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Dissappointed

3K views 14 replies 12 participants last post by  pasnbyu 
#1 ·
Stopped by the factory in Spirit Lake to see where my baby was born. Got turned away. Apparently they don't do tours. They didn't explain it at the time but apparently they think that someone wants to steal secrets on stuff they're working on. They don't have to show sensitive stuff. All I wanted to see was the Vision line and see how it was made. I'm an aircraft mecanic by trade and just wanted to see it. I was on a busness trip and rode my bike quite a way out of the way to get there. I don't have the opportunity to go near there very often so special events at the factory don't work for me. Spent over $25,000 on my 2012 Vision and accessories. Dissappointed to find that they are not customer friendly at the factory. If you get the urge to go out of your way to see the factory, don't bother. You'll probably get turned away too even though we are the people that keep them in busness.:(
 
#2 · (Edited)
Although this is a Cross Country vice a Vision, and its not the same as being there, here is a time lapse of the assembly line



Personally I can't see why they would let you tour the plant. It is an industrial work area, not a tourist attraction. There would be way too much liability if they kept working while you were walking around. Maybe you wouldn't but I am sure there are lots of folks who would sue their keisters off if they got hurt. And they can't stop production to give people tours every time one shows up...they'd never be able to make a bike if they did that.

So occasional special events would be the only time I would expect them to offer tours...even to their most loyal customer ;)

That being said, I drive by the Harley plant in York every time I go see my parents but I've never stopped in. I understand they give tours but not sure how they do it. I would expect they either have scheduled times when the plant isn't in operation or have an overlook area sectioned off; but that is just a guess.

My only suggestion is to visit an industrial plant that does offer tours on an active line to see how they do it. Then come up with a plan that Victory could use to allow the same thing at their plant. Who knows maybe they would cheers

Of course that wouldn't stop the industrial spies :p
 
#3 ·
I know you can schedule plant tours if you call well in advance, I've actually had customers do this when they come to Iowa. But I don't think you can just stop in unannounced, especially if they are building or testing new models.
They give plant tours several times a day for several days in a row at the Victory Rally in August. It's pretty interesting and the employees are always super nice.
 
#4 ·
As I said before, I work in aviation. Customer service is a very high priority. We allow customers into the hangar around $40,000,000 aircraft. I have been able to get tours of aircraft manufacturing facilities on a moments notice. Guess I was expecting more. Guess I was wrong. Lesson learned.
 
#5 ·
Not trying to offend but you are comparing apples and oranges. The clientele for a $40,000,000 aircraft are no where near the same as for a $20,000 motorcycle. And, since they build a working relationship, they might be able to setup tours for dealers "on a moments notice" as well; every Tom, Dick, and Harry walking in off the street on the other hand... :rolleyes:

BTW, here is how Harley sets up tours of their York plant. I guess they aren't very busy so they can afford to interrupt production twice a day for "Steel Toe" tours :ltr:

Of course it looks like you might not be able to get a tour of their plant if you just stop by and they are out of tickets :p
 
#7 ·
Not trying to offend but you are comparing apples and oranges. The clientele for a $40,000,000 aircraft are no where near the same as for a $20,000 motorcycle.
To say nothing of the difference in the numbers of the groups who may want to drop by for a looksee.

I toured the Honda plant in Marysville Ohio and the Ducati plant in Italy and both were pre-scheduled tours that the factories do on occasion. Both had tour guides who kept the flock on their prescribed paths and neither spent enough time anywhere to annoy the workers or really learn anything. The Duc plant even made us check our camera at the door.

The Ducati plant had a really nice museum out front that anyone could pop in and tour. Maybe when Victory has 50 years of successful racing under their belt, we'll get a pop-in museum too!
 
#6 ·
All of the tours that I have been on through lumber mills, a plywood plant, a sugar plant (in Cuba) and a chemical manufacturing plant required booking in advance. Employees can't just drop what they're doing to guide a tour whenever someone wanders in off of the street. Better luck next time.
 
#8 ·
Agree. I too have been on many tours and they are scheduled. Even the most popular places like Coke and Bud have scheduled tours. I can not imagine that at this time there is a high demand for DAILY tours at the Spirit Lake plant to dedicate someone for this task. However with the growing popularity of the brand this may change soon.

I also agree with Vicbuilder that when you take a tour during the rally it is well oragnized and the employees are very informed and nice.

Even with all this I still can relate to your disappointment and wish something could have been worked out for you. Like you note lesson learned and next time maybe a call ahead could have avoided this.
 
#13 ·
GM Marion plant that I worked at only had tours every ten years or so, The plant floor has to be rearranged for the pedestrian traffic. There is to many fork trucks, robot cells, sparks flying and just to dangerous for tours everyday. Overhead cranes carrying 120 ton dies to the presses. Don't get me wrong but some people that tour the plant doesn't need to be there. Handicap with wheel chairs being pushed and the tour is over 2 miles long. It is a huge plant under one roof and it only stamps out metal with some assembly components shipped to the assembly plants. You know you are upset and think you should get a free tour because you bought a bike, but it is for safety reasons mainly. It helps the people on the line to stay focused. I would not want a bunch of people over top of me while I was working. Oops forgot to tighten that screw that holds the wheel on, or brake fluid level. If you never worked in a factory or on a assembly line it is not fun work at all. After 30 years your joints, fingers, knees, and hearing is shot. So I have all the respect in the world for assemblers that did a great job putting my Vegas together here in the USA..thumb up
 
#14 ·
The Victory factory five minutes to closing time on Friday. cheers

 
#15 ·
As I understand it, there will be tours available during the Annual Victory Rally (AVR) this year on August 17 & 18, in Spirit Lake. I know I will be looking forward to all the activities those days. :)
 
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