Chicago BMW Parts Website Improved

[ckcarr]

I placed an order for a couple bags from Chicago BMW (Chicago Harley too) this week and noticed that the order software looked new and very improved.

I used to order from them a lot for both Harley and BMW parts due to the 20% discount and reasonable shipping. But stopped as the wait time between ordering and receiving parts was becoming excessive.

So then I went with the big California/Nevada dealers.

Now I'm trying them again and I'll see if the better web interface equates to better timeliness. At least for these particular parts.

[BMWRider]

Yep....the best part is there are going to be an authorzied apparel dealer VERY soon and we can all get 20% off boots, leathers etc!

That is by far the best BMW I have ever been too or dealt with...

Have you guys heard TagSport BMW in Geneva got there liscensed taken away....BMW was not happy with there performance as they had only sold 18 bikes in ALL of 07! Chicago BMW sold over 140!

[JonM]

It's not just the site design... the speed of their service is much better too. Late last year the wait time for their parts was bordering on rediculous. I think they have made some staffing changes too - parts, for me at least, come a lot quicker than they used to.

[Flatbutt1]

So Mr Carr, whats the verdict?

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by Flatbutt1

So Mr Carr, whats the verdict?

Funny you would ask.

The stuff arrived today. By Chicago BMW standards that was fast! The only noticable difference was that they charged my card immediately, when in the past I would see the charge go through and then the stuff would be here about 2 days later, after an initial wait that could be 6 weeks...

As far as what I ordered, the bags are the usual BMW fairly decent quality. They somehow will fit on my bike, but since they have all kinds of buckles and stuff I haven't figured it out. Plus the seat bag looks a little different than the catalog. Not sure I like that. It has the same part number.??

Oh, here's some kind of online parts book. To help you spend. Look here and shop there...

http://www.who-sells-it.com/cy/bmw-motorrad-723/bmw-motorrad-accessories-catalog-458/page-1.html

[AZ-Twin]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Funny you would ask.

As far as what I ordered, the bags are the usual BMW fairly decent quality. They somehow will fit on my bike, but since they have all kinds of buckles and stuff I haven't figured it out. Plus the seat bag looks a little different than the catalog. Not sure I like that. It has the same part number.??

Do you have a Camera? Post a picture so we can see these bags.

[ckcarr]

They aren't for S models, they are for the F650. They are on page 18 of the catalog I posted above.

[AZ-Twin]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

They aren't for S models, they are for the F650. They are on page 18 of the catalog I posted above.

That was just a lame attempt by me, trying to be funny.

[ckcarr]

W.C. Fields, Don Rickles, Jim Carrey, Jerry Lewis, Milton Beryle, and now Rob Swartzwelder.. Ba Bing!

[wswartzwel]

My fault, sorry...

[Sideshow_S]

Originally Posted by JonM

It's not just the site design... the speed of their service is much better too. Late last year the wait time for their parts was bordering on rediculous. I think they have made some staffing changes too - parts, for me at least, come a lot quicker than they used to.

Since when? I ordered paralever bearings and waited, and waited, and waited. In times past, I've been needy of parts fast and didn't hesitate to check in and call to see when parts were coming my way. And every time then, it was my phone call that got them from the shelf to the delivery driver. So I made a test. 6 weeks after I was supposed to get my parts, I called. "Oh yeah, they're here on the shelf." No 'sorry' -- nothing. Just a straight up 'guess we'll get those out to you . . .'

Weak. I hope you're right, Jon.

[JonM]

Originally Posted by Sideshow_S

Since when? I ordered paralever bearings and waited, and waited, and waited. In times past, I've been needy of parts fast and didn't hesitate to check in and call to see when parts were coming my way. And every time then, it was my phone call that got them from the shelf to the delivery driver. So I made a test. 6 weeks after I was supposed to get my parts, I called. "Oh yeah, they're here on the shelf." No 'sorry' -- nothing. Just a straight up 'guess we'll get those out to you . . .'

Weak. I hope you're right, Jon.

I ordered some stuff about 2 weeks ago (including the OEM R12S soft tail bag) and got it yesterday. They certainly seem better, for me at least. Hopefully you are an exception!

[squall_line]

Originally Posted by Sideshow_S

Since when? I ordered paralever bearings and waited, and waited, and waited. In times past, I've been needy of parts fast and didn't hesitate to check in and call to see when parts were coming my way. And every time then, it was my phone call that got them from the shelf to the delivery driver. So I made a test. 6 weeks after I was supposed to get my parts, I called. "Oh yeah, they're here on the shelf." No 'sorry' -- nothing. Just a straight up 'guess we'll get those out to you . . .'

Weak. I hope you're right, Jon.

For a LONG time, Chicago BMW basically had NO stockroom. They offered parts at a 20% discount (basically, just over cost), and then overnight ordered parts from BMW as their customers ordered from them. Needless to say, BMW wasn't very happy with this, as Chicago BMW had the highest percentage of "on demand" orders of any dealer in the US, by a good margin.

Due to the price of real estate and the space needed for a functioning warehouse, a significant number of mail-order and internet businesses in Chicago are drop-shippers. While this can reduce storage and other overhead costs, it comes at the cost of delivery time.

Sounds like Chicago BMW might finally be starting to keep an inventory, though. Maybe they sold the bike half of the house to someone who actually cares about the bike business (they're a joint Car/bike store, traditionally much more interested in selling Minis...)

Depending on the item, I'd rather give the extra 20% to my local dealer if it means a) getting the part immediately because it's in stock, and b) their doors get to stay open a few minutes longer.

Then again, I'm fortunate enough to have a dealer 30 miles from my house.

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by squall_line

Depending on the item, I'd rather give the extra 20% to my local dealer if it means a) getting the part immediately because it's in stock, and b) their doors get to stay open a few minutes longer.

Then again, I'm fortunate enough to have a dealer 30 miles from my house.

Not me. I'd rather save the 20% plus sales tax at 8% = 28% savings for nominal shipping.

Brick and mortar businesses are going to have to learn to compete with a lot of external forces moving into the future if they are going to survive. And the internet presence is a big one and getting larger.

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

My fault, sorry...

You Are Correct Sir!

[SergioK]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Not me. I'd rather save the 20% plus sales tax at 8% = 28% savings for nominal shipping.

Brick and mortar businesses are going to have to learn to compete with a lot of external forces moving into the future if they are going to survive. And the internet presence is a big one and getting larger.

I agree. I've often told my local dealer 'Sorry, I can buy that same part online cheaper' so why should I pay you more for it?

Also, I'm not a fan of the 'boutique' dealership design. It's laughable imo.

[squall_line]

Very true. Pretty soon, we'll all be buying our cars and motorcycles online, sight-unseen, without test drives or test rides, because "brick and mortar" will be obsolete.

For that matter, with B&M stores completely obsolete, we won't even NEED cars and motorcycles any more, because everything will just come to us. And nobody will need to commute to work, either, because we'll all be working from home.

I'm pretty sure that someone made a similar prediction 10 years ago, and 10 years before that. Last I checked, I still commute every day and still buy 99% of my groceries, tools, music, movies, and other items in B&M stores.

Maybe I need to get out of Ioway and into one of them thar big cities to witness the aftermath of the death of the B&M store...

Last I checked, B&M's compete by offering service and immediate availability. I would never go into a motorcycle shop with a broken oil filler neck and tell them "your prices are too high, I'd rather wait a week before I can ride my motorcycle again."

Keep "the death of the dealership" in mind next time you're on a road trip and break down. I'm sure Chicago BMW will be able to come pick you up on the side of the road and fix your bike. And if not, I'm sure they'll be happy to make you wait 2 weeks to get your parts shipped to your hotel room.

[SergioK]

B&M?

Last time I tried to schedule an appointment for a service (long time ago), I was given a slot more than a week away. And the last time my bike as in the shop for repair, it took them almost two weeks to get it back. Maybe I should have told them I live out of state...

And yes, selling Mini's is profitable... VERY much so indeed. Of the dealerships in the U.S. that chose to sell the Mini brand, the AVERAGE profit for each dealership was $500,000.00 the first year alone.

[squall_line]

B&M = Brick & Mortar

I've learned that there are very few things that I can trust my dealer's service department to do any more, but I still patronize them for parts if I have a breakdown, etc. I don't know that I would ever tell them to their face that I could buy parts online for cheaper, since a) they know that and b) I'd rather not burn that bridge.

[CARacic]

Originally Posted by squall_line

Maybe they sold the bike half of the house to someone who actually cares about the bike business (they're a joint Car/bike store, traditionally much more interested in selling Minis...).

Nope, as mentioned previously, they are owned by a harley dealer, not a car store, never a car store. they do sell a fair amount of bikes. But the owner has been concentrating on the harley business finishing the build on his suburban store, slowly working on the city store across the street from Chicago BMW and running the downtown Chicago store (no bikes but harley style stuff) probably selling 20 HD's to every BMW. Thing is, that at the store level the same guys that were there, are still there. Being a conservative old fart like most of you I appreciate not having to introduce myself repeatedly.

For better or worse Chicago BMW is my local dealer and I will continue to support them. I have been happy with the service side and don't have any problems with parts.

And the nice thing about having the harley store across the street is a ready supply of helmets to shop when everyone else is sold out, they have lots of helmets, I think the harley guys must buy them in the winter??

It was 27 degrees when I left this morning, it's 50 now, I'm going home and going for a ride.