Dealer "setup"
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 614
Likes: 79
From: Iowa
I haven't paid a set up fee on any of the 4 new bikes I have bought, and don't intend to ever do it. Also to go along with the set up fee is that awesome $100 documentation fee for them to carry the papers from one guy to the next.
I walk into a dealership, tell them what I will pay OTD for the bike (I usually shoot for right around MSRP for OTD) so thats taking off TTL and Prep and freight, and if they tell me no I leave and go to the dealer that is 30 miles away. It's worked for me so far.
I walk into a dealership, tell them what I will pay OTD for the bike (I usually shoot for right around MSRP for OTD) so thats taking off TTL and Prep and freight, and if they tell me no I leave and go to the dealer that is 30 miles away. It's worked for me so far.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Upstate New York
There are two dealers in my area of upstate NY. One of them charges $120 for setup and the other charges nothing. $600 is way too much.
The fees are negotiable as well. I recently made a deal with the first dealer and they agreed to wave the fee. Shop around.
The fees are negotiable as well. I recently made a deal with the first dealer and they agreed to wave the fee. Shop around.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 25
From: NorCal
It's designed to increase dealer profits by some people paying the fee, and other people paying MSRP for the bike and feel good about the deal because they got "free setup."
Same thing as "Dealer Added Markup" on car window stickers. It just sounds more palatable than "markup."
I had the setup discussion with my dealer a few weeks ago when I purchased my SGS. I also purchased a black front end, 10" PYO, Daymaker headlight, air cleaner, & exhaust along with some other goodies. When reviewing the paper work I saw the line item for setup and told them no way was I going to pay $595.00 for setup especially since they were essentially tearing the bike apart. Ended up not paying freight or setup in the end...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
As always, there is a negotiated price between a free buyer and a free seller.
Dealer can tell you what his price is, and you can say yes or no.
Customer can tell dealer what his price is, and he can say yes or no.
Everybody tries to get the best end of the deal, and it usually ends up where the buyer feels like he is paying a bit too much, and the dealer is feeling that he is making too little.
That's the marketplace.
Dealer can tell you what his price is, and you can say yes or no.
Customer can tell dealer what his price is, and he can say yes or no.
Everybody tries to get the best end of the deal, and it usually ends up where the buyer feels like he is paying a bit too much, and the dealer is feeling that he is making too little.
That's the marketplace.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 314
Likes: 8
From: Ct
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