RE: Losing a Dealer

["Martin Lodahl" <lodahl@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think Don's mention of the relatively soft US economy is important;  sales
won't be where anyone would like to see them until more prospective buyers
have reason to believe they could actually pay off their loans.  What I
can't help wondering is just how much invisible support dealers are actually
getting from corporate BMW in the form of price supports, as the dollar
falls against the euro.  Should it fall a good deal more (and the sheer size
of the federal budget deficit and the current accounts deficit suggest
that's not unlikely), BMW could be caught in a serious squeeze, forced to
choose between significant losses on every unit sold or a collapse of the
dealer network.  Not fun.

	- Martin
- --
Martin Lodahl of Auburn, CA
lodahl@xxxxxxxxxxxx
UNIX Pro, Motorcyclist, Musician, etc.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx]On
> Behalf Of Don MacQueen
> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2004 5:50 AM
> To: oilheads@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: Losing a Dealer
>
>
> Bruno Valeri wrote:
>
> -in response to Robert W Munday:
>
> >  >This has been a disastrous year for BMW motorcycle dealers.
> >
> >This is so surprising. What about the stats that suggest BMW
> >keeps increasing volume and market share?
>
> Is the the marketplace or is it BMW corporate squeezing the vise?
>
> BMW motorcycle sales are off worldwide this year, and off by an even
> greater percentage in the US.  Even with the arrival of the R1200GS,
> and the updated K1200LT the rest of the existing, relatively stale
> product lineup can't make headway in a relatively soft economy, with
> both new offerings from competitors and the announcement of new *BMW*
> models turning the current models into lame ducks.  Factor in that
> BMW offered very little in buyer incentives this year compared to
> years past, and even the good dealers found themselves squeezed
> mightily.
>
> --
> ____________________________________
> Don MacQueen, Shelby NC
> Ride like you're invisible;
> Oscar don't see you nohow.
> '95 R1100RS
> '75 R90/6
> '00.5 RSV Mille
> '88 K75s (challenged)
> '99 A4 Jetta TDI
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> BMWRA, BMWMOA, TDIclub.com, HRCA
> ____________________________________

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