One more out...closed

[jb11GSA]

I got a call from a buddy telling me to get my bike out as soon as possible from out local dealer early this week - they just closed their Dayton store. I figured that I would have a bit of time, but not so.

 

Our Columbus store, Honda NorthWest closed as well. Sad, I did have a maintenance agreement with them that might be lost, but more concerning... We lost another BMW dealership, maintenance department, and 50 folks out of work right before the holiday season (not that it's ever a good time to lose your income).

 

I wish them the best...by the way, I did get the bike out, it was hairy since I needed to have an appointment and a court escort, but this is nothing in compare to the hell they are going through, and will for months to come.

[Michael B]

jb11GSA, the bike shop you are referring to was Ohio Motorcycle in Hillard, OH just west of Columbus. I purchased my 2011 BMW 1200 RT there and also had a maintenance agreement. Luckily, I got my 30,000 maintenance done less than a week before they closed. I guess my 36K maintenance is also lost.

 

They were very good to deal with and the BMW mechanic was excellent. They had a great line up of bikes…Honda, Yahama, Suzuki, BMW, KTM, and Triumph. I counted somewhere around 12-15 good folks who lost their jobs. Very sad. Ohio Motorcycle also closed their Cleveland shop the week prior to closing Hillard. This closing leaves MotOhio as the only other BMW dealer in Columbus, and I hear they are really good folks too.

 

It is sad to see our BMW dealer network lose still another one. We are diminished!

[tallman]

About 10-12 years ago I looked at a sales projection from BMW for a shop in Cleveland.

I think it was 50/annually.

 

I remember because our little shop had done twice that number and it made me wonder...

 

always a shame when good folks suffer such a loss.

[Bud]

It is not easy to make a lot of money selling motorcycles.

 

Like all businesses, some do well and some don't but having said that, I don't think, from an investment point of view, that the ROI on a BMW dealership is that great.

 

There are exceptions.

 

YMMV

 

Sorry to see anyone out of work at this time of year. Tough.

[racer7]

One of the things that caught my attention when I moved from up north to the south years ago was the increased number of high end vehicles of all kinds. The basic reasons given by owners, many of whom who also had lived up north, was "no rust" and "low taxes/better living standard" and for bikes "can ride all year"

 

You have to be in the 1% or willing to eat debt to afford a new BMW in NY, OH, IL or other similar places and the riding season is short. NC has started to get state taxes so high the voters threw out the historic (almost 100 yrs worth) legislature of one party and sent the other party as replacements.

 

A local NC dealer in Wilmington before giving up the franchise sold only 12 BMWs in their last year (in a still good economy). With more than 1 dealer in Cleveland I don't find the 50/yr figure surprising.

 

 

Admin edited for political content.

[upflying]

NC has started to get state taxes so high the voters threw out the historic (almost 100 yrs worth) legislature of one party and sent the other party as replacements.

 

[marcopolo]

NC has started to get state taxes so high the voters threw out the historic (almost 100 yrs worth) legislature of one party and sent the other party as replacements.

 

 

I have to believe that that violates the Board's "no politics" policy, but I'll leave that to one of the mods.

[upflying]

NC has started to get state taxes so high the voters threw out the historic (almost 100 yrs worth) legislature of one party and sent the other party as replacements.

 

 

 

I have to believe that that violates the Board's "no politics" policy, but I'll leave that to one of the mods.

It certainly does but I didn't bring it up.

[EffBee]

It definitely does. And pointing to someone else and saying, "Well HE did it first," provides no absolution.

 

Edits are coming. Reprimands should be, too, but let's just try not to be so tempted by the candy on the table, and behave ourselves.