Two of mine have antique plates, and a buttload of miles on them. I go into the dealer maybe twice a year. They are reasonably sure I'm not buying a new bike, and still greet me by my first name.
Keep your pants up, and don't back in when you go.

 

It should be understood by any person old enough to purchase a car, truck, motorcycle, boat or RV that the dealerships #1 job is to make the sale and separate as much money from you as possible.

They are in business to make money!

One of the main reasons they love "Payment" buyers.

It is everyone's responsibility to do their research on new and trade in values, ask what the OTD price is and be prepared to have to negotiate to get there.

A smart buyer can hold their own, say NO and walk if necessary.

 

that's a really long post....

How 'bout a brief summary of what makes dealership corrupt?
(besides the obvious of out right lies 'n such)

KTF

 

If someone is interested in knowing how dealerships actually work, it's worth reading.

They are finely-tuned money extraction organizations that view the "customer" as an ATM and their goal is to lie, cheat, deceive, and overcharge you in every imaginable way. If you play their game, you will lose.

Which is why I refuse to play their game. I will never "call for price" or ask "how much are you asking" or finance with them. I just won't. Ever. In fair trade, the buyer sets the price he is willing to pay. If the seller agrees, then a transaction happens; if the seller doesn't agree, then no transaction happens. So know your price, and only ever EVER EVER EVER offer an "out the door" price. Cast your net wide, make offers through the internet sales department of any and all dealers you can reasonably imagine flying to and riding home on the perfect bike. Make the deal online with a hard out-the-door number. No surprises, no fees, no hogwash. Bring a check with you (either a cashier's check if you've got the cash, or a check from your credit union or bank if you need to finance it).

You cannot beat them at their game. So don't play their game. Turn the whole thing into a simple yes/no transaction. "I will give you $15,000 for that 2-model-year-old red Pan America you have on your floor, out the door. Do we have a deal?" Then they will say "yes" or "no". If they say "no", fine -- hang up and move on to the next dealer and the next, until you find one who says "yes".

It's really that simple.

 

Mother of God.

 

Genuinely curious. Why are there so many here griping about this post? You'd think the dentist started a root canal without numbing the area up, the bitching seems excess.

 

Not speak for everyone on this forum, but everyone would agree that when you are a Costco Elite card holder, you’re automatically and legally considered to have a Ph.D. Ergo, technically I would have an amateur MBA with an honorary Costco Ph.D. Also, literally no other threads address the dealership practices as I have mentioned in detail. Also no other former employees offered any training specifics as I did which tells me you didn’t read my entire thread.

** Also, Keith being condescending to random strangers on threads for absolutely no reason is a sign of low IQ function due to an inability to regulate your emotions. May I suggest listening to Kenny Loggins, Danger Zone to assist you in readjusting your attitude. Never forget we love you because you’re one of us, even if you have a GED and apparently hold hate in your heart for those with MBA’s.This is a safe place where your opinion matters.

 

Literally… thinking exactly the same thing. Honestly, I think it’s a rough time for our country due to the prices of eggs. That’s why I there’s so much hate on this thread, but I love it. Keep the hateful progressive Karen posts coming. I’m super bored at work right now anyway.

 

Well, not having a black street glide makes me immediately like you more, so everything you said before or after that I automatically have to agree with.

The greet should just be: “hey I’m Brad, I’ll be over here if you have any questions. Bathrooms and vacant janitor closet are located in the back.” That’s what I would do and have done. This takes the high pressure sales tactic off the customer so they enjoy seeing the bikes without being bothered.

Quite the assumption, to surmise that you’ve been riding things on two wheels longer than I’ve been alive. Is that including bicycles without the seat too? You may have also held the lack of a gag reflex longer than me as well, I’m not sure what we’re in competition over here? Or what being older or younger has anything to do with the recognition of corruption within dealerships?

 

1000% agree. The sportster 883/1200 had its place. Not a sportster fan, but I have a healthy respect for the bike. My favorite was the 2013 72’ in hard candy custom paint. Preferably the blue and red examples. My point was not to diminish the sportster but to reinvent it in the opposite direction. Too many HD community members regarded/ regard them as beginner bikes or girls bikes. That, although I disagree is also very true. Experienced veteran HD owners are not running out buying sportsters. I would have preferred if HD would have resisted the sportster into a retro classic knucklehead using the same/ modern (updated for reliability) rocker boxes and valves as well as engine casting. Even throw on a tank shifter (where you could use both your foot or the tank shift). Just for retro sake and add an upgraded springer front end with throw back 1930’s colors. Remember the original knuckleheads were less powerful than the modern sportster. I think it would be bada$$ to see a retro knuckle on a sportster chassis. Considering they were nearly the same weight in 1936 as the sportster is today or in 2021. Nobody considers the knucklehead a girls bike or a beginners bike. But because bikes got bigger and heavier and the sportster stayed smaller they’re stats became a memory. I’d much rather them redesign it to old school specs than a new liquid cooled version with the revolution max. They would certainly sell more sportsters if they went old school. They stopped production because they weren’t selling and HD sold the sportster patent, engine castings, tank and fender castings along with the machining tools to SunRay in China who is building the new “HD Sprint,” for under $6,000. Allegedly. Now, wether or not HD is going forward with a repackaged Chinese version of the Sportster for 2026. We will see. But either way, again, just my opinion, the MC is going in the wrong direction.

Yes, agreed. I use to tell customers this all the time. The best riding non-touring model, is the Softail Heritage Classic. Even if you don’t like the looks, it’s got a lot to offer for the price, not that it’s entry level, because it’s 100% not entry level. But it’s an all around can do everything bike. It checks every box. You either love it or hate. For touring, the Road King is the best bag for the buck. Not sure why the HD decided to drop it. I understand they said it was due to poor sales numbers. But that also eliminates customers that are price point buyers. I agree with HD when they moved to the Street Glide Standard in 2020. Smart move. Keeping it in black. Also smart. Considering that is the most popular color and most requested by customers. We would often joke about it being the “me too,” bike. But it kept us in business. Realistically no Harley is a beginner bike. Anything 250-500cc is a beginner bike. Harley doesn’t really market to new riders, they understood that their bikes were not the best to start off on which is why the started the Riders Edge program which is still around. Great resource for anyone new or even for those experienced. I highly recommend it. But the Street 500 and 750 were the only true beginner bikes that come to mind. Sportsters are very powerful for their size and not something I’d recommend for a first time rider. They aren’t forgiving. They’re the closest thing to an original HD you could readily buy. They have their quirks too. Some may start off on a sporty, which would only benefit them in the long run but no, not a good beginners bike. The street 500 filled that gap. But yes the Street and Sportster would 100% get you in the door. No argument there.