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[tazmun]

The dealer I work with has always had MSRP pricing.  It's a fairly new dealer, opened in 2004.  Since then he has opened two more full dealerships and three tee shirt shops.  He seems to be doing well in this down market.  Could be he has always treated the customer good.

Could that be Maryville?? He has one in Kentucky to I believe, or maybe Ohio.
They are doing very well in a down market.

[Spiderman]

It's not what they want for a new motorcycle that turns me off, it's how little they feel the one they sold you a couple years ago is worth now. I'd happily pay $35k, $40k for a new Harley if they'd give me something reasonable for my used one. And you know, they really don't even want your trade-in. They'd like every sale to be a "clean sale" At least the car dealers want your trade-in if it's late model. I remember when my argument with metric owners for buying a Harley was resale value. Seems that is in the same place as wherever the Confederate Government is these days.

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[Panhead_Jimmy]

It's not what they want for a new motorcycle that turns me off, it's how little they feel the one they sold you a couple years ago is worth now. I'd happily pay $35k, $40k for a new Harley if they'd give me something reasonable for my used one. And you know, they really don't even want your trade-in. They'd like every sale to be a "clean sale" At least the car dealers want your trade-in if it's late model. I remember when my argument with metric owners for buying a Harley was resale value. Seems that is in the same place as wherever the Confederate Government is these days.

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I know two "hard core" Harley riders who have traded for a Victory in the last 6 mos because they got as much as $3,000 more for their used Harley in trade, compared to what a H-D dealership offered.  My thoughts are, "Yeah, and who are you going to sell the used Victory to?"  That's a pretty small demographic, but they are both happy as a pig in chit....even if they are a little defensive about their decision.

[harley56]

It's not what they want for a new motorcycle that turns me off, it's how little they feel the one they sold you a couple years ago is worth now. I'd happily pay $35k, $40k for a new Harley if they'd give me something reasonable for my used one. And you know, they really don't even want your trade-in. They'd like every sale to be a "clean sale" At least the car dealers want your trade-in if it's late model. I remember when my argument with metric owners for buying a Harley was resale value. Seems that is in the same place as wherever the Confederate Government is these days.

B B

They should want your trade-in as Harley is really stressing to dealers how important the pre-owned business can be.  Many dealers are selling as many used as new.  Problem for a dealer can be couple year old trades get too close to the price points of new bikes and are tough to sell now that there are plenty of new around.  Also, at least here in California, people often have an inflated view of what their bike is worth.  Riders still feel their 10 year old Road Kings are worth $12K and that's just not the case.  (They know their house is worth 1/2 of what it was a few years ago, but don't want to accept that reality on their bikes) Retail book on a 2001 Road King is $10K and while a dealer can probably get a little more than that, many buyers need financing and, at most, you can only get about $8K from the finance company.  Now, if you price the Road King at $11K, which is optimistic out here, the bike is approximately $12,500 after tax and license.  You get $8K from the lender and customer needs $4,500 as a down payment.  That weeds out a lot of would be buyers.

[Spiderman]

They should want your trade-in as Harley is really stressing to dealers how important the pre-owned business can be.  Many dealers are selling as many used as new.  Problem for a dealer can be couple year old trades get too close to the price points of new bikes and are tough to sell now that there are plenty of new around.  Also, at least here in California, people often have an inflated view of what their bike is worth.  Riders still feel their 10 year old Road Kings are worth $12K and that's just not the case.  (They know their house is worth 1/2 of what it was a few years ago, but don't want to accept that reality on their bikes) Retail book on a 2001 Road King is $10K and while a dealer can probably get a little more than that, many buyers need financing and, at most, you can only get about $8K from the finance company.  Now, if you price the Road King at $11K, which is optimistic out here, the bike is approximately $12,500 after tax and license.  You get $8K from the lender and customer needs $4,500 as a down payment.  That weeds out a lot of would be buyers.

Very good points made and I agree. The point behind my post was about trading every couple of years. I wanted to trade an 07 for an 09 in this case.

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[FLSTFI Dave]

Could that be Maryville?? He has one in Kentucky to I believe, or maybe Ohio.
They are doing very well in a down market.

That would be the one.

Wildcat is the on in KY.

Smoky Mountain is the one in Maryville. 

I think it has a lot to do with how he has treated customers well from Day one. 

He has been fair on Trade in for my wife.  Was good on the price for both bikes are bought for her, and good on the CVO I bought.

[bknerr]

oc, md store closed end of sept. they didn`t let anyone knowtill it happened. should have had a sale during bike week.  dealer near me said they can no longer advertise sales, harley won`t allow it, at least on web site. have to go to store to find out about black friday sales. stupid!

[harley56]

oc, md store closed end of sept. they didn`t let anyone knowtill it happened. should have had a sale during bike week.  dealer near me said they can no longer advertise sales, harley won`t allow it, at least on web site. have to go to store to find out about black friday sales. stupid!

You can advertise sales, just limits as to how many Harley-Davidson parts, accessories and motorclothes products you can advertise.  Cannot put a blanket "10% off" sale out there.  Also limits on advertising savings on new motorcycles.

[1sharprdkg]

There's a variety of reasons I have not bought a new H-D in four years, but the biggest one is that San Diego H-D canned their Sales Manager who always got me a good solid price for my trade-in. The guy who took his place basically is of the "sell it yourself philosophy"  The fact that between 2001 and 2007 I bought five new motorcycles from them didn't amount to squat. And of course going to another dealer meant I was just some suckah off the street. Sooooooooo, much as I wanted an 09 SERG so bad I still think of it, there was no way to make a deal.
     They did me a favor. I'd gotten into that gotta have a new bike every year or so mindset and now I'm like I hope I keep my current RG until I die. To use the much overused expression,at the end of the day there's a lot of reasons why H-D sales took a nosedive and for the most part in my opinion it's because the dealers got to where they treated their customers like sheep to be shorn instead of valuable assets of a thriving business.

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   +++Agree

[1sharprdkg]

The dealer I work with has always had MSRP pricing.  It's a fairly new dealer, opened in 2004.  Since then he has opened two more full dealerships and three tee shirt shops.  He seems to be doing well in this down market.  Could be he has always treated the customer good.

Smokey Mountain HD, in Maryville? I like that shop!

[FLSTFI Dave]

Smokey Mountain HD, in Maryville? I like that shop!

Yep, that is the one.

Owner rides, and owner talks with customers and even rides with them.

[skreminegul07]

That would be the one.

Wildcat is the on in KY.

Smoky Mountain is the one in Maryville. 

I think it has a lot to do with how he has treated customers well from Day one. 

He has been fair on Trade in for my wife.  Was good on the price for both bikes are bought for her, and good on the CVO I bought.

They took your wife in trade on a Harley?  Really?

[FLSTFI Dave]

They took your wife in trade on a Harley?  Really?

I wish.   

The price I got for her 883L on a new Heritage for her was more than fair.