Dealer to customer loyalty??

[whylee]

Just a question concerning my local Honda dealer. Alittle background, from this dealer in the past 4 years I bought 4 new bikes, a XR650R, VFR800, 230F, RC51. I bought them without haggling on the price at all. In the past 6 months I tricked out my RC51, buying full Ohlins front and rear suspension, Marchesini wheels, Galfer brakes and wave rotors, Leo Vince exhaust and numerous other parts without haggling on price.

So today I go in to check out a XR650L, they want $6150.00 OTD. I feel I deserve alittle deal and offer $6000.00 cash OTD. They tell me I can give them the 6 grand and come back in a few weeks with the 150.00.

Now I normally never haggle on the price, I just buy it. But this time I only had what I offered and seeing that I have been a loyal customer and have spent a alot of money there I thought they would atleast deal alittle.

Should I look for another dealer? I even asked if I paid their full price could I atleast get an exhaust at cost for it and they wouldnt go for it.

Do you think my offer is out of line ?

[MrFurious]

First off, were you dealing with a flunky (salesman) or one of the higher ups (sales manager, owner, etc)? If just a salesman, ask to talk to the sales manager or the owner. Explain to him/her that you've bought numerous bikes and accessories off them and that as a loyal customer you feel that it's high time you're entitled to a little bit of a discount. If you have receipts and the like for your past purchases, bring them along as proof.

If they still won't deal with you after that, walk out the door and find yourself a new dealer. Every new bike I've purchased in the past from a dealer came with a 10 or 15% discount on parts and accessories. Not just once mind you, but for however long I owned the bike. Now I'm not saying to expect a similar offer, but there are a growing number of dealers offering such perks to keep their customers coming back to the shop now that everything is so readily available on the internet.

[GIANTac1]

First off, were you dealing with a flunky (salesman) or one of the higher ups (sales manager, owner, etc)? If just a salesman, ask to talk to the sales manager or the owner. Explain to him/her that you've bought numerous bikes and accessories off them and that as a loyal customer you feel that it's high time you're entitled to a little bit of a discount. If you have receipts and the like for your past purchases, bring them along as proof.

If they still won't deal with you after that, walk out the door and find yourself a new dealer. Every new bike I've purchased in the past from a dealer came with a 10 or 15% discount on parts and accessories. Not just once mind you, but for however long I owned the bike. Now I'm not saying to expect a similar offer, but there are a growing number of dealers offering such perks to keep their customers coming back to the shop now that everything is so readily available on the internet.

Yes, what he said! 6150.00 OTD is a bit steep! You should be able to get that thing OTD with discounts on accessories for no more than 5700.00.

Stick to your guns!

[Valerie]

Shoot Harry at the TT OEM Store an email about the bike you want. I bet even with shipping it'll be way less!!!!!

[whylee]

First off, were you dealing with a flunky (salesman) or one of the higher ups (sales manager, owner, etc)? If just a salesman, ask to talk to the sales manager or the owner. Explain to him/her that you've bought numerous bikes and accessories off them and that as a loyal customer you feel that it's high time you're entitled to a little bit of a discount. If you have receipts and the like for your past purchases, bring them along as proof.

If they still won't deal with you after that, walk out the door and find yourself a new dealer. Every new bike I've purchased in the past from a dealer came with a 10 or 15% discount on parts and accessories. Not just once mind you, but for however long I owned the bike. Now I'm not saying to expect a similar offer, but there are a growing number of dealers offering such perks to keep their customers coming back to the shop now that everything is so readily available on the internet.

After I bought my RC51 they gave me 10% off my helmet and jacket and thats it.

The only reason I even tried to haggle is because I always hear and read about little price breaks and deals that other dealers offer.

I may ask the manager but I dont want to seem like im begging, they all know me very well there so they know how much I spend there. Ill see how I feel tomorrow.

[XR4DEZ]

Buy it from another dealer and then go by for a visit.

[slotcarrod]

That sucks! I say new dealer time!

My Honda dealer get's me the best price in Alberta and gives me 10% off other items, all the time!

You sound like a nice guy but let the owner know how you feel.

[rebelventurer]

See it all the time dealers gouging their best customers till they get sick of it!

$6150 out the door is too much, $5500 or there abouts is fair. For a repeat customer who has also bought a lot of parts, they should cut you a deal, as stated above talk with management, or even owner. The old saying applies give an inch they take a mile. Should have played hardball from the start. Since we started racing mx, I have seen a big turn around in my dealers attitude and prices, they know I will be buying several bikes a year and a lot of parts and they do not want to loose that business. Example Kawasaki kx 65 lists for $2900 +/- they wanted that plus $300, now they will sell for $2550 OTD, plus parts at 15% over cost.

[Motosprtman]

Problem is we are all thinking old school, in the days of customer service etc. That is a thing of the past. All the dealers want and get now is PROFIT. Car dealers are the same way they talk alot and do little. One or Two fully qualifed REAL mechanics on the staff and the rest are just kids or persons in a "vistors status". The days of haggling are gone, the best you an get is MSRP or maybe MAYBE a few bucks below for a feel good. Even then the dealer is making money, because they buy it cheaper than they sell it. IF I was you, just as apoint of order I would courtesly explain my feelings to the sales manager / owner - then walk anyway taking your business elsewhere. Keep in mind though, they will NEVER loose, they will simply sell it to someone else.

[Adamsvh67]

I paid 6142 OTD for my '07 L. Thought a bit steep, but as good or matched any dealer in the state, so I took it. Do get a discount on parts, accessories. 10% I think. They gave me 25 % off new helmet at the time. I've heard of guys in other parts of the country getting better price, but that's all I could do in NM.

[JSanfilippo]

I know this is a somewhat off topic but....

It irks me when a dealer still wants to charge an arm and a leg on a left over bike. Just recently I looked at a new 06 KTM 525xc and the price discounted it to $6235 from $7600. However they quoted me $7295 OTD What that broke down to is $6235 for the bike, $514.39 in sales tax (8.25%), about $25 for registration. However that figure left $520.61 unanswered dollars. They said they couldn't go any lower than the $6235 because that was just a little above cost and for a Katoom I believe it. That $520.61 was pure profit.

IMO the profit should be built in to the price of the bike. A fair price for that bike OTD would have been about $6900! Its no wonder they've had that bike leftover for 6 months.

If you can't get the deal you're looking for, go to another dealer. To the original poster, do you have an OTDcycles near you?

[xr500_89]

wow you guys got it nice nearest dealer to me for a new 650 r or l is over 8k otd...... man cali sucks

[MrFurious]

Honda East in Maumee, OH has 3 or 4 brand new '06 650L's on the floor and they're advertising them at $5299. Figure in tax (about 7.25% here in Ohio) and you're looking at $5683 and some change. of course they might tack on some BS setup & prep fee's, but never let a dealer sucker you into paying those. They make their profit off the product itself, and if they didn't set it up or prep it they couldn't sell it to the majority of their potential customers.

If they refuse to knock off those fee's and you're buying a current model year model, tell them you want one still in the crate. All you'll have to do is install the front wheel, handlebars, and maybe the forks. Any bone head can do that without screwing it up.

[HeadTrauma]

wow you guys got it nice nearest dealer to me for a new 650 r or l is over 8k otd...... man cali sucks

You need to shop some more then. I'd laugh at anyone trying to get more than 7500 for even some special Euro dirtbike.

A 650L for $8,000? You have to be kidding.

[pburke]

you can pick up a new 2006 XR650R in Tennessee for about $5483 - just gotta do a road trip I guess. The L sells for $5083 - same bike as in '07...

http://www.southernhonda.com/new_vehicle_detail.asp?sid=05290949X4K24K2007J9I31I10JAMQ1606R0&veh=21619&CatDesc=Motorcycles

Absolutely no shipping, but if anyone was trying to sell me a 650L for $8000, I'd take a little vacation...

[xr500_89]

You need to shop some more then. I'd laugh at anyone trying to get more than 7500 for even some special Euro dirtbike.

A 650L for $8,000? You have to be kidding.

no i swear its a little outrageous around here, if im gonna buy a new bike i gotta drive almost 2 hours to a honda dealer

[HeadTrauma]

What city do you live in/near? Out here in the Antelope Valley and even further south prices are about average. I mean, $8000 is crotch rocket territory!

[hidesertbrp]

I hate to say this, but they do it because we let them. In So-Cal, Chaparral is the biggest dealer around. When my group was buying minis (klx 110), we went there and asked for an OTD price on a group buy. They wanted like $2300.00. We even showed them advertisements for far less and they wouldn't budge. We all ended up at a different dealer saving about $500.00 per bike. Chaparral didn't care because they knew some sucker would be there in 5 minutes to buy the bikes we didn't. Those guys are pirates when it comes to buying new bikes. I don't know of any locals that will buy from them. And yet, they break sales records all of the time.

[HeadTrauma]

Hey what about Champion Motorsports down in Orange County? I hear it's one of the largest bike dealers in CA. I've never been there, though.

[xr500_89]

yeah even chaparrell is getting bad, a crotch rocket at berts costs 13-18k