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I'm looking at a used bike at a local motorsports dealer, and in the description of their services they talk about tax, license and a recon fee. What is a recon fee, and do I have to pay it or can I just say no, I'm not paying any recon fee?
Probably Reconveyance fee. This also applies to homes which are secured by deeds in most states (or mortgage, depending on the state you live in). Anyhoo...the note (the loan) does not actually secure the collateral, it just is the agreement of terms. If you are financing, there will be a lien against the title to the bike to prevent you from selling it, without paying off the lienholder first. With that said, the Recon comes in to play when the old lien is paid off and title is reconveyed, meaning there is no longer a lien and the bike has marketable title. That is of course, unless you are financing, in which case a new lien is created (replacing the previous). Aside from the other comments made about a Reconditioning fee, that's the only thing I can think of. By the way, a Recon fee shouldn't be more than $25-50. So if it is, then it's probably something else entirely.
A recon fee usually means reconditioning fee. Typically I would say this is BS, if I as a dealer buy a bike for 8000 and spend 500 to service it then I will adjust my asking price to reflect the my true cost to profit margin. If it is a dealer fee, that could be different depending on the state. In some states if a dealer charges 1 person a dealer fee he must charge all persons. Either way, I would try to have it removed from the deal, but in the end if it is a bike you really want and can live with the final price then what they call the fee really doesn't matter. Good luck.
"Reconstruction Fee" - It was a crash scoot.
Some 'decorate' pigs to ride in parades, BUT it is still a pig. Some call it a "Recondition Fee", but, well, you get the jest.
You didn't think they'd fix it for free, did ya???
If you trade one in they give you less if they have to do anything to it before they put it up for sale. So seems to me they are making their money on the front end before you even see the bike.
I'd go someplace else. Or look for a private party with the same bike you want. I understand they are in business to make money but sometimes they get a little carried away with it.
It is just a dealer prep fee with another name. They have already built the prep fee into the price and are trying to get another shot at a bunch of your money. Some of the independents will quote/advertise lower prices on used bikes than HD dealers and then start adding fees. Sometimes these fees will exceed a $1000 and then you wind up paying more than what the HD dealers would be asking for the same bike. I would consider the recon fee to be a negotiating point.
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