Trade value ripoff
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
Yup. The further a bike is from stock, the less a dealer will be interested in it.
Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 650
From: San Ramon, Ca
Gotta admit though. In all fairness to that dealer,
I wouldn't take in someone's conversion trike.
I wouldn't take in someone's conversion trike.
I work at a GM dealer (in parts)
It's the same here. They don't give squat for a trade-in
We recently purchased a used Enclave. They wanted our
07 Saturn Vue as a trade (very pushy)
but wouldn't give us even low book for it. It's cherry 135K miles
Needless to say we still have it (Now my everyday driver)
This is why I would NEVER buy a brand new Harley.
They plummet in value so fast now. Remember the good ol'
(Evo) days when you could actually sell em for at least
as much as you paid?
But yeah, let somebody else take the hit.
Too many NICE 2-3 yr old bikes w/no miles for 1/2 the
price of new.
Let somebody else be the M8 guinea pig.
It's the same here. They don't give squat for a trade-in
We recently purchased a used Enclave. They wanted our
07 Saturn Vue as a trade (very pushy)
but wouldn't give us even low book for it. It's cherry 135K miles
Needless to say we still have it (Now my everyday driver)
This is why I would NEVER buy a brand new Harley.
They plummet in value so fast now. Remember the good ol'
(Evo) days when you could actually sell em for at least
as much as you paid?
But yeah, let somebody else take the hit.
Too many NICE 2-3 yr old bikes w/no miles for 1/2 the
price of new.
Let somebody else be the M8 guinea pig.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,238
Likes: 5,784
From: On the Big Blue marble
Few things...
A) In both my locales, bikes out number trikes almost 100 to 1
B) You trike is a custom - most dealers do not want a custom so they prob offered you low auction values less fees
C) Not calling BS but unless your custom is hiding a gold bar, I cant see a dealer offering you over retail on a trade (and 25k is WAY over retail). Im looking at my insurance 'book' and a converted custom trike is valuing at a range of 7200 to 19000 on a total loss.
D) Did you trade this against a CVO of sorts so they can make a ton on the sale and use your bike as a loss leader?
E) Like I said, not calling BS but something is not adding up..
BTW - Yes a Vincent and MANY vintage bikes have gone up - They are collector vehicles which is a whole 'nuther market then a daily rider / driver
A) In both my locales, bikes out number trikes almost 100 to 1
B) You trike is a custom - most dealers do not want a custom so they prob offered you low auction values less fees
C) Not calling BS but unless your custom is hiding a gold bar, I cant see a dealer offering you over retail on a trade (and 25k is WAY over retail). Im looking at my insurance 'book' and a converted custom trike is valuing at a range of 7200 to 19000 on a total loss.
D) Did you trade this against a CVO of sorts so they can make a ton on the sale and use your bike as a loss leader?
E) Like I said, not calling BS but something is not adding up..
BTW - Yes a Vincent and MANY vintage bikes have gone up - They are collector vehicles which is a whole 'nuther market then a daily rider / driver
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 6,009
From: Boston suburbs
Back in 2008 I was in a dealership in Maine. I picked up a couple small parts and was poking around at a roadglide on the floor. There was a guy buying a bike in a sales cubical and they had a quick heated discussion over his trade.
The guy walks out of the cube, says to me "how serious are you about a roadglide?"
I ask why and he says they just offered him $7500 for his 2004 roadglide in trade, and he'll sell it to me for $8000 rather than let them have it.
I went to The bank. got a check for him, rented a pick up and took it home.
I rode it for 3 years and sold it in an afternoon on craigslist for $10k
The dealer was PISSED at him and me, said we couldn't use their dealership to conduct business.
The guy walks out of the cube, says to me "how serious are you about a roadglide?"
I ask why and he says they just offered him $7500 for his 2004 roadglide in trade, and he'll sell it to me for $8000 rather than let them have it.
I went to The bank. got a check for him, rented a pick up and took it home.
I rode it for 3 years and sold it in an afternoon on craigslist for $10k
The dealer was PISSED at him and me, said we couldn't use their dealership to conduct business.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 307
From: Salem IN
As always with this sort of thread my advice remains....Put up a few million dollars of your own money for a franchise, facilities, special tools, parts, etc. and you can offer yourself whatever trade in value you deem appropriate.
I am continually amazed at folks who rip a dealer for offering a trade in value they don't like. If it's unacceptable move on...if you went to WalMart and didn't like the price of an item would ya take the time to find the store manager and throw a fit? Of course not...you just wouldn't buy the item.
I am continually amazed at folks who rip a dealer for offering a trade in value they don't like. If it's unacceptable move on...if you went to WalMart and didn't like the price of an item would ya take the time to find the store manager and throw a fit? Of course not...you just wouldn't buy the item.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 81,309
Likes: 36,894
From: Oklahoma City
You've obviously not read my other posts. Reality is what it is, dude. If ya don't like what you're being offered move on.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,561
Likes: 187
From: Florida
Trikes in FL are pretty good sellers. My wife traded her '13 trike for a '17 TriGlide a few months ago. Was a stock H-D trike with 22,000 miles & a few accessories. She got $21k trade allowance for it and $2500 off the price of the new one. Her trike was already sold when we went back there a week later.
Down here, a good "legitimate name brand trike kit" might not add a whole lot, if anything at all, to the value of a trike, but in most cases, it won't hurt the value.
Down here, a good "legitimate name brand trike kit" might not add a whole lot, if anything at all, to the value of a trike, but in most cases, it won't hurt the value.
