Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Teutul Triumph – partie deux

Let me first say that I have no factual information to back the following Teutul Triumph gossip, nor do I have any pro or con feelings about it. That said – On with the scoop.

I was told that the Teutuls met with Triumph officials to establish themselves as a Triumph Dealership. My understanding is that they were in negotiation and that following a site inspection and meeting, the Teutuls were turned down. My source indicated they did not pass muster and were told by Triumph representation that Triumph did not feel the Tuetuls could satisfactorily represent Triumph in the desired manner.

You gotta be kiddin me... have they actually SEEN any of thier "dealer ships" over here? The one by my house is a small piece of chit building in the middle of nowhere. If you didn't pay close attention to the small sign you'd miss it completely or take it for someones old rundown personal garage. Don't really care one way or the other but "didn't pass muster" is amusing considering all the triumph dealers I have seen... laughable really.

And this required a separate thread because...

That would be the case. Seems there will be a decline in the 'old shop' look and the trend is to the 'brand-dictated', Harley-esque 'boutique' look. Perhaps that's not a bad thing, but I enjoy a trip to my old fashioned dealer's shop. It harkens to the 'old days' - And that's more my style.

"grandfathered" would definately describe our shop, that explains a lot! Its god awful to look at but I like it. Its a good place to hang out and talk bikes without all of the commercialism cookie cutter crap Harleyesque type shops. Too bad they are going Harley on us.

While I can sort've understand Triumph's desire to not be affiliated with the OCC-mystique, or to shoot for Harley's boutique-style dealerships (even though I dislike the prospect personally), I think that not giving OCC the dealership agreement is flatly stupid.

They get a lot of press. It would give Triumph more attention. If the Teutels made custom Triumphs, so be it! Oh, gee, Triumph would get more attention from HD's market... and this is bad HOW?

I'm no great fan of the OCC-style choppers, don't get me wrong, but it sounds like corporate just cut off their own nose to spite their face, so to speak. It's one thing to deny a dealership because they aren't "up to spec," it's another to deny a license to a dealership that has a national TV show about it.

*sigh*

This goes along with their not participating in the touring national bike show last year... stupid, stupid, stupid in my opinion. While I do appreciate having a relatively uncommon bike, it's just stupid for Triumph to pass up these opportunities to market themselves. I just don't get it.


--Jaeger

Maybe Triumph just dosnt want to be associated with a tribe of fat foulmouths.

I contacted Triumph about a dealership here in Charleston.. First I was told that there is one other person looking into it and I would be second to him if I did try to open one.. I was like ok I have money in hand he is yanking yalls chain, but anyhow. He mailed me a package about the requirments for opening one. First you have to pay Triumph 150K,next to you to open a line of credit with GE capitol for 300K, then you have to have Triumph approve your building. Then you have ot have factory trained techs stock parts and and all their other loop holes.. Now to build a building here in a good location I am looking at 350K to 500K for land and add 300K on top of that for the building, then 50K for shop tools and so on.. So befor I would have opend the doors I would have had a million tied up in the shop and not sold a bike yet.. Then comes the advertising, the day to day supplies,pay roll, lights, water, phone, net etc etc etc.. They are making it very hard for people to open the doors and sell their product.. I have no where near the money to puyt up, but could find investors, and I am just not having other people tell me how to run my business..

It seems like they've set their sights a little high.
WTF? I guess they've never seen the place I bought my bike.
I went by last Sunday, and it looks like a used car lot.
With a sign out front: "Mechanics Wanted".

The place I purchased my '03 Tri from was originally a used car lot. Converted to a Polaris/Triumph dealer. The shop had a gravel floor( I kid you not). The stable for customer bikes was a chain link, exposed to the elements gravel lot.
I wrote them a check for the bike along with some accessories. Took them an hour and a half to figure out how to deduct 10% off the accessories and total the sale.
What a bunch of numb skulls. But I wanted the bike so much I bought it anyway and never went back.
They closed the doors in '04, that's a surprise eh!
Mike

Yikes!! I bet you could do a lot better just being a used bike dealer specializing in british.

The place I bought my Triumph, was a small longtime dealership in an old probably built in the 50's building, dangeruous staircase,warped hardwood floors. As I posted about it before. Triumph is there no more that part of the
buissness went to one of the "big" deep pockets motercycle super store type places. Maybe Triumph feels that they ate big enough now sales wise, that thay can get dealers that will kiss the corporate butt for a chance to get in on a growing market for their machines.

I still say Triumph should look at some of the bikes done here or that custom that rocket and custom P-twin that moon shine did and give them(or a member) a chance to show off their talent......Angelis