Harley Davidson Named Worst Executive Board Hot

why not link to the source so we don't have to search

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/CompanyFocus/5-of-the-worst-corporate-boards.aspx?page=3

Even though they're Harley Davidson, they're still in the motorcycle business. And after being in the motorcycle business since 1987, it still amazes me at how unprofessional most every single company I do business with is.

This brought to us by the same guys who publish articles like, "Top ten reasons you don't know how to ride" filled with gems like, "If you wear more leather that a cow when it was alive..." Skewed reporting maybe? And to the commenter that reported H-D had shut down MV Agusta: Wrong, check you facts buddy.

This all makes me yearn for printed media...

Hi Garret,

I just wanted to let you know that we also offer a printed magazine. It is free for you and delivery is even free.

Just sign up for our email and claim your subscription!

We like to have a fun here at All About Bikes. It does come out from time to time in our articles (especially online).

We appreciate the feedback! Keep it coming.

Jeff

In my experience with HD, If you don't have tatoos and love chrome....well your not worth their time....unless you've got money!! I bought a Buell from them simply because I liked the look of the bike and it was " AMERICAN " something I am still proud of..... The people at HD ( not all ) but the majority of them in the sales department and in parts, never really seemed to take Buell seriously .....I think they might have blown it by dumping them, Yes Harley has it's nitch...but as a business you'd think always improving and reaching more people ...by having one foot in the race and sportbike venue ( and having success , Thanks to Eric and his drive ) they could have had the best of both worlds......We need an American presence in the sportbike arena.......

I wanted to have some work done on my bike at Patriot in Fairfax, VA and was told by a friend that I should check other dealers to compare prices. I discovered that they had the highest labor rate, $95/hr, compared to other dealers ($78/hr) who are located outside of the D.C. I understand that Fairfax has a higher cost of living but what the other dealers quoted me 2 hours to do the job and Patriot quoted me 3 hours. They stated that this was the guideline they were following from corporate. I asked the other dealers about this and they said that this was totally fabricated.

I work at the assembly plant in York, Pa and we have been trying to get the management to listen to the riders and stop designing for the old heads. Dropping Buell in my opinion was just a way to save money so they can appear profitable to prospective buyer. Yeah I said it! Just watching the way things have transpired inside the company, there seems to be an air of arrogance permeating the leadership that makes you feel like they don't really care whether anyone buys any of the new bikes. Outsourcing of all none "core" components, laying off of full-time employees to be replaced by "casual" employees(half the pay and no benefits), 7 year wage freeze with a contract that has wording in it's final paragraph that releases the company from all of the good faith agreement if any economic downturn should deem necessary. That frees any possible new owner of staying with the current workforce. The current attendance and work rules and regulation policy creates animosity between the lower level management and the union employees. Employee moral is at an all time low! Setting us all up for failure. We have been offered am opt out package in order to rid the company of "higher seniority" employees. This package will eliminate people with higher wages, more vacation and unfortunately more experience, but in turn will make the company appear more profitable. Maybe the next owners will take more of an interest in styling, performance and quality. The entire quality dept. has been eliminated and replaced by "built in quality". That is to say that each assembler is responsible for his/her own mistakes. Great idea but to error is human. There is no stop gate to ensure that mistakes haven't been made. There used to be an inspection station at the end of the assembly process that would help eliminate poor quality and the individual that made a mistake would be informed as to what was wrong and instructed on how not to repeat it. Problems with styling and appearance is judged on an "if the customer can see it or not" approach. Bikes that have defects are put before a group of potential customers and then they are asked if there is anything on the bike that they don't like or if there are defects that they feel need to be fixed. I liken it to this: If I'm screwing your wife and you don't know about it, does that make it alright? When Harley-Davidson became a company ran by bean counters and not by riding enthusiasts, the first nail was put into the coffin. Honda-Davidson may not be far off!