Bike Barn going out of business?

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/1573509287.html


BRAND NEW 2009 FE570, Southern Oregon MC dealer going out of business. All bikes including this all new Husaberg get special pricing. Brands Include Husqvarna, Husaberg, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Genuine Scooter.

If so, what a total bummer. Kurt and crew are all top notch guys. I'd hate to see a dealer that cool go under.

Their website has been modified and not updated for quite some time. I usually check in to see if they still have that Enforcer quad. It would suck if they went down they are the sites biggest commercial supporter.

Lost of another great Husaberg Dealer
They are sell stuff on ebay http://shop.ebay.com/bikebarn110/m.html ... m=&_ipg=25

Yep...sorry Bergladites...unfortunately, it makes no sense to stay in business...that being said...

Thanks for everyones continued support over the years...I really really appreciate it...Husaberg is what I started with and so Husaberg is really the only reason I am bummed about closing up...I love Husabergs...I almost joined forces with the local KTM dealer, but could not stomach selling Orange (sorry KTM people...its a Berg thing).

There are many reasons to stay in business..love of the sport, people like you all, playing with Dirt Bikes, etc etc...unfortunately, I have to make a living or at least stop feeding a beast that is not allowing me to make a living. Frankly I am burned out...I have been doing this for 5 years and on my own for over a year now and that includes: Berg, Husky, Aprilia, Guzzi and Genuine....too much...i could slim it back down to Berg and Husky, but with new tax laws, continuing land restrictions and every time I turn around, either the city, the local gov or some other gvt entity has their hand out. ONCE AGAIN...VENTING...sorry.

Anyway, Thanks again, great group, appreciate your support...at some point I will have a fire sale and all bikes are currently at a very very very special price...I will leave it at that.

Kurt,

Sorry to hear about bikebarn going out of business... You've always been great to deal with. Hope that things work out in the future for you and yours.

Kurt,
While I have not personally done business with you, I know the guys here that have and I am saddened to hear of your situation. The loss of a great bike dealer that is in it for ALL the right reasons is a loss to the whole of the offroad community. Being a small business owner myself I truely understand your feelings, I hear about all the "support" for small businesses from "government" and all I can do is laugh what a pathetic joke. It bums me out to see another small business go away, I wrestle with the same problems daily. You are a class act I hope you stay active here at the UHE. I'll let my fellow Berg riders here know what's going on and we'll try to help by picking up from you what we can. I wish all the best for you in whatever your next endeavor is.
Best Regards
Ron Etz

This should be a reminder to everyone that if you want that small shop on the corner that has the things you like... go spend money there.

The cleansing of our economy will be going on for a while longer, in my researched opinion, so the guys that have been hanging on by the skin of their teeth will be gone.

Remember, with this comes opportunity. If you run your business very efficiently and you have deep pockets or get investors this is an opportunity to get market share. This statement is not to Kurt but to the guys in general. The market for nonessentials have been in depression for a while and only new jobs and the feeling of security will bring it out. The big question to me is jobs in what industry?

With all good there is bad.

With all bad there is good.

Kurt, the education you received from running your business is most likely tremendous and can be tied to other business venture. Best of luck in whatever you may pursue.

I've closed businesses and have recently had friends close businesses so I know first hand what you are going through.

Cheers!

Kosta

Remember, with this comes opportunity. If you run your business very efficiently and you have deep pockets or get investors this is an opportunity to get market share. This statement is not to Kurt but to the guys in general. The market for nonessentials have been in depression for a while and only new jobs and the feeling of security will bring it out. The big question to me is jobs in what industry?

True, I could hang on and hope things turn around...I'm not in a desperate situation...yet...I just dont see any improvements in the future...Construction is the only real industry in this valley and this has stopped. Unemployement in Jackson County is possible the highest in the state (what Ive heard anyway).

Kurt, the education you received from running your business is most likely tremendous and can be tied to other business venture. Best of luck in whatever you may pursue.

Thanks and true, I've learned that I need to not be in retail or at least OWN a retail business....I tend to take things personally...perfect example: A guy comes into the shop and asked how much an ignition was for a scooter I stock....I quoted the one on the shelf...he said thanks, he would let me know and left....a couple of months later. This guy comes into the shop...pulls in off the busy street, takes the time to get out of his truck, walk into my door JUST TO TELL ME that he bought the same one on ebay for $50.00 less....GREAT FOR HIM...but I would have been fine if he would have just not come in...instead, i almost told him to get the #$&#^%$ out of my shop...but that wouldnt be nice would it.

I've closed businesses and have recently had friends close businesses so I know first hand what you are going through.

Cheers!
Thanks for the feedback...keep on riding.
Kosta[/quote]

kurt, your story sounds identical to mine (25 years ago). pretty much a lot of the same brands except our berg was ktm. coincidently, we established our business in a building that was previously called the "Window Barn".
good luck winding it down. and thanks for being there for the site. i know everybody appreciated your help.

Kurt,
I'm sorry to read that another dealer is closing the doors. You are one of the very few great Berg dealers who supported us and our Force Ride's. Your generousity is and was second to none. Bikebarn will be missed.

I wish you well on whatever your next adventure is.

MIke Benson

Sorry you guys are going out of business. I run a trackside support business and it is tough. I hate the guys that come up and quote cheaper prices. I had a guy tell me he could get a Michelin tire for $60. I told him he'd better go buy it because that was cheaper than my dealer cost. I'll keep watching for the fire sale.

i went through your same situation 12 months ago here in Australia and i had KTM and Husaberg, i agree with feeding the beast that is bringing you down,
i think it comes back to being overstocked with slow selling models because you must represent the whole range even if you cant sell it and then pay interest to GE, A fellow dealer in the next town undercutting your price and thirdly EBAY, Plus Rent, Taxes and the cost of having employees.
My opinion of the fix for Australia is there should be one major dealer in each of our states capital cities so he sells all the bikes but not spare parts or service, (he competes only with himself on price) then all the surrounding dealers in the country sell the spare parts and do the servicing. We have way to many dealers out here.

On the other side i am now a lot healthier even though i still have a debt to pay off, i work from home on my farm from my small workshop as i kept all my tools and im a qualified mechanic. Im surrounded by my kids and family all day and i love it, if i want to stop work and have a beer at 3 oclock then i do, if i want to start late i do.
Im in control again and if i wasnt paying leftover bills from the business i would be comfortable.
I dont miss retail and i select what job i want to do now and im trying to start a new hire business for Builders equipment.
If that guy came back to me with that comment i would have told him exactly what you were thinking.
I fear for the state of mental health of some of my good freinds that i met when i was a dealer because they are so far in thay cant get out, they cant sell the business because everybody knows the trauma of being a dealer. You cant sell here without the approval of KTM / Husaberg Australia. If they dont approve you lose.
I have a freind who was KTM / Honda Polaris dealer who lost everything only a few months ago and all one importer done was critisise him about breaking there lousy dealer contract, im still waiting for my letter of thanks for spending over 5 Million dollars with KTM Australia.
There is an upside but it will take a few months or 6 months for it to happen and then the rest is up to you.
ORANGEBERG

Thanks again guys..I really appreciate the positive feedback...I am looking forward to having time to do jobs on my own terms as well...I will also keep my tools, including my suspension stuff, etc...I am also possibly going to go help out the local KTM dealer...hard to sell Orange bikes for me...dont know if I can stomach it, but it could be worse...what I like about this is that at the end of the day, I will be able to shut down my brain...cant do that now.

When I do finally close the doors, I will have lost my initial investment...a pretty good sum, but, at least, I wont be owing too many banks, etc. I've always tried to keep things close so that I dont end up in a dire situation.

Kurt

bikebarnbeckman said:

Thanks again guys..I really appreciate the positive feedback...I am looking forward to having time to do jobs on my own terms as well...I will also keep my tools, including my suspension stuff, etc...I am also possibly going to go help out the local KTM dealer...hard to sell Orange bikes for me...dont know if I can stomach it, but it could be worse...what I like about this is that at the end of the day, I will be able to shut down my brain...cant do that now.

When I do finally close the doors, I will have lost my initial investment...a pretty good sum, but, at least, I wont be owing too many banks, etc. I've always tried to keep things close so that I dont end up in a dire situation.

Kurt

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you will be right, just a word of warning dont think that Husaberg will take any sympathy on you or help in any way because they will wipe you the day you shut, make sure you have GE in order as the GE parasites are a cancer but a necessary evil, they will take take take if you dont have their account in order and invent more fees and charges to hit you with. My idea of one major dealer in the city means the small guy in the country does not have to put his head in a noose with GE to get bikes and loose his life savings and his home when things go bad. That beast that you feed never sleeps. Trying to sell KTM is easy imagine there just recycled witches hats. ( aussie for Orange Roadside marker cones)
ORANGEBERG