Hello everyone,

I've debated posting this correspondence, but the riders are more important than the dealerships. This is from a couple of months back when I was purchasing a Softail Deluxe and was trying to find a good price.

When you walk into a car dealership, the sticker price (MSRP) is a figure that you would be crazy to pay. Usually, you try to bargain from the invoice and end up paying somewhere between invoice and sticker.

It seems crazy to me that Harley dealerships unapologetically charge riders ABOVE the MSRP, and there arecustomers lined out the door, willing to pay those prices, and thrilled to get financing at a ridiculous interest rate. Harley riders are being ripped off on a daily basis.

It's interesting to see this guy get defensive when I ask him WHY they are charging above MSRP. He just keeps asking me if I have a "better deal somewhere else." After I pressure him, he finally admits they aren't an MSRP dealership.

That is a fancy way of saying "we charge whatever the hell we want for this motorcycle, and you should be happy to pay it."

Read this correspondence from the bottom up to get the full story.


from: Mark C
to: Eric
date Jul 13, 2007 10:46 AM
subject RE: pricing on Deluxe/Classic

i have answer your question and the price of the bike is selling for $20,999.00 plus TT&L

there are nothing added to the bike it is stock!

we are not an m.s.r.p. dealer we selling the bike for what the owner put the prices at ! and that is $20,999.00

but we are not here to loose business so we try to get the offers that others will have and we try to win there business ...

so as for a break down in price there is not really one that is the price we been selling that bike for since 2005 when it came out. if it's black, color , or two-tone.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Eric
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 10:26 AM
To:Mark
Subject: Re: pricing on Deluxe/Classic

Mark,

You haven't answered my questions.

1. Are there additional fees on top of the asking price?
2. Are there additional accessories?
3. Why is it priced above MSRP?
4. What is the out-the-door price?

I'm dealing with your dealership, so what someone else can do the bike for is irrelevant.

Thanks,
Eric

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 10:04 AM
Subject: RE: pricing on Deluxe/Classic

That is the starting price like I had said ….

But once again like I had ask you , if you have a purchase order that
you can get that bike lower and they have that bike I will see what I
can do to win your business.

If you don't then the price of the bike that we sell all year around
is $20,999.00 I am here to work to do a deal here but you have to tell
we and show me what some one else can do for you !

________________________________

From: Eric
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 9:56 AM
Subject: Re: pricing on Deluxe/Classic

I'm getting my numbers from the Harley Davidson website. I didn't add
in the two-tone option. Still, can you give me a breakdown on pricing?

$20,999 - $17980 = $3,019. What is the breakdown of the $3,019? And
are there additional fees (TTL) on top of it?

Thanks!

----- Original Message -----


To: Eric
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 9:48 AM
Subject: RE: pricing on Deluxe/Classic

Not sure where you got your numbers , but straight m.s.r.p is on a
two-tone bike is $17,980.00 plus fright , make ready, and deal prep.
In which that can change from deal to deal!

Like I said if you have a quote from some where else that is on paper
and they have the bike in stock (like we do) I will do everything I
can do to get your business.

________________________________

 

That dance was already to long, and you just want to punch the saleman, move on, I'm Pheonix and Buddy Stubbs will sell it all day at MSRP. Fly in and ride home. No I don't work for them, but I get parts and service from them. In this vally they are the onlydealership worth dealing with. Good luck.

 

It's called the law of supply and demand. As long as people are willing to pay that price, they'll continue to sell them. I remember a few years back when Honda Accords were THE hot car and dealerships couldn't keep them in inventory. Anyone who wanted them was paying above sticker price. Once supply caught up with demand, that insanity was over. Take that piece of info and apply it anywhere, like...cough*iPhone*cough.

 

That's our free-market, demand economy at work. Apparently, they charge what the market will bear. I would not have it any other way, personally. This system has made our country the richest in the world....Whoa! I'm sounding like the history teacher I am.Sorry. Keep looking and good luck.

 

It's America....he can charge whatever he likes and you can choose to pay it or not. There are plenty of dealers around to shop for a better price.

 

I paid msrp for mine plus ttl. I would take Phat96's dealer up on their deals and ride it home. Unfortunately you cant MAKE them sell it to you for what you think it should sell for...of course a little *** whoopin for uppity sales persons is never out of line in my book...hehe.

 

Am I mistaken, or are those bags resting on the ground? That bagger is sweet!

 

Well, call me unpatriotic, but I think that someone trying to screw me over by overcharging me doesn't give me the red-white-and-blue warm fuzzies.

Because we have a great country, there is also the spirit of competition. I think if more buyers were doing what I am doing, these stealerships wouldn't be able to screw the customer like that.

I just bought a beautiful 2008 4x4 truck andsaved THOUSANDS because of my internet negotiating. I ain't willing to bend over for these stealerships.

 

Regardless of the business, HD or anyone else will screw customers as long as the customers bend over.

 

Come up to Farmington and cut yourself a deal. Talk to Mike Carlin. I know several from ASlbuquereque that have came up her an bought a bike without all that hassle. You can also buy for MSRP at Durango HD in Durango, Co.

Ever since Chick sold the Alb. Dealership they have not been good to deal with. Why haggle and make yourself crazy when there are two dealers within 200 miles that will cut you a deal.?

Bill