Honda Otago to close

**pete376403** · 26th March 2009, 19:52

Originally Posted by merv

That's probably what Wellington thought about its Holden Dealership too, but it struck trouble a month or two back.

Actually the trouble that struck that particular dealership occurred about six months ago. They have to order (and pay for) new vehicles six months ahead. That and a pretty extensive upgrade of premises all over Wgtn and the 'burbs.

I guess it would be much the same for any motor vehicle dealer (car or bike)

A huge investment on floor stock, and people not buying = dealers closing

**Wingnut** · 26th March 2009, 20:00

Originally Posted by xknuts

I believe "Blue Star Honda" family are hard to deal with, but I could be wrong.

Dont ya mean Blue Wing...

From my experience at Otago Honda, Im not all that surprised that they are closing. They missed out on two sales from me. Once was when they never bothered to phone me with a price on my VTR for a trade (after I had ridden down especially for them to view it) and the second time was when they refused to let me out on a demo.

I feel soory for those loosing their jobs but the sales dept wasn't all that flash in my opinion. Comparing them to McIver and Vietchs is like chalk and cheese.

**SixPackBack** · 26th March 2009, 20:01

Fuck thats hard to believe....all those dodgy south island gay spieghts ads had convinced most of us northerners that honda, the south and rampant gayness to be mutually exclusive

**Wingnut** · 26th March 2009, 20:05

Originally Posted by SixPackBack

Fuck thats hard to believe....all those dodgy south island gay spieghts ads had convinced most of us northerners that honda, the south and rampant gayness to be mutually exclusive

The Speights ads have only become gay since they started brewing it in Auckland. Why try and fix it if it aint broken!!!

**tigertim20** · 26th March 2009, 20:08

Originally Posted by Wingnut

Dont ya mean Blue Wing...

From my experience at Otago Honda, Im not all that surprised that they are closing. They missed out on two sales from me. Once was when they never bothered to phone me with a price on my VTR for a trade (after I had ridden down especially for them to view it) and the second time was when they refused to let me out on a demo.

I feel soory for those loosing their jobs but the sales dept wasn't all that flash in my opinion. Comparing them to McIver and Vietchs is like chalk and cheese.

Im not surprised they are closing either, generally wheen I have walked in there, I get reated as though Im nothing but a nuisance, stopping them from reading their magazine. Ive been in there 7 times in the last year, couple times looking for a bike, and a few other times for various parts, and some expensive riding gear etc. EVERY time, their lack of positive customer service has led me to purchase from the internet, although there was one guy there who had previously been brilliant, havent seen him there for a while though.
Im a bit sorry for those losing theoir jobs but when you treat customers (the people essentially paying your wages) badly enough that they walk out without putting cash down, then, well you cant really whinge that youre out of work. Youre in customer servise at the end of the day

**SixPackBack** · 26th March 2009, 20:16

Originally Posted by Wingnut

The Speights ads have only become gay since they started brewing it in Auckland. Why try and fix it if it aint broken!!!

Nope. No mention of Mocca, frappa, culture et al in those ads, just homosexual southerners rejecting women and sleeping under the stars.....honda styles

**sparky.scott** · 26th March 2009, 20:16

Originally Posted by tigertim20

Im not surprised they are closing either, generally wheen I have walked in there, I get reated as though Im nothing but a nuisance, stopping them from reading their magazine. Ive been in there 7 times in the last year, couple times looking for a bike, and a few other times for various parts, and some expensive riding gear etc. EVERY time, their lack of positive customer service has led me to purchase from the internet, although there was one guy there who had previously been brilliant, havent seen him there for a while though.
Im a bit sorry for those losing theoir jobs but when you treat customers (the people essentially paying your wages) badly enough that they walk out without putting cash down, then, well you cant really whinge that youre out of work. Youre in customer servise at the end of the day

I made the trip up there 1st thing on Saturday morning as the Southland Honda dealership are useless to take a new cbr600 demo out for a ride after phoning ahead and booking a time and when i get there all i got was some whinge and bitch that they cant let me have it then and there, shame for them as i had the cash in my back pocket just waiting for them. Only ever found one guy there who was any decent, guessing the same guy as you?

**JimO** · 26th March 2009, 20:22

Originally Posted by sparky.scott

I made the trip up there 1st thing on Saturday morning as the Southland Honda dealership are useless to take a new cbr600 demo out for a ride after phoning ahead and booking a time and when i get there all i got was some whinge and bitch that they cant let me have it then and there, shame for them as i had the cash in my back pocket just waiting for them. Only ever found one guy there who was any decent, guessing the same guy as you?

that guy's name was Kevin?? if so he is at MCR now

**brads** · 26th March 2009, 20:22

Originally Posted by Winston001

My bad but now I'm confused. Had the distinct impression the Honda shop blended into Harley. Across from MCR but obviously not. That must be McIver and Veitch. Which used to be in Moray Place and Downtown Motorcycles had the Ducatis Laverdas etc in Princess St. Holland and Bell up Gt King St.

Don't think I ever visited Otago Honda.....and never will.

Yes the Honda( M & V) shop did blend into the Harley shop,that was before they changed to Suzuki(still M & V) back in 2004,Uptown motorcycles had Ducatis etc

**oldrider** · 26th March 2009, 20:31

Originally Posted by Wingnut

Dont ya mean Blue Wing...

From my experience at Otago Honda, Im not all that surprised that they are closing. They missed out on two sales from me. Once was when they never bothered to phone me with a price on my VTR for a trade (after I had ridden down especially for them to view it) and the second time was when they refused to let me out on a demo.

I feel soory for those loosing their jobs but the sales dept wasn't all that flash in my opinion. Comparing them to McIver and Vietchs is like chalk and cheese.

No I am not surprised either but I am disapointed to see a bike shop go down.

Not good news. John.

**tigertim20** · 26th March 2009, 21:01

Originally Posted by sparky.scott

I made the trip up there 1st thing on Saturday morning as the Southland Honda dealership are useless to take a new cbr600 demo out for a ride after phoning ahead and booking a time and when i get there all i got was some whinge and bitch that they cant let me have it then and there, shame for them as i had the cash in my back pocket just waiting for them. Only ever found one guy there who was any decent, guessing the same guy as you?

Quite possibly, this guy that was good was, well he certainly wasnt fat, but "stocky" is a way of putting it I guess! and reasonably short, always smiling, really friendly demeanor. sound the same?

**gammaguy** · 26th March 2009, 22:21

Originally Posted by vgcspares

Losing a "you meet the nicest people on a" Honda dealership is no great loss, but they were a "bad boy" Triumph dealership as well ... what's wrong with Dunedin, aren't they buying bikes any longer ?

ever been there in winter?bikers there are hard core.trouble is,there are only so many of them..............

**Virago** · 26th March 2009, 22:29

Originally Posted by Winston001

...Good businesses do fail - what happens is the owners get a bit overexcited in a good year, borrow heaps of money, and then use it for something else like property development or the building next door etc. If sales go down suddenly there is no cash flow to pay the bank...

I don't think that was the case here. They were in leased premises, with a good landlord. They extended their woefully inadequate workshop space a couple of years back, but I doubt that would've broken the bank.

Originally Posted by Winston001

My bad but now I'm confused. Had the distinct impression the Honda shop blended into Harley. Across from MCR but obviously not. That must be McIver and Veitch. Which used to be in Moray Place and Downtown Motorcycles had the Ducatis Laverdas etc in Princess St. Holland and Bell up Gt King St...

Uptown Motorcycles became Honda Otago when they shifted across the road in Princes Street about five years ago. They were ousted from the old premises to make way for the Armstrong Prestige Mercedes development.

I've shopped at Honda Otago lots, bought heaps of bike gear and spares from them, but never bought a bike from them - I always found their prices on second-hand bikes just a little bit higher than others. However, one of my "lotto" plans was to buy a brand new VTX1300 from them.

Dave Shand was a good salesman, easy-going, friendly and helpful. One of their best assets.

Personally, I think MCR's growth, and perhaps SPV's presence, has hurt them. The sad reality is that Dunedin just doesn't have the biker population to support so many manufacturer dealerships. They come, they go...

**fatzx10r** · 26th March 2009, 23:54

Originally Posted by Virago

Dave Shand was a good salesman, easy-going, friendly and helpful. One of their best assets.

Dave was one of the good guys, didnt mind going out of his way to help. a friend of mine who had his bike stolen, the dick that stole it took it into honda once to get something looked at, Dave had a hunch it was my mates bike and rung me asap, and my mate got his bike back. he was the only person that i used to deal with their.

R.I.P Shandy