Sport Today

 jeff b.

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'96 ZRT600 Mountain Cat  2" Track  http://www.vii.com/~scott/
Northern Utah
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: once were. They have been spoiled by being sales leader for too long, so
: lets stop buying polaris until they start to listen and give us what we
: want, it is our money, we should get what we want, lets force polaris to
: listen.

     I don't see how where one person who doesn't like how the XLT
Special rides proves anything.  And then he bought a ZR-580 which isn't
even the same class of snowmobile as the XLT Special, so he's after a
more aggressive type of sled similar to the Polaris XC-600.  
     You guys can quit buying Polaris all that you want.  That's fine
with me.  As far as I'm concerned, I like the product, I think they're
doing as well as the others, except maybe they could use a few more
ponies under the hood.  That's what's nice about having at least four
manufacturers, you can buy what brand you want, right?  So go buy the CAT,
the SkiDoo or the Yamaha.  Your bellyaching is getting real old.....

Mark Zimmerman, Indy 650, Central Wisconsin

   S-A-L-E-S  L-E-A-D-E-R  S-Y-N-D-R-O-M-E

and if you don't demand change, demand better sleds, then you will never
see them!

TA
--
Tom Avery
XTRA Special XLT

I think Mr. Riteous here needs a clue.
I'm glad you are in on all the meetings that Polaris' Management has
so you can tell us about them not caring about the customer. If they
didn't care about making sleds WE want why would they have 30+ different
sleds to choose from?  They are trying to make a sled for everyones
applicaiton.  If they are not doing the right thing they will find
out about it when the sales drop, like Ski Doo and Yamaha found out.

<snip>

: Look at what Ski-Doo did, they saw that their was
: demand for much improved Doo's, lighter, faster, better handeling etc.
: and they made it happen, Ski-Doo's line is the best in the biz because
: they took the time, the money, and the people to listen to what people
: want and they made the changes.

<snip>

That, Bill, is pure Bullshit.  Ski Doo now knows what people want
because most people were buying Polaris, not because they listened
to what people wanted.  The same can be said of Yamaha and their
new (To Yamaha anyways) trailing arm front suspension.  They are
copying something that has worked for Polaris for years and I guess
that means they are listening to what people want.

: Cat is as always commited to racing, and
: they rule in x-c racing, F III racing, drag racing etc, they also pride
: themselves on handeling, and produce the best handeling sleds out there.
: Even Yamaha, who has a long history (TSS anybody?) of not listening to
: the people, and they changed everything and are now listening.

I believe Polaris has done fairly well in XC racing over the past 5
years if you'd care to look it up (not to mention the last 20!). I
would agree that Arctic Cat makes a great product, but they are not
immune to customers satisfaction complaints.  Everyone has heard a
horror story or 2 about someone who bought sleds, if they don't
have one of their own, it doesn't matter what manufacturer made it.

: What's up
: with Polaris?!?!? I'll spell it out for you, Polaris has what is called,

:    S-A-L-E-S  L-E-A-D-E-R  S-Y-N-D-R-O-M-E

: and if you don't demand change, demand better sleds, then you will never
: see them!

Whatever, I'm sure that everyone out there that bought a Polaris, bought
it because it was the only sled they would ever own. Duh.  I'm sure that
if I were going to plunk down $5000-$8000 on a sled I'd make sure that
I was gonna be happy and satisfied with it.   There are ways to do this.
Make sure the dealer you buy your sled from stands behind the product that
they sell.  I'm not just talking about Polaris either (Todd Chirstensen?).
Also, make sure you LOVE what you are buying.  I don't know many
people that will spend that kind of money on a "chance" that they
will be happy with their purchase.  If you don't research your
dealer and product you may be somewhat foolish with your money. I
know plenty of people that were very happy with their Ultras and
XCR Specials last winter.

Polaris came out with the afore mentioned models last yaer.  They
may have had some problems with set-ups, but what new models don't?
I would doubt that Polairs didn't CARE the customer when they tried
to put out these new models.

There will always be craybabies out there that have a bad experience
with something and we are always going to be doomed to hear about it.

What happens if you buy a new Ski Doo this year and you have some
problems that aren't automatically cured?  I suppose Ski Doo will
be your target next year?  Why don't you let people that sno-checked
Polaris this spring decide for themselves next season how they like
them instead of making them worry about their purchase?  The last thing
I'd want is for me to be second guessing my purchase becuause someone
I don't even know is putting my choice down.  Let it rest, Bill Thorpe.

Dave Joppru
1990 INDY 650
Eau Claire, WI

: : As long as Polaris has people like you, they will be OK.

     They've got alot of people like me and we think they are OK.

: : If you would stop and think for a while, you would realize that Polaris
: : does not care about you, Polaris only cares about being the leader in
: : sales, and not making the sleds YOU want, or sleds that are as good as
: : they can make. Don't let your brand loyalty mess with your perception as
: : a consumer, don't buy just because it is Polaris, buy because it is
: : something you want.

     For this year, they did make exactly the machine that I wanted -
a 500cc size two-up with all the bells and whistles that gets good
mileage to boot, hence the Indy Classic Touring which has the "economy
ported" 500cc engine that's been around for a while.  I'd say that since
they DO make more different models than anyone else, there should be
something there that you can choose from.  So, how can you say that every
other manufacturer makes the sled that "YOU want" and Polaris doesn't?
Don't let YOUR brand loyalty mess with your perception as a consumer.
If you have something personal against Polaris, fine.  But don't start
telling me about brand loyalty because I felt that Polaris made what I
wanted and just because I ordered a Polaris that I must be "brand loyal"
or something.  You like what you like and I'll do the same.  That's why
they call us consumers - we get to choose what we want to spend our
greenbacks on.  No, your logic is NOT logical..

: : Look at what Ski-Doo did, they saw that their was
: : demand for much improved Doo's, lighter, faster, better handeling etc.
: : and they made it happen, Ski-Doo's line is the best in the biz because
: : they took the time, the money, and the people to listen to what people
: : want and they made the changes.

     No way are they the "best in the biz".  Otherwise, they'd win EVERY
race at EVERY event, they'd have all ten slots in the yearly "Ten Best
Sleds of the Year" articles, and they'd outsell all the other manufacturers.
By the way, they did give the people what they wanted - nice Polaris front
end there guy.....And a long travel suspension, gee, where did I see that
in '95?

: : Cat is as always commited to racing, and
: : they rule in x-c racing, F III racing, drag racing etc, they also pride
: : themselves on handeling, and produce the best handeling sleds out there.
: : Even Yamaha, who has a long history (TSS anybody?) of not listening to
: : the people, and they changed everything and are now listening.

     Yes, Arctic Cat makes a VERY good performance sled.  And they've had
their share of troubles, too.  And if Ski-Doo is the best in the biz, why
aren't they "ruling" in x-c racing, F III racing, drag racing, etc.?
And as far as Yamaha is concerned, they came up with a pretty familiar
looking front end on the '97s, so maybe like Ski-Doo, they also saw the
light!

: : What's up with Polaris?

     You mentioned that Polaris is such an awesome company and should
be building so much better of a sled...I don't think that Polaris even
compares to Bombardier as a company.  So why didn't Bombardier throw
millions at staying #1 in the industry.  They were at one time - a long
time ago..   Ya, Polaris has some faults.  But so does the rest.  And
don't try and make them sound so perfect while thrashing Polaris to no
end.  

: : I'll spell it out for you,

     No, I'll spell it out for you -

I-F  I-T  I-S-N'-T  B-R-O-K-E-N,  D-O-N'-T  F-I-X  I-T!!!!

Okay lets get the story from the dealer." we did not sell the Polaris to
Mr.Vernon, we sold the ZR and took his Polaris in trade. He asked about
warranty and we made the comment about selective coverage as we didn't see
anything wrong. We sold his Polaris about 2 weeks later at a nice
profit.We are going to call that customer to look at the track closer. If
we think it is bad I am sure we can get it covered." Conversation on the
phone April 18th with the Owner
Now this is the kind of dealer we all need to have. Right? Remember it is
the dealer that makes the difference. So even though Thorpe doesn't like
Polaris it is okay to buy what you want and feel confident you did not get
junk.

By the way, I'm talking about a snowmobile here, not anyone personally,
there is no need for childish tantrums. I mean really, I'm sure that you
are a cool guy and everything, so don't take everything so personally.