Dealer Rip Off
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 68,021
Likes: 3,276
From:
I never understand people bitching about a car/bike/tool/parts, whatever, costing "too much" $$.
I've never bought ANYthing in my life without shopping around for the best deal, but I sure as hell never got pissed off about someone trying to get all they can for their product...
Damn few things in this world are only available thru one source...
Put a little effort into your search, and spend your $$ where people appreciate your patronage...
I've never bought ANYthing in my life without shopping around for the best deal, but I sure as hell never got pissed off about someone trying to get all they can for their product...
Damn few things in this world are only available thru one source...
Put a little effort into your search, and spend your $$ where people appreciate your patronage...
It always amazes me how many people like to complain about the cost of a bike at a dealership, like they were forced to go there and buy or something. Buying a bike isn't rocket science, shop around for the best deal and live with it or maybe a new Harley isn't for everybody. There are plenty of good used bikes out there to choose from also.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Jul 11, 2014 at 12:16 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
Every dealership has their own business model.
They only have a certain allocation of each bike, and need to maximize their profit on each of them to stay in business.
Some dealership are in more expensive rent, utilities and wages areas than others.
If they have only so many bikes to sell, they need to make a certain profit on each to stay in business.
Some dealerships have lots of bikes, and volume price them to make as much total as possible. Others have very few bikes, and need to premium price them.
If you make 1/2 as much on each bike, you need to sell twice as many to make the same profit.
They only have a certain allocation of each bike, and need to maximize their profit on each of them to stay in business.
Some dealership are in more expensive rent, utilities and wages areas than others.
If they have only so many bikes to sell, they need to make a certain profit on each to stay in business.
Some dealerships have lots of bikes, and volume price them to make as much total as possible. Others have very few bikes, and need to premium price them.
If you make 1/2 as much on each bike, you need to sell twice as many to make the same profit.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,131
Likes: 51,461
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
I'd have gave the ******* a business card and told them when the decided they really want to sell the thing call me and then started looking elsewhere. Never go into a retail place looking hungry for the toy puts all the power in their court, your money you don't "need" to spend it there.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas NV
Mostly the over MSRP pricing is to have room to take a trade. No one wants to know how little the dealer is giving them for their trade-in. If you get your price on your trade and pay $3k over MSRP, you really just got $3k less for your trade-in.
If you ride up on a bike, they have to assume you are going to want to trade it. They are not going to pay over wholesale for any bike/car/boat, etc.. So, they start with an inflated price.
If your bike/car/boat is truly worth say $17k in the market, how much do you think a dealer would really pay you for it. If he told you the truth you'd be pissed.
Without a trade and shopping around should produce a deal you can like.
If you ride up on a bike, they have to assume you are going to want to trade it. They are not going to pay over wholesale for any bike/car/boat, etc.. So, they start with an inflated price.
If your bike/car/boat is truly worth say $17k in the market, how much do you think a dealer would really pay you for it. If he told you the truth you'd be pissed.
Without a trade and shopping around should produce a deal you can like.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 90
From: People's Republik of Kalifornia
Was at a HD dealer yesterday. Wanted $3k over MSRP for a 2014 Deluxe stock. What a rip. Wouldn't budge. Actually told me they couldn't (or wouldn't) do biz with me. Pay or leave. So I walked out.
I don't understand with the advent of the internet why some dealers are like that. The 2015s will be out in a few weeks and the 2014s are just leftovers taking up space on the showroom floor.
I don't understand with the advent of the internet why some dealers are like that. The 2015s will be out in a few weeks and the 2014s are just leftovers taking up space on the showroom floor.
They obviously think that there is a buyer waiting somewhere close and soon.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 608
Likes: 42
From: Kingston, Washington
Tuesday, 7/8/14. Go to dealer, look at bikes. '14 black Deluxe, salesman says they will deeply discount as they need to move 75 bikes by August. He says he will give me 12K for my '12 Streetbob, and let me take all my mods off and return it to stock (3K worth) I leave to sleep on it.
Wednesday, 7/9/14. Go to dealer, test ride Deluxe. Less power, sluggish handling.
Different salesman (other guy had day off) says they can only give me 10K on trade, have to leave on all mods, must get msrp for the Deluxe.
Thank them for their time, ride home.
Thursday 7/10/14. Glad as hell I did not get the Deluxe.
To me that is bordering on bait and switch.
Wednesday, 7/9/14. Go to dealer, test ride Deluxe. Less power, sluggish handling.
Different salesman (other guy had day off) says they can only give me 10K on trade, have to leave on all mods, must get msrp for the Deluxe.
Thank them for their time, ride home.
Thursday 7/10/14. Glad as hell I did not get the Deluxe.
To me that is bordering on bait and switch.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
That is NOT a ripoff. A ripoff is when someone tells you they will fix your bike for $100 and when you come back to pick it up they tell you it is $300 or you can't have it back..
What you describe is capitalism--supply and demand. The dealer must think he can get $3000 over MSRP. If he didn't, he wouldn't ask for it. It is not a ripoff for a dealer not to sell you a bike for what you want to pay. If there are willing buyers out there willing to pay over MSRP, that sets the price. If there aren't, the price will come down until the dealer sees what the market will bear. That's just good business. The dealer doesn't owe you anything.
What you describe is capitalism--supply and demand. The dealer must think he can get $3000 over MSRP. If he didn't, he wouldn't ask for it. It is not a ripoff for a dealer not to sell you a bike for what you want to pay. If there are willing buyers out there willing to pay over MSRP, that sets the price. If there aren't, the price will come down until the dealer sees what the market will bear. That's just good business. The dealer doesn't owe you anything.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Tucson, Arizona
Took almost 2 months of going in looking and haggling for my bike. They only wanted to give me $500 of a 2012 with the 2013 just hitting the floor.
Why wouldn't I just pay $500 for a newer model.
Went in a few times a month and eventually they caved and gave me a couple k off MSRP and 1k service and other goodies.
Didn't get an steal but it was fair.
haggle over price, extras, service. Don't expect to rip them over the coals and they will work with you.
Why wouldn't I just pay $500 for a newer model.
Went in a few times a month and eventually they caved and gave me a couple k off MSRP and 1k service and other goodies.
Didn't get an steal but it was fair.
haggle over price, extras, service. Don't expect to rip them over the coals and they will work with you.
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Joe Kucinski
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 6
From: Burb of Chicago
Just remembering back in the 70's...maybe even the 80's....If you wanted a bike, you had to put your name on a waiting list, with the type of bike you wanted......when your name came up, it made no difference on the color, they called you, and you came in with money in hand, and ride off. By the way, MSRP was a joke, no one sold them for that, they would try and get the biggest bang for each sale. My how times have changed.
