Sad day for Polaris
- Thread starter elf
- Start date
I do not understand how local governments are so far out of touch that they let hundreds of jobs just vanish. The local community becomes decimated for a very long time. Its not like the un-employed in these areas can go across the street and find a comparable job. Ezra, I work for a employee-owned global company with a couple of competitors much like Polaris. Our company provides a profit-sharing plan (pension) that is 100% company funded. The company will put in up to 8.5% of what you made for the year into your account. Then our in house Treasury Department invest the whole account and EVERYONE realizes the gains of fund and that is rolled into your account. You are 100% vested in the plan in 7 years. I have been here 28 years. I do not see how companies like Polaris cannot provide a plan for there workers unless of course the unions do it. I do not know if Polaris is union or not. Its really not that much money that is company funded. Where the fund makes the money is in the investing. The statement I received this month for 2009 the company contributed 8% and the account earned 14.7%. In my opinion it is just executive laziness that they do not provide a plan such as ours. The executives are too busy un-employing their workers so there company stock rises and then the exec's receive their bonuses. I know this is long but I do not care for off the cuff comments aimed at unions or pension plans. Just my pet peeve!
polarisrider1
New member
Thank you. and that is how it works. I am waiting for my free handout. I do see the worker mentality here. Note: Companies are not for the worker. It is all about the risk takers, not joe work hard. If everything in a sled plant can be done by a non whining machine in Wis. or anywhere USA than it would be done. Wally world mentality has caused this mess. That is the,"Me-Me crowd". Nothing will fix this unless we start paying more for good products. This will not happen. That is why the dollar menu and wally world are doing so well. Consumer greed, not corporate greed. We make what you want. period. So far Polaris has not done this as of recent and they will take the risk to get the #1 spot back. If they sell their sleds for less than the "consumer" will bite. Loyalty? yea right! Price point drives the market.
Sled prices won't come down. Increased margins due to cost reductions will be used for R&D to develop innovative new products, increased marketing to convince you they are the right products, and increased operating profit. Once you have established a price point in the consumers' mind, never, ever, ever, ever take it down. Promote, advertise, market your brains out, never take the list price down.
Also, from the little I have read, sleds are not affected by this, it is ATVs.
Also, since ATVs represent 75% of their business (thus leaving sleds and bikes to split the remaining 25%) they will use the cost savings on the ATV business, which has worldwide growth opportunity. Sleds really don't, the market on sleds matured years ago, and the last thing the remaining 4 manufacturers want is for one company to start a price war. Particularly, you don't want to start a price war against Yamaha or Bombardier, both of whom have broad product lines.
No, all 4 are making money in a declining market, they are happy, and investing in other markets. Sleds are not a volume opportunity, they are a profit opportunity for the manufacturer.
Also, from the little I have read, sleds are not affected by this, it is ATVs.
Also, since ATVs represent 75% of their business (thus leaving sleds and bikes to split the remaining 25%) they will use the cost savings on the ATV business, which has worldwide growth opportunity. Sleds really don't, the market on sleds matured years ago, and the last thing the remaining 4 manufacturers want is for one company to start a price war. Particularly, you don't want to start a price war against Yamaha or Bombardier, both of whom have broad product lines.
No, all 4 are making money in a declining market, they are happy, and investing in other markets. Sleds are not a volume opportunity, they are a profit opportunity for the manufacturer.
Firecatguy
New member
don't they make the motorcycles in the Wis Plant??
Spirit Lake IA, I think.
polarisrider1
New member
I just had a meeting this morning with the contractor for Artic Cats instrumentation. (his boat sits next to me) He said that he heard that the side by side vehicles will have production moved. Don't get your panties in a bunch. Polaris will do all it can to stay in the USA. He also said All artic cat motors are US built except for the 400cc and under motors which come from Tawian. As far as electronics for ALL sleds comes from China, Tawian, Japan etc. They design them here and have them built overseas only because no one here does electrnics anymore. I am getting to use a test bike for 10 days to test new electronic gauges (I can not mention brand) and then do a 18 question review on them. I talked my way into it this morning on the dock. Sweet!
polarisrider1
New member
Very true. Look at the demographics of the Average snowmobile owner. The bulk of us are over 40 with a median income of over $70,000. More realistically we are over 50 with excess of $100,000 anual income. The newbies coming in are few and far between. Diversify is what needs to be done to servive. Does anyone really think that GE still makes light bulbs? Bombardier and GE are into Planes and trains, amongst other thing.
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indy_500
Well-known member
fuji is made/owned by subaru
dcsnomo: その通り！
i think you nailed it!
(anyone else here know japanese?)
lmao!
Or as I have called it elsewhere in this forum: A "micturating contest"!
P.S.: AS it says in my profile:
Biography
Education: BS - Math, MTU, 1962. Amateur linguist, philologist.
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X2 but I shut down at $10,000 new. Anything above that I would have to think real hard & don't think I would take the leap........just too much dough for 90 days of bliss. I would look to a used sled best of breed any brand just best bang for buck for a good used sled & keep moving up with used. I'm not brand loyal but I do have my favs.