D&H is now RPM

[klaviator]

I called D & H a few days ago asking about a KLX250.  They quoted a reasonable price but when I mentioned that I was eligible for Kawasaki's military discount they were no longer interested in selling to me.

If they don't want my business then they won't get it. 

[Moto Guzzi]

Disappointed to hear that.  I've been in there a few times, they have always been friendly and helpful even though I haven't bought anything there.

[N4HHE]

We don’t know what Kawasaki requires of the dealer for a military discount. Dealer can not be expected to sell below cost. Am guessing D&H quotes the bottom dollar to everyone. The lowest they can stay in business.

This kind of thing is common with “zero percent financing.” Somebody somewhere has to pay interest. This is how a dealer can often sell at a lower price for cash and still make more.

So now your question is whether you can buy elsewhere for less with the discount or at D&H without?

[klaviator]

I talked to Seth at Allsport some time after I talked to D & H.  He said it's a simple matter of faxing a form to Kawasaki.  They do it all the time.
 
As for price, D & H quoted me MSRP + $100 in fees.  I ended up buying the bike at another dealer for MSRP minus the $250 Military discount with no fees.  So it all worked out for me. 

[norton73]

I would suspect that the military discount is a rebate to the dealer from Kawasaki, so it shouldn't affect the dealer's bottom line.

I'd drop a note to Kawasaki's customer service about why you had to buy out of state.

[klaviator]

I would suspect that the military discount is a rebate to the dealer from Kawasaki, so it shouldn't affect the dealer's bottom line.

I'd drop a note to Kawasaki's customer service about why you had to buy out of state.

That discount does come from Kawasaki and does not come out of the dealer's bottom line.  I don't know how long it takes to get the money from Kawasaki but no other dealer was concerned about it. 

I would have preferred to buy from a local dealer but Allsport didn't know when they could get one.  Longshore in Florence also didn't have a green one although they did have one in Cammo. 

[Al Goodwin]

Yep, Gerald and Renea have sold the shop, after 50+years of ownership by the same family, it's been sold.  My first bike came from D&H 46 years ago, and I've been a loyal customer for many decades, they offered good service and I absolutely loved the "small shop" atmosphere...not a giant corporate store like so many are turning into now.  I will miss this.

Grand Opening was this weekend with the new owners.

I hope Gerald and Renea have a happy retirement, and can FINALLY have a life other than living their life at that shop.

Also....good luck to the new owners.

[Al Goodwin]

The new owners have bought property at the Dodge City exit, south of Cullman.  I think building construction has began, or will soon.

The new name will be RPM Motorsports....I think.

The end of an era of a small, family ran shop.  I hate to see it go, I've been doing business at D&H since my dad bought my KD90 there in 1974.

May be some sales or mechanic job opportunities there if anyone is interested.  The new owner has big plans of expanding the product lines available.

[Al Goodwin]

"Recreation and Performance Motorsports"....

They donated a cap to give away at our "Nowhere to Be" ride.  They're getting bids on the building for the property they've bought in Dodge City, South of Cullman.

They've picked up the Kawasaki watercraft line again, Gerald, former owner, had dropped the watercraft several years ago.

[Nice Goat]

I'm glad that the D&H owners have retired. 

Years ago, shortly after moving to Cullman, I stopped into D&H to buy some oil and filters.  The lady behind the counter wasn't very friendly, but she found and produced my filters in a reasonable amount of time.  Meanwhile, I had to listen to Gerald's hard sell about how Kawasaki's is the best oil available, and I should not get the YamaLube bottles which I had selected.  He got pissy when I said that I was going to stick with the YamaLube.  Then, when it came time to pay, I tried to pay by debit card, and they said that they don't take credit cards.  I just stared at them for a moment and then said, "This is the 21st century.  You don't take debit cards?"  Needless to say, I did not go back for a long time.

However, I drive right past them every time I go to/from work, so eventually, I did visit again, just to browse the motos.  I noticed that they had a credit/debit card reader next to the register this time.

My impression of D&H was that they were probably okay to deal with as long as you could handle Gerald's quirkiness.  But the shop is very small, and if they are going to carry motos, SxS, and watercraft, they desperately need a larger building.

Fast forward to yesterday....

I stopped in to ask about the Yamaha Tenere 700.  There was a young kid watching the floor.  He was pleasant and tried to answer my questions, but every answer sounded like a guess.  He was not sure when they were getting anything, what they were getting, how to find out, or anything else. 

They had more dirt bikes on the display floor than anything else, but they did have a couple of sport bikes, a naked, Kawi's retro 900, and a couple of KLRs.  All of the motos had big yellow "No Haggle Price" signs on them showing prices above MSRP, but not ridiculously so.

My impression of them today is that you probably would not get raped on a purchase, but they have a limited selection because the floor space is still very small.  I hope that they do move into a larger facility, even if they wind up on the other side of town.

[norton73]

Reading any of the other forums about the Tenere, no one seems to know the availability. Some people are still waiting on bikes they ordered last summer and the 22s have just been announced.
Dealers are telling people with deposits maybe late winter.
If you want one now, there's guy that has a deposit on one at Pinnacle.
"

I've had a deposit at Pinnacle Motorsports in Bessemer for 9 months.  Dealer just called and said they have a 2021 on the way.  It will be there in a week and I'm next in line.  I have a $500 deposit on the bike, and I'm happy to buy it and resell it, but then the new owner ends up paying Alabama sales tax twice.  Would rather transfer the deposit to someone, since I picked up a used T700 back in October.

 

So, if you are in the market, hit me up.  I'll go with you to the dealer and transfer my spot and deposit to you.  All I ask my deposit back ($500).  The color is the blue 2021 version"

https://www.tenere700.net/topic/4342-2021-t700-available-birmingham-al/

[norton73]

Also posted on ADV if you don't want to sign up at the Tenere Forum;

https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/usa-t%C3%A9n%C3%A9r%C3%A9-700-availability-thread.1448205/page-41#post-43716325

[klaviator]

I tried to buy a KLX250 from them about a year and a half ago.  When I mentioned I was eligible for Kawasaki's $250 military discount, which comes from Kawasaki, he no longer wanted to do business with me.  Good riddance.  I hope the new owner is better.

If I want a Kawasaki or Yamaha my first choice will be Allsport.

[N4HHE]

If a dealer owns the floor inventory then incentives from the manufacturer are probably lost. If floored via the manufacturer’s favored finance company then holdbacks and incentives may apply to motivate moving merchandise to get it off the “free” flooring period where the manufacturer eats the interest charges.

D&H was world famous for lowball prices on Yamaha FJR1300. Generally the lowest price from manufacturers is had by paying cash up front. “Holdback” is roughly the same as the very high flooring interest charges would be, inflates the “invoice” price. Paying cash the dealer can often buy “below invoice”.

If the old D&H could not (vs would not) honor Kawasaki’s military discount then they deserve a ding on reputation for not explaining it better. If D&H paid cash for their KLX250 then as far as Kawasaki was concerned that vehicle is already sold.

[klaviator]

If a dealer owns the floor inventory then incentives from the manufacturer are probably lost. If floored via the manufacturer’s favored finance company then holdbacks and incentives may apply to motivate moving merchandise to get it off the “free” flooring period where the manufacturer eats the interest charges.

D&H was world famous for lowball prices on Yamaha FJR1300. Generally the lowest price from manufacturers is had by paying cash up front. “Holdback” is roughly the same as the very high flooring interest charges would be, inflates the “invoice” price. Paying cash the dealer can often buy “below invoice”.

If the old D&H could not (vs would not) honor Kawasaki’s military discount then they deserve a ding on reputation for not explaining it better. If D&H paid cash for their KLX250 then as far as Kawasaki was concerned that vehicle is already sold.

I ended up buying a KLX250 from a dealer in TN that gave me a better deal than D&H originally quoted me AND gave me the Kawasaki military discount.  In the end it worked out for me although I would have probably bought from D&H because they were closer.