Why is it so hard to buy a motorcycle?

[ilikefood]

Well gee golly......someone else that can read.......you buy a can of soup ........where is the cost breakout of what is included in that price....it’s isnt.......therefore those cost are hidden.

The soup can price is a lump sum price......not a detailed cost breakout.

The actual price was on Yamaha website.......dealer quoted me same price as on the website......how was the actual price never shown to me?

Oh, their was no wasting my time talking......I knew what I wanted......they had what I wanted at a fair price......so done deal. Very little talking to a salesman.

It so funny that so many just like to argue when they are so clueless. I provided real life example of my recent dealer experience buying a bike and yet refuse accept my experiences.

There was no dealer markup.

There was no pricing teasing or hiding of actual cost.

The fees are reasonable.

There was no salesman wasting my time.

Well, all I can say....I get it Sat.......time for some riding.

They got two base models in, two gt models.......the gt models were sold before they got to the dealer...mine being one...there is only one base model left........wonder why they sold so quick?.......Good bike at a good price maybe?

Huh? Why would anyone ever care about a detailed cost breakout? The only thing that matters is the price you pay. If you pay $2.50 for a can of soup, it doesn’t matter if the manufacturer cost of the soup is $2.00 and other fees are $0.50, or if cost is $1.10, and other fees are $1.40, right? And it would be ridiculous if a store advertised soup for $1.10 a can, but then when you talk to the salesperson for a while you eventually find out that the full price is $2.50.

I’m glad you had a good bike buying experience, but that appears to be an exception. And the discussion here is not just about your experience.

And even for you, was the price you saw on the Yamaha website exactly what you paid, or were there fees on top of the website price?

 

[berth]

They got two base models in, two gt models.......the gt models were sold before they got to the dealer...mine being one...there is only one base model left........wonder why they sold so quick?.......Good bike at a good price maybe?

Perhaps. What was the breakdown of your OTD price?

We know the list price. We knows the taxes. Everything else, save destination charge, is up to the dealer, and, typically, not listed on the sales tag in any detail.

So, how was your OTD price broken down?

 

[clutchslip]

.........
How is someone with $6500 cash burning a hole in his pocket, looking to buy a motorcycle right now still not owning one? How in this new electronic age of perusing thousands of bikes and filtering them down to the few bikes you may actually want in minutes online more difficult than when I use to read through the old cycle trader to find and buy bikes years ago? Well the internet can’t filter the human elements that go into buying and selling a motorcycle.
........

Aaaaaaah, because a Suburban costs $75,000? A condo in this area can be a mil. My loaded S1000RR was 23k? Or an ordinary entree is $27 at your local eatery? If you had said $12k I might have cared.

 

[twinturba]

Aaaaaaah, because a Suburban costs $75,000? A condo in this area can be a mil. My loaded S1000RR was 23k? Or an ordinary entree is $27 at your local eatery? If you had said $12k I might have cared.

The easy way to afford a Mil condo and $50 dinners is to not lose half your money to fees and depreciation or buy overpriced gas guzzlers

 

[usedtobefast]

I recently bought a new 2017 Suzuki V-Strom 650.

So I first went into the closest Suzuki dealer, they had one, price tag on the handlebars just showed MSRP price "plus fees". MSRP is $8799 on this model. I asked the sales guy what the OTD price would be, he asked how soon did I want to buy a bike. I said within the week. Not sure if he said his Sales Mgr wasn't around, but someone wasn't around and he could take my info and get back to me. I gave him some info and left. Very odd. Also, they never called me back. I guess the right answer was "right this damn minute!".

I then went to CycleTrader, found a dealer a bit of a drive away advertising a sale price of $5999 on this bike. Wow what a deal. Call them up, tell them what I'm interested in, and what would the OTD price be. They came back with about $8400 OTD. Wow, $2401 in fees. I'm not sure why dealers do this. I was so excited at the $5999 and then totally put off by the increase of $2401.

Next on CycleTrader was one advertised for $6799, call those guys up, similar conversation, his OTD price was a bit under $7600. So $800 less than the mega sale guys.

I called another dealer that was closer to me, asked if they could match the $7600 OTD, after some back and forth it appeared they could not.

Called the $7600 guys back up, put down a deposit, and picked the bike up 3 days later.

Moral of this story? I don't know, make a few phone calls? Don't believe a great sales price? Don't walk into a dealership?

And while this wasn't exactly hard, it was a bit odd. Dealer #1 never even called back, why? Strange. Dealer #2 had such a fake low price that it made me a bit pissed at their OTD price, dumb strategy for them. Dealer #3 was no-nonsense and awesome, and I didn't haggle, just paid their very reasonable OTD price.

 

[Burg-Mann]

6500 dollars would buy you plenty of great used motorcycles capable of a trip like that with no problem. OR. Just buy a new ninja 400 if you want a small capable bike and some soft luggage. I think they are 4999 plus fees brand new!!

 

[motorider365]

...Dealer #1 never even called back, why? Strange. Dealer #2 had such a fake low price that it made me a bit pissed at their OTD price, dumb strategy for them. Dealer #3 was no-nonsense and awesome, and I didn't haggle, just paid their very reasonable OTD price.

I have been to all three of these types of dealers. The ones that just don't want to work too hard to make that sale (dealer #1). Or the bait & switch dealer that gets you all excited to rush right in and buy for that special low low price (dealer #2). Then you have dealers like #3 that want the sale, will work to get your business, and want you to feel good at the honesty at the end of the day. It could also be the salesman too. I've seen salesman that don't want to work for it (like get out of the chair and talk to you), and I've talked to salesman (or sales people) that are enthusiasts and want to see you riding more than wanting to make a buck off you.

Glad you found what you were looking for. The SV650 is a good motorcycle.

 

[LakeMerrit]

Call around or drive around for OTD prices. If a particular dealer won't quote you OTD prices just hang up and move on to the next closest dealer. Once you have the lowest, call the closest to you and see if they'll beat/match it. If not, fly and rides are fun.

Show up with a cashiers check from your bank made out to the exact amount you had discussed as the OTD price. If you're flying and riding, get the OTD quote emailed to you so you don't get screwed after you already flew out. Trade the bank check for the bike, ride away 45 minutes later. Be friendly and maybe you'll get a discounted helmet/jacket to boot.

If they get you OTD for MSRP on a current bike, the profit might not even cover the cost of employing the people who prepped and sold you the bike. It is what it is.

 

[bikeama]

Call around or drive around for OTD prices. If a particular dealer won't quote you OTD prices just hang up and move on to the next closest dealer. Once you have the lowest, call the closest to you and see if they'll beat/match it. If not, fly and rides are fun.

Show up with a cashiers check from your bank made out to the exact amount you had discussed as the OTD price. If you're flying and riding, get the OTD quote emailed to you so you don't get screwed after you already flew out. Trade the bank check for the bike, ride away 45 minutes later. Be friendly and maybe you'll get a discounted helmet/jacket to boot.

If they get you OTD for MSRP on a current bike, the profit might not even cover the cost of employing the people who prepped and sold you the bike. It is what it is.

This almost what I did when I bought my 2016 Multistrada. No Ducati Dealer in Stockton so I have to drive anyway. Sent an email to every northern CA Ducati Dealer on what I wanted and followed up with a phone call. Only two would not quote a price without coming in. Found the best deal for me and when and got the bike. Note cashiers not needed anymore. Quick call to Charles Schwab and my ATM card limit raised to cover the purchase.

Note OTD price varied over $4,000

 

[fubar929]

Moral of this story? I don't know, make a few phone calls? Don't believe a great sales price? Don't walk into a dealership?

Not visiting dealerships is a mistake. I've almost always been able to get a better price when sitting in front of a salesman than I have when talking to them on the phone. I usually call around to get OTD pricing then I start visiting dealers having at least a ballpark idea of what prices could be. That prevents me from getting screwed by places like EBM, who change twice as much for freight and setup as anyone else in the area.

 

[Charles R]

To the guys using the dinner or grocery store prices as examples, you are using an extremely poor analogy.

Why?

Because every time i go in to buy the $9.99 special, even if i don't give an "expected" tip, or anything else... My OTD price is ALWAYS (in CA) more. Why? The "hidden" cost of the state and/or county/city fees known as tax. And those can vary throughout the state. Are they shown in the menu/special price? No. There's usually just a notation about "taxes not included". But rarely is an actual OTD price stated. How is the phrase "Dealer prep, tax, and doc fees not included" any different?

Grocery store is the same, although many items are subject to different taxation rates. Are each of those rates included on the price placards? No.

So using these two things as example of "Total price up front" is not accurate.

 

[Junkie]

Except that tax goes directly to the government, and is well defined (and non-negotiable), unlike the "fees" that the dealer decides to tack on (which can often be haggled on). As was pointed out, the same dealer had 2 bikes of the same model and 1 year difference, and the old one (with low "price") had very high fees.

 

[295566]

Except that tax goes directly to the government, and is well defined (and non-negotiable), unlike the "fees" that the dealer decides to tack on (which can often be haggled on). As was pointed out, the same dealer had 2 bikes of the same model and 1 year difference, and the old one (with low "price") had very high fees.

Not to mention you're going to pay tax on a vehicle purchase as well... so point is even more moot.

 

[infraboy]

Try going around craigslist instead of new/used bike dealers. Theres of FJRs and Concours 1400 models which seem.to fit your budget and what you want to do with the bike.

 

[usedtobefast]

Not visiting dealerships is a mistake. I've almost always been able to get a better price when sitting in front of a salesman than I have when talking to them on the phone. I usually call around to get OTD pricing then I start visiting dealers having at least a ballpark idea of what prices could be. That prevents me from getting screwed by places like EBM, who change twice as much for freight and setup as anyone else in the area.

We'll just have to disagree on this one. Of the last 4 new motorcycles I've bought, nothing good has come from going into the dealership and talking with a Sales person face-to-face for me.

I'll go back one more ... at a dealership, looking at buying a new bike, they are saying $11,200 is the best OTD they can do, no way to go lower. I'd already told them I had my trailer, checkbook, and tie down straps. Told them I couldn't do that, started to leave, the two sales guys were actually getting a little mad and pissy about it all, then they went to $10,800 ... I just left, kind of weird talking to mad sales guys.

Once in the parking lot, I called another dealership, asked their OTD price on the exact same bike, he did some calcs, $9,300. Done. Put deposit down on credit card, picked it up 2-3 days later.

Seems to me, when you are at the dealership they want you to have an emotional connection with the bike, and then spend more than you should ... and they want to wear you down until you buy the damn thing so you can leave. When on the phone, seems they know they have 5 minutes to give a good price or the buyer will move on to the next dealership.

 

[fubar929]

We'll just have to disagree on this one. Of the last 4 new motorcycles I've bought, nothing good has come from going into the dealership and talking with a Sales person face-to-face for me.

I'll go back one more ... at a dealership, looking at buying a new bike, they are saying $11,200 is the best OTD they can do, no way to go lower. I'd already told them I had my trailer, checkbook, and tie down straps. Told them I couldn't do that, started to leave, the two sales guys were actually getting a little mad and pissy about it all, then they went to $10,800 ... I just left, kind of weird talking to mad sales guys.

Once in the parking lot, I called another dealership, asked their OTD price on the exact same bike, he did some calcs, $9,300. Done. Put deposit down on credit card, picked it up 2-3 days later.

Seems to me, when you are at the dealership they want you to have an emotional connection with the bike, and then spend more than you should ... and they want to wear you down until you buy the damn thing so you can leave. When on the phone, seems they know they have 5 minutes to give a good price or the buyer will move on to the next dealership.

So you did things exactly backwards from what I recommended and it didn't work out for you? Shocker! Remember: call around FIRST then go visit dealers.

Example: I bought my Super Duke at the end of the model year. Called literally every dealer in the state who had one left and got OTD prices. Ace Motorsports was $800 more than the lowest price I found (at a dealership near L.A.). Over the phone, they told me they absolutely could not go any lower on the price. Other local dealers were even higher, so I didn't bother visiting them.

I figured flying to L.A. and riding back was going to cost $300 in airfare, taxis, gas, and hassle. So I showed up at Ace with my truck and a check that was $500 less than the price they'd quoted me over the phone. Took them less that 5 minutes to decide they wanted the deal and I was driving home with the bike 20-25 minutes later. They threw in a cool T-shirt... and an IOU for an $1100 Akrapovic slip-on (thanks to a promo that every other dealer told me didn't apply to a cash purchase).

Visiting the dealer doesn't always get you a win like that, but more times than not I've been able to do better than a phone quote by showing up in person.