Rules #'s 1, 2 & 3 of negotiating for the best price - be willing to walk away. The moment the salesperson senses you are buying their product come hell or high water - you will be paying top-dollar. How often has a salesperson asked, "are you prepared to purchase today?" That really means, "how anxious are you?" If your answer is "yeah, I'm ready to buy", you might as well just say "yeah, I'm reaching for my ankles."

 

Dealer-yes. I work for a top 3 dealer in the US, so some of the "facts" that are stated are inaccurate. Philosophy is different among dealerships for sure. No one said you were an a-hole. The fact is if you act as one you won't get a deal period.

Discounts-dealers are held to margin averages. They can give one away here and there but for the most part have to maintain a certain margin or future allocation is affected. You got 10% on parts and service? We hand out the 10% discount if you are breathing. We have a military program that gives you 15% off parts and accessories and labor rate in the shop. Also gives you special pricing on new and used. Pretty big deal here. Delivery of motorcycles? Free delivery is included with every purchase whether it is used or new. The sales department pays a full time driver to do nothing but that.

Pricing-Dealers want to make as much as possible and customer want to brag on forums that they stole the bike. Somewhere in the middle is a deal. Don't hate the dealer for asking to make a profit. Just like we don't hate you for a ridiculous opening offer. Your bike is last years news. (No offense) Nothing exciting about that model in its second year run. No changes of any substance. The excitement is the Street and Road Glide Special models and the 114s in the new Softail frames. You will pay over MSRP for sure until the hype is gone. Period.

First Class-you are buying a luxury bucket list item. you want cheap go and buy a Vulcan. You want a deal-be a great negotiator, don't be a douche, and be a loyal customer. No one gets treated better than family.

The real issue that is not discussed is the middle man-your salesman. He is the one that makes your experience. He is the one that can make it pleasant and kickass or horrible and forum worthy. But salesman issues is another long story.

I am willing to discuss whatever you want from a dealer perspective. Just ask.

And congrats on your bike. You have something that lots of others will never have. You will be the envy of a lot of people. Ride it like you stole it (even though you didnt...lol).

The dealer wants to know how serious you are before investing hours into you for nothing more than a "Thanks I am going to shop you".

If you have a fish on the line, your goal is to reel it in. If you unhook it and ask for it to come back, it wont.

The Be-Back Bus is never operational. "I will be back". No, you wont.

 

I have a similar story. I walked out of a dealership, and drove an hour to buy my bike at a place that valued my money. The dealership that wouldn't work with me called me to learn that they were a day late, and dollar short.

 

Maybe I'd have a better understanding of your philosophies if I knew what State you operate out of. I can tell you this, if dealers and retailers turned away every customer who was rude and/or an a-hole, there would be no dealers and/or retailers in New York. Butt hurt or not, dealers still suck it up and deal with customers.

And your comment "be a loyal customer" being the key to not being taken advantage of, I call bullshit. This may be the procedure in your dealership, but certainly not every dealership. A case-in-point is a very good friend of mine. For ***** & giggles he browsed a dealership near his job for a Street Glide. He had never dealt with this dealership. They quoted a price and he thanked them for their time. He then went to a dealership near his home which he had dealt with on multiple occasions and bought multiple bikes from. In other words, he tried to remain a "loyal customer". How was he rewarded for his loyalty? They quoted him thousands of dollars over the first dealership. Only after expressing his disappointment, leaving the dealership and having several subsequent telephone conversations, did dealer #2 agree to "match" the price of dealer #1. Loyal, shmolyal - at least around here, if a salesperson senses they can f*ck you, they will f*ck you. Buyer beware!

 

Not if people would get their head out of their a$$ and not pay MSRP +. We're our own worst enemy.

 

Here's something you seem to fail to understand: that whole "wasting someone's time" is a mutual problem for BOTH dealers and purchasers. If you, as a dealer, chose to "high ball" the price because you think I'm desperate, or an uneducated consumer and/or an easy mark, you are wasting MY time. No offense, but if you've never had a customer discuss a purchase with you, leave and ultimately come back, I see only two possibilities: 1) you suck as a salesman, or 2) you high-balled them [commendably trying to get top-dollar] and they called your bluff and went elsewhere.

For me, on high-ticket items, I have negotiated, shopped multiple dealers, researched and often returned to dealer #1. And BTW, having a dealer offer to "match" another dealer's price - thanks, but no thanks. I'm not rewarding you for riding the coattails of someone else's effort. You want my business, do better than dealer #1 [or 2, or 3].

EDIT: As a consumer, I also love being generically referred to as a "fish". [sarcasm intended]

 

You know better than I. However, I would think that the money they make off the bike is less than what they will make from parts, accessories and maintenance. This doesn't include the free "word of mouth" advertising they will receive if the buyer's experience is good. Include the return business that gives the dealership continuation. In my business, it's called multi-lining, which is where the real money is.

 

There are many things I can say and address about this post but I wont. For whatever reason you sound pretty but hurt in your posts. Its almost like your offended that I'm trying to start a movement of people saving money so they don't get a$$ raped by the dealerships.. First you bring up in another post about customers being " a holes". Which sounded like you were assuming that I was. Then you say that I really didn't get a deal. And now your saying the bike I purchased is " Old news". Lol.. You Sir are the "A hole". Typical dealer!!!!

For one I don't know how my bike is old news when it just came out this year! It was a 2017 1/2..And mine is an 18. Secondly those Bikes that have the " excitement around them" Like the Street glide special and the Road glide Special are the same exact bike and style just with a fairing. Wow!! So cutting edge and different. As far as the new Softail/Dyna babies I could have bought one. Was even looking at getting the new Fatboy but chose the Road King Special because I felt it was a better bike for the money. The 114 engine? Wow a entire 7 ft pounds of torque more then the 107 m8. If I really need that for my Road king they sell the kit. Was not enough to make me choose an entire different bike over it.

And as far as my 10% off discount. I actually have 3 discounts 10% off 20% off and 15% off. To be honest I have to go back and check what they all even cover because I don't remember. I know one is parts the other is for clothing and I forget the 3rd. And I never said I wanted cheap. Just don't feel like paying $3k over msrp!!

What dealership are you so I can avoid it at all costs in the future????

 

What dealership are you so I can avoid it at all costs in the future???? ... I don't think you'll EVER get an honest answer to this question :>(

 

Also notice, the alleged "dealer" did not share any inside information about "discounts". If he was honest, he would have confirmed that most of the dealership parts and accessories are marked up over 50% or more. So is a "10% discount" really a reward?