Online Harley bike quote , is everything but
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,035
Likes: 10,766
From: SE Michigan
I told a salesman at a local HD dealership what I feel is the best model.
We have passed the event horizon on technology and online commerce. If you sell anything and you want to survive, you have to open up every communication channel and teach your salesman to sell by text, email, video conference, phone, in person...however the customer wants to do it.
Had this guy treated the OP right, eventually they would have been on the phone at some point.
I dont think these dealerships know how to sell in any way other than... hook em.... get em through the door... take em on the tour... pitch a price and slide a contract over while saying press hard... three copies
We have passed the event horizon on technology and online commerce. If you sell anything and you want to survive, you have to open up every communication channel and teach your salesman to sell by text, email, video conference, phone, in person...however the customer wants to do it.
Had this guy treated the OP right, eventually they would have been on the phone at some point.
I dont think these dealerships know how to sell in any way other than... hook em.... get em through the door... take em on the tour... pitch a price and slide a contract over while saying press hard... three copies
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,323
Likes: 2,392
From: Jackson, OH
I think I tried the email thing once....it's not an authentic way to get a real price. It's designed as a tool for dealers to know you're interested and they can shake the bait....a lot...before trying to set the hook. My experience has been that dealers are extremely loathe to do phone or email negotiations. They want you in the dealership, period. And I understand that, not that I always agree with it.
I'm currently trying to deal on a 2020 (or 21) FLTRK. Most of the dealers I've called are only giving me msrp which is available online. Further negotiations or better pricing are only happening if I visit. One sales guy told me the (new) owner simply refuses to name any price other than msrp online or by phone...period. My small local dealer is proving to be the least hassle and easiest to get an understandable price from. Unfortunately his selection is extremely small. I'm also dealing a couple states away and this does give me some leverage due to distance. They know I'm not driving 6 hours just to negotiate a bike price.
Bottom line: I'm not emailing to get a price. If I make a phone call and it doesn't prove productive, I'm not going to call back and chase them.
I'm currently trying to deal on a 2020 (or 21) FLTRK. Most of the dealers I've called are only giving me msrp which is available online. Further negotiations or better pricing are only happening if I visit. One sales guy told me the (new) owner simply refuses to name any price other than msrp online or by phone...period. My small local dealer is proving to be the least hassle and easiest to get an understandable price from. Unfortunately his selection is extremely small. I'm also dealing a couple states away and this does give me some leverage due to distance. They know I'm not driving 6 hours just to negotiate a bike price.
Bottom line: I'm not emailing to get a price. If I make a phone call and it doesn't prove productive, I'm not going to call back and chase them.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 727
From: South Austin Texas
So you go to 3 or 4 of your dealers online to see what they have in stock. And they do have bikes but no prices. And what do we see a big orange square that say GET A QUOTE . So you give them your time and info to see the price right .
Wrong , you get everything but a price even if you go back and forth with 4 or 5 emails and ask for the price they just wont give it ! Has anyone had this problem with online shopping .
Wrong , you get everything but a price even if you go back and forth with 4 or 5 emails and ask for the price they just wont give it ! Has anyone had this problem with online shopping .
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 1,346
From: Banana Republic of amerika
My experience tells me they also do this with service pricing as well. Contacted the local dealer for pricing for a stage 2 upgrade and got whole lotta nothing with no price. Emailed the service dept. as well and only got crickets. I know of a great former Harley mechanic who is working for Indian and will most likely get the parts and have him do the work there. If they dont want my business, Ill find someone who does.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 651
Likes: 12
From: Broomfield, Colorado
I went through this two years ago, the on-line price request got me only msrp. So I called around and mostly got the run around except from one dealer, the sales guy I talked to pretty much cut the deal with me over the phone (it took a few calls because of course he couldn't really make any kind of deal himself) and this was at one of the bigger super big box dealers in the Denver area. When I went into the dealer to finish it off of course they want to do the show you around, meet the clothing/parts/service folks who could care less about you. I just said forget all of that where's the paperwork I need to sign...less than an hour later I was following my wife home on my new bike.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 459
From: Here and now
Ive not experienced this. I bought a bike from a dealer that was 1000 miles away. Negotiated the price, shipping and a t shirt over the phone.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 15,967
Likes: 7,068
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
Not just 1 single email either.
How about thousands? Everyday, about 15 emails.
Some from the dealer, some from every insurance co on Earth. Some from various doctor offices (most are from Mexico.)
Yup, no doubt your email address being sold to spammers...
Almost as bad as the scoundrels that run "various moto sites" dole out members's email addresses...
How about thousands? Everyday, about 15 emails.
Some from the dealer, some from every insurance co on Earth. Some from various doctor offices (most are from Mexico.)
Yup, no doubt your email address being sold to spammers...
Almost as bad as the scoundrels that run "various moto sites" dole out members's email addresses...