local Polaris dealer closing

[yanmars]

Our local Polaris dealer in western Ohio is closing. No others close by. Dealer was of retirement age and no one bought the business as I understand.

 

[bmaverick]

Our local Polaris dealer in western Ohio is closing. No others close by. Dealer was of retirement age and no one bought the business as I understand.

This is happening ALL OVER in various businesses. Owners want to retire, but nothing like them for hundreds of miles around. As a nation, we are digressing quickly.

 

[hayden]

This is happening ALL OVER in various businesses. Owners want to retire, but nothing like them for hundreds of miles around. As a nation, we are digressing quickly.

So what's the solution? I think this is a big part of why we see these dealer conglomerates emerging. Even if an owner isn't looking to retire, it can start to be pretty attractive when a check is waved in front of you that will fund your otherwise empty retirement account.

 

[Hay Dude]

Damn right….

 

[ArlyA]

Our BRP/Polaris dealership changed hands on November 1st from one corp to another. Both owned around 5-6 shops but the new owner has the John Deere franchise. One is better?

 

[WM75Guy]

Our local Polaris dealer in western Ohio is closing. No others close by. Dealer was of retirement age and no one bought the business as I understand.

Hopefully another will spring up. For some businesses it is cheaper to start a new dealership from scratch rather than pay for an existing dealership. He probably wanted money based on past sales but there is no guarantee that sales will continue, especially in today's economy, so why pay for it. Also, Polaris has to approve you as a dealer, so just buying the old dealership doesn't mean you get to continue to sell Polaris products.

https://www.polaris.com/en-us/become-a-dealer/

 

[Torvy]

So what's the solution? I think this is a big part of why we see these dealer conglomerates emerging. Even if an owner isn't looking to retire, it can start to be pretty attractive when a check is waved in front of you that will fund your otherwise empty retirement account.

Probably the other way around. Dealer conglomerates make tougher competition for the independent ones. A new buyer has to get the OK for a franchise and the conglomerates will use their weight to encourage the oem to limit the competition.
The existing small dealerships have a tough time, but they already have the franchise and most oems won't just yank it without good cause. Once they sell, all bets are off.

I don't mind small dealer groups (3-5 stores). Big ones eliminate competition and tend to increase prices and decrease service.

 

[Rdrcr]

Our local Polaris dealer in western Ohio is closing. No others close by. Dealer was of retirement age and no one bought the business as I understand.

You also posted that your local Bobcat dealer is closing in your area. Is this one and the same dealer?

Has market conditions changed in your area? Any competition moved in? Economic decline?

Mike