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[phato1]

Warning slight rant 

So... the wife an I meet some friends at a Local HD dealer - it was planned that way and then we were all going out to dinner, anyway....
 My friend and his wife are looking at a used 2014 Softail slim as my wife and I walk in, nice looking bike- in vivid black. He asks me what I think so I tell him it's a nice looking bike and would be a BIG step up in both physical size and engine displacement from the Sportster his wife now rides. She like the bike, it seems to fit her well. so I ask him what are they asking???  OK sit down here it comes ---- $15,999.00  WTF the thing was only $15,899 MSRP  NEW.....And a 2015 is still priced at only $15,899.00... I went as far as pulling out my smartphone and showing him(my buddy) the HD site.  Again my friend  quietly asked for my opinion  so I told him to ask the salesman to justify asking new bike MSRP for a USED bike that had NO mods- not even an exhaust change. Not only that, they wanted to hit them with a "prep" fee of something like $350 --  After a long discussion they couldn't agree on pricing ----  Needless to say the bike is still at that dealer.

I'm just really curious if the used market is so good that dealers are getting new bike prices for used bikes with several thousand miles on them...

[JQCVO]

What you described makes absolutely no sense. It seems to me like they are trying to prey on unsuspecting buyers who haven't done their homework.
Why would you buy used when you can buy new for the same money?

[mark]

i don't think you can explain the inexplicable.

[phato1]

Unfortunately at this particular dealer they tend to try and add all kinds of BS fees to the new bikes too --like you stated they love the "impulse buyer" or the uninformed one -- $500(some models even more) over MSRP? $500 prep?? $450 freight - which is also a markup from what HD actually charges them...  Then their exorbitant "document" fees? I mean in my opinion $350 bucks to fill out a few forms is nuts, even more so when the buyer is transferring plates, and it's not like the old days when the dealer had to send someone down the the DMV or Registry to physically register the vehicle and get a plate issued - the dealership has a pile of new registration plates that the state gives them to issue so they never even leave the building..

As I told my buddy and his wife at dinner -- "if you buy anything other than a T-shirt from that place you're crazy"

[Twolanerider]

Unfortunately at this particular dealer they tend to try and add all kinds of BS fees to the new bikes too --like you stated they love the "impulse buyer" or the uninformed one -- $500(some models even more) over MSRP? $500 prep?? $450 freight - which is also a markup from what HD actually charges them...  Then their exorbitant "document" fees? I mean in my opinion $350 bucks to fill out a few forms is nuts, even more so when the buyer is transferring plates, and it's not like the old days when the dealer had to send someone down the the DMV or Registry to physically register the vehicle and get a plate issued - the dealership has a pile of new registration plates that the state gives them to issue so they never even leave the building..

As I told my buddy and his wife at dinner -- "if you buy anything other than a T-shirt from that place you're crazy"

Why even buy a t-shirt from a place that attempts to rip you off so blatantly.  Seriously, if they're going to be a crook they should at least give you the respect that comes with making a real effort at it; to assume you're smart enough they need to actually try hard.  They're blatant; and that's just rude.  It insults a person's intelligence.... 

Shop like that doesn't deserve even the s-shirt sales.

[SanJuanRon]

As I told my buddy and his wife at dinner -- "if you buy anything other than a T-shirt from that place you're crazy"

Allow me to modify this statement.  "If you buy anything other than a T-shirt from the CLEARANCE RACK from that place you're crazy."  SJ Ron

[phato1]

Why even buy a t-shirt from a place that attempts to rip you off so blatantly.  Seriously, if they're going to be a crook they should at least give you the respect that comes with making a real effort at it; to assume you're smart enough they need to actually try hard.  They're blatant; and that's just rude.  It insults a person's intelligence.... 

Shop like that doesn't deserve even the s-shirt sales.

Just so ya' know  .. I don't have any of their shirts...

[OBB]

There's a cluster of 4 dealerships owned by the same thief here in Ohio. He marks up EVERY bike at least $1400 ($3k on the CVO) plus the freight and prep. He "includes" the first service and a T-Shirt with every new bike purchase plus "gives" them a stack of coupons for the service department good for up to 20% off. Sad thing is he keeps making money hand over fist. We'll stop in those shops while out riding just to use the restroom or meet up with friends. I won't even buy a damn bottle of water out of his vending machines. In his case, the term Stealership is quite appropriate. The old saying that there's an ass for every seat comes to mind.

[SBB]

Just so ya' know  .. I don't have any of their shirts...

How about telling us who this dealer is.
You know that these guys rip everyone off.
Don't keep it a secret.

 

SBB

[phato1]

How about telling us who this dealer is.
You know that these guys rip everyone off.
Don't keep it a secret.

 

SBB

Well, if you're ever in Southampton Massachusetts......detour to either Ellington Connecticut(TSI Harley) or East Hartford Connecticut (Gengras Harley) where I've always been treated fairly.

[SBB]

Well, if you're ever in Southampton Massachusetts......detour to either Ellington Connecticut(TSI Harley) or East Hartford Connecticut (Gengras Harley) where I've always been treated fairly.

So I guess it is a secret?

 

SBB

[mjb765]

So I guess it is a secret?

 

SBB

Sure looks that way

[2 ROSE]

There's a cluster of 4 dealerships owned by the same thief here in Ohio. He marks up EVERY bike at least $1400 ($3k on the CVO) plus the freight and prep. He "includes" the first service and a T-Shirt with every new bike purchase plus "gives" them a stack of coupons for the service department good for up to 20% off. Sad thing is he keeps making money hand over fist. We'll stop in those shops while out riding just to use the restroom or meet up with friends. I won't even buy a damn bottle of water out of his vending machines. In his case, the term Stealership is quite appropriate. The old saying that there's an ass for every seat comes to mind.

Hey OBB,
I sometimes will visit H-D dealers in Ohio. Could you give the names or at least locations of the four dealerships that are ripping off us consumers.
Thanks!!!

[phato1]

So I guess it is a secret?

 

SBB

No secret. .

Harley Davidson of Southampton.

FWIW the same group also owns Yankee HD in Bristol CT.

[OBB]

Hey OBB,
I sometimes will visit H-D dealers in Ohio. Could you give the names or at least locations of the four dealerships that are ripping off us consumers.
Thanks!!!

Mad River in Sandusky, Adventure HD in Dover, Rock n Roll HD in Cleveland and Rubber City in Akron. I believe there's a member on here that bought a new bike from Rubber City in Akron and got it without the extra fees. Maybe the owner has a different approach at that store because of the proximity to other dealers but I've seen firsthand the markup in the other stores. Adventure is out in the sticks and there's not another dealer within 35 miles of him. They have big beautiful stores with lots of bling for sure but they can pay the bills with P&A real easy.