Powersports Switchback
I have an annual guys’ trip, where we load up all our coolers, camping gear, and anything made for off-roading, and head out to the hills for a long weekend. Our goal – reconnect with each other, sling some mud, have some laughs, talk some smack, and hopefully no one gets hurt.
I had big plans last weekend to take our side-by-side out for a little excursion to our neighborhood pumpkin patch with the family. To my annoyance, all we got was a disappointing ‘click….click….click…’ That’s right – the battery was dead. My loyal, never-fail, always ready for road or mud ride was not up for anything!
We expect our vehicles to work when we want, but not when they are improperly maintained. I pondered this inevitable truth as I trailered the side-by-side, drove to the dealership, and spent valuable time and cash to get her up to speed. Needless to say, the trip to the pumpkin patch was postponed to another day.
I’m not alone in my dead battery frustration. A dead battery is one of the most common issues facing powersports vehicle owners, followed by engine, transmission, and other powertrain tickets. Fortunately, the team at my local dealership knows me well and is dedicated to keeping all of my ‘toys’ up and running. This relationship serves us both well. I am a frequent customer, and they are invested in supporting me. There is value in this kind of loyalty — for both of us.
I don’t know about you but Fall in my household means allergy season which means sneezing and headaches. While we love the cooler weather, sports and other activities, outdoor adventures come with some challenges. Fortunately, a little prevention and some good habits help us manage the effects.
For our powersports dealers, you might feel the same way about compliance! The paperwork, the details, the disparate federal, state and local regulations might cause widespread headaches for your team. But just as I deal with my allergies, some good habits can really minimize the impacts for your team.
If you think you’re immune from compliance regulations because the Federal Trade Commission announced that powersports dealers were exempt from the Combating Auto Retail Scams Rule (CARS) – think again! There are several other federal regulations as well as state and local compliance rules which apply to powersports dealerships.