Two more Arctic Cat dealers gone.

[Wong]

I tried contacting two of my local Cat dealers today for parts and both stopped selling Cat. Both dealers were politically correct when asked why, but both sounded very frustrated. Both dealers were Cat only so that wasn't the issue. I don't know how a company can stay in business when they chase their sales and service force away!

 

[joks79]

What ones?

 

[Wong]

West End Sports, Red Wing MN

Frontier AG & Turf, Turtle Lake, WI

 

[old abe]

Probably the same old song "BIG IS BETTER". They were not big enough to suit AC's model. Same thing has been going on through out sled bus.

 

[ezra]

mom and pops stand to strong on side of consumer . cant be having that in business . there are 2 volume dealers in my parts I cant understand why any one would buy from again after just 1 trip for warranty work

 

[whitedust]

Ma & Pa try and represent Yamaha..lol...not going to happen with their floor plan. No one represents Yamaha in Eagle River,WI an I don't see it happening anytime soon. The small dealers are leaving which is a crying shame.

 

[1fujifilm]

I tried contacting two of my local Cat dealers today for parts and both stopped selling Cat. Both dealers were politically correct when asked why, but both sounded very frustrated. Both dealers were Cat only so that wasn't the issue. I don't know how a company can stay in business when they chase their sales and service force away!

I remember years past when the Abrams, WI A-C dealer initially got the product, the Green Bay/Fox Valley guys were complaining that A-C was notorious for putting Dealers close to each other and not protecting their areas. Combine this with internet information on pricing, bad winters and a generally lower interest in sledding and the smaller Dealers are suffering. More problems will occur just watch the next 10 years.

Bear

 

[kip]

This confirms what I've said earlier guys, there isn't money in power sports products as far as sales are concerned. We're fortunate enough to be in the snow belt which helps our service and carries us through and a lot of dealers are not. Combined with poor winters it's lethal. This shop and M&M and still paying bills from last winter, playing catch up is not much fun. We're done growing at Pat's as far as product lines are concerned. Powersports is a passion for the dealer as well as the consumer and pretty soon dealers are going to see the writing on the wall that there is simply no profit in selling new product. Then put on top 70 to 80 hours a week away from you family and the stress of the inventory. It's a lot to swallow. I talked to a good friend of mine to happens to be a dealer as well and he always laughs and tells me how he can't wait for spring to come so his Deere sales and service can pay for his powersports He's right too. Not looking for any sympathy here just telling you guys you're going to see more dealers follow suite if things don't change and it truly is sad. I feel bad for dealers who have to give up everything they've worked for and sacrifice many great customers like the ones on this site. Snowmobiling is really a very small community and we're all in this together no matter what brand you're riding. Let's pray for some snow!!!!!!!

 

[whitedust]

This confirms what I've said earlier guys, there isn't money in power sports products as far as sales are concerned. We're fortunate enough to be in the snow belt which helps our service and carries us through and a lot of dealers are not. Combined with poor winters it's lethal. This shop and M&M and still paying bills from last winter, playing catch up is not much fun. We're done growing at Pat's as far as product lines are concerned. Powersports is a passion for the dealer as well as the consumer and pretty soon dealers are going to see the writing on the wall that there is simply no profit in selling new product. Then put on top 70 to 80 hours a week away from you family and the stress of the inventory. It's a lot to swallow. I talked to a good friend of mine to happens to be a dealer as well and he always laughs and tells me how he can't wait for spring to come so his Deere sales and service can pay for his powersports He's right too. Not looking for any sympathy here just telling you guys you're going to see more dealers follow suite if things don't change and it truly is sad. I feel bad for dealers who have to give up everything they've worked for and sacrifice many great customers like the ones on this site. Snowmobiling is really a very small community and we're all in this together no matter what brand you're riding. Let's pray for some snow!!!!!!!

Kip what is next?.... OEM factory outlet stores owned by the OEM? All snowmobile dealers I have been close to in the last 25 years all said the money is not there on new product but service and accessiores installations pay the bills. I don't doubt anything you have said regarding new product sales so what happens next in yout opinion????

 

[groomerdriver]

A long-time Polaris dealer (Murita Sea n Ski) in Anchorage, AK went out of business last Friday. No rumors, warnings or anything. Just closed up. My son had just picked up his new 2017 Polaris Pro RMK 800 155 the Monday prior. It was his first new sled purchase and he really liked Murita. Now he's in a bit of shock as is many of the Polaris riders up in that region. There are a few other Polaris dealers in the region but none have the reputation that Murita's had.

Kip my friend I wish you could get paid to teach other dealers about "customer service". You would make lot's of money and there'd be a lot more happy customers. I myself wish (and I know there are many others) I could do more for you! You know the sled I'm buying once my situation settle down a bit. (I guess I can't put a smiley face on the new board)

 

[kip]

Don't know where we go from here Pete, just hopefully winters are good for dealers the next couple of years. Right now you have the big dealers getting bigger and the dealers in the middle are having it tough. Well I don't know about that Jim but thank you for the humbling compliment. I can't help but think some larger dealers are getting it a bit easier in some way shape or form but maybe not. I know a lot of dealers from other states advertise the U.P. quite heavily and they are mostly big box stores. That's just a sign of things changing, guess you just have to get creative and roll with it. Think snow!

 

[whitedust]

Don't know where we go from here Pete, just hopefully winters are good for dealers the next couple of years. Right now you have the big dealers getting bigger and the dealers in the middle are having it tough. Well I don't know about that Jim but thank you for the humbling compliment. I can't help but think some larger dealers are getting it a bit easier in some way shape or form but maybe not. I know a lot of dealers from other states advertise the U.P. quite heavily and they are mostly big box stores. That's just a sign of things changing, guess you just have to get creative and roll with it. Think snow!

Hopefully Pat's will evolve as the snomo biz environment changes. Polaris is in a solid position now but your other 2 lines with AC & Yamaha are blurred. I'm hoping Yamaha has a new pure Yamaha Apex and Vector this March for their 50th.... No other OEM has addressed the Apex 4s market....yet. If not the Yamacats will continue and maybe an Apex/Vector replacement is born in TRF? New pure Yamaha sleds would be a shot in the arm for Pat's so many are hoping and waiting to see this year! Pat's will do well as tuffed out the hard times before and Pat's used sled inventory sells in a blink of an eye. I hear ya on the long hours but your passion for sales will keep your fires burning. It worked for me in OEM equipment sales and marketing for 35 years....you just wake up each day and ask yourself what do I have to do today to be profitable and pull the organization along with me?....a day becomes a month.... a month becomes a year and suddenly it becomes a lifetime. Keep the faith Pat's will rise again!

 

[snobuilder]

Subaru and Prius roof racks that hold both the kayak and bicycles stock is rising.

 

[kip]

We'll keep up the good fight Pete. Snobuilder, ain't that the truth

 

[zltim]

I don't know why the dealer in Turtle lake even had a dealership. Its a farm implement dealer and the one time I stopped in there wasn't any Cats in the place. Wild rivers in Trego would be you next stop, They have inventory and parts.

 

[old abe]

Kip what all you said is so true. Passion is a big part of it. A very good friend of mine, of whom I had bought many sleds from went through it 2 years ago. And it was the passion for the sleds, and the sport, that he and his father had been in the business for 50 years.

 

[groomerdriver]

I don't know why the dealer in Turtle lake even had a dealership. Its a farm implement dealer and the one time I stopped in there wasn't any Cats in the place. Wild rivers in Trego would be you next stop, They have inventory and parts.

Tim - all they sold was 4wheelers. I bought my first zero turn from them. Jim

 

[ezra]

This confirms what I've said earlier guys, there isn't money in power sports products as far as sales are concerned. We're fortunate enough to be in the snow belt which helps our service and carries us through and a lot of dealers are not. Combined with poor winters it's lethal. This shop and M&M and still paying bills from last winter, playing catch up is not much fun. We're done growing at Pat's as far as product lines are concerned. Powersports is a passion for the dealer as well as the consumer and pretty soon dealers are going to see the writing on the wall that there is simply no profit in selling new product. Then put on top 70 to 80 hours a week away from you family and the stress of the inventory. It's a lot to swallow. I talked to a good friend of mine to happens to be a dealer as well and he always laughs and tells me how he can't wait for spring to come so his Deere sales and service can pay for his powersports He's right too. Not looking for any sympathy here just telling you guys you're going to see more dealers follow suite if things don't change and it truly is sad. I feel bad for dealers who have to give up everything they've worked for and sacrifice many great customers like the ones on this site. Snowmobiling is really a very small community and we're all in this together no matter what brand you're riding. Let's pray for some snow!!!!!!!

this Is why I will never understand why some dealers treat there service customers with such distain. service is where the money is and always has been. even parts margins are hardly worth the investment unless they are things u are 99% sure they are going to go

- - - Updated - - -

Kip what is next?.... OEM factory outlet stores owned by the OEM? All snowmobile dealers I have been close to in the last 25 years all said the money is not there on new product but service and accessiores installations pay the bills. I don't doubt anything you have said regarding new product sales so what happens next in yout opinion????

u can buy A atv at big box places like gander mtn and Costco

 

[kip]

You got it old abe and ezra you very well may be correct. If that happens with big box stores you may as well kiss any type of service good bye but you never know what time will bring. I agree on the customer service ezra. Most businesses treat the customer like their doing them a favor to wait on them, it's sad. Customer service on a whole is piss poor for the consumers

 

[1fujifilm]

Right, I forgot that the Gander MTN. in Green Bay also sold A-C a few years ago; hilarious how A-C did not protect their other Dealers markets that ha invested in service and a full line of A-C products.

Bear