Yesterday I went to my local Harley dealership (Barb's in NJ) to look at a 2011 Street Glide with 2,000 miles for $19,000. I took my 04 FLHT and it has about 20,000 miles and in prestine condition. Keep in mind I do all my own upgrades and maintenence. I did my work on retail value of both my 04 and the 2011. I checked Kelly Blue Book and NADA. I figured I could get atleast $10,000 trade for my bike and talk them down in price in the newer bike but add some accessories to the deal to make up for the difference. I was trying to get them to come down to $17,000 and add on $1,900 worth of accessories (painted inner fairing, chrome front end, etc). I figured if I get $10,000 for mine they could still sell it at $12,000-$14,000 and make some money. So the only money to finance was $9,000 for a new bike.

I took the 2011 out for a ride while they evaluated my bike. The 2011 was a nice ride, real nice. I came back and they said "your bike needs work". They said it needs brakes (front and rear) and the base gasket and primary leaks, and offered $6500 for a trade. I looked at the sales associate and was furious since I did my front brakes last year, rear breaks 3 WEEKS AGO. The bike has no primary leak (I would know this because both my garage and driveway are white concrete no drops). Plus I go over my bike with a fine tooth comb anytime I look at it.

After I complained they took it back again and had the service manager look while I stood there and watched him. He found everything to be in PERFECT WORKING ORDER, no issues with brakes, no base gasket issue, and no primary leak! I figured they would counter offer me on the trade to maybe $8,000 since they screwed up, but they didn't. They didn't counter offer me on anything. Not even on the price of the new bike. So I said !#$# it and left!

As I left the sales manager came out and I told him how dissapointed I was, how I was treated, and how they have service techs that don't the difference between bad brakes and good brakes and cannot even determine a proper leak. Barb's slogan is "Nobody walks at Barb's". I told the sales manager you should make shirts up when you cannot complete a deal that says "I walked at Barb's". I have learned my lesson from dealers. H-D would not be getting any of money any time soon. I'll buy from a private owner when the time comes.

If Mills in Burlington was open I would have had a new bike. They were the best place to buy from before they closed their doors. And for grins, here is an attachment picture of my bike. So either I can sit on it and put more money in it or put it on Craigslist. We shall see. The bike was stock when I bought it and I added a ton of extras including 1550 kit, chrome front end, speakers, radio, chrome engine kit, etc.

Thanks for letting me rant. Stay safe!

 

Very frustrating. Some good dealers and some just suck.

 

I will buy from a private seller when the time comes too. And I'll buy pre-07 because I think they're fundamentally better bikes. The fact that their resale is lower only makes it better yet. You sure you want to "upgrade?"

Dealers sell motor vehicles and there are two kinds IMO. Some act like new car dealers, Some act like used car dealers, (like Barbs apparently.) But they're all still just car dealers. Caveat Emptor Baby!

 

I can tell you no dealer will come off $2000. Bikes are selling at least in my area. I strugled to get 400 off last July when it was a little slower. As for your existing bike, you will always do better selling then trading in.

 

Yeah, I miss Mills too. I had bought 2 bikes from there whne they were open and their prices were reasonable. I think they were able to keep the prices down due to the fact that they didn't have a fancy showroom. Now I'm stuck with Brian's or Barb's. I traveled down to Roanoke VA when I bought my 2012 SG in order to get the best deal.

 

I too bought my bike from Mills.

When I asked back in 08 why the MoCo wasn't on their azz about the size of their showroom, I was told they sell 750 bikes a yr. I do know they gave me a smoking deal that nobody in NJ could touch. I even went back to the dealer I bought my 06RKC from (bike I traded) and they couldn't touch the deal. I use them for service and they have been more than fair.

But with fewer and fewer dealers available now, I believe your story will be the norm........

But back to Mills, I heard that a mechanic from Mills opened a performance shop in the same building now, Anybody know if this is true?

 

Yes a Mills mechanic did open a shop, but he's only there on a month-to-month basis due to the fact the property is 4-sale.

 

Bought my bikes from Mills also. Miss the place. Got great deals and service through them. Yep, there is a former mech running a shop out of Mills. Took my bike there for minor stuff, I believe he charges $20 an hour for labor, works on all types of bikes. Will be taking my bike to Barb's for major service due to having the reward points from my HD Visa card.

 

why dont you come to my shop, keystonehd, we are better then allot of places and give fair trade evals. keep in mind that used bikes dont have that much mark up in them after service and if it needs something. all bike get serviced so we can sell it knowing it is right. if you want to come down i have an 07 an a 2012 that are not doing me any good on the floor. they need to be under some ones ***. 11-3 today. pm me if you want. ill drop my name and number.

 

part of the problem is that you had an unrealistic expectation as to the value of your bike. when you trade yours in, you can't look at the 'retail' value, you have to look at trade value. they offered you $6500, kbb lists good condition trade at $7000. so they lowballed you $500. your 'ton of extras' doesn't really mean squat to the dealer on trade.

the average retail on the streetglide is $18950 (without sec or 103, add a couple grand if it has those)

so it sounds like they were close and you probably could have ended up with a deal, but you wanted too much. i don't see anyway that they could have given up the chrome front end and a painted inner fairing.