Powersports Business
Focusing on the fundamentals: Motorcycle industry companies have room to improve
July 2008
A 2008 national survey showed the motorcycle industry has room for improvement in traditional customer service areas, including simple tasks like greeting customers and conducting follow-ups.
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Powersports Business
National Study Measures Industry's Sales Force
April 2008
Company evaluates retail shopping experiences from more than 800 dealerships across the United States. Motorcycle dealership sales personnel are more likely to determine a shopper's price range and ask how a vehicle will be used and by whom. On the other hand, they're less likely to mention product features unique from the competition and provide compelling reasons why a consumer should buy now.
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Powersports Business
Powersports faring worse than auto industry with online shoppers
April 2008
The motorcycle industry is faring far worse than the auto industry in reaching internet shoppers in a timely manner, according to studies conducted by the company behind the 2008 Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index. When motorcycle dealerships were contacted by email or over the internet, only 30 percent of them responded to shoppers within 24 hours. In contrast, a separate study, also done by Pied Piper Management Co., shows 72 percent of ...
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Powersports Business
Industry Comparison Shows Sales Flaws
January 2008
A company that has examined the sales processes in the powersports, auto and RV industries has found the motorcycle industry significantly trails its counterparts in simple sales processes. That conclusion, reached by a management consulting company that works with Ducati North America and Victory, is good news for an industry that is likely to be down in retail sales for 2007 compared to the previous year. If dealerships can improve sales ...
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Powersports Business
Ducati seeks to build on its brand name
September 2007
For a new dealer evaluation and incentive program, Ducati used Pied Piper Management Company’s “prospect satisfaction index” rather than customary customer satisfaction scoring. Ducati CEO Michael Lock said Ducati opted against using the more common measuring stick—customer satisfaction surveys—because “it’s creating the wrong type of relationship between the dealer and the customer.” Lock said such surveys put pressure on dealer staff to ...
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PowerSports Business
How often are consumers pushed off brands?
July 2007
Motorcycle salespeople move their customers from one brand to another more than their counterparts in the RV and auto industries do. And the brand can make a big difference in whether a salesperson will direct the consumer’s attention to the product that they originally asked about or direct them to an entirely different model and line.
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Powersports Business
Comparing the retail experience in 3 industries
July 2007
A unique survey analyzing the sales process in the motorcycle, auto and RV industries shows the powersports sector lacking in several key categories.
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PowerSports Business
Being put to the (retail) test
March 2007
A Montana dealership agreed to have its retail practices analyzed as part of a national survey. "I would do it again..."
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PowerSports Business
Survey: Harley Tops Among Industry Retailers
February 2007
Harley-Davidson dealerships have the most effective sales force and provide the best shopping experience among top motorcycle brands, according to what is believed to be the first survey of its kind in the powersports industry.
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PowerSports Business
All Indicators Point to an Inept Sales Force
February 2007
The first ever Pied Piper Satisfaction Index points to one industry misgiving: our sales staffs are inept. Acknowledge that your sales staff and its procedures are less than what they could be, perhaps drastically so. And then do something about it.
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