Dealers

[oldbiker]

I've been talking to a few dealers about buying a red/black 08. I've come to the conclusion that I'm riding a piece of sh&t and everything in the showroom is of the finest quality. They can keep thier 08's. I get treated better at the HD shop. I'll ride my 04 Nad until the tires fall off before I take what they want to give me on trade.

[beezer]

That's the way car dealers and snowmobile dealers act as well.

Funny thing, I doubt anyone here thinks Harley is a better product. But last Sept I was in Salinas,Ca for a week so I sort of toured the bike shops( I also was fortuante enough to take in the superbike races at Laguna Seca) in Salinas. The Harley shop people were the friendliest, most informative, and just treated me like family. They told me that the policy of their shop is, if you are on a Harley and break down within 300 miles of their shop they will send someone after you.Didn't matter day or night. I don't know what it cost,but late night on a road trip, maybe 1000 miles from home, that would be a comforting thought.

[mrfuni]

I hear what you are saying about the dealers. I don't need some pimple face kid showing me a bike that I know more about. I do all my own research on the computer and then negotiate by email. Get the best price from 3 dealers within my area and then go to the closest with the lowest offer. Usually they'll match it because they want my future business. Not repair because our bikes don't break down, but for accessories etc.

[buckeye]

I was in the car business for 20 years. You should be able to get a good deal on a new car (or bike) by shopping around a little (one or two stops should tell you what a good price is - just ask for his best price). Trading in your used vehicle is another story. You have to realize that all you are ever going to get for your trade is wholesale price. The dealer has to do one of two things with the trade (1) sell it at auction (wholesale) or (2) retail it, which means he has to pay commission to a salesman, check it out mechanically, clean it, advertize it. etc. The bottom line is that if you want top dollar out of your trade, you have to sell it yourself. Most people don't want to take the time or go to the trouble of selling themselves, but this is how the dealer stays in business. If however the dealer is discourtious, just try another dealer (a dealer who doesn't treat his customers right won't be in busiess very long anyhow)

[jon]

I have had a few dealers appraise trade in on my 2006 Nomad with 7,500 miles. They offered me about $7,000 to $7,500. I have only owned it for 18 months and paid a fair price of $11,900 new. I have even added a $1,000 worth of stuff!

One dealer told me "if you want to collect motorcycles, buy a Harley. If you want to enjoy driving a motorcyle, buy a metric." I am very pleased with my 1600 Nomad and besides I owe more then it's worth to the dealer.

[Top Cat]

You beat me to it buckeye, I was goint to say if you want top money you have to sell it yourself.
On the other hand, I got more than I paid for my 650 Silverado when I traded for the Nomad. Go figure ???

[jon]

You beat me to it buckeye, I was goint to say if you want top money you have to sell it yourself.
On the other hand, I got more than I paid for my 650 Silverado when I traded for the Nomad. Go figure ???

That depends on what you paid for the Nomad.

[Idaho]

Buckeye and TC are right. Advertise it and sell your '04. You will not make out on a trade. It will take patience is all and since you have decided not to trade that should not be a problem.

[rlfaubion]

Buckeye told the whole story, and in a classy way I'd say. I don't think dealers want a trade-in and especially at this time with the market for scooters of all kinds going down.

Don't like Dealers - don't deal with them. There's the Internet to buy or least learn about prices, and your own research, tools and sweat to fix stuff. Good luck Ole Biker. Hope you get the '08!

[cactusjack]

Pull the add-ons and sell them yourself as well. No dealer is going to give you $.10 more for you trade if you have a $600 Mustang seat, at least that's been my experience.

[buckeye]

TC - if you got more for your trade than you paid, then you either bought it for less than wholesale, or the dealer took the discount he would have given you if you didn't have a trade and added it to the wholesale value to give you the "tradein value". Either way you probably got a good deal. Most think that the "vehicle business " is a dealer trying to rip us off, and 40 years ago that may have been true. It probably comes from the fact that it long ago became a "negotiation" to buy a vehicle. You wouldn't think about dickering the price of a refridgerator or a TV, but since vehicles can be negotiated, we all have a certain fear of being ripped off, so we understandably think the dealer is trying to gouge us. From my experience as a Gen. Mgr of a GM dealer, the best way to buy any new vehicle is to (1) determine what (exactly) you want by either reading up on it or visiting showrooms, or test driving, (2) check out two or three dealers in your area for price, service reputation, and comfortability with the experience, (3) check with freinds and nieghbors to see how their experience with dealers was, (4) buy from the dealer you feel most comfortable with. Over the years most cars, trucks, motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc. have had the percentage profit greatly decreased by the manufacturers. If you approach the dealer seriously and are knowledgable about what you are buying, you will get a good deal and a good dealer. Sorry to be so windy, but that's my 2cw

[unwind2]

Yeah old biker until they are ready to sell your used one. I have a friend who likes my Nomad. We saw an '03 Nomad at a dealer the other day....no add ones....they wanted $7200 for it before taxes etc......

[rewindgy]

Buy High - Sell Low - that's my Motto!!! You can never win when you trade in a used scooter. Just figure out how much you can stand to lose and go with it. If you can't stand to lose - then stick with what you got. Got a buddy with a 07 Harley ( his turned out to be a Lemon) and the Dealers in the area won't give him the time of day on an 08.

[dantama]

T You wouldn't think about dickering the price of a refridgerator or a TV,

I do

And I get lower prices many times.