alancoles
Dress for fall & avoid it
I would respectfully suggest that that response is slightly BMW NA b***s***. Yes, the dealers do have some autonomy, but believe me, they are BMW Dealers and BMW Group (and by extension it's sub-groups) has significant control over much of what they do and very significant influence over what they do regarding promotions, etc....When I contacted NA as a customer I received a response that reminded me that the dealerships were independently owned and that the program was limited to participating dealers...
How much independence do these "independent" dealers have in choosing which models and at what quantities they purchase from BMW? How much independence in advertising BMW products in how the add is designed, delivered, and what is included/excluded.
To my way of thinking, there are what, 180~ BMW Motorrad Dealers in the US and Canada combined?
Perhaps we need to have all of them listed on one of the back pages of BMWON with those supporting BMWMOA identified by a "BMWMOA Supporter" logo or something like that (highlighted print, etc.). If we are faced with individual dealers electing to not participate in BMWMOA promotions than we should be identifying those that do support BMWMOA in BMWON and lets see what effect shining "the light of day" on them has. If dealers who choose not to support BMWMOA are allowed to remain relatively anonymous than their actions have very little consequences for them, however, if they are aware that they are being asked to support BMWMOA and that support will be acknowledged, and that their non-participation will be noted, than they'll be more inclined to assist.
Any organization that has twice as many BMW owners as BMW sold bikes within that area should have a significant voice with that manufacturer and it's dealer network. That voice should be a collaborative effort to work with both BMW Group and it's sub-companies as well as the their dealer-network. But again, it needs to be and be seen to be a two-way street. To my way of thinking this should be one of BMWMOA's core pillars of it's reasons for existing.