Tried to buy a bike at a dealer in Arizona this weekend. Salesman was a nice guy, spent to much time texting during my time with him and during road test. Once back at the dealer the, well, sorry to for the honesty here...the gang rape started.

Salesman took my info, went to the sales manager. Then the assault, the appointed hit man and the sales manager hit from all sides.

The bike (a trade they had just taken in) had a large yellow tag with a marked down price, which when the offer came to me the original price was their starting price, then the discounted price and then the 'add back in crap', Document fee $300, Prep fee $495, Security fee $599, and sales tax $280 (which they f'd up, only charged city and no state tax, actual $950).

Maybe I'm wrong here but aren't I the customer and not the victim?

Why the high pressure BS? This is supposed to be pleasant experience and I feel raped every time I try to buy.

$300 document fee on a cash sale? The prep fee maybe, the previous owner had done a half assed intake modification and left the wires undone and exposed. Security fee was for a 'branding' of the frame and location service.
Sales tax can't be helped but to forget the state tax, oops!

Very high pressure, all the fees need to be disclosed up front when you walk in the door, not the 'oh by the way' method.

Is there a way to avoid this and make buying a bike pleasant?

 

I advise not texting during a road test.

 

I would have to agree with you. I've bought several new bikes and every time I felt like I was in for a colonoscoppy with no lube.

 

All the more reason to NOT buy from that dealer.

 

This is one reason I buy a car or bike so seldom. Face it, you're never going to get the best of someone who does this for a living.

 

Negotiate an Out The Door price...not a price of the bike its self. Then there is no surprise. I've had good luck doing this with cars and bikes.

 

Maybe switch dealers? There are many out there. Especially in AZ. If you don't want to switch dealers you could always ask for a different salesperson.

 

It's easy, you interrupt them, preferably in mid-sentence, and tell them you plan on writing a check for (X) amount and you will walk out with the bike, take it or leave it. If they give you any pause. get up say "Thank You for your time", and walk out. and I will bet, unless you are trying to low-ball them, that if you give them a fair offer, they will chase you down before you make it to the front door.

 

Can't say I've ever felt I was raped buying a Car, Truck or bike, some people like to dicker on the price and enjoy it.. some don't. Sounds like you like to just get it to the bottom line as most do..
I agree with you that No one like surprises added on after a deal has been agreed on.

 

Which dealer did you go to? I've bought 2 bikes used from Chandler Harley Davidson and had great experiences both times now. Once was 3 years ago, the last one was 2 weeks ago.