I ran accross a local HD Dealer (Hacienda North) out here in the Phoenix area who is selling the "IDS" on their Ebay store for $244.

I called the Service department and asked them if they knew about the Elbow Grease promotion. They quickly acknowledged yes. So I asked them if I purchase the IDS through their Ebay store for $244 would I be eligible to have it installed at their dealership and receive the $100 elbow grease rebate. To my surprise they quickly answered no. They said I would have to pay full retail of $305 to receive the rebate.

Now this I totally don't understand. They are the ones selling it for the dicounted price on Ebay. To have it installed at their dealership they would charge their normal rate and receive the $100 off set by Harleys rebate.

I called HD MoCo and explained it to the woman that answered the phone. By the way she was a pleasure to speak with. She acknowledged the problem on the 07's and acknowledged the elbow grease program. She alsoagreed with me that the dealer would lose no money on the installation end of it, as he would be reimbursed for the $100 rebate. Sadly she said that the MOCO has very litttle control over what their dealers choose to do.

Makes absolutely no sense to me why the dealer sells the part on ebay for $244, but won't install them at that price. Installation has nothing to do with the retail price he chooses to sell it at.

Needless to say I won't be doing any business there in the future.

Here's the link for the ebay sale price of $244.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/40287...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Maybe it is the difference between the parts and service department. Some dealerships account differently for motorclothes, motorcycle sales, parts and service. If the parts department is selling it at a discount then that is coming off of their monthly sales sheet, whereas if the service department is selling it it is coming off of their sheet. In general the service department is not a dealership money maker so the elbow grease program gives them the opportunity to sell a part at retail and give you a savings on labor.

There is also a consistency factor. If they do not discount inside their store then it is only fair to charge everyone the same price. Quite possibly their ebay sales are totally separate of their other sales.

I am sure you can find some that will let you buy the part off of ebay and/or an online retailer and they will install it for free, but I would bet that those are few and far between. I don't think that I would boycott a dealer because he didn't give you special treatment.

 

This is typical of any dealership.

I think if you read the fine print on the elbow grease offer it is for "in store" purchases" only, although there are probably a few dealers that will do the install for freeregardless of point of purchase.

The moco does not get that involved in dealership activities. They care about signage, advertisments, locations, displays, moco promotions, and sales. Dealers are independent, and so they have a great deal of flexibility about things like shop rates, discounts, who they will sell to, who they won't sell to, etc. The only thing I would tell you is to call around to other shops in the area and see if they will do the install for you. In the shop here, there's a sign that says "We Charge an Additional 10% on Labor for Customer Supplied Parts". It's their rule.

 

I was at Chicago Harley in Glenview. IL over the weekend and they said the same thing. They normally sell all HD parts at a 20% discount but if you get the IDS and have them install using the grease program then you will have to pay full price for the IDS. Doesn't make any sense. You should have heard the BS I got when I asked about what the charge would be to do a full chrome upgrade to the front end. Then I called yesterday and asked for the Service director and they wouldn't put me thru to him. So, I'll spend my $3-4 grand somewhere else because of some guys who didn't have a clue about customer satisfaction.

 

At my Dealership in Jackson, I was able to buy the IDS at the 20% discount sale this Saturday and no problem on the install at a later date under the Elbow Grease rebate. Different store, different policies I guess.

 

BUY THE IDS FOR $ 210.00 (WITH THE BEARING INSTALLED) FROM
WWW.DISCOUNTBIKER.COM AND INSTALL IT URSELF.. INSTALLATION IS A JOKE!

 

I would install it myself if I had my tools. I just moved out to this part of the country and all my tools are back east.