Arai to halt Online & MailOrder Sales..?...

http://www.kneedraggers.com/arai-news.html

 

I personally think that is a great move by Arai. For the guy fighting it to bad. My customers do not pay full retail for anything.

 

You would have a hard time finding a dealership in the Cleveland Ohio area that stocks anything but cheap HJC helmets and Joe Rocket gear.
I spend way too much money on motorcycles and gear to put up with the crap service and inconvenient hours that the local dealers provide.
I bought my last two Arai helmets from Kneedraggers.

 

That's great for you [wera516] if you are located in-town, but what about us out here without "local dealers"...?..just screw off?...what about vendors who sell online?...do you feel they in some incorrect way are taking business away from you?

I have been happy purchasing helmets online and will continue, although it will now be another brand. IMO, I as a past & current customer have a right to complain.


[This message has been edited by Joe (edited 12-07-2001).]

 

Dude, that sucks, mainly because all the shops are low sales, high profit margin, and most internet sites, are high sales, low profit margin, so there's a better chance of getting a low price on the internet... what about all the return Arai customers that already know thier helmet size and want it the cheapest they can get, you aren't going to get that at a shop, especially here in columbia (no offense Ex CCS) but all the shops around here try to rape you on accesories.... guess I'm going to have to switch to Shoei

 

That's great for you [wera516] if you are located in-town, but what about us out here without "local dealers"...?..just screw off?

I would never tell anyone to screw off. Not my style. I would probably say call me and let me see what I can do to help.
1-800-889-0885 Ext. 112
Andrew Mueller
General Sales Manager
also wash boy if need be.

...what about vendors who sell online?...do you feel they in some incorrect way are taking business away from you?

Not at all I think that is good business and you can walk in one day and say hello to them and personally thank them for the help they gave you.


I have been happy purchasing helmets online and will continue, although it will now be another brand. IMO, I as a past & current customer have a right to complain.

I totally understand if you do not live in town or near a dealer. If you have to go to a dealer to buy your bike (which I'm sure you beat them up on the price) what is wrong with going to the same dealer to buy your accessories. If you don't give them a chance to do more business with you they probably won't be there to sell you your future bikes. My suggestion would be to establish a relationship with someone and do your research on the internet then call up a dealer to conduct your business, hell call me I will personally make sure you are taken care of I need the business and will ship you anything you want and i do stock Arai helmets. If you don't give a dealer a chance to earn your business you will never get the oppurtunity to establish a relationship with one. which i feel like ALL of my customers do enjoy the fact that I will take care of them in anyway possible and don't try to retire off of them. Not just that your wharehouse won't offer you Track days or for being a customer of theirs a MX track at your disposal.

Sorry for the rant but this is something I feel strongly about.



[This message has been edited by wera516 (edited 12-07-2001).]

 

Hell, I don't know where you live, but here in SC the dealers don't want your business, they rape you every chance they get, they screw up your bike if you take it to get serviced (hell I know about 10 out of 12 people I ride with would rather ME work on thier bike than Carolina Honda (once again, no offense EX CCS) and you probably don't know me but I am about pityful working on crap (I'm sure stick could tell you some stories to back that up)) ANYWHO, the dealers here have so much business that they can treat thier customers like crap and get away with it, hell I told myself a year ago that I wasn't going to put up with it, and if it means having to switch helmet brands to avoid going to a god awful dealer, then so be it...... this sort of reminds me of the south park with the "IT", how getting a rod shoved up your behind is better than having to go to an airport (dealership).....

 

Wera516:

You're being kind of contradictory, don't you think?

On the one hand you're bashing the internet/mail order sellers, on the other hand you're telling the guy to call you on the phone and you'll ship him a helmet....make up your mind!

--Sam
kneedraggers.com

[This message has been edited by SamL (edited 12-07-2001).]

 

Reality check boss, the only shop in my area gets 1 R6 a year, and there are 3-4 of the dealer's friends who even have a shot at it.

I buy all kinds of things online, from jeans & shoes, silkolene oil, to parts & whole bikes. I bring my dealer the business that he can help me with. I don't hunt with an ATV, so I don't fit their standard customer profile. They don't have any decent street equipment and don't carry Arai, Shoei or Bell street helmets.

If they don't have the business to carry items in stock that I can try on, then how is Arais move going to help in any way? Would I order a helmet to the shop, try it on and then the shop return it because it didn't fit?...how is that good for me to make multiple trips to try on more than a single helmet, and then they want re-stocking fees to cover their return shipping...so how is this helping anyone in any way?

I understand that you are a good guy and work with your customers, but many of us don't live near Arai dealers with stock just sitting around on the shelf waiting for me to walk in.

I also think Arai is stabbing their successful online & mail order newtork in the back. Why do them wrong?...are they in some way scamming the Arai factory out of deserved money? They are authorized dealers, as you may be.

I'm not just trying to argue with you Andrew, or put down my local dealer because most of his customers are Hunters & Farmers who want ATVs & utility vehicles. I just don't agree in any way with Arais move which will make it more difficult for me to purchase the equipment that fits my head shape.

Have A Nice Day Dude,
The weather should be great,
Joe

 

No contradiction what so ever. I am a physical dealership with multi franchises and a service and parts department. I also put more back into the sport than a wharehouse does and I do have UPS capabilities. I can offer something more than just pricing. Call me I will help you out also with anything I can I am multi talented. I don't sell just helmets or tires I sell it all and the hand shakes are free. But I do understand that everyone has a right do business or earn a living any way they choose(within the law of course). I just feel like this is a sport that needs a more personal touch.

 

You can't try it on over the internet either so then what happens. I feel that it should make it easier for your purchase because you will have to go to an Arai dealer and try one on to make sure it fits you. If all goes well and you don't drop or crash the helmet you should only have to make 1 trip every 5 years.
the weather is perfect by the way.
Best of Luck on your next helmet purchase.

 

What type of training in helmet fitting has Arai provided your dealership? Are all of the sales employees certified Arai fitters?
I bought a helmet online, it didn’t fit right, so I sent away for another.
Does Arai think having a salesman ask me “hows it feel?” going to somehow make a difference?

 

statement makes no sense. Sounds to me like you had to buy 2 helmets to get 1 to fit? And yes my parts guys are tought on proper fit of a helmet.



[This message has been edited by wera516 (edited 12-07-2001).]

 

As long as I can still buy porn online everything will be fine.

 

That will never stop or go away.

 

Yes, but I returned the one that was too small so I only really bought 1 helmet.
The extra shipping was still less then what I would have paid at my local dealer had my local dealer had a high-end streetbike helmet in his shop to sell me.

I think the real reason Arai is doing this is to encourage local dealers into stocking more helmets.

 

I bet Shoei, HJC, Bell, etc. are happy about the decision....

 

I think the real reason Arai is doing this is to encourage local dealers into stocking more helmets.

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you are correct....

 

you are correct....[/B][/QUOTE]

Nope, let me quote the article for thier REAL reason, not that crap they're feeding us about them fitting right, thats BULL.... ""Like most companies in the industry," Weston noted, "Arai's profits are made when its helmets are sold to its' distributors - not to retail dealers or consumers."

 

Then whats the point of all this?