New Honda Direct Line Sale....Buyer Beware.

[wiggydotcom]

Just got my notice from HDL. I've been a pretty good customer in the past, especially when they supported the VRCC.

They're running their Spring Sale and since I'll be needing a new Avon Cobra for the front, I looked up their price. $210 for the Valk in a 150/80 -17 H rating. Hmmm...these Cobras are getting pricey.

Decided to look up the price with Jake Wilson and Amazon. BOTH had it at 167 and some change..with free shipping(I have Amazon Prime).

Since I've ordered from JW in the past and they get the product to me in 3 days or less. I went with them.

I have no affiliation with any of these except as a buying customer. I just wanted those who buy from HDL to know, at least on this product, they'd be paying more for the same item even after their 10% discount. There could even be a handling or shipping charge. It pays to at least double check on their "deals".

[Flat6Valk]

iron pony (no direct interest) has them even cheaper.  That is where I buy my Avons.

[wiggydotcom]

iron pony (no direct interest) has them even cheaper.  That is where I buy my Avons.

Sorry...not cheaper...they're actually 10 bucks more than Jake Wilson...after shipping. Did you research that claim of yours? 

[Willow]

Just got my notice from HDL. I've been a pretty good customer in the past, especially when they supported the VRCC. 

It has been a long, long time since HDL was any kind of VRCC supporter, if ever.  Certainly not in the ten years I've been associated.

I have shopped there on multiple occasions, not for tires that I can remember.

[hubcapsc]

Just got my notice from HDL. I've been a pretty good customer in the past, especially when they supported the VRCC. 

It has been a long, long time since HDL was any kind of VRCC supporter, if ever.  Certainly not in the ten years I've been associated.

I have shopped there on multiple occasions, not for tires that I can remember.

I got my last tire from them. Interpret that however you like, you'll probably
be right 

-Mike "my actual last tire came quick from Amazon and will be mounted soon..."

[wiggydotcom]

Just got my notice from HDL. I've been a pretty good customer in the past, especially when they supported the VRCC. 

It has been a long, long time since HDL was any kind of VRCC supporter, if ever.  Certainly not in the ten years I've been associated.

I have shopped there on multiple occasions, not for tires that I can remember.

You could be right about the timeframe, Carl. I bought my first I/S in 01 and bought a lot of accessories through HDL shortly thereafter. Not positive, but if my memory serves me right, HDL and Lamont left at "about" the same time. Until proven otherwise, I stand by my contention they were once a supporter.

[Hoser]

I went to western honda in AZ. when HDL messed up their oem website.  Just got some orings, thrust washer, etc. with out the high shipping price HDL charge always used for small orders.  Hoser 

[MarkT]

Just got my notice from HDL. I've been a pretty good customer in the past, especially when they supported the VRCC. 

It has been a long, long time since HDL was any kind of VRCC supporter, if ever.  Certainly not in the ten years I've been associated.

I have shopped there on multiple occasions, not for tires that I can remember.

I met Hal at one of the Zanesville Inzanes.  They had a booth there.
I sometimes buy from HDL.  I found you had to ask for Hal for your order to get good service.  But I understand he left some time ago.  For tires, Jake Wilson has been a great source with lowest prices, fast free shipping, and fresh tires - never a tire with an old date.  I've bought at least 8 tires from them.

[wiggydotcom]

Just got my notice from HDL. I've been a pretty good customer in the past, especially when they supported the VRCC.  

It has been a long, long time since HDL was any kind of VRCC supporter, if ever.  Certainly not in the ten years I've been associated.

I have shopped there on multiple occasions, not for tires that I can remember.

I met Hal at one of the Zanesville Inzanes.  They had a booth there.
I sometimes buy from HDL.  I found you had to ask for Hal for your order to get good service.  But I understand he left some time ago.  For tires, Jake Wilson has been a great source with lowest prices, fast free shipping, and fresh tires - never a tire with an old date.  I've bought at least 8 tires from them.

Mark...I used to also ask for Hal and I never had an order get screwed up. I have no axe to grind with HDL. I just wanted to point out to our members here that they could do better elsewhere if they were after Avons...significantly better.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Just got my notice from HDL. I've been a pretty good customer in the past, especially when they supported the VRCC. 

It has been a long, long time since HDL was any kind of VRCC supporter, if ever.  Certainly not in the ten years I've been associated.

I have shopped there on multiple occasions, not for tires that I can remember.

I met Hal at one of the Zanesville Inzanes.  They had a booth there.
I sometimes buy from HDL.  I found you had to ask for Hal for your order to get good service.  But I understand he left some time ago.  For tires, Jake Wilson has been a great source with lowest prices, fast free shipping, and fresh tires - never a tire with an old date.  I've bought at least 8 tires from them.

Not 100% about this however I think I heard he died  

[LandElephant]

I get my tires from smalltire.com.  They are around $65 for street and $80 for off road. Bought 5 tires, 5 tubes, 5 rim strips and shipping for $405.

Oh that's right a 4" X 19 doesn't fit a Valk.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[Oss]

HDL was, once upon a time, a long while ago a VOAi sponsor

They did match prices, dont know about now though

I got my last tire from motorcycle superstore I think it was 152 for the rear bridgestone exedra max in 200-60-16

In pouring rain the tire was magnificent, great grip, even at speeds
that were probably not safe trying to catch Al and T-bird,
but so was the battleaxe right down to the wear bars

[alph]

i order my tires from Dennis Kirk.  i think they personally deliver those things to the local post office 'cause it seems that if i place the order at 3pm, i'll get them the next day!  (not to mention they're just across the mississippi river from us  )

[trikerron]

I got my AVON COBRA 150/80HR-17 from SHADETREE POWERSPORTS IN Middlefield, OH. for $168.77 with free shipping last fall.

[wiggydotcom]

I got my AVON COBRA 150/80HR-17 from SHADETREE POWERSPORTS IN Middlefield, OH. for $168.77 with free shipping last fall.

So I'm guessing that if you could get that same tire TODAY for 167.99 with free shipping, you'd agree that was a good deal?

[musclehead]

hmmm? I went with a local bike shop in Leesburg fL.  two guys hungry for business ordered and installed my avon cobra front for less then $220. (I pulled the tire off and reinstalled)

[Jack]

I look at HDL first when looking for a part, then I look around and see about competitive pricing and shipping.  I have bought several items from HDL over the years.  No problem except the one time I ordered a rear tire and received a front.  They wouldn't take it back but did give me a slight discount on a tire I used eventually.  BTW, went dark side due to this mistake.  I have not ordered a tire from them since.

[F6MoRider]

They used to be a VRCC sponsor, you could also put your VRCC number on the order page and get a discount but that was long ago, far away.  They took a lot of heat on the board for quite a while over a lot of different stuff, no sense dragging up all those details.  

My personal experience was that I had problems getting them to simply ask Dunlop to warranty a rear tire for an interior bubble.  The tire came from them, was within the warranty period, etc....  Still, I had to push very hard, too hard, against their refusal to even ask Dunlop.  When they finally relented and agreed to just ask, Dunlop honored their warranty without a problem.  I no longer buy anything from them that has a warranty requiring me to go through the retail source where purchased.  Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.....

I believe they still price match - if you call them and tell them the price, then email them the URL / link so they can check and make sure you aren't lying.  If you try to get them to price match, use the total price (cost, tax, shipping, handling) of having the item in your hand for the comparison. They use to match the total price but then changed to where they charge you more for shipping, handling, looking at it fee, etc, when the other shipping would have been free, something ain't right...

I've learned that if I have to work to get any business to price match the competition, the competition deserves my business for keeping their pricing low to begin with!

[wiggydotcom]

I've learned that if I have to work to get any business to price match the competition, the competition deserves my business for keeping their pricing low to begin with!

I couldn't agree more. I make an exception with my local dealer since they're a brick and mortar operation. The don't have to match online deals(often they do), but they'll usually agree to be in the ballpark and then I go with them.