Southampton H-D gone into administration

[Big Si]

c & p'd from their Facebook page


"CUSTOMER NOTICE
Sadly, we are devastated to announce that we have had to cease trading with immediate effect and hand over all business matters to Administrators. After a difficult period of uncertainty in the economy, continued poor weather, forced over supply and stocking from our manufacturer partners and finally the devastating impact to businesses of the recent Budget announcements, have left us, like so many others, in an untenable position.
We want to assure you that every possible effort was made to try and avoid this decision, but making it now is the only way we can minimise the impact on all those affected.
We recognise there will be those of you that have concerns and matters outstanding and we want to assure you we are doing everything we possibly can to resolve these. We kindly ask that you are patient whilst we work to ensure these are dealt with quickly.
We respectfully ask that any queries are directed to the Administrators, Westcotts Business Recovery, 26 -28 Southernhay East, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1NS, as is the norm in these sad and difficult circumstances, as they are now in control.
Lastly, we would like to thank all our customers, many of whom we consider friends, for supporting us over the last 22 years."

Another three bite the dust..........

Edit: Plymouth Harley and Plymouth Triumph, part of the same group have also gone into admin.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

What about the Harley Dealer in Plymouth which is part of the same group?

 

[Number 6]

c & p'd from their Facebook page


and finally the devastating impact to businesses of the recent Budget announcements, have left us, like so many others, in an untenable position.
We want to assure you that every possible effort was made to try and avoid this decision, but making it now is the only way we can minimise the impact on all those

Another one bites the dust..........

Edit: Plymouth Harley and Plymouth Triumph, part of the same group have also gone into admin.

Rachel from Accounts is doing a stunning job so far. Pensioners, Farmers, Small and Not-So-Small Businesses all being shafted.

 

[Big Si]

What about the Harley Dealer in Plymouth which is part of the same group?

see edit

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

When Lind shut down Reading H-D a new independent (1HD) sprung up next door to the Indian dealership

 

[Jesim1]

I'm not a big HD fan, I like the looks and culture, but the bikes are sadly lacking, at least for me anyway, so I'm not surprised (but not happy) that so many HD dealers have bit the dust in the past 12 months

With much of their range pushing past £20k for a basic bike, and the modern stuff like the Pan America being totally unreliable (my mates failed several times before he was told the parts which it needed would be a minimum 3 months!), they seem to have a 5 year plan of burying the company instead of grow in it

 

[Pukmeister]

I went to Dock Gate 20 H-D in Southampton once. Dimly lit place with disinterested hipster looking staff, everything cost the earth, even the 20W50 oil I was interested in meant selling a kidney for a 4 litre jug full. Not surprised it’s closed/gone bust really.

 

[OnHellas]

I'm not a big HD fan, I like the looks and culture, but the bikes are sadly lacking, at least for me anyway, so I'm not surprised (but not happy) that so many HD dealers have bit the dust in the past 12 months

With much of their range pushing past £20k for a basic bike, and the modern stuff like the Pan America being totally unreliable (my mates failed several times before he was told the parts which it needed would be a minimum 3 months!), they seem to have a 5 year plan of burying the company instead of grow in it

A bit like The Labour Party and the UK then!

 

[Doc]

I'm not a big HD fan, I like the looks and culture, but the bikes are sadly lacking, at least for me anyway, so I'm not surprised (but not happy) that so many HD dealers have bit the dust in the past 12 months

With much of their range pushing past £20k for a basic bike, and the modern stuff like the Pan America being totally unreliable (my mates failed several times before he was told the parts which it needed would be a minimum 3 months!), they seem to have a 5 year plan of burying the company instead of grow in it

Its not the bikes. Excluding the pan thingy.
Its down to money and its lacking for some people.

 

[Doris]

Its not the bikes. Excluding the pan thingy.
Its down to money and its lacking for some people.

Oh, I don’t know. Apart from the big (expensive) stuff, I think they’ve lost their way. Not sure whether that’s company driven or customer driven, but for the first time last week, I looked at our annual raffle prize and thought “nah…I’ll settle for one of the smaller cash prizes”….

 

[twizzle]

Lind Guildford next i reckon

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

At this rate Harley will have no coverage in the UK

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

My local Dealer Sykes are extending their site size . They do sell a lot of bikes and provide a brilliant service

 

[G&T]

I don’t know if the US Harley Davidson boycott had any impact here. There were some strong feelings about the CEO, layoffs etc at Sturgis.

 

[Doris]

At this rate Harley will have no coverage in the UK

Might be time to resurrect smaller, more focused dealerships.

 

[Colin1958]

I've just bought an old Harley and was in Plymouth two days ago - it looked like they were doing a refurb, but I guess they were shipping bikes and gear out before the doors closed. It's a shame, they were all really nice and helpful people and to lose their jobs just before Christmas must be really tough.

The Triumph dealership next door has gone too - they were both owned by the same family as well as a Yamaha dealership in Exeter.

Perhaps this is a good opportunity to set up a Harley specialist independent workshop for the guys who have just lost their jobs.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I've just bought an old Harley and was in Plymouth two days ago - it looked like they were doing a refurb, but I guess they were shipping bikes and gear out before the doors closed. It's a shame, they were all really nice and helpful people and to lose their jobs just before Christmas must be really tough.

The Triumph dealership next door has gone too - they were both owned by the same family as well as a Yamaha dealership in Exeter.

Perhaps this is a good opportunity to set up a Harley specialist independent workshop for the guys who have just lost their jobs.

Agreed See Post #5

The guys are all ex Reading Harley-Davidson

No sales just service, insurance jobs & custom bike work

Set up and running within a month of Lind pulling the plug

1HD

Reading’s Harley-Davidson Specialist – Same Team, Different Address

onehd.co.uk

 

[Pukmeister]

It’s all part of the implosion of the consumer goods market, such a shame for those employed in it. You can blame lots of things for it, in this case H-D, the current economic and political situations, cheaper Chinese and Indian imports etc etc but none of that is consolation for the soon to be unemployed.

 

[squibb34]

Sad to hear of more failures, but this was always likely to be a winter of discontent, throughout the motor trade.

Whilst I have no problem with the concept of indy outfits, most cannot afford the presence & stocking costs of say Sykes, so tend to become spares/repair shops, maybe selling a few bikes on commission..

Without a ready supply of keen, willing new bike buyers, the meat going into the front end of the sausage machine, the whole supply chain surely won't remain sustainable. The consumer society model has been skewed, accelerated by the scamdemic, & will consume itself progressively, aided & abetted by our political masters as they seek to dumb down & control every facet of society.

 

[ktmman]

Perhaps manufacturers will eventually listen to customers. Most dont need a 20k gs or 30k harley or can afford one. The rise in small chinese bikes at affordable costs will suit most folks.
The weather means less ride days with still fixed costs , many will question that the cheap toy in the garage is no longer worth it.
A £5k toy may be acceptable . The same has happened in mountain bike world , plummeting sales , mainly due to rising costs as manufacturers continue to believe we all want gearboxes and electronic gizmos on a push bike.