Harley-Davidson of New Port Richey

Reviews 3

RA

Ray Garafano

First I would like to say I am glad so many people have had a positive experience at Gulf Coast Harley, I love biking and I wanted an American made bike. I got on the internet and saw one, a 91 sporty. I planned on putting about 500$ into her, new battery, carb cleaned out, brakes, a good tune-up. I had no idea the engine was shot to hell and the service crew at Jims H-D said the bike should have been sold for parts as it was so badly abused. The service manager if he really deserves said title should have known but it seems he just did not want to and decided to get as much as he could basicly saying, "I dont care if someone had a bad experience and that I lowered the high standards of H-D and sullied the dealers name. I know I will buy another Sporty, too bad it will not be from this dealer. I think it is a shame that I had to have to engine rebuilt not once but twice thanks to a bearing that totally destroyed itself. The bike was never even checked out by the service crew at GC H-D. It is quite obvious to me that if you buy a used bike, this dealer does not give a damn about you because they are not getting the profit from a new bike. I mean they get about 80$ an hour and you pay top buck for parts, hell had they treated me fairly I would have had the maint. done there as well. One should know that H-D corporate up in Wisconsin are NOT held liable NOR take any responsibility for what a dealer does or does not do. I was very pleased when I bought the bike, Geoffrey B. was very professional. Frankly I doubt he knew the service crew had such a rotten attitude towards anyone who bought a used bike. I guess they did not feel maybe one day I would buy a new Harley Sportster from this dealer, I dont know what he was thinking, but venture to make a guess, that being he would always have a lot of customers coming in and who cares if he lost one every now and then. The owner is the sole boss of the business and states who does what, with that in mind I feel the sales staff were very nice and personable and did a great job. The dealership was great and I was very impressed, nice and clean and a customer lounge where one could wait in comfort as there bike was serviced. I was told, "You are very lucky, this engine could have seized and you could have gone over the handlebars, either being killed or seriously injured in a high side fall." The bushing was totally ruined and who knows where the bearing went. It really stinks that my first experience with Harley-Davidson was so bad but I am smart enough to know H-D makes a damn good bike, too bad GC H-D has such a frigging useless service manager. I am sure he gets paid well for what he does but letting that bike go in the condition it was in, the service manager or the service tech was not being loyal to the company he/she works for. I will take the time and expense to let to let others know what a rotten deal you will get if you come to Gulf Coast H-D on rte. 54, that you can expect to be $%^&*( without the pleasure of enjoying it.

GU

GUY GRUBB

Well to get started on the purchase of my 2012 Street Glide, I had contacted several dealerships here on the East Coast of South Carolina and North Carolina to only get the answer of no because I had 2 Harleys that I wanted to trade. The 1st bike was a 2005 Softtail Deuce and the 2nd a 2006 Knight Train. At this point I was totally frustrated with everyone so I decided to look up a ole school friend, Virginia Duncan and I found her @ New Port Richey Harley Davidson. In our first conversation I told her what I wanted and this is what I have to trade. She replied I will call you in a couple of hours, and she did. At that point she told me what she would do on the trade and asked if there was anything I wanted to put on the bike? Next I got to meet Cody in the Service dept via e-mail then to a phone call to put the extras on the bike. Now mind you this was on Wednesday afternoon, this all transpired and Im 550 mile away from the dealership. I had four different things I wanted on the bike and I was limited to when I could make the trip and it was the Sunday coming up! Cody made it happen with pics e-mailed on everything I wanted on the Bike and on Saturday it was ready to pic up !! ( Heavy Breather Tube SE, Reinhardt 4" Mufflers, Highway Passing Lights. and a Detachable Back Rest) So at that point I drove all night, headed to New Port Richey Fl to arrive @ the dealership when it opened on Sunday @ 10 am and was greeted at the door by Virginia ! :) Spoke for a few minutes and got the process rolling, and at this point I got to meet another fine gentleman by the name of Anthony. He went to unload the trades and didnt need my help!! By this time I really wanted to see the Street Glide so Anthony dropped me off by the bike just outside of the customers lounge and told me to get anything I want, soda, coffee, snacks. So I looked @ the bike but didnt like the back rest.. I asked Anthony when he returned, if he had a different style and sure enough he did and changed it out right then! :) We finished the paperwork and I got on the bike and rode it around the parking lot, and then parked it in the trailer to tie it down. I was then called back inside to talk to Anthony in the showroom again to go over all the goodies on the bike. He was very helpful, and if I didnt understand what he was talking about, I questioned him again and he was happy to explain everything again. I left knowing all the lil perks about the bike! Then Virginia showed back up and gave me a few things and then walked me out to my truck, only to find that the bike was strapped and ready for its journey back to South Carolina! Everyone @ the dealership was more than helpful and a pleasure to meet and do business with and I will continue to trade with them. Thanks again to Virginia, Cody and Anthony. Your friend, G.T.

RO

Ronald Gonzalez

I would like to take the opportunity to tell the administration as well as the public about one of the consummate professionals working so diligently; but in my humble opinion, overlooked. Her name is Julie Runia. Julie is an "unsung hero" for this organization. She is a team player and has consistently represented Gulf Coast Harley Davidson over the past decade in the best way possible. Julie is often that pleasant and very inviting voice you hear greet you before the door has time to close behind you as you enter the premises. She also serves as the amiable person whom you speak with on the phone when calling this dealership. If this isnt enough, you need to know that Ms Julie keeps herself busy helping out with the motor clothes department. To be clear, Julie is very learned in so many aspects it simply amazes me! Back to motor clothes for just a moment. Julie is quite knowledgeable not only with both mens and womens outfits; she has taken the opportunity to learn about all the accessories Gulf Coast Harley-Davidson sells. Im not easily impressed; however, Julie Runia is the most engaging employee on the property. I think everything starts with "FIRST IMPRESSIONS" with any business. Therefore, having Ms Julie positioned to "greet and serve" was a work of genius and is most certainly one of the reasons this dealership is so successful and thriving in the worst economy of our lifetime! I write this review with humility and humbleness. I have been a customer for more than ten (10) years. I can tell everyone without any ambiguity that Ms Julie Runia has ALWAYS been eager to assist me in a variety of ways. She has even gone the extra mile to give me her honest opinion when asked if one item may "look" better than another! I really appreciate Julie and I can only hope and pray that whomever her supervisors are, are cognizant of her 100% dedication to that dealership and the thousands of customers like myself who feel "just a little bit better" after contact with what I truly feel could be described as the "face" of this franchise. Please recognize Julie for her decade of impeccable and dedicated service. Her character is also above reproach, in my opinion. Julie Runia is definitely an employee you DO NOT want to let "get away". I want to be clear on one point. While this review was centered on Julie, she would be the first to tell you she is only one of many employees who make Gulf Coast HD "a cut above" other Harley dealerships. I have developed a wonderful rapport with most of the employees there, and I can say there is a very positive comment to be made about all of them. Julie, for whatever reason, leads the way in her job of "FIRST IMPRESSIONS", ETC.