they have to invest and get bigger showroom and Victory should help them to grow

 

The "who gets to be a dealership" question is really on Victory dealership's minds and the ones I visit really want to acquire the rights to sell Indians.

Reality then sets in.
Indian/Polaris wants a huge upfront dealership upgrade while everyone knows that the number of Indians available for sale will be less than the demand, most likely for a few years.

I believe that many Victory dealerships are going to be shut out and some serious hard feelings are sure to raise their ugly heads.
I have 6 Victory dealerships within 51 miles of my house, 4 are within 33 miles of my house, and Indian surely won't let all 6 become dealers.

Victory dealers with deep pockets who can play the long game gambling with the Indian brand will be the only ones who can compete.
Wasn't there also a rumor that Penske was in the running for dealerships?

Right now, I have to drive to Michigan or Pennsylvania to visit an Indian dealership.
The closest one is 133 miles from my house.

As a long distance rider, I had to take BMW off my list of rides due to the lack of dealerships out west.

 

It would not shock me that some of the lower volume Vic dealers switch over to Indian. I know of some that sell less then 20 bikes a year, replacing Vic with Indian would be a no brainer for me.

As far as dealers being in your back yard, with in 15 miles of my house I have Volusia Motorsports, Indian/Victory of Daytona and Longwood Powersports. Go to 30 miles and you can throw in Kissimmee Powersports. Within 100 add Polaris of Gainesville, Ferrara's, Best Buy and Saint Pete (might be another in Tampa)...

But with only three bikes the floor space for an Indian dealer should not be that much, most dealers could just re-arrange and make it happen or drop a line that isnt selling.

 

Victory dealers with deep pockets who can play the long game gambling with the Indian brand will be the only ones who can compete.
Wasn't there also a rumor that Penske was in the running for dealerships?

Wasnt really a rumor, I cant remember if it was Scott Wine or someone else at corporate that mention they would like to get Penske on board. That would surely piss off a lot of dealers but it would mean an instant dealership base.

 

One Victory/Polaris dealer here in Ontario, Canadatold me 250,000 was the cost for a dealership, like he said that was alot of money for three models, no thanks
Regards

 

I can tell you that some Victory Dealers are feeling like second class citizens. Rumor is that the recent Victory dealer meeting was primarily an Indian meeting. Not looking good for our side. IMO Polaris is all about the $$$ and I believe that they can make a ton of money by setting up new Indian dealers - just like franchise companies make a ton by selling franchises. Big investment, no bikes to sell, no accessories to sell (recent Victory Accessory catalogs had lots of pretty pictures, but the actual accessories weren't available for 6-9 months - I know because I tried to buy some of them), and no known market make the leap a hurdle for many smaller (unit sales) Victory dealers. Big gamble - will it be a hit or miss for most???? Very hard to predict. Just my 2 cents - love the product - Polaris marketing amd customer service - not so much.

 

My closest Vic dealer (St. Pete Powersports)was an Indian dealer previously, I believe early onwhen Stelican had it. They got a real bad taste and gave up on that venture. I asked a few months back if they would be Indian dealers again, I got a "really doubt it." However, now that the bikes are out and they can put eyes on it, that might change. Also, the newbike prices are much more competitive than in the past.

 

I stopped at my local dealer last Saturday and he had no issues with what was going on with Polaris/Indian. He said they have a different customer in mind than Victory. Remember when your oldest child had to deal with the new born baby?. Things will get back to normal with Victory.

He told me that an Indian engineer that he spoke with said that as much as he liked the new Indian bikes, he would never trade in his Cross Country Tour. I would agree. I think the new Indians are awesome, but not what I'm looking for in the type of bike I want. I need the storage, lower seat and even the fixed windshield.

 

Every brand has a particular floor plan including specific requirements regarding what other brands can and can't be near (or in sight of) their bikes. For example, the local dealer is primarily a Yamaha dealer. Their limited selection of Vics is hidden in their back room as Yamaha won't let any other brand in the same space. Allegedly (and I wouldn't bet the farm in it), in 2 1/2 years, their Yamaha license will expire and they'll sell Victory/Polaris exclusively. No way they could take on Indian as I'll bet one of Indians requirements will be that their bikes be in the front of the dealership floor.
Victory made a mistake letting pretty much anyone become a Victory dealer. Indian needs to be very choosy when selecting dealerships. Only the best need apply. If Indian wants to keep their exclusivity, they can't afford to have half assed dealerships, salesmen and mechanics. The HAVE to look like they're the best just like Bentley or Ferrari. They aren't supposed to be "for the masses" like Victory. Personally, I'd rather have a Corvette over a Ferrari and a Victory over an Indian but it's all about the image.

 

Every brand has a particular floor plan including specific requirements regarding what other brands can and can't be near (or in sight of) their bikes. For example, the local dealer is primarily a Yamaha dealer. Their limited selection of Vics is hidden in their back room as Yamaha won't let any other brand in the same space. Allegedly (and I wouldn't bet the farm in it), in 2 1/2 years, their Yamaha license will expire and they'll sell Victory/Polaris exclusively. No way they could take on Indian as I'll bet one of Indians requirements will be that their bikes be in the front of the dealership floor.
Victory made a mistake letting pretty much anyone become a Victory dealer. Indian needs to be very choosy when selecting dealerships. Only the best need apply. If Indian wants to keep their exclusivity, they can't afford to have half assed dealerships, salesmen and mechanics. The HAVE to look like they're the best just like Bentley or Ferrari. They aren't supposed to be "for the masses" like Victory. Personally, I'd rather have a Corvette over a Ferrari and a Victory over an Indian but it's all about the image.

I agree. Think about it this way. How many posts do we see where someone is complaining about crappy dealers and poor customer service? Does anyone really want to buy an Indian or a victory from two bit dealers? Polaris needs to make sure that new dealers are committed to the brand and not trying make money on a new thing. Then bike sit for years in dusty showrooms cause no one wants to deal with them. I say let the crappy dealers die and the good dealers florish.

 

Got one 25 miles from me. It's the sister dealer to the location I got my Victory. I was told a couple months ago they had acquired Indian for the statebut recently I learned it was only at the other location. Last week I was inmy dealerand I learned they had to completely remodel their location to relocate their sales areas on either side of their building with the shop in the middle. Indian counters and displays filled an entire 18-wheeler. Massive costs. Guess I'll have to go over and see it next week.

 

Below is what the factory would surely like to see. The only problem is most Victory dealers don't make enough money to afford the expansion expense. The only reason this dealership exists is because the Indian dealership is owned by one of the Stelican money men and doesn't have to operate at a profit. Deep pockets and an inside track to Polaris management is why this dealership exists but it's the prototype they will surely show off as their end state goal.
Actually, Polaris has been really ****ty to some of their existing dealers. 15 miles down the road is Volusia Motorsports who's stuck with Victory and Polaris through the lean times and came out the back end of the recession as one of the top volume dealerships in the SE. Polaris buys Indian and instead of asking if VM wants the franchise they award Daytona Indian a Victory franchise and push them to also take Polaris, which they declined. When VM complained they countered that 50% of VM's sales were to out of area customers anyway so why does it matter. It matters because the reason 50% of their sales are to out of state customers is because that's the demographic in this area, they are called snowbirds.
Trust me, Polaris has no problem throwing an existing dealer under the bus if some handsome new suitor knocks on their door in a particular market.
Polaris's wet dream is to have stand alone Polaris shops selling everything from Snowmobiles to Indians. I don't think that's a bad dream but the floorspace, staff, parts and service overhead on something like that would make a large Harley dealer blush.
BTW, that picture is on a busy day, most of the time there are NO cars or bikes out front. That area of town is a dead zone except for 2 weeks out of every year.

 

Below is what the factory would surely like to see. The only problem is most Victory dealers don't make enough money to afford the expansion expense. The only reason this dealership exists is because the Indian dealership is owned by one of the Stelican money men and doesn't have to operate at a profit. Deep pockets and an inside track to Polaris management is why this dealership exists but it's the prototype they will surely show off as their end state goal.
Actually, Polaris has been really ****ty to some of their existing dealers. 15 miles down the road is Volusia Motorsports who's stuck with Victory and Polaris through the lean times and came out the back end of the recession as one of the top volume dealerships in the SE. Polaris buys Indian and instead of asking if VM wants the franchise they award Daytona Indian a Victory franchise and push them to also take Polaris, which they declined. When VM complained they countered that 50% of VM's sales were to out of area customers anyway so why does it matter. It matters because the reason 50% of their sales are to out of state customers is because that's the demographic in this area, they are called snowbirds.
Trust me, Polaris has no problem throwing an existing dealer under the bus if some handsome new suitor knocks on their door in a particular market.
Polaris's wet dream is to have stand alone Polaris shops selling everything from Snowmobiles to Indians. I don't think that's a bad dream but the floorspace, staff, parts and service overhead on something like that would make a large Harley dealer blush.
BTW, that picture is on a busy day, most of the time there are NO cars or bikes out front. That area of town is a dead zone except for 2 weeks out of every year.

Thats a very busy day... Been there a couple of times and was the only person on the whole street. Heck the Harley dealer two blocks away closed and becamesomething?

Funny that they also turned down Deland motorsports because it was to close to Volusia Motorsports but then give a dealership to Daytona and Longwood which are both closer then DeLand....lol