that unit while it was in loaner rotation. This is the more common of practises when it comes to these vehicles. The other option is for the dealership to sell the vehicles to a subsidiary company(usually owned in some way by said dealer) to operate them as a rental vehicle, or to purchase them outright and delegate out as they choose. Doing the former alleviates them of a certain direct liability.

In terms of demo units like the Ducati truck hauls around, those vehicles are really not owned by anyone other than the manufacturer. The manufactuers assumes all liability and repairs. A demo owned by a dealer now has to assume all of that, and when a unit is not really owned by the dealer ( because it is owned by the bank that is floorplanning the note on that vehicle) the banks don't take too kindly to the risk of loss of their assett if something should happen to that bike while it is out on the road. In a perfect world, insurance will take care of it as it should, but nowadays, the insurance companies look for any and all avenues for to get out of paying any and everyhing they can. Which leaves the dealer on the hook. This is partially contributory as to why a lot of dealers do not have demo test ride units, like a car dealer does. Also, there is a certain accepted premise as a 4 wheeled vehicle being less of a risk to loan out in general in comparo to a 2 wheeled one, but I wasn't going to delve into that arguement.