mjdart Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 -- Harley-Davidson Inc. more than doubled its profit to $191 million, posting an increase in U.S. motorcycle sales for the first time since 2006 and expanding its market share overseas. This from Yahoo Finance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Loco Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Killed off half the payroll and put hundreds out of work to do it!!! Way to go Willie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joel3078 Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 St. Paul HD is right next to Twin Cities Indian here in MN. They made HUGE cuts, changes, etc. to get profitable again. Amazingly however, new bikes are selling and they sometimes have a shortage of preowned bikes. Polaris is kicking butt too in the profit arena, but for different reasons than HD. Royal Enfield and Triumph are doing well also. Evidently it's a good time to be on two wheels. Indian/Victory dealer meeting is next week in Nashville. Look forward to the good news from the new owners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Resort Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 http://vimeo.com/26732481 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charger Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Killed off half the payroll and put hundreds out of work to do it!!! Way to go Willie! Somtimes ya gotta cut back the DEAD wood ta save the tree...... besides "willie" has been retired for years.....Hd is a owned by the employees...?!? BUT, yer RIGHT...they shoulda stay'd phatt & sassy.....n maybee they'ld have ended-up like GILROY....& Kings Mountain...........NOT!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefin Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 They might have also sold more than a few hundred bikes this year too,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
me older than dirt Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 ----------------------------------------------------- -----------"Who put a thumb tac on my CVO seat!?"-------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Loco Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 (edited) HD's case is a bit different than those...always has made more green with the clothing boutique side of the business. The Motorcycle side, while somewhat profitable, can't hold a beanCounter's candle to the profits realized from the apparell & trinkets side of the business. Bikes are for the streetcred, the boutique is for the real income. When you cut employees drastic like that, you eliminate many potential buyers of motorcycles, gyess they can just buy an occassional T Shirt now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwbQN5_8Mys Guess my point is America needs jobs and a middle class more than we need fat & sassy stockholders and I am just sick & tired of rich folks gettin' over and whining all the way to the bank about workers who do the actual labor that created the 'capital' in the first place ~ all while the economy tanks further into oblivion for most. Excerpt of Lincoln's Speech on Free Labor vs. Slave Labor From: Lincoln, Abraham. "Annual Address Before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 30, 1859." The Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln, vol. 5. Eds. John G. Nicolay and John Hay. New York: Francis D. Tandy Company, 1894. The world is agreed that labor is the source from which human wants are mainly supplied. There is no dispute upon this point. From this point, however, men immediately diverge. Much disputation is maintained as to the best way of applying and controlling the labor element. By some it is assumed that labor is available only in connection with capital – that nobody labors, unless somebody else owning capital, somehow, by the use of it, induces him to do it. Having assumed this, they proceed to consider whether it is best that capital shall hire laborers, and thus induce them to work by their own consent, or buy them, and drive them to it, without their consent. Having proceeded so far, they naturally conclude that all laborers are naturally either hired laborers or slaves. They further assume that whoever is once a hired laborer, is fatally fixed in that condition for life; and thence again, that his condition is as bad as, or worse than, that of a slave. This is the "mud-sill" theory. But another class of reasoners hold the opinion that there is no such relation between capital and labor as assumed; that there is no such thing as a free man being fatally fixed for life in the condition of a hired laborer; that both these assumptions are false, and all inferences from them groundless. They hold that labor is prior to, and independent of, capital; that, in fact, capital is the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed; that labor can exist without capital, but that capital could never have existed without labor. Hence they hold that labor is the superior – greatly the superior – of capital. They do not deny that there is, and probably always will be, a relation between labor and capital. The error, as they hold, is in assuming that the whole labor of the world exists within that relation. A few men own capital; and that few avoid labor themselves, and with their capital hire or buy another few to labor for them. A large majority belong to neither class – neither work for others, nor have others working for them. Even in all our slave States except South Carolina, a majority of the whole people of all colors are neither slaves nor masters. In these free States, a large majority are neither hirers nor hired. Men, with their families – wives, sons and daughters – work for themselves, on their farms, in their houses, and in their shops, taking the whole product to themselves, and asking no favors of capital on the one hand, nor of hirelings or slaves on the other. It is not forgotten that a considerable number of persons mingle their own labor with capital – that is, labor with their own hands and also buy slaves or hire free men to labor for them; but this is only a mixed, and not a distinct, class. No principle stated is disturbed by the existence of this mixed class. Again, as has already been said, the opponents of the "mud-sill" theory insist that there is not, of necessity, any such thing as the free hired laborer being fixed to that condition for life. There is demonstration for saying this. Many independent men in this assembly doubtless a few years ago were hired laborers. And their case is almost, if not quite, the general rule. The prudent, penniless beginner in the world labors for wages awhile, saves a surplus with which to buy tools or land for himself, then labors on his own account another while, and at length hires another new beginner to help him. This, say its advocates, is free labor – the just, and generous, and prosperous system, which opens the way for all, gives hope to all, and energy, and progress, and improvement of condition to all. If any continue through life in the condition of the hired laborer, it is not the fault of the system, but because of either a dependent nature which prefers it, or improvidence, folly, or singular misfortune. I have said this much about the elements of labor generally, as introductory to the consideration of a new phase which that element is in process of assuming. The old general rule was that educated people did not perform manual labor. They managed to eat their bread, leaving the toil of producing it to the uneducated. This was not an insupportable evil to the working bees, so long as the class of drones remained very small. But now, especially in these free States, nearly all are educated – quite too nearly all to leave the labor of the uneducated in any wise adequate to the support of the whole. It follows from this that henceforth educated people must labor. Copyright ©2004 Illinois Historical Digitization Projects This quote is from 1859 ~ before there were any organized trade unions or industry-wide corporations (except the railroads which financed Lincoln's political campaigns & agenda) as such. Edited July 24, 2011 by Doc Loco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charger Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 HD's case is a bit different than those...always has made more green with the clothing boutique side of the business. The Motorcycle side, while somewhat profitable, can't hold a beanCounter's candle to the profits realized from the apparell & trinkets side of the business. Bikes are for the streetcred, the boutique is for the real income. When you cut employees drastic like that, you eliminate many potential buyers of motorcycles, gyess they can just buy an occassional T Shirt now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwbQN5_8Mys Guess my point is America needs jobs and a middle class more than we need fat & sassy stockholders and I am just sick & tired of rich folks gettin' over and whining all the way to the bank about workers who do the actual labor that created the 'capitol' in the first place ~ all while the economy tanks further into oblivion for most. Ya NEED ta sing "that SONG" ta the to the BOYz the 2 steves @ KM & Chris Craft who busted their ASS to build up the name/reputation of a company that had ALREADY been raped & pilladged by phatt cats YEARS AGO.......only ta get buttfuk'd.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joel3078 Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Here is were the other side of he real HD money is at. THE BIG BOOK. http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/Genuine_Motor_Accessories/parts-catalog-offer.html Instead of going the Indian route with a blinged out piece of art and a price tag to match, HD sells lots of stripped down bikes at entry and mid level prices and then lets the owners pay for overpriced high margin parts and accessories via the big book. This gives the owners their one of a kind look in a sea of HD bikes when 1000+ of them are parked next to each other. It's ironic how HD represents sticking it to the man (corporate america) but yet the same "man" stuck it up the HD employes' ass big time over the last few years. Remember the golden rule. The man with the gold, always makes the rules. Customers and employees will always take 2nd place to investors and board of directors. Spreadsheets win every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charger Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 my 1st V-twinn was a 68 XLHR (900 sporty,kicker with a chrome frame) from ROY's H-d of PONTIAC.... n the 1st two times I went in to look @ it,....the employees told me ta get my "hippie ASS" outta the STORE.......... TIMES ARE CHANGE'n.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefin Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Here is were the other side of he real HD money is at. THE BIG BOOK. http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/Genuine_Motor_Accessories/parts-catalog-offer.html Instead of going the Indian route with a blinged out piece of art and a price tag to match, HD sells lots of stripped down bikes at entry and mid level prices and then lets the owners pay for overpriced high margin parts and accessories via the big book. This gives the owners their one of a kind look in a sea of HD bikes when 1000+ of them are parked next to each other. It's ironic how HD represents sticking it to the man (corporate america) but yet the same "man" stuck it up the HD employes' ass big time over the last few years. Remember the golden rule. The man with the gold, always makes the rules. Customers and employees will always take 2nd place to investors and board of directors. Spreadsheets win every time. Yep,, they sell many different models at a price most can afford,,, add your own bling & they are selling Bikes ,,,Chrome,, and Clothing hand over fist,,,, But still some want to bitch and say HD has no Idea what they are doing and its a Shitty Biddness Plan,,, They should Hire AUDAX or The Super Steves to show them the Proper way to run a Motorcycle Company,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Loco Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Vulture business plans fueled by Asianmade trinket sales and huge layoffs are not going to grow the US economy. Corporate responsibility is lacking these days and it is refreshing that a company like Polaris is responsible and sees the value of US made products and US labor to create those products. Harley lost it's way years ago...upside down like PowerStroke's colors show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Companies that use the on the ground people as the make or break of the company are just lazy and taking the easy way out. To take the route of layoffs is just quick way to make the books look good. It looks good for 1 year then watch the stock price and bottom line, it will be down in a year again. When you look at some of the auto makers they do that also. Toyota, pulp and paper companies and few oil companies do not lay off people. I am not sure if Ford did the layoffs this past year but they did invest in the people and there stock price is slow but it is moving steady in the right direction. They take them and use them for the boots on the ground thinkers and innovators that they could be. Some of the most long term companies use some basic principals to improve there companies bottom line, such as SMED, 5S and others. These are ideas that work from the ground floor and make the business better. I think I might sell the rest of my HOG stock and buy some more other company that wants to think forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It is Baloon Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Yup. After putting hundreds if not thousands of American families out of work, you can bet your Bippy, here's one guy that continues to receive a nice paycheck with full benefits and then some. O yeh, so do his kids on the apparel side. me ride um Centennial cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefin Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Ok,,, I know its Harley Davidsons fault that Unemployment is so high,, And they have failed in the task of growing the US economy,,, But ya gotta admit ,,they do sell a Lot of bikes & sell a ass load of T Shirts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It is Baloon Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Just gettin on yer case and HD. WIth so much pictorial sht online it's difficult to resist. But, sure glad there is a choice in big American Motorcycles. me ride um Centennial cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Ok,,, I know its Harley Davidsons fault that Unemployment is so high,, And they have failed in the task of growing the US economy,,, But ya gotta admit ,,they do sell a Lot of bikes & sell a ass load of T Shirts You can only make the books look good for a short term, eventually the auditors come in on a annual update and the oh shit starts to fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charger Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 You can only make the books look good for a short term, eventually the auditors come in on a annual update and the oh shit starts to fly. the 2 steves found that out............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Loco Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 LINK TO: V Twin News clikitBoss, on 24 July 2011 - 06:25 PM, said: 'You can only make the books look good for a short term, eventually the auditors come in on a annual update and the oh shit starts to fly.' the 2 steves found that out............. Tricksy BeanCounters & HD management also knew this before they pulled out that band-aid to hoodhink newby stockbuyers!!! Check out Polaris 2nd quarter report! LINK TO: V Twin News - Polaris posts record profits! clikit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Loco Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Ok,,, I know its Harley Davidsons fault that Unemployment is so high,, And they have failed in the task of growing the US economy,,, But ya gotta admit ,,they do sell a Lot of bikes & sell a ass load of T Shirts Sure, People still buy from HD ~ just whip out the plastic! Still, HD management is part & parcel of what is wrong with American Corporate structure today and like most are not providing much opportunity for young folks just starting out in life. Corporations have all the rights of American People yet share fewer responsibilities and liabilities due to their structure and special interest loopholes that their bought and bribed lackeys in government provide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Sure, People still buy from HD ~ just whip out the plastic! Still, HD management is part & parcel of what is wrong with American Corporate structure today and like most are not providing much opportunity for young folks just starting out in life. Corporations have all the rights of American People yet share fewer responsibilities and liabilities due to their structure and special interest loopholes that their bought and bribed lackeys in government provide. a 10000000000000000000 percent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefin Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Sure, People still buy from HD ~ just whip out the plastic! Still, HD management is part & parcel of what is wrong with American Corporate structure today and like most are not providing much opportunity for young folks just starting out in life. Corporations have all the rights of American People yet share fewer responsibilities and liabilities due to their structure and special interest loopholes that their bought and bribed lackeys in government provide. and what do you suggest they provide for young folks just starting out in life?... and do you suggest that our "Goverment" step in and restructure Harley Davidson to make them a more "People Friendly" corporation,,??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badndn Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 the 2 steves found that out............. no auditors. privately owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charger Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 no auditors. privately owned. & your point is...............?!!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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