SAD NEWS DUE TO APPALLING KTM/HUSABERG BUSINESS PRACTICE

Dear All,

Please take serious notice!

Today I received news that Gary Grover Racing has been summarily dismissed as a Husaberg representative in the UK by KTM UK. Apparently he received a two paragraph letter basically telling him that come end of December he's not a Husaberg dealer any more and his access to the parts ordering system has ceased immediately. So even though it is the beginning of December he can't do parts business if he doesn't have the stuff already in stock

Apparently this has also happened to pretty much all of the other UK Husaberg stalwarts.

No notice has been given and no explanation why at all.

This has all come from KTM UK who for a short while have been managing the UK distribution of Husaberg.

I think this is quite appalling and unethical business practice given that these dealers are the ones that have supported and upheld the brand through so many difficult years, only to be screwed.

No effort at all seems to have been made by KTM to talk to dealer or to communicate and change of strategy or desire for the brand so in effect the dealer hasn't even been given the opportunity to do anything about it in order to retain the franchise.

In addition KTM have not made any efforts to organise a reasonable franchise wind down period or return of stock.

The other thing they seem to have missed is that they are throwing away years of experience and knowledge in the brand as well as alienating themselves from what has always been a very loyal and passionate customer base. It is also a niche and close market and always has been.

The thing is there are so many other options that they had available to them to deal with stuff reasonably but instead they chose not.

Personally, this is the second time I have known people close to me to have been badly treated by KTM UK from a business perspective.

It does not strike me as a company I would choose to do any more business with and they have certainly lost me as a continued customer now. Gary was responsible for keeping me with Husaberg.

I would like to ask that you show your solidarity to Gary and other dealers who may have lost their franchise by going to them first and foremost for your parts, at least until they run out of stock!

I would also suggest that, if you can, you should make your feelings known to those running the business, perhaps Husaberg in Sweden and KTM Austria should take a little notice because overnight and without notice they have killed someone's business without adequate reason.

Simon

PS I also wonder whether their practice would stand up proper legal scrutiny - I think it would be questionable.

Bang out of order that Simon!!

Is D.C.R. in the same boat?

I would`nt be surprised if it was just KTM dealers that get hold of the new 09 Husabergs.

Yeah i still ride a KTM but i do fancy that new Berg!!


Brookester

brookester said:

Is D.C.R. in the same boat?

Click to expand...

I believe he is....

just spoken to another dealer who stated that he'd been told the same.

he wasn't able to give me the full story so a visit and coffee may be in order.

i've also just emailed the head of marketing at ktm, Austria to see if i can get any info. may not even get a reply but worth a shot.

The direction things are headed do not appear too rosey for the long standing dealers. We apparantly have no authorized dealers at this time in Southern California. I wonder how long it will be before this site gets a cease and desist letter from KTM? The 09 model must be going to someones head at KTM. On the bright side there will probably be a ton of leftover 09's available in 2010 and 2011 on sale cheap as the Husa-faithful become disgruntled with the mega-dealers when they try to sell these bikes for $2000 over list price. I have always paid list or near list for a new bike with reasonable set-up fees. I will not pay more than list no matter how new and exciting the bike may be.

I dont profess to know anything about said dealers, but as a businesman, it makes no sense to out existing dealers without due cause. It takes around 17% of productivity to retrain staff/dealers so they wouldnt be doing it just for arguments sake.

It does make sense to reduce the numbers of dealers that arent KTM dealers also, as it tightens up the whole sha-bang as everyones used to the same systems. KTM & Husaberg no longer have to compete as they have 2 completely different bikes. Maybe its all apart of the new Husaberg revolution with KTM to make their bike more competitive in speed as well as the money side of things.

My condolences to the guys that got it in the ar$e though after dedicating themselves to this wickid brand of machines. :cry:

Wal

Wow that sounds a bit strange,wish we new bolth sides of the story!

Anyway husabutt nor anyone else should pay full retail for any brand,

There should always be common ground out there for dealer & customer.

BOSS said:

Wow that sounds a bit strange,wish we new bolth sides of the story!

Anyway husabutt nor anyone else should pay full retail for any brand,

There should always be common ground out there for dealer & customer.

Click to expand...

I can appreciate that BOSS but; most mega dealers, in the San Diego area at least, mark-up $500-$1000 over retail for current model year bikes and then negociate a little from there. I understand that the cost of running these 20,000 to 50,000 and even 100,000 (Chapparal) square foot behemoths must be staggering but as a consumer that is not my primary concern. You need to bring your Camelback with you at some of these places in the summer. I just can't stomach $1000 over list for dealer set-up, prep, frieght etc. etc.
It kinda feels like a rip off but if everyone is doing it and they are getting it then the free enterprise system is alive and well. It will be interesting to see what they will be asking for the 09s if the current crop of dealerships get abandoned.

It is also interesting the way mega-dealerships advertise. They will place an add touting $1000 off of list but when you actually get there all the extras are then added in resulting in a price in excess of list. I ran into this at Chapparal when purchasing a YZ125 for my kid. An hour and a half drive just to learn that I was snookered. And the exact same thing happened at Alba Yamaha when we bought a YFZ450 quad for my wife. So needless to say that I will always try to support the local enthusiast shop whenever possible and never complain about paying full retail especially for a Berg.

i'm gobsmakced! i thought it was worrying the other day that motoexotica hadn't been confirmed and thought that this was mental!

so, we have 5 dealers or so in the UK. gary grover outed, and DCR???? is that true as well? i can't believe that? and then i trust that mid west or SS are the other dealer that cypher is on about? that's amazing!

i wish all three dealers the best of luck in the future. i'm particularly hurting for gary! sherco are dropping their dealer network to get a viable small importership up and running. gary was one of their dealers just a month ago!

so if 3/5 aren't dealers - who is!

what do ktm think they're doing?

I WILL NOW MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN A NEW THREAD THAT IS CONNECTED TO THIS....

regards

Taffy

i bought a berg because of dave clark not some ktm suit :evil:
not very happy at all :x :x :x :x :x :x

yeah, SS racing.

the name of the thread says it all .

my plans to buy a new 09 husaberg are cancelled , i am disgusted with their attitude towards the '' small '' man .

what is the warranty on the sherco ?

according to graham at mid west he has survived, there is this new dealer 'pope's of portsmouth', one in northern ireland and two new dealers are being sought up north.

i won't say it this point why those that lost their franchise did but it'll out sometime....

regards

Taffy