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[cahdbiker]

Happy Holidays, I am still on the fence about selling my 09 SEUC. It looks like new and runs great. I has a Fulsac Stage one set up. Here is my question. My dealer will take it on consignment for 10% of whatever it sells for plus $400.00 for salesman. Also they want $142.00 for a full safety inspection before they will take it to sell. My wife and I are both on the fence about parting with it, but those 4K mile vacations are getting to be a little too much for her. They said I should ask $29,900.00 for it. What do you think about the consignment fee? Thanks in advance CAHDBIKER

[muddypaws]

JMO but that is way to much to pay. I would think $1500 would be a more fair price.

[cvobiker]

I've sold 3 bikes the consignment route and paid 10% of selling price and never paid any other fees, just the 10%. Usually i set my selling price 5-10% above what i wanted to help cover the fee. I also had these bikes sold within 10 day's of going on the market and i attribute this to fact that dealers are good at what they do (most anyway) and they can do financing on the spot.. i dont have any problems doing the consignment route but i wouldn't pay those extra fees

[Fired00d]

Set your reserve (minimum you'll take) for the bike at a price that will include all those fees or the minimum amount that will include what you think is fair or what you want to pay. That way you get what you want (for the bike), they get there fees, and hopefully the buyer gets a price they are happy/willing to pay.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[1sharprdkg]

That seems high to me also. Are there any other dealers close to you to see if they may have a lower price/different policy? Sold the wife's Honda Shadow a few years ago on consignment at the local Honda Shop, after trying for months to sell for a real low price with no luck. I think people were scared there was something wrong with it. I had known the owner of the Honda shop most of my life and we also went to high school together. I took it down there he looked it over, we discussed what he thought it was worth and what he could sell it for. I told him a price I wanted out of it, which was almost two times what I paid for it. He put the price higher. Two days later he told me to come get my money he had already sold it. He made money, I made money, someone got a great little Red Honda. The Harley consignment terms sounds great for them but NOT for you. Good luck!         

[cahdbiker]

Thanks for the input. If I sold it for say 28,500.00 they would be making about $2850.00 plus the $142.00 safety inspection(mandatory) and the $400.00 to the salesman. I bought it there and paid $1500.00 over MSRP in the first place so I was hoping to pay just a flat fee close to what you said. I just went out and sat on it and I am still on the fence about even selling it. I have it in Cycle Trader and Craig's list and have had only two calls. Probably just the wrong time of the year. Although the dealership near me is  selling a lot of new ones.  When ever I see a Screamin' Eagle Ultra in there used it is usually gone within two weeks. I don't mind paying a commission, but at their price it is the same if I sold it myself for $25,000.00 I need to think about it some more I guess. Thanks for the support. CAHDBIKER

JMO but that is way to much to pay. I would think $1500 would be a more fair price.

[Twolanerider]

The salesman works for them not for you.  His fees should come out of their end.  They're double dipping.

[grc]

I agree with Twolane, the extra spiff for the salesman is double dipping.  The dealers I'm familiar with that do consignment charge a flat 10% fee with no other BS.  They will not only make an easy 10% with no investment on their part, but they will also be likely to get a commission on financing and perhaps an ESP.  This place sounds a little greedier than most.

How much would this place or another Harley shop give you to just buy the bike outright?  With the 10% plus $400 plus $140 deal, you might be able to come close to the same net just selling it to a dealer. 

Jerry

[cahdbiker]

Jerry, good question on just selling the bike to the dealer. Next time I am in I will ask them. I think the $400.00 plus the $142.00 safety check fee is total B.S. also. CAHDBIKER

I agree with Twolane, the extra spiff for the salesman is double dipping.  The dealers I'm familiar with that do consignment charge a flat 10% fee with no other BS.  They will not only make an easy 10% with no investment on their part, but they will also be likely to get a commission on financing and perhaps an ESP.  This place sounds a little greedier than most.

How much would this place or another Harley shop give you to just buy the bike outright?  With the 10% plus $400 plus $140 deal, you might be able to come close to the same net just selling it to a dealer. 

Jerry

[casper]

Why not just list it on HD Trader, I listed mine there and sold it in hours for the full asking price, guy came a week later and picked it up. Money was in the bank 4 days before he picked up bike

[ultrafxr]

I've done consignments with a couple dealers and they both demanded an inspection to make sure there were no problems with the bike.  The fee was 10% of sales price with a maximum charge of $1,500.  This was 5 or 6 years ago so I don't know if the same deal still goes or would go for CVOs.  The bikes I had sold in the $16k to $19k range.

I'll say this for them - they sold one of the bikes in a couple weeks for more than I'd been asking for two years with no takers.

[phato1]

I've never done a consignmetn sale but the 10% seems fair, the other fees seem to be BS. I would do the 10% commission on the deal just so I don't have to run the adds and deal with looky-loos and other assorted tire kickers.

[VaEagle]

This consignment seems about right. Several years ago i looked at selling a bike on consignment and a local H-D dealer wanted close to $100 for a thorough inspection since their reputation was on line and they wanted 10% for their fee.
Considering the aggravation of trying to sell a bike on my own with drunk/crazy phone calls at all hours, fake checks or Identity theft and other issues. I would let the dealership have 10% to avoid problems.
The dealership also has on site financing which may help it sell quicker and the walk in traffic increases exposure too.

[ultrafxr]

BTW most dealers will be happy to finance the bike for a purchaser even if you sell it privately. $$$ in their pocket for financing.

[SDCVO]

If the dealer finances, it legally has to run thru the dealership which in certain states mean that the dealer must "safety" the bike before selling and will be responsible for any "issues" that may come up.

[OBB]

My dealer has talked before about a "dealer assist" program for financing if buying or selling a bike privately. Not sure what all that entails but someone else mentioned it.

Also, when I bought my EGU from a private seller a few years back, my CU wanted an inspection  done and it cost the seller $50 from a local shop. Might be a piece of mind thing for a lending institution.

[D-N-D]

I sold many bikes on consignment the dealer asked how much I need to get out of the bike and then they price it from there with no up charges at all, if they need some room in the pricing they will call and ask if you can move on what you need to get of of the bike. Remember the dealer has financing and warranty to offer so they make money on that also.