Dealer Prep
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 82
From: Columbus, GA
These type and other fees annoy me with both motorcycle and auto dealers. They are in the business to sell bikes and cars...prepping their product for sale to me is part of the cost of doing business. Unfortunately too many people accept these fees as the stats quo and don't challenge them.
Novice
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Laredo
Yeah those charges are crazy sometimes and catch a lot of people off guard. I'm working on closing a deal friday for a 13 wide glide 1K off MSRP no prep charges all for 15800 OTD. Perfect timing since I don't care for the new color schemes and they added 800 to the price of the 14s.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 486
Likes: 1
From: Coal Township, Pa
That is one fee I won't pay again. I sent several friends in for deals after I bought mine. All of them were offered deals with no prep fees. My sales guy hooked me up when I pointed it out, added a enough reward points to make it up.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 0
From: Nashville Tennessee
+1....Yep, don't pay the freight or prep and start working down from MSRP. It's always harder when the new models 1st hit the showroom cause of all the hype/buzz, but if you live in an area that has winter, just walk and go back in Jan/Feb when they aint selling sh*t......
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Irvine CA
I thought that was a tad high. I just need to find a dealer in southern CA that wont rip me off. They say they are a "MSRP" dealer, but when they tack in 1300 it's BS. I came real close to buying the BMW K1600. A new girlfriend, and the Ultra Limited brought me back to earth.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 776
Likes: 4
From: Tucson, AZ
I complained about dealer prep when I bought my bike, too. They explained that all dealers charge it and it is a necessary evil. I said it was their responsibility to ensure the bike was road worthy before selling it. That way they don't get sued if the bike falls apart as I'm riding off the lot. When I gave them my bottom line price they just dropped the price of the bike itself to make it all add up. I understand everyone needs to make money but I don't feel like getting raped in the process.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 631
From: NorCal Rocklin
tell them to shove it. They already make an average of 3000 per touring bike sale. Imagine if you paid that 1300 for dealerprep. Insanity!!!!
What I have done is find what the out the door price is and tell them to remove the dealerprep and doc fees. They do pay for prep but if they can eat that too that is even better. Being a salesman at a high volume Harley dealer is like hitting the Jackpot. Unless you are selling sportsters. They make absolutely nothing on those. The touring line is a profit center for HD. That is why they constantly push them to sell.
What I have done is find what the out the door price is and tell them to remove the dealerprep and doc fees. They do pay for prep but if they can eat that too that is even better. Being a salesman at a high volume Harley dealer is like hitting the Jackpot. Unless you are selling sportsters. They make absolutely nothing on those. The touring line is a profit center for HD. That is why they constantly push them to sell.
Last edited by vizcarmb; Aug 22, 2013 at 10:32 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 36
From: Georgia Mountains
Don't get sucked into their numbers game. Who cares what they charge for "Dealer Prep". Hell, they can add a Gremlin resistant undercoating charge for all I care. As long as the out the door price is right, that's all that matters. 2013's should be WELL under MSRP even with all the nonsense charges added.
On my invoice there's one price for the bike ($18,779)...Period. About $1,300 in accessories, plus tax...Done. I really couldn't care if they listed $17,779 for the bike and $1,000 for dealer prep. In the end it would be the same...$1,595 under MSRP.
On my invoice there's one price for the bike ($18,779)...Period. About $1,300 in accessories, plus tax...Done. I really couldn't care if they listed $17,779 for the bike and $1,000 for dealer prep. In the end it would be the same...$1,595 under MSRP.
Last edited by rdam; Aug 22, 2013 at 02:07 PM.