35% off sale BUYER BEWARE

[rossl]

Standard practice for -->>>  CHANDLER HARLEY DAVIDSON <<<-- in Arizona.

Jeff

I imagine most of them do it.  When I questioned another dealer here in NJ about the same practice, they refunded the difference.  So I guess it's worth speaking up.   My attitude yesterday was "screw you" rippoff dealer!!!!!!!!!!!  I really didn't need the oil anyway.

  I just wanted to see if this was common and hopefully everyone will be more careful at these "sales".

[Scramjet]

The dealer has the option to sell above or below MSRP, but then it is no longer MSRP. They can't raise or lower MSRP, they can raise or lower the price,but not MSRP. The HD web has the MSRP listed.
SR

(Wannabe) Mayor,

The above quote by SR re-states what I was saying.  Yes, the dealer can sell at whatever price he sets.  But, MSRP is set by the manufacturer.  If a dealer changes the price and represents it as "MSRP" it is deceptive practice and should be reported for deceptive sales practices.

B

[Dennis The Menace]

If that is how they run their business, lets hope they are the next dealer to close the doors.  Unethical dealers like this we dont need.

menace

[RK101]

Like Rossl said in the beginning 35% off of what? We assume they were talking MSRP and it was in reality just 35% off there already inflated retail prices. It's just more of the same old same old. Some of us who realize that will laugh, while others will lap it up with a spoon thinking they got 35 % off MSRP.  There good at what they do, they can get many people to read something that is not there.  Fool me once shame on you ,fool me twice shame on me.
Like the title says Buyer Beware.

[Faast Ed]

I suspect that a lot of their customer base are fairly new to the riding thing.  The more seasoned guys deal online or with their Indy.

The ripp-off "sale" thing likely works well for them.

[blk-betty]

They inflated MSRP so the "real" discount was 18-20%.  

No comment on the dealeras practices but I'd feel lucky to get 18-20%.  Isn't that why so many of us look to Jenni and places like Zanottis to buy our stuff?

I can't remember within the last 7 years of my local dealer ever selling any P&A stuff for less than full MSRP - never has sales.  Guess on the bright side he doesn't make up above MSRP but when your the only game in town for 100+ miles there aren't many choices other than online dealers.

[Faast Ed]

I'd feel lucky to get 18-20%

I'd feel much better about it if they "called it" an 18-20% discount.  It leaves the "our customers are stupid" out of the equation.

[tireater]

Our dealer sets min. prices for small items like o rings and screws...
MSRP on an o ring may be $.40...So they charge $2.00....

[Faast Ed]

My dealer does that too.  I guess they know you won't go online for the lil stuff.

[RK101]

I'd feel much better about it if they "called it" an 18-20% discount.  It leaves the "our customers are stupid" out of the equation.
[/quote]

My thoughts exactly.

[MikeL]

Rossl, This particular dealer wouldn't be by chance the one that refuses to list the suggested MSRP price on any of the bikes they have for sale? I don't go there anymore. Sneaky owner very arrogant also. Nice place in a nice area too bad!

                                                                                         MIKE

[Flat Dog]

You guys are lucky to even get the fool's discount. The two 'locals' north of Tampa that I used to deal with dropped even the 10% I had been getting.

Now they are the fools with empty stores.

[Ultrashovel]

There are several great Harley dealers that sell at a real, consistent 20% discount online. They have parts in stock, quick service and shipping at reasonable prices. I won't name them since I might leave out some of the good ones. There are probably ten of them and most of you know who they are. Stick with companies like that and be happy with 20%.

I'm not a dealer but if I had to pay 50% wholesale and then discount 20%, that only leaves 30% margin. From that, I have to pay my lease, salaries, electricty, insurance and free coffee for the people who come into the store. That's why they only do that online and not over the counter. We are in a period now where the weaker dealers are not going to be there in another year unless there is a sea change pretty soon.

20% off is pretty good, considering then when I buy from the dealer, which is not often, they charge straight MSRP, the shipping is built in already and I have to pay tax, too.

So when you see 35% off, make sure you hang onto your wallet. There's something wrong somewhere.

[rossl]

I'd feel lucky to get 18-20%

I'd feel much better about it if they "called it" an 18-20% discount.  It leaves the "our customers are stupid" out of the equation.

I agree..................I buy most of my parts on line and I get 20+% off.  I also agree with those that said  35% sounded too good to be true, I thought there could be a chance that they had a lot of inventory to move.  I was there mid day and there was only 2-3 other people there.  If it was a real 35% off sale I would have expected to see a crowd.

[HarleyguyFLHRCI]

The auto manufacturer who's parts I sell have a guideline of a certain % gross margin on retail sales. Their "msrp" ranges from 2% to 7% less than their guide. If you do the math, I can not sell at suggested list and still maintain the profit margins in their guide. On the other side, their "wholesale" price is msrp minus 15%. But if I didn't give at least 20% to outside body and repair shops, I'd have virtually no wholesale business. Don't forget (as mentioned in an earlier post), many overhead expenses have to be paid from the gross profit. Are you dealing with a highly competent parts guy backed by a broad inventory? If so, what's it worth to you to get the right part right now? Every once in awhile I get a customer who is in need of a part who has checked the competition and then comes to me. If there is a price question, the conversation invariably follows like this - "The other dealer sells this for X dollars cheaper". Why didn't you buy it there? "They don't have it in stock and it will be 3 days to order". Lest anyone thinks I'm driving away business, keep in mind he went to the other guy first. I also sell a lot of stuff on ebay at discount prices. I can do this because it is a sideline and not my "bread & butter" and I also don't spend time on the phone with a customer looking up obscure o-rings and crap like that. They see what I have for sale and how much to buy it. They pay - I sell. But I digress - If I offer a percent off to retail customers, it's off my normal selling price. That i not to be confused with raising a price for the sole purpose of discounting it.