Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/698493
ODES' UTVs offer high margins, value prices B efore Mike Smith founded ODES UTVs, he was a dealer, running three stores out of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. "I've got tons of retail experience from owning dealer- ships, and I've seen how dealers like to be treated, want to be treated," he said. With this in mind, Smith was careful to build his dealer program when he launched ODES. So far he's signed about 200 dealerships in the U.S., but he's looking to add more to the ODES network. "The huge benefit to dealers is that we offer them a solid product that they can greatly increase their profit margin with, compared to other products they may offer," explained Casey Slingerland, director of Sales & Marketing. "We also bring a value/price point product to their dealership for some- one that may not want to pay the higher price tag of some of the other manufacturers, but still wants a machine that has great performance along with amazing styling and features." Higher-than-average profit margins on the units were important for Smith to offer, he explained. ODES dealers average 23 percent margin on each unit, though they can earn up to 30 percent margins, if they extend freight and setup to the customer. "Being a business owner that had retail dealerships, mar- gin was the key thing for me. That's what the business owners want — the margins," Smith said. With ODES units coming stock with a number of acces- sories that are traditionally aftermarket products for most OEMs, ODES also takes the hassle out of making money on each unit. "Dealers don't make money by selling a base model unit from other OEMs. They make money selling the base model unit with a bunch of accessories and warranty and stuff. And so we give the dealer the option, so they don't have to try to do that. They can make that up right from the get go, and that's why dealers really like it. It takes so much pressure off of them," Smith said. ODES also offers its dealers a free showroom setup that includes $5,000 worth of materials, no franchise fees, no dealer fees, no annual fees, on-site sales and tech training for full-line dealerships, retail financing programs starting as low as zero percent interest and zero percent down, and retail financing for most credit profiles (down to a 600 credit score). New dealers are offered 360 days free inventory flooring on their first order, and all dealers are given 120 days free flooring on all orders. On top of its two-year factory warranty, ODES offers an in- house transferable warranty extension, with options for 24, 36 and 48 months of coverage. ODES has also partnered with Royal Purple to equip all of its units with Purple Ice radiator coolant from the start, and each unit is shipped to the dealership with enough Royal Purple Max-Cycle 10W-40 oil to use for the unit's first oil change. Aftermarket partners that have developed products to fit ODES vehicles include CVTech, EPI, MotoAlliance and Two Brothers Racing. ODES offers a 97 percent fulfillment rate on its parts and almost 100 percent parts markup for dealers. ODES has also set up the warranty system so that most claims are processed within 24 hours. ODES supports its warranty, paying labor and doing so usually within less than a week. As Smith said, "We try to make everyone in the dealer- ship happy." Vi-LOCK suspension, stock accessories make UTVs stand out O DES UTVS recently released details of its 2017 long- travel Dominator X2 and Dominator X4, highlighted by the ODES-designed Vi-LOCK suspension. Instead of relying on traditional A-arm suspension, which can have weaknesses due to multiple weld points, ODES has created its own Vi-LOCK box arm suspension. Inspired by box arm suspensions used by UTV racers, the Vi-LOCK suspension has no cross-point welds, and there- fore no weak points. ODES president Mike Smith calls it "revolutionary." The Vi-LOCK suspension offers 16.5 inches of ground clearance and 14 inches of travel. All ODES models are also loaded with accessories stock. The Dominator X2 and X4 each include electronic power steering, a CVTech clutch system, 4x4 with differen- tial lock, a full windshield, a full roof, lockable storage boxes, a hitch with a two-inch tow ball, half doors, LED light bars, a rear bumper, stitched seats and a closed air filter intake. The X2 also includes a 3,500-pound winch on the rear of the machine. Both the Dominator X4 and the X2 are available with 800cc or 1000cc engines. The 800 produces 60 hp, while the 1000cc clocks in at 86 hp. All units come fully loaded with MSRP ranging from $12,695 to $15,495. ODES reveals the 2017 Dominator X PAID ADVERTISEMENT ODES seeks to increase its dealer network The 2017 Dominator X2, shown, and X4 each come with 800cc or 1000cc engines. The Dominator X4 has electronic power steering, a CVTech clutch system and 4x4 with differential lock standard. With 16.5 inches of ground clearance and 14 inches of travel, the Dominator X4 easily tackled obstacles on the Cleghorn OHV Trail near San Bernardino, Calif. Visit us at www.odesutvs.com for more information and to become a dealer.