Ordered some parts and a shirt from my favorite online Harley retailer with the total coming in a $127 bucks. Discount approximately 20%. Selected UPS shipping at an extra $20 bucks for grand total of $147. Three days to process order and now informed SIX DAYS for delivery!

So my discount is eaten up by shipping and now I have to wait a week for my goods.
Not such a good deal anymore. Used to be orders over $100 got free shipping, now its $250.

Could have went to local dealer and had my stuff same day and only paid $10 in sales tax for total of $137.
Maybe brick and morter is still viable these days. Oh well, where's my coffee cup?

 

And don't forget your local swap meet....ALWAYS a good deal there!!!
I NEVER go home empty handed.....

 

Online shopping is for the cheap and lazy (I'm both), not for those with the money (I don't) or in a hurry (I'm not).

 

In the very near future all online dealers will be required to collect the buyers States sales tax . It will be an accounting nightmare for the online venders . I still look for online stores that have free shipping and I wait to confrim my purchase at the end, if there is a 6% sales tax for my State of PA I move on to another vendor . I know that if the Internet dealer has even a warehouse or some kind of presence in you home State they are going to charge you sales tax. This came about for two reasons , government greed wanting a piece of the online profits and brick and morter business crying that they cannot compete . That is their problem not mine. And government does not deserve one more stinking penny of our money .

 

If the mark up is 50% on parts, the profit has to come from somewhere to justify the additional labor costs to the business. I'm not sure how they ever offered free shipping and generated profit.

 

You gotta factor in 1) total expense, 2) time to arrive at your house, and 3) how soon you need it. If it's a big ticket item, say like a seat, the online savings might be worth the wait to get the part. But if it's small replaceable items, like oil filters, nuts, bolts etc., probably easier to get it from the Dealer.

 

or for those (like me) who don't have a dealer nearby. my closest dealer is a 100 mile round trip. so figure, msrp of the part, plus 10% for the gov, and another $10-20 in gas to go there and back, plus lunch while we're over there and it's a huge savings for me to order online.

i personally like ordering from jon at hornytoad hd. sure, i pay shipping, but it's reasonable, and i get a discount, he accepts hd chrome cash, and paypal.

jon.horton@hornytoadhd.com

 

Surdyke HD still ships free on orders over $99,and they discount their parts.

 

They do but when I ordered a HD 1/4 fairing and clamps from them they did not tell me that the 1/4 fairing was on back order. Many sellers will let you know up front if an item is out of stock. I ordered the 1/4 fairing, paid for it, and was only told after my order was completely processed that the 1/4 fairing was on back order. SD had a good price and the free shipping was cool but the telling you the item was not currently in stock until after your order was complete was BS.

 

So your local dealer is giving you a 20% discount also?? Retail on your online purchase adding 20% to your 127.00 total would of been 152.40 plus tax at a dealer.