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Thread: Harley Davidson announcement ...

  1. #1
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Harley Davidson announcement ...

    (snip)"Harley-Davidson Inc.'s chief executive officer James Ziemer told attendees of the company's annual shareholders meeting Saturday morning that he "agonized" about the recent decision to cut the companyıs work force by about 730 employees.

    "Excruciating is the word," Ziemer told a gathering of several hundred shareholders who attended the meeting at the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. "Make no mistake, I agonized over this decision. In fact, it was one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make."

    The Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer announced April 17 that it planned cut motorcycle production and slash 370 hourly production workers and 360 non-production employees over the next several months as a result because the sluggish U.S. economy has slowed demand for the company's products.

    "The erosion of consumer confidence in this country has lasted longer and runs deeper than most economists predicted," Ziemer told shareholders. "Very few businesses have escaped the impact and the entire motorcycle industry has been affected."

    Ziemer said it's "undisputable" that the economic slowdown in the United States has affected retail sales for Harley-Davidson's dealers.

    Harley plans to ship 23,000 to 27,000 fewer motorcycles in 2008 than in 2007, resulting in total planned 2008 shipments of between 303,500 and 307,500 units.

    "Our decision to reduce our motorcycle shipments and our work force was driven by what our dealers have been experiencing at retail along with the continuing turmoil in the economy," Ziemer said. "I believe the actions we are taking are the right actions. We have an obligation to our dealers as well as all of our other stakeholders to manage Harley-Davidson for the long term and that's what we are doing in this situation."(snip)

  2. #2
    Jay Zeno
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    Default Re: Harley Davidson announcement ...

    A company that makes recreational vehicles and survives on refusal to engineer and update its product and which has thrived off government protection (under Reagan, no less) is now seeing tough times in an economic downturn. I'm sorry - no surprise there.

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    Default Re: Harley Davidson announcement ...

    just to add Jay, it also refuses to diversify. While people may not like Honda/suzuki/etc they have a bike for everyone's taste, and everyone's budget.

    I can't feel bad for companies that just work for now, and don't plan for the future.

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    Default Re: Harley Davidson announcement ...

    ha... maybe if everything about HD wasn't so ridiculously overpriced, they could sell more freakin' bikes and not have this problem. HD isn't aprilia- they got above their target market and are paying the price.
    I think it's a simple problem of making too many bikes at prices too high for the intended audience. Plus, maint. costs are ridiculous- and there are way too many 'dealer-only' things that capitalize (prey?) on repeat customers... HD is an image, a lifestyle, and they have been so adamant about projecting an IMAGE that they forgot about bikes & bikers. They should bring back the flat-track stuff, start participating at a moto-loving level with riders and racers. If you want to be overpriced, fine, but you can't have a lower middle class history/image catering to an upper-middle class audience and make it all about a certain style. Look at Ducati. They're overpriced as hell, but they know their target audience, and they haven't gone beyond their means. They're doing terrific.

    And, like Jay said- they need to upgrade!!!!! The brakes are shit, the steering sucks... and they need to educate their audience on how to ride better, and not drink.

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    God/dess Deogol's Avatar
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    Default Re: Harley Davidson announcement ...

    Quote Originally Posted by G-Real View Post
    just to add Jay, it also refuses to diversify. While people may not like Honda/suzuki/etc they have a bike for everyone's taste, and everyone's budget.

    I can't feel bad for companies that just work for now, and don't plan for the future.
    Yes. Even Porsche has the Boxster.

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    Default Re: Harley Davidson announcement ...

    Quote Originally Posted by ColetteCalahan View Post
    overpriced, fine, but you can't have a lower middle class history/image catering to an upper-middle class audience and make it all about a certain style. Look at Ducati. They're overpriced as hell, but they know their target audience, and they haven't gone beyond their means. They're doing terrific.

    And, like Jay said- they need to upgrade!!!!! The brakes are shit, the steering sucks... and they need to educate their audience on how to ride better, and not drink.

    First of all, I don't think they are selling the idea of lower middle class to uppermiddle class, etc. They're selling the Easy Rider mentality.

    Also, I don't think its cool to catagorize people as drunks who can't drive just because they have a Harley. Thats like saying all strippers give hand jobs for 30 dollars or a teener.

    Sexy Jasmine after getting fucked over at work:

    God loves strippers and when guys do things like that its an automatic ticket to HELL!


    Quote Originally Posted by anomar View Post
    Perhaps you stopped spending money on her. Strippers need money to operate. They are like coin operated juke-boxes of love.

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    Default Re: Harley Davidson announcement ...

    Quote Originally Posted by VegasPrincess View Post
    First of all, I don't think they are selling the idea of lower middle class to uppermiddle class, etc. They're selling the Easy Rider mentality.

    Also, I don't think its cool to catagorize people as drunks who can't drive just because they have a Harley. Thats like saying all strippers give hand jobs for 30 dollars or a teener.

    Of course thats wrong - everyone knows it's a blunt for a handjob.

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    Default Re: Harley Davidson announcement ...

    Harley responded to their dealers feedback that potential customers were getting tired of waiting a year to eighteen months to possibly get the opportunity to purchase a new Harley (excluding Sportsters which have always been plentiful). I'm sure some sales were lost to knockoff brands. Harley finally increased production making the bikes more plentiful. I'm not sure it was the right decision because not being able to buy something often increases the emotional need to buy that product somehow, someway. But obviously, H-D didn't foresee the economic slow down we are experiencing.

    Quote Originally Posted by ColleteCalahan
    And, like Jay said- they need to upgrade!!!!! The brakes are shit, the steering sucks... and they need to educate their audience on how to ride better, and not drink.
    Actually, they offer programs as do the various HOG chapters. But I agree, Harleys tend to be bar hopper bikes and sometimes people drink and ride and accidents happen. But I tell you what, and I speak from experience, nothing is more fucked up than when you are putt-putting down the road at a sedate 45 MPH and some moron (usually a kid) blows by you on a sport bike at 80 MPH doing a wheelie.

    FBR
    Once again I have embraced my addiction and have put off the moral dilemma to another day.

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    Default Re: Harley Davidson announcement ...

    ^^^ hey, i never said sportbikers were better than cruiser-people... i have no respect for squids/idiots of any type.

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