Dockgate 20 and Thames Valley Harley (Slough)??
- Thread starter Tom
- Start date
Dockgate 20 Ltd who ran both these sites went into administration late last year.
I don't think its restricted to H-D though - a frightening number of dealers for various bike marques have gone to the wall in the past 6mths.
I don't think its restricted to H-D though - a frightening number of dealers for various bike marques have gone to the wall in the past 6mths.
Dealers
The bike market in December was 31% down on Dec 2009.
Also, I think H-D has been pressurising some Dealers to move to better locations - Silverstone H-D told me that H-D wanted them to move to Milton Keynes, so they relinquished the franchise themselves (now Kawasaki and Victory).
There is a recession on and a lot of people I meet reckon the worst is yet to come....
A
The bike market in December was 31% down on Dec 2009.
Also, I think H-D has been pressurising some Dealers to move to better locations - Silverstone H-D told me that H-D wanted them to move to Milton Keynes, so they relinquished the franchise themselves (now Kawasaki and Victory).
There is a recession on and a lot of people I meet reckon the worst is yet to come....
A
i heard the reason dock gate 20 went down was that they had their harley franchise removed for getting caught flogging bikes to europe, against HD rules.
The Phantom Pieman
Registered user
HD are in are in all sorts of problems ... due to sub prime laons driving bikles sales for the last 10 years and their down finance division ....
To set up a dealership you had to invest nearly a million ( or at least thats what Silverstone told me)
Personally, I would guess the ones that are doing well rely quite heavily of the retail/ fashion/ dog bandana side of the business
PS there seem to be loads of bike dealers going tits up, it's not just reserved for HD badly assembled offerings
To set up a dealership you had to invest nearly a million ( or at least thats what Silverstone told me)
Personally, I would guess the ones that are doing well rely quite heavily of the retail/ fashion/ dog bandana side of the business
PS there seem to be loads of bike dealers going tits up, it's not just reserved for HD badly assembled offerings
Mutley
Registered user
Dockgate 20 had a less than brilliant reputation for customer service as well. Their business model appeared to be based on hitting some huge volume targets for bike sales and they really weren't geared to deliver the kind of backup you'd expect after paying £17,000+ on a bike.
HD will go through the same pains it always has during a recession. Now, more than ever, their bikes are toys rather than transport (there's allways one exception that proves the rule
). Consequently people won't be renewing at the same rate as a couple of years ago.
Warrs and other similar operations with great reputations will do well, but they work at it.
HD will go through the same pains it always has during a recession. Now, more than ever, their bikes are toys rather than transport (there's allways one exception that proves the rule
). Consequently people won't be renewing at the same rate as a couple of years ago.Warrs and other similar operations with great reputations will do well, but they work at it.
Tom
This is your opportunity to BUY the Harley you have been talking about and secretly wanting
You will be in good company so just go for it. Reading the posts above, there may be some good deals around.
(As we discussed at The Ace, there are also winter opportunities on fleabay!).
So carpe diem...spring is close
This is your opportunity to BUY the Harley you have been talking about and secretly wanting
You will be in good company so just go for it. Reading the posts above, there may be some good deals around.
(As we discussed at The Ace, there are also winter opportunities on fleabay!).
So carpe diem...spring is close
Mutley
Registered user
Ah the green shoots of economic growth 
Jake1340
Registered user
You's right Mutley.
I thinks you's right on the less than brilliant bit. buy a new bike from them and they stop talkin to ya, not even a hello when you walk in the shop. Had that treatment so did a few mates. Hope new owners are better,.
Jake, 1200 GSA, & harley crossbones.
Dockgate 20 had a less than brilliant reputation for customer service as well. Their business model appeared to be based on hitting some huge volume targets for bike sales and they really weren't geared to deliver the kind of backup you'd expect after paying £17,000+ on a bike.
HD will go through the same pains it always has during a recession. Now, more than ever, their bikes are toys rather than transport (there's allways one exception that proves the rule
Warrs and other similar operations with great reputations will do well, but they work at it.
I thinks you's right on the less than brilliant bit. buy a new bike from them and they stop talkin to ya, not even a hello when you walk in the shop. Had that treatment so did a few mates. Hope new owners are better,.
Jake, 1200 GSA, & harley crossbones.
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