Where are all the top dealers?

[86755]

Todays MOTORREADS (in the campfire forum) has an article about the Top100 dealers in the US. Much to my dismay, I noticed no dealers from the state of Michigan were on the list. Not one! Now, in my opinion, the Lansing area is certainly void of a top dealer (I can't speak for Capitol Harley as I have never done business there), but the other independent shops leave much to be desired. But not even one Michigan Harley dealer made the list. Can this be accurate? Does anyone recommend a MI dealer that should be on the Top 100 list?

[roy]

I have read several good reports about the Grand rapids dealership. Never been their is person so do not have first hand knowledge of this though.

Does this tiyle include number of bikes sold Vs service? GR may not have enough bike sales to make the list if that is part of the criteria.

Roy

[86755]

The article states:

The Top 100 Awards is the powersports industry’s largest, longest running and most prestigious retail competition, recognizing dealerships for their efforts in retail design and merchandising, marketing and promotion, dedication to customer service, community involvement, and even their internal work environment.

“The winners of this year’s Top 100 Competition demonstrate the commitment of Powersports dealerships to their customer base,” says Mary Slepicka, editorial director of Dealernews and director of the competition. “Judges awarded high marks not so much for what a store has, but what a store is doing with it, and how well it understands its customer base and community.”
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It would seem that customer service and community involvement rank high on the list of criteria for receiving the award. I'm sure sales has something to do with it as well.

[t2moyer]

I fairly certain it is a voluntary application process. Not all dealers are considered. Only those that submit an application. You probably have plenty of contenders in the Michigan area, but if they do not submit an application, they are not considered.

It is a very prestigious award and well respected within the industry, but you must enter to win.

[PAULBACH]

There is no BMW dealer from anywhere in the US in the listing. :brow

Wonder if there is a policy that prevents them from submitting an application?

[aaaaaa]

There is no BMW dealer from anywhere in the US in the listing. :brow

Wonder if there is a policy that prevents them from submitting an application?

Well it must be something like that. I know of some that should be near the bottom but surely Max's and Bob's would be in the top 5-10%.
robert

[gbeemer]

Speaking from my experience, BMW of Southeast Michigan (on Ford Rd in Canton, Mi.) would certainly be a dealer on that list. I have always received friendly, prompt, and well done service and it's a good place to hang out for awhile on Saturdays. I highly recommend them.

[86755]

I agree. BMW of SE MI has come a long way from the days when it was Andy Pelc BMW. They've done a nice job fixing up the place and the staff is great. Loads of bikes, apparel and accessories.

[Mika]

I have checked in on this thread with some interest. Let me interject a note of caution as you read the Top 100 list.

Here is a link to the home page of Dealer News’ parent company Advanstar Communications. ( http://web.advanstar.com/advanstar/v42/index.cvn?ID=10008)

I have posted The Top 100 list in past years
- It is an independent operation, i.e. not a Motorcycle Industry Council or a national dealers association.
- If I recall properly multi brand BMW dealers have been listed in the past so I do not believe they are restricted in participating.
- The rankings are out of ‘participating dealers’.
- I do not have information on what that means or how they rank dealers beyond what is alluded to in the article. Therefore; I don’t know where to place the ranking on a continuum with say JD Powers on one end and a beauty contest on the other end.

Dealer News appears in Motorreads because they have interesting information and it is written with dealers in mind rather than riders. In a very left handed way we get a dealer’s perspective on motorcycle news.

Here is perhaps a more helpful or meaningful way of using lists such as this. In my travels I have made it to a couple of dealers that have made the list in the past. I like lurking around bike shops when I travel. I toured the dealerships, kicked tires, listened to and talk with people trying to get an idea of why they made it on the list. Some times it was clear why they would make such a list some times I thought they may have bought their way on. The value to me was going back and comparing my local dealer and talking with them about what I found.

Thank you for the reading Motorreads and using it as the basis of your thread. It is gratifying to know that people read the posts and find some of the information contained in them useful.
:wave

[dancogan]

Speaking from my experience, BMW of Southeast Michigan (on Ford Rd in Canton, Mi.) would certainly be a dealer on that list. I have always received friendly, prompt, and well done service and it's a good place to hang out for awhile on Saturdays. I highly recommend them.

+1 :thumb

[rspennachio]

I've done business with Detroit BMW and SE BMW (Michigan). Both get an A+

[skidgillen]

I have checked in on this thread with some interest. Let me interject a note of caution as you read the Top 100 list.

Here is a link to the home page of Dealer News’ parent company Advanstar Communications. ( http://web.advanstar.com/advanstar/v42/index.cvn?ID=10008)

I have posted The Top 100 list in past years
- It is an independent operation, i.e. not a Motorcycle Industry Council or a national dealers association.
- If I recall properly multi brand BMW dealers have been listed in the past so I do not believe they are restricted in participating.
- The rankings are out of ‘participating dealers’.
- I do not have information on what that means or how they rank dealers beyond what is alluded to in the article. Therefore; I don’t know where to place the ranking on a continuum with say JD Powers on one end and a beauty contest on the other end.

Dealer News appears in Motorreads because they have interesting information and it is written with dealers in mind rather than riders. In a very left handed way we get a dealer’s perspective on motorcycle news.

Here is perhaps a more helpful or meaningful way of using lists such as this. In my travels I have made it to a couple of dealers that have made the list in the past. I like lurking around bike shops when I travel. I toured the dealerships, kicked tires, listened to and talk with people trying to get an idea of why they made it on the list. Some times it was clear why they would make such a list some times I thought they may have bought their way on. The value to me was going back and comparing my local dealer and talking with them about what I found.

Thank you for the reading Motorreads and using it as the basis of your thread. It is gratifying to know that people read the posts and find some of the information contained in them useful.
:wave

I'm always weary of lists like these. Some of them are pure marketing/advertising and not legit, and you have to pay to be included in their lists.