In a few months, I'll be buying my first 'new' HD from a dealership. Have bought from private parties before. Any tips on on buying would be helpful. For example, do dealerships negotiate on price like car dealers? What else should I look for? Thanks.

USMC5803

 

I would first tell you to do it in the middle of the winter but it appears you may live somewhere where there is no end to the riding season.
Definetly shop around. Get a price from every dealer. Get them to write it down if you can. (good luck with that though)
Don't finance through HD if you can help it. Unless they're willing to deal on interest rates too. If not, don't tell them your gonna finance elsewhere until you've made your deal. HD wants the finance charges just like any other financial institution and some may not cut you as good a deal if they know they're not gonna get that too. Maybe
Make whoever you buy it from throw in the 1,000 mile service for free. If you buy a service manual, you can do the rest yourself. The first 1,000 mile service is a biggie though so its best to have them do it.
That's all I can think of off the top of my head.
Good luck!

GSF

 

From my experience, the shipping and "getting it ready" charges have been waived.

Some dealers will throw in several hundred dollars worth of accessories. Negotiate the price of having them do the Stage One.

Enjoy

 

You might be able to get a pretty good deal on 12's right now. Out in our area, they will throw in store credits when they are trying to move bikes.

 

Plenty of deals to be had, especially on the leftover 2012s. If one dealer won't deal find another one that will. I usually try to get as many OTD price quotes via email and phone before stepping foot into a dealership. Once you go inside the dealership you're on their turf and it's always better to negotiate from a position of power.

 

From my experience out here they don’t budge all that much. Like others have said, you may be able to get some accessories thrown in or they may knock off the prep charge. I wouldn’t settle for just “we’ll throw in a couple of oil changes” you can do that yourself. It sounds like your set on the dealership but I wouldn’t stop there. You can check eBay or other listings and pickup something “almost new” and save some $. In this market there is always someone out there taking a hit on their garage queen. BL, don’t by hasty and throw your $ away…

 

Like the bumper sticker from the '80s used to say:
"friends don't let friends buy from dealers!"
What would the reason be to NOT buy again from a private party? The dealers blow period. The money they make on you pays for those funny little shirts they all wear.

 

After you buy, stop looking for a better price.

 

First thing that I'd suggest is to talk to some local bikers.

The word gets around quickly if a dealer is gouging cutomers on bikes, service prices, or does sloppy work.

Getting a good price on a bike is important but getting warranty work done quickly and correctly is important also.

Back in the years when H-D's were hard to get, some dealerships were cranking the price up over MSPR and folks don't forget that kind of crap.

 

When I bought mine, I had a price that I wanted and I wanted a sissy bar. Told them how much I was willing to pay OTD and said deal or no deal. He went to the manager and we shook on it. I came back from my bank the next day with a check for the exact amount. They had the bike prepped from the day before and within a half hour I was out the door with my fatboy.