Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Hype brings more hype MIC reports 50% increase in scooter sales

I'm the first to love any marketing that brings more money and attention to scooters, but playing with numbers isn't one of them.

That's like saying Dealer Expo attendance was up this year or the year before. Better yet it's like saying scooter sales are up 50%. Wait the MIC just made a press release saying that. Yes, they are up I give them that much, but by how much?

The Motorcycle Industry Council has reported a 7.2 percent gain in first quarter motorcycle sales across 18 leading brands, and a staggering 50 percent increase in scooter sales. This is year on year! I mean 2009 and 2010 were terrible years, plus half these registrations are probably from buybacks and 2008 floor models that are finally selling.

I'm happy to see these articles getting posted and re-posted on message boards, but I think the MIC would do a better job at educating stores, how to sell, ride, and passing laws for EV and gas scooters than just spitting out numbers.

Bankers look at these numbers and start thinking the scooter stores that are behind on their loans are making all sorts of money. Investors look at these numbers and go off and buy 10 containers of Chinese scooters and flood the Denver market. The numbers need to be explained.

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