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SUZUKI Closed Duluth MN

5K views 30 replies 16 participants last post by  KenZ 
#1 ·
No more Suzuki dealerships in Duluth MN. Duluth Lawn and Sport lost their Suzuki contract as well as their Kawasaki contract. Went out to get a filter today and they will no longer be able to carry Suzuki OEM parts as well, which means they will no longer service Suzuki. Sad day to see. I knew Suzuki was restructuring but thought it was limited to ending car manufacturing. Have others seen their local Suzuki shops close or drop the brand recently?
 
#2 ·
Nope, there was some kind of statement that they would be closing some dealerships although I don't think the crieteria was made clear.
Personally I believe Suzuki is in pretty deep doo doo.:yikes:
 
#3 ·
Well that pretty much sucks. Hopefully they don't become a fatality. I know Kawasaki went through this more than a year ago when they ended several contracts and reconsolidated their inventory to fewer dealerships. This did lead to some screaming deals on some of their bikes. Wonder if the same will happen to Suzuki. In the end, I would like to see them continue to produce motorbikes. In this part of the country, most people ride motorized recliners aka cruisers.
 
#4 ·
East End Cycles in Huntington WV got the ax too. I was about to buy a new 2013 from them when Suzuki ripped it away. Had to go over to Kentucky and bought my 2012 holdover in Ashland. Got a better deal but hate to see dealers going away. Near me we lost 5 motorcycle dealerships in as many years..............sad............................Mike
 
#6 ·
I think this says a lot about why they are in trouble. They just brought out the 'redesigned' strom in 2012 and they're selling holdovers?
My thought is that Suzuki just simply isn't producing bikes that people are willing to pay at or near msrp for. Having to discount your product heavily to move it and offer 0% financing for 5 years aren't what I would call a sign of success.
People can trash talk HD and BMW all they want but they seem to be moving their bikes without the kind of heavy discounts I see Suzuki doing. For that matter, in my area at least, Triumph is also able to do this. I have to put it down in part to perceived value. I think people tend to perceive Suzuki bikes as good values but expect to buy them cheap.
Maybe it will work for them. I hope so. I like Suzuki, I've had a lot of them over the years but I really think they'd do better by being a bit more aggressive with their offerings and trying to build up the perception of the brand as something people really want rather than just 'a good value for the dollar.'
 
#8 ·
I think its just a sign of the global recession. There's really no such thing as 0% financing. It's not a sign of desperation, just a marketing gimmick. Everyone uses it from time to time QUOTE]

Hard to look at a $500 discount from suggested retail, $300 rebate and zero interest money for 60 months as "a gimmick"...........works for me though. :hurray:
 
#10 ·
Millions of little bikes are sold in ASIA

We are not the "big" market

I think Harley's are being discounted

BMW and Suzuki and others are selling bikes with MAJOR portions built in China and other 3rd world countries

BMW and Harley's are virtual cults where buying one is the price of admission. We love are SUzi's but will and do jump ship anytime the buy cycle has some other brand being more desirable.

I miss my Hodaka
 
#11 ·
I agree that the continuous discounting is an ominous sign. I just hope they are able to restructure in a way that supports my interests, as I'm sure everyone else is. I personally do not wish to pay the admission fee for the BMW and have a severe distaste for the Harley or harley es bikes. I do admire the BMW/KTM/Triumphs for what they are. I just think that if the movement is towards only offering the highest end bikes to the U.S. public, there will be a large group of buyers excluded, which includes me. BTW, one of my neighbors imported a Russian made twin with a side car (pretty basic looking, looks very much like a Triumph) for around $2500. As a motorbike enthusiast, I feel as though we may have a responsibility to promote the industry and to make our wishes known. There is nothing out there for transportation that is efficient as a motorbike and the public should be aware instead of throwing money towards cars that are "green" energy, but expensive to own.
 
#12 ·
Suzuki has not stopped making cars. They have stopped selling cars in the U.S. Suzuki and Honda each year vie for the third largest car sales in Japan. Suzuki is huge in car sales in India and China.

The local ex-Suzuki franchise shop can still repair any brand they want to work on. They cannot do warranty work and they have to get parts from either an aftermarket source (EBC brakes vs. Suzuki OEM brakes, for example) or from a franchised dealer. If you like the work of that shop, continue to get your work done there.

Interest rates are so cheap that 0% financing is a promotion that costs the seller very little. Bundled motor vehicle loans are one of the asset backed securities that can be resold on the secondary markets at a discount from face value depending on the credit risk of the borrowers.
 
#13 ·
Calm down folks. Everyone always jumps to the worst conclusions. Just about everyone goes through it at some point in their lifespan. Chrysler had it bad back in the day and it had to be restructured with the help of Lee Iococca. Recently the big three car companies had issues. Sometimes things need to be shaken up, and they need a reality check that WE make their business thrive or not. Things change and they must change with the peoples wants during those times. I have a feeling your just seeing restructuring pains before they burst back. We are probably going to start seeing some really good products in the near future.
 
#15 ·
Chrysler only survived because of government loans (twice). I'm not sure the Japanese will play that game.
I would like to think you're right about them coming back I'm just not seeing the signs I think should be there. Beyond motorcycles they are also involved in the lucrative ATV market. One of the hottest things there is the so called side by side like the Yamaha Rhino. Where is Suzuki's entry? Ooops don't have one.
They almost act like a Chinese company, pushing the cheapest product through with no real future plans.

I think that's because historically, Suzuki has tried to make good products at the lowest prices, and they've gotten the reputation of being "cheap". And that attracts cheap people who beat up the dealer over every last nickle. Bad customer base makes business tough.
I think you are not very far off the mark on that one. They are, however, not the only ones. Just about every brand forum you go to has people raving about 'stealers' and how they cut their throat over a few pennies on parts or service.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Harley went through their time too. Im not Suzuki biased either. I will buy anything I like. I just dont see them going away, especially since they acknowledge there are issues and they are changing them. Also, the loans would have done no good if they didnt make the necessary changes, including better products. Ford was in the same boat and with no govt loans made the appropriate changes pulling them out of their issues as well.
 
#17 ·
the owner of my local dealership was in my office a couple days ago, and we spoke briefly about Suzuki. He was able to keep both of his Suzuki dealerships, only one was closed in NH. Several were closed in Maine.He also told me that like GM dealership closures, it wasn't based necessarily on sales or service performance, probably more on "suzuki politics" and dealer personalities



 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
If there is like 30 miles away I don't see how less stores help sales or the bottom line.

Rebates and discounts can be just a tool. Leaving some on the table to entice buyers to buy now.

Gixahs and SV have dominated amateur racing for years as good and reliable

Keep politics off the site. GW
 
#19 ·
I think people are taking a worms eye view of this. Yes, the North American market is lucrative, but it's shrinking as the boomers age, and young North Americans seem less interested in motorcycles than their parents were. The North American car market is dominated by a bigger is better mentality that clashes strongly with Suzuki's strength of small and cheap. They did better in Canada, but don't seem to think we'd buy enough of their cars to be economically viable, They are probably right.:thumbdown: The Indian and Chinese markets are going to be HUGE!! Many times the size (and profit) of North America and Europe. They have to get in there NOW with small cheap motorcycles and cars, and get their brand established. After that they will have decades of upselling to the Indians and Chinese as their economies continue to grow. Face it people, we're long past our "best before" date. Suzuki WILL pay attention to the EU customers because while "Old Europe" is facing the same demographic crunch as we are, there is a LOT of growth potential in "New Europe", the former Warsaw pact countries. Interesting times, but not here.:fineprint:
 
#20 ·
I wonder if they had bad performing "floor plan""

Floor plan is where rather that buy a vehicle it is at a dealership owned by the company but the dealer pays a rental fee "floor plan"

A classic scam also as a dealership goes south is that they DON"T tell when they have sold the vehicle and then don't pay the company showing it still on the inventory. They also can sell at under cost as they are not going to pay for them anyway.

They go bankrupt and the company is out the money.
 
#23 ·
Good to know. Thanks for the update. Up in our area we have had several car dealers close within the last year or so: Larson Chev, Devinks GM, Eggebrett Chev. Before that I bought Kawasaki at Northern Kawasaki near Cloquet that has been closed for a while now. I am afraid that losing Suzi/kawa may be the death of this dealer. Not a big demand for $25K Victory bikes around here. Thank God for the internet so that I can get parts. Also thankful I'm not a mechanical moron who needs the dealer for the basic oil change. I am strongly promoting Motorcycling to people I know and work with. Within the last two years I have seen a huge increase in motorcycle commuters to my workplace. My employer has graciously designed three parking areas for motorcycles to meet the demand.
 
#26 ·
Local Suzuki Dealer won't order '13 DL650 for me

I asked my local dealer what the lead time was to order a new 2013 DL650A. I will have cash in hand. Sales dept said they will not be ordering any new 13 models until they reduce their current inventory of V-Stroms. :confused:
( '12 Vee, 12 Glee ADV, and an '11 Wee) None of which I am shopping for.
 
#30 ·
I asked my local dealer what the lead time was to order a new 2013 DL650A. I will have cash in hand. Sales dept said they will not be ordering any new 13 models until they reduce their current inventory of V-Stroms. :confused:
( '12 Vee, 12 Glee ADV, and an '11 Wee) None of which I am shopping for.
Better off buying the 12 or 11 and spending the extra cash at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch anyway.:thumbup:
 
#27 ·
Very sad to hear. When i lived in duluth i used to stop in lawn and sport. They were nice people and used to have useful things on hand.
 
#31 ·
They just figured you would pop on the 12 in the end
Just to be clear, the '12 they have is an Adventure model. I want a standard model Glee, '12 or '13.
And yes, their sales floor is saturated. I am sure they want to move the stuff on the floor.

FWIW: I have dealer on the California side of the hill that is very anxious to do business with me. I was just giving the local guy a courtesy call.

I just thought it ironic that we are having a discussion about a dealer going out of business and I have one here that won't do business.
 
#29 ·
I have actually tried to buy bikes from Duluth Lawn two other times, was unsuccessful due to their prices. The first was a 2004 800 Volusia, which was priced well, but ended up buying a Vulcan 800 classic from another local dealer. The last I was trying to buy either a 2011 V-strom 650 for $8600, a new 2011 KLR 650 for $6300 or a used 2009 KLR for $5200. When comparison shopping, all felt high priced so I waited. Knowing the new Glee was coming out they had them available mid summer. The 650A they would sell for $9400 which was competitive but had no standards to sell at the time. I found this very difficult since I was a cash buyer and could not buy the bike I was looking for. I realize they are a small bike dealer and sell a lot of other implement (skidsteers/tractors) but found it hard to do business with them since they did not have the product I was looking for. I do like dealing with their parts people. Luckily we have another Suzuki dealer, which is primarily a marine dealer "MAC Sports" in Superior who can order Suzuki motorcycle parts as well as service them.
The bigger question is will Suzuki pull out of bankruptcy leaner and client oriented or will they abandoned the U.S. market to sell cheap mini bikes to Asia.
 
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