Zak - Stay on point fella. The original post was dealer asking price versus MSRP. I made the case that dealers are not out to get you by asking over MSRP. I re-read all of your responses to this post and you are just angry at dealers. I never said anything about the value of my older motorcycle.

Fellow campers - Look at the MSRP of a new motorcycle as a starting point for negotiations. The manufacturers, of all vehicles, puts this out there as a courtesy to the buying public so as to compare models within a manufacturer or models between manufacturers. You should not be so concerned on the over/under MSRP pricing as the actual price of the motorcycle. The MSRP of the Road Glide ST is a hair under $30,000. If a dealer is asking $31,000 they should be reported to the FBI and if the dealer will take $30,000, it is a bargain? Really? I can't see paying over dealer cost for that motorcycle regardless of how it makes me drool (and it does).

How is it that we walk into a dealership, go over to the clearance rack, and select a shirt that is 20% off and brag to our friends about the great bargain. We don't complain about the shirt costing $3 to manufacture in Asia and we just stole it for $40. Or buying the Air Jordans for $150 because they are half off but still only cost $10 to manufacture. Michael Jordan laughs as he fills the fuel tank on his yacht. I understand that the size of the purchase makes the difference. However, if you add everything you buy in a year, paid 90% margins, the difference is not so great. Maybe to help those who fixate on the MSRP as the hard stop on price, Harley can alter their MSRP. The MSRP on the new Road Glide ST is now $70,000 but some dealers have them on clearance for 50% off. Now you can brag to your friends that you raked the dealer over the coals. You will be happy, Harley Davidson will be happy and the dealer will be happy. In the end, if you walk into a dealership and are only willing to go to the MSRP, and the other person will pay $5,000 over MSRP, that person wants it more so why shouldn't they have it? Eventually, free market forces will prevail and months later, the new owner of the motorcycle will be thrilled with the deal or kicking themselves for not waiting. Vehicle purchase negotiations are success if both parties feel they can live with the deal, not when one or both parties believe it was a bad deal; especially on a luxury item.

 

This is one reason I won’t buy new. Another is the number of clean, low mileage used bikes on the market.

 

I heard that and they said freight was going up as well...didn't say an actual number but sounded like it was going to require a substantial amount of Screaming Eagle synthetic lube.

 

IMO a used bike hunt is way more fun than a new bike hunt. Sometimes I buy something completely different than I started after. It's not difficult to find a good bike and an owner that really wants to sell (negotiate). Plus, the ball busting at resell is much less painful.

 

Will all due respect I have to disagree with you on several points. Earlier you said that if I was the seller of a product and could get maximum price, even if that meant I knew I was taking advantage of a buyer, I would. Well, you are mistaken. I own a business and could over charge my clients for services and they most likely would pay the premium. However, I am an ethical business owner and refuse to over charge my clients. My clients are aware my services are reasonably priced and this is one of the reasons they chose my company in the first place and also why they continue to stay with me. Harley dealerships, or any dealership for that matter, has the same ability to choose whether to be reasonable and ethical, or get every last cent out of each and every customer - treating that customer as a 'one and done' purchase.

It has been made very clear my many people in this thread that there are dealerships out there who are choosing not to participate in the gouging of its customers. If a dealership can still thrive without gouging its customers, so can other dealerships. Just because a dealership can sell a bike for $5K or $10K over MSRP, increase shipping fees, increase document fees, and add additional costs to setup, doesn't mean they should. Those dealerships that show some honor and respect their customers will be rewarded in the long run. Their customers will come back out of loyalty. In almost every thread on this forum, there are members who say how much they return to dealerships who they feel are reasonable. Not only do they return to purchase a bike, they return to buy parts, services, motor clothes, etc.. Their loyalty also brings in new customers for that dealership when they pass on their recommendation to family, friends, coworkers, or even online forums such as this. How many times have you read on this forum, even when price gouging was not as rampant as it is now, about someone not liking how he was treated at his local dealership and ended up buying a bike from another dealership based on a forum member's recommendation? That dealership will remember, hopefully, who recommended them to that new buyer and will do a little something for them on their next purchase. It's the circle of loyalty and something for which every dealership should strive. It's dealerships that care about its customers that are able to keep its doors open.

 

RiderX, it's nice to see you posting again. Its been a while since I've seen you here.

 

Just got the 22 SGS for $31,500 out the door

 

Didn't you just post this yesterday? Only asking because I swear that you did. I feel like I'm in a time warp like the movie ground hog day. Lol

 

A dealership in Mesa, AZ told me today that they wanted 39k plus plus for the Road Glide/Street Glide ST. I was shocked...