Another Dealership going... Riders of Cardiff announced to staff yesterday they are closing with effect from 10th November. So anyone with any open points with the store should check... SAD news for all the staff....
Riders are overcharging people that's why. I asked about a service and got a quote twice that of a recommended independent. Not even an offer of a courtesy bike for a service costing over a grand. The independent offered to take me to the train station and we ended up agreeing on a more than fair price for delivery.
That is bad and sad news for the staff - I only dealt with parts and they were very friendly. Earlier in the year I visited Cardiff to complete my challenge of visiting every Riders branch. From memory, it was mainly Ducati and Harley. Aren't Harleys tariffed now after the Trump tariff affair? Dunno if that has made a difference.
Its Ducati and BMW at Cardiff... Harley is the other 2 - Bristol and Bridgewater So now they will not support BMW.
Ahhhhhhhh, my memory is crap - although I think that I was mixing Bridgewater with Cardiff. Actually, I think that Cardiff was the smarter store. It is very big compared to the other two so maybe the figures just didn't work.
A shame for their local customers that now face a longer journey for a franchised dealer. I had a bad experience with Riders of Bristol who then palmed me off to Riders of Cardiff. The pathetically sedate escorted test ride delayed my purchase of a Multistrada in 2016 to the extent that I then tried the MV Turismo instead and wound up buying one off my more than helpful local dealer (who went bust 9 months later...). At the time I was on the brink of buying the DVT and was going to order one after the test ride if I liked it, they didn't really give me the chance... I've now come full circle and have an even better Mutley, albeit 2 and bit years later.
Yes - I posted on Tuesday They have been told for numerous reasons that is not disclosed to them....or at least thats what the Sales and Service people both told me. Not making enough money and BMW changing the way they pay bonuses / targets - Was something someone else told me.. but? https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/riders-cardiff-closing-10th-november.65638/
Also M&P will open around the corner soon with a Harley Franchise... so that may knock their clothing business?