Dealernews
When Sales Drops the Ball: Dealer personnel ask for the sale less than half the time, say secret shoppers dispatched by research firm
May 2008
Motorcycle dealer salespeople ask for the sale only 45% of the time. What’s even worse is that they ask for a customer’s contact information only 38 percent of the time. So say the results of a second annual study by Pied Piper Management Company.
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (223.1 KB) 
Motorcycle Product News
Prospect Satisfaction Study Findings Harley-Davidson Salespeople Take Top Spot
May 2008
Harley-Davidson dealerships ranked highest in the newly released 2008 Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index U.S. Motorcycle Industry Study, which measures how consumers are treated when shopping in dealerships like yours. The independent study evaluated and benchmarked shopping experiences at 830 motorcycle dealerships nationwide, representing all major brands.
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (355.7 KB)
Motorcycle.com
H-D Salespeople Top Consumer Survey
April 2008
According to a recent study which measures how consumers are treated when shopping for a new vehicle, Harley-Davidson dealerships rank first among motorcycle brands.
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (283.4 KB)
Powersports Business
National Study Measures Industry's Sales Force
April 2008
Company evaluates retail shopping experiences from more than 800 dealerships across the United States. Motorcycle dealership sales personnel are more likely to determine a shopper's price range and ask how a vehicle will be used and by whom. On the other hand, they're less likely to mention product features unique from the competition and provide compelling reasons why a consumer should buy now.
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (1.42 MB)
Powersports Business
Powersports faring worse than auto industry with online shoppers
April 2008
The motorcycle industry is faring far worse than the auto industry in reaching internet shoppers in a timely manner, according to studies conducted by the company behind the 2008 Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index. When motorcycle dealerships were contacted by email or over the internet, only 30 percent of them responded to shoppers within 24 hours. In contrast, a separate study, also done by Pied Piper Management Co., shows 72 percent of ...
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (245.5 KB)
Press Release: 2008 Pied Piper PSI® U.S. Motorcycle Industry Study
Harley-Davidson Dealers Keep Highest Ranking
April 2008
Harley-Davidson dealerships kept the highest ranking in the study, which evaluated and benchmarked shopping experiences at 830 motorcycle dealerships nationwide, representing all major brands. Telephone and Internet/Email Response also Measured. The 2008 study marked the first time that we measured not only a shopper's experience at the dealership, but also a shopper’s experience contacting the dealership separately by telephone and by internet ...
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (124.9 KB)
Powersports Business
Industry Comparison Shows Sales Flaws
January 2008
A company that has examined the sales processes in the powersports, auto and RV industries has found the motorcycle industry significantly trails its counterparts in simple sales processes. That conclusion, reached by a management consulting company that works with Ducati North America and Victory, is good news for an industry that is likely to be down in retail sales for 2007 compared to the previous year. If dealerships can improve sales ...
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (447.4 KB)
Powersports Business
Ducati seeks to build on its brand name
September 2007
For a new dealer evaluation and incentive program, Ducati used Pied Piper Management Company’s “prospect satisfaction index” rather than customary customer satisfaction scoring. Ducati CEO Michael Lock said Ducati opted against using the more common measuring stick—customer satisfaction surveys—because “it’s creating the wrong type of relationship between the dealer and the customer.” Lock said such surveys put pressure on dealer staff to ...
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (30.4 KB)
PowerSports Business
How often are consumers pushed off brands?
July 2007
Motorcycle salespeople move their customers from one brand to another more than their counterparts in the RV and auto industries do. And the brand can make a big difference in whether a salesperson will direct the consumer’s attention to the product that they originally asked about or direct them to an entirely different model and line.
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (383.1 KB)
Powersports Business
Comparing the retail experience in 3 industries
July 2007
A unique survey analyzing the sales process in the motorcycle, auto and RV industries shows the powersports sector lacking in several key categories.
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (23.9 KB)
