Dealer Rip Off
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 2,143
From: Hope Mills NC, bye CA!!
This...and I fail to see where a dealer ripped you off. I paid less than 20 grand for both my bikes. Ebay is just as good as any dealer if you find what you want.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 1,966
From: Great State of Canada
Paid MSRP for mine & was surprised no discount for $ on barrel head. Seven months later MSRP is up nearly $2000.
Where is the ripoff ? You get given a price the dealer will sell for and you either agree with him or he keeps the bike and you keep your $$. They aren't called "Dealers" for nothin.
Where is the ripoff ? You get given a price the dealer will sell for and you either agree with him or he keeps the bike and you keep your $$. They aren't called "Dealers" for nothin.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 35,833
Likes: 38,737
From: Post Falls, ID
Salepeople pre-judge, profile and size up their customers.
1. Mr. Timid Buyer walks in cold looking and sounding like a geek and a nerd, no interpersonal skills, never rode before, has a 620 credit score, no money down and parked a hooptie outside with two crumb crunchers in diapers will pay $3,000 over MSRP.
2.Mr. Assertive Buyer makes prior internet contact with the sales manager, has financing pre-arranged and/or pays cash, has no trade in, has a 780 credit score, has ridden 40 years, has insurance pre-arranged will pay below MSRP.
Just my 2 cents.
1. Mr. Timid Buyer walks in cold looking and sounding like a geek and a nerd, no interpersonal skills, never rode before, has a 620 credit score, no money down and parked a hooptie outside with two crumb crunchers in diapers will pay $3,000 over MSRP.
2.Mr. Assertive Buyer makes prior internet contact with the sales manager, has financing pre-arranged and/or pays cash, has no trade in, has a 780 credit score, has ridden 40 years, has insurance pre-arranged will pay below MSRP.
Just my 2 cents.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 1,966
From: Great State of Canada
Salepeople pre-judge, profile and size up their customers.
1. Mr. Timid Buyer walks in cold looking and sounding like a geek and a nerd, no interpersonal skills, never rode before, has a 620 credit score, no money down and parked a hooptie outside with two crumb crunchers in diapers will pay $3,000 over MSRP.
2.Mr. Assertive Buyer makes prior internet contact with the sales manager, has financing pre-arranged and/or pays cash, has no trade in, has a 780 credit score, has ridden 40 years, has insurance pre-arranged will pay below MSRP.
Just my 2 cents.
1. Mr. Timid Buyer walks in cold looking and sounding like a geek and a nerd, no interpersonal skills, never rode before, has a 620 credit score, no money down and parked a hooptie outside with two crumb crunchers in diapers will pay $3,000 over MSRP.
2.Mr. Assertive Buyer makes prior internet contact with the sales manager, has financing pre-arranged and/or pays cash, has no trade in, has a 780 credit score, has ridden 40 years, has insurance pre-arranged will pay below MSRP.
Just my 2 cents.
.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 34
From: NC/SC
IMHO, this is not a rip-off. The dealer is asking to pay you the $$ over MSRP BUT it's up to you to take him on his offer.
I will tell you what a rip-off is. Took my bike to the biggest local HD dealership for a pre-sales inspection (I was buying from a private individual with sales being contingent upon HD 66-points inspection coming back good). My first Harley so I didn't about that little throttle screw that you can also use as cruise control. I tell the Service guy about the throttle not being as smooth as it should. Minor thing, right?
Now I go back to pick-up the bike at the dealership and see a charge of around $70 to "fix" the throttle issue. I pay and come back with the bike. No big deal. Fast-forward 3 months, I have acquired some knowledge on a few basic things related to Harley (thanks to this forum) and have been doing a lot of wrenching of my own to know a thing or two about my bike. I come to know that the tiny screw is positioned there to control the throttle response and takes about 5 seconds to adjust by tightening/loosening it with your two fingers.
I can deal with marked up prices somewhat but not with dishonesty. Needless to say, an indy about a mile away from the dealership gets all my business because he is an ex-HD mechanic, straight-forward and above all honest. How do I know, because I do a little bit of research before buying anything big for the bike and check his prices. Sometimes they are slightly higher but only because he is also there to make money like big-name HD dealership a mile away. Only he is doing it without being dishonest.
I will tell you what a rip-off is. Took my bike to the biggest local HD dealership for a pre-sales inspection (I was buying from a private individual with sales being contingent upon HD 66-points inspection coming back good). My first Harley so I didn't about that little throttle screw that you can also use as cruise control. I tell the Service guy about the throttle not being as smooth as it should. Minor thing, right?
Now I go back to pick-up the bike at the dealership and see a charge of around $70 to "fix" the throttle issue. I pay and come back with the bike. No big deal. Fast-forward 3 months, I have acquired some knowledge on a few basic things related to Harley (thanks to this forum) and have been doing a lot of wrenching of my own to know a thing or two about my bike. I come to know that the tiny screw is positioned there to control the throttle response and takes about 5 seconds to adjust by tightening/loosening it with your two fingers.
I can deal with marked up prices somewhat but not with dishonesty. Needless to say, an indy about a mile away from the dealership gets all my business because he is an ex-HD mechanic, straight-forward and above all honest. How do I know, because I do a little bit of research before buying anything big for the bike and check his prices. Sometimes they are slightly higher but only because he is also there to make money like big-name HD dealership a mile away. Only he is doing it without being dishonest.
Last edited by kingxirol; Jul 11, 2014 at 06:08 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 14
From: Fla
Couldn't read all the responses...
But, suffice it to say, you just met one of those people who belong to the "You gotta pay to belong" club. You don't matter if they don't think you have the funds, or look like you'll spend whatever they ask, to be their 'friend'. They don't care about anything except how much green they can scrape off yer ***. Once you show that you can, and are willing to pay, you'll never see anything but a smile on their faces, because you are now a viable resource for their income. Do not let anyone convince you otherwise...
But, suffice it to say, you just met one of those people who belong to the "You gotta pay to belong" club. You don't matter if they don't think you have the funds, or look like you'll spend whatever they ask, to be their 'friend'. They don't care about anything except how much green they can scrape off yer ***. Once you show that you can, and are willing to pay, you'll never see anything but a smile on their faces, because you are now a viable resource for their income. Do not let anyone convince you otherwise...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 53
From: Myrtle Beach,SC
Some of ya all have to realize dealers only have a certain amount of inventory. If they only have an allotment of 8 Ultras and they have sold 6 of them before July 1st , they likely will want to make all they can on the remaining inventory based on prior sales and the fact that MORE Harley s are being sold this year than last.
They WILL find a buyer for that bike at the price they want. There are many people who will drop $30K on a bike in cash. Especially if it is the last one and they don't have the time nor inclination to travel to save another 5%,
This is why Beach house Harley in Shallotte kicks MB Harley *** in sales. They have a whole lot more inventory and can let bikes go for a lot less.
This is a lot more bikes than MB harley has on their floor.....and there are another 15 of them under the railing. In July they have many bikes to sell and a few 13s at $2000 under MSRP plus tax. The two chairs on the right are the ONLY sales people in the store. They handle the deal from sales to F&I. no sales managers no F&I guys, just two great people selling bikes. Honestly and without all the "lifestyle BS"
They WILL find a buyer for that bike at the price they want. There are many people who will drop $30K on a bike in cash. Especially if it is the last one and they don't have the time nor inclination to travel to save another 5%,
This is why Beach house Harley in Shallotte kicks MB Harley *** in sales. They have a whole lot more inventory and can let bikes go for a lot less.
This is a lot more bikes than MB harley has on their floor.....and there are another 15 of them under the railing. In July they have many bikes to sell and a few 13s at $2000 under MSRP plus tax. The two chairs on the right are the ONLY sales people in the store. They handle the deal from sales to F&I. no sales managers no F&I guys, just two great people selling bikes. Honestly and without all the "lifestyle BS"
Last edited by TenMidgets; Jul 11, 2014 at 08:03 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Been riding for 40 years, all makes. Each time I went bike shopping started with Harley and ended up walking out. This last year was different. They gave me top dollar for my trade-in and a nice discount off the new one, a 2013 RKC. Oh yeah, six months earlier a Victory dealer opened in town. Coincidence?
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,557
Likes: 1,847
From: Albuquerque, NM
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.
There you go trying to confuse people with the facts.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Timbuktu
It always makes me shake my head when I hear someone use this term. Most of these are the same guys who patronize a dealership time after time, but get a bug up their *** when they don't like their pricing on a particular part or something like that. It's kind of like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer day after day and then complaining because your head hurts. I just don't get it.
From 300%+ markups and "triple matrix" pricing, to frivolous "extended warranty" plans that don't cover anything and basically is free money to the stealer.... Yes if it looks like a duck...
Why do you think Stealerships are suing Tesla Motors? They are afraid customers will fled the obsolete model of a stealership.
You should be able to buy the product straight from the Manufactuer, no stealer games and there would be "warranty service centers/parts stores" to support the product.
That's the future and it's coming.
Last edited by ColoFXDC; Jul 11, 2014 at 10:55 PM.
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