2003 silver/black ultra

[foot]

WHY CANT WE GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER,IS IT A PAINT PROBLEM OR A PRODUCTION PROBLEM,MY BUILD DATE WAS THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPT.,NOW NEITHER THE DEALER OR H/D CAN TELL ME WHEN,POSS A FEW MONTHS THEY SAY,ALSO IF I SWITCH COLORS,I MUST GET BACK IN LINE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE,DOESNT SEEM RIGHT,AND YOU KNOW I DONT THINK H/D CARES BECAUSE IF THEY DONT SELL IT TO ME THEY WILL SELL IT TO SOMBODY ELSE!!!

[wyodude]

Originally posted by foot
WHY CANT WE GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER,IS IT A PAINT PROBLEM OR A PRODUCTION PROBLEM,MY BUILD DATE WAS THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPT.,NOW NEITHER THE DEALER OR H/D CAN TELL ME WHEN,POSS A FEW MONTHS THEY SAY,ALSO IF I SWITCH COLORS,I MUST GET BACK IN LINE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE,DOESNT SEEM RIGHT,AND YOU KNOW I DONT THINK H/D CARES BECAUSE IF THEY DONT SELL IT TO ME THEY WILL SELL IT TO SOMBODY ELSE!!!

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, my friend. Hit them pricks with this:

(as per Preacher's TC88 thread; see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarleyTC88/).



BEGIN dealer letter #1:

To: North American Harley-Davidson Dealers

Subject: 2003 Model Year 2-Tone Mix Changes

I'm sure that you've noticed some delay with your 2-Tone vehicle shipments,
Police/Shrine units and motorcycle metal related Parts and Accessories. In our
efforts to assure that we are shipping the highest possible quality units, we
have
not been able to meet the planned 2-Tone paint schedule.

In order to provide some relief and to address the painted part backlog that has
emerged, we need to reduce the overall 2-tone mix slated for the rest of the
Initial
Order period (production through the end of September) for York production.
This is a
worldwide change shared by all regions. In place of 2-tones, we will be building
solid colors. There is no loss of overall production volume ? just a change to
the
color mix we will be painting through September. We believe that this relief
will
enable manufacturing to catch up and provide a more steady flow of product ?
both
motorcycle and P&A going forward.

In the next few days, you will be receiving a communication that details an
order
quantity that must be changed from 2-Tone to an alternative solid. This order
change
is based on the number of 2-Tone orders yet unfilled and the quantity which
must be
changed. The change is done at 3 levels ? a change to the FL Touring 2-Tone
volume
(FLHTCUI, FLHTC/I, FLTR/I), the FLHRCI 2-Tone and the Softail 2-Tone. You will
be
asked to substitute a solid color for the 2-Tone units that must be changed. We
do
not foresee that these 2-Tones will be made up later ? this is a reduction to
the
overall 2-Tone mix in the Initial period.

We will also be examining the 2-Tone mix in Phase II to determine if it needs
to be
adjusted or retimed to provide a paint ramp plan to get back to the planned
2-Tone
mix. We will advise you of those results as soon as we have them.

We regret this change in the planned 2-Tone levels but trust you understand
that it
is needed to assure timely shipment of the vehicles and parts that you have
ordered.

Please watch for the order change communication. Your SPOC Vehicle DSC will
help you
through the change process.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.


Sincerely,

Sheryl M. Manhoff
Manager, Sales Administration Operations


BEGIN dealer letter #2:

August 27 2002
To: Select U.S. Harley-Davidson Dealers
Subject: 2003 Model Year 2-Tone Mix Changes - Action Required

Dear Dealer:

As you have been advised in the August 27th fax from Sheryl Manhoff, we need to
reduce the overall 2-tone mix slated for the rest of the Initial Order period
(production through the end of September) for York production.

A form indicating the quantity of units you are required to change is included
in the
enclosed materials. Simply enter the 2-Tone order number to change in the box
in the
first column and your color selection (Black or Gunmetal) in the box in the
second
column. We have included a listing of your unshipped 2-Tone units to assist you
in
making these changes.

Please complete the enclosed form and return to your Vehicle Dealer Service
Coordinator in SPOC no later than August 29th. Fax your completed forms to (414)
343-XXXX. [edit-ed]

We regret this change in the planned 2-Tone levels but trust you understand
that it
is needed to assure timely shipment of the vehicles and parts that you have
ordered.
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.


Sincerely,

Amanda B. Clossey
Vehicle Order Manager

END.

[oldschool]

If I get that response when the delivery date arrives on my bike, I will, without hesistation, tell 'em to shove it. Don't take that kind of crap, especially from someone that is getting a lot of your hard-earned money. There are a lot of good bikes on the market other than 2003 Harleys.

[Markcuda]

Ya, check out them Goldwings, if you can keep the temps down Who would ever have thought that Honda would have cooling probloms

[hezgon]

My Ultra's build date has been pushed back as well. Dealer said I still have a 2-tone coming at the end of the month. If it is a paint problem I want them to fix it before I get the bike. If it is a production issue, then there will be fewer of them. Its not right to change the paint color on someone after they order a bike though. All these years I've heard people waiting months and months to get a bike. My order was placed July 23rd. If I end up waiting 2 months for delivery that seems much shorter than many have waited in the past. I just need to break it in by next Aug for the big party.

[hezgon]

Further update on the 2-tone issue from Customer Service in Milwaukee. CS called me back after two day wait, in reference to my Ultra order. They said, if your two-tone has not been built as yet in phase I, it won’t be built in this phase. The factory is only running parts this month in 2-tone to catch up. Next call to the dealer. They (dealer) confirmed my September delivery would now take place between October and December in the phase II builds when I asked. When asked about the second letter to change the color of bikes ordered, the dealer said they did not receive this due to low number their order.

Again a simple call to me on this change in delivery again would go a long way in building customer relations.