Multi-Brand Dealers

[BLBantz]

A while ago I seem to remember a thread stating that BMW didn't allow multi-brand dealers. It was all BMW or no BMW. Well, I just returned from Minneapolis where I visited the Hitching Post Motorsports. BMW, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki. Full sales, service and parts was available for all of the makes. They also sold alot of quads, scooters and snowmobiles. Guess we were wrong. It was a very nice shop.

[messenger13]

That's the very shop that helped me in a pinch on my trip out to Seattle. Yep...all the brands. One of the shops here in Cleveland, Ohio also sells Honda. The shop where I bought my LT is trying to pickup Ducati and/or Triumph. I'm not sure a shop can survive just carrying BMW anymore...unless you're in just the right area.

[Dezrae]

I dont ever recall a moment in townsville where bmw has even been on its own. I recall over 15 years ago they were with the local harley dealership and only a few years ago they moved camp and are now with the local Kawasaki dealership.

[Tbird]

There's a number of dealers that are not BMW only. Chicago has Harley co-located. Deming had Honda and others. Albuquerque had several manufactures. BUT...I think that BMW puts a lot of pressure for dealers to be soley BMW. I think that is why ABQ is ridding themselves of BMW at the end of the year.

[TandemCyclist]

A BMW only dealer explained to me that he got better floor planning (financing) through BMW than a multi line dealer. He was the first BMW only place I had ever seen. Ok the second, OKC had a few Piaggio scooters and I guess that's ok to BMW.

[BLBantz]

Maybe it's BMW only here on the east coast. I have never seen a multi-brand shop in the greater NY area. It's a shame. We have lost at least three BMW shops in the last year or so. Maybe if they had another brand they could compete better.

[bmwjason]

Has forever. Used to have Norton (boy, that was many years ago)...


J.

[bob_menton]

Touring Sport BMW, Greenville, SC, was a BMW-only dealer for many years. Recently they took on Aprilia, and now Ducati and Vespa - but the Italian bikes & scooters are in a showroom that is separate from the BMW showroom, across a small parking lot. I wonder if BMW still gives them favorable status because the Beemers have their own exclusive showroom? Interesting ...


- Bob

[Daman858]

DeSimone Motorcycles in Cherry Hill, NJ sells BMW, Ducati and Victory.

[zippy_gg]

Hollywood Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW, and Kawasaki... all in one showroom on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, CA.

[JetDoc]

It seems that BMW doesn't like to have their bikes mixed with competing brands on the sales floor, so they're forcing dealers to seperate them.

Beaudry's motorsports in Post Falls, ID has been a multi-brand dealership for many years, selling Suzuki, Ducati, Aprilia and several others along with BMW. They recently buillt an addition to their building so they could have an exclusive BMW showroom area.

Mac's Cycles in Clarkston, WA is another mixed-brand dealer, with Kawasaki, Suzuki and Polaris snowmobiles and ATVs sharing space with BMW. I talked with the owner there a few months back, and he said BMW was pushing him to have an exclusive brand showroom too, but he just doesn't have the space to do it at his present location.

I guess I just don't understand the BMW marketing plan... With their prices pushing higher every year, BMW has pretty much priced themselves out of the entry-level motorcycle market. Why not allow BMW dealers to sell some other, less expensive brands to those who can't afford to spend $20K on a new BMW right now. Let them build up a dealership reputation and some owner loyalty, so when the owner is able to afford a BMW, his local BMW dealer will still be there to sell it to him!

[McAllister]

The dealer in St. Louis used to sell BMW, Kawasaki, Aprilia, an Italian scooter (I think) and maybe an ATV. They kept the BMW's in the main building and the others in a smaller building across the driveway. That all changed when the ownership changed and the new owners had to build a new BMW approved building and single mark dealership. Sounds like it didn't work out too well. I don't know if the problem is mother BMW or BMW NA. But something sure isn't working.