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The 2009 Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index U.S. Motorcycle Study sent 2,100 anonymous mystery shoppers into dealerships across the country between July 2008 and March 2009 to gather data on customer treatment. The study examined various factors including salespeoples ability to answer product questions, availability of test rides and addressing the customers needs and wants.

Ducati was given an overall rating of 107, a three-point increase from 2008. That pushed it above Harley-Davidson s rating of 105, which was down three-points from its chart-topping 2008 rating. Harley-Davidson dealers had held the top ranking since 2006.

Ducati dealerships were given the top score in 30% of the factors evaluated by the study including offering test rides, providing brochures and their sales staffs ability to answer product questions.

Victory dealerships were given a rating of 102, a four-point decrease from 2008. Though they had the largest point decrease from 2008, Victory dealers remain tied for third with BMW and rated above the industry average of 101.

BMW dealers ranked first in greeting prospective customers promptly, mentioning the availability of accessories and for making the special order process easy.

Overall, the industry average increased to 101 from 100. Motorcycle salespeople were 11% more likely to introduce themselves, 8% more likely to ask follow-up questions and 13% more likely to encourage prospective customers to sit on a bike, when compared to the 2008 study results.

For the motorcycle industry as a whole, the 2009 PSI results show substantial and widespread improvement in the way salespeople interact with motorcycle buyers, says Fran OHagan, president of Pied Piper Management Co. (PPMC), the California-based company that conducted the study.

At the individual dealership level, PPMC says improved PSI scores translate to increased sales. Dealers who improved their PSI score by ten or more points from 2007 to 2008 saw an average retail sales increase of 9% over that period. Meanwhile, dealers whose PSI scores decreased by ten or more points saw an average drop of 6% in sales from 2007 to 2008.

Dealerships that offered test rides at least three-quarters of the time sold 43% more motorcycles than dealerships that dont. Overall, test rides were offered only 23% of the time.

Dealerships whose salespeople asked at least two out of every three prospective customer for their contact information sold 29% more motorcycles than those who did not. On average, motorcycle salespeople only asked for contact information 45% of the time.

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