Dealer's feeling the heat?
Thread Starter
|
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 7
Dealer's feeling the heat?
When I was shopping around for a bike, I bought from a particular dealer because they had no extra fees such as setup, doc, etc. In turn, they also didn't usually offer any incentives unless they were on closeout models. Basically, similar to a "no hassle" car dealer. You walk in, see the price as marked, and pay the price as marked plus freight, tax, title, and tags. They bragged to me that this had always been their practice and they were proud of the fact that they didn't use meaningless markups to create so-called incentives to get people to buy and feel like they were being given something that they were actually paying for buried in all the paperwork.
Well, I checked their website today. Buy any 2008 bike and pay no freight, get your 1st service for free, and get 1000 bucks in store credit. I'm betting there's now a setup fee that sits behind all that to help pay for some of what they are "giving" you. Still, all in all, probably a better deal than I got. But, to hear these people brag on their "morals" and then now they are doing the same thing most others do, boy, they must be feeling the heat of the sales slowdown. Sooner or later, it seems to me, they are going to have to give in and just be willing to negotiate on sticker prices like car dealers do.
Well, I checked their website today. Buy any 2008 bike and pay no freight, get your 1st service for free, and get 1000 bucks in store credit. I'm betting there's now a setup fee that sits behind all that to help pay for some of what they are "giving" you. Still, all in all, probably a better deal than I got. But, to hear these people brag on their "morals" and then now they are doing the same thing most others do, boy, they must be feeling the heat of the sales slowdown. Sooner or later, it seems to me, they are going to have to give in and just be willing to negotiate on sticker prices like car dealers do.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 642
Likes: 1
From: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
RE: Dealer's feeling the heat?
Stopped at my "new" dealership (closer dealer where I bought bike can kiss my a$$)this morning, and they are having a $1000 off 2008 sticker price deal going on.
Times are getting worse, writting is on the walls for these guys, sales will be down for a few years, people are hurting.
Sad but true...
Thread Starter
|
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 7
RE: Dealer's feeling the heat?
ORIGINAL: hmmr
dang, i thought i got an OK deal paying sticker!
dang, i thought i got an OK deal paying sticker!
It wasn't enough that the MoCo dropped the price of my bike over a grand this year and didn't change a meaningful thing about it. Now, my dealer is giving stuff away they said they never had and never would. Oh well, pretty much sums up my life story - day late, dollar short...
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 609
Likes: 3
RE: Dealer's feeling the heat?
Right now, for H-D, it's kind of a perfect storm.
Sales were already down before the economy slowed. They had just upped their manufacturing capacity, what? Four times over? (don't quote me)
At the same time, the rubbie fad was wearing off: all those doctors, lawyers, and stockbrokerswere unloading their bikes, driving down resale prices.
The Moco will be OK: they still have a ton o' cash reserves. I think.
Sales were already down before the economy slowed. They had just upped their manufacturing capacity, what? Four times over? (don't quote me)
At the same time, the rubbie fad was wearing off: all those doctors, lawyers, and stockbrokerswere unloading their bikes, driving down resale prices.
The Moco will be OK: they still have a ton o' cash reserves. I think.
Trending Topics
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 3
From: Palm Beach
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
