Paid around 19,800 for the King w/security and ABS & $1000 in accessories from Forman HD in Stillwater vs. The 24k Fatboy my friend was looking at in Fort Thunder HD in Moore. Ever need a good deal on a bike Forman HD is the best in OK.

 

all i think it does is open the door for price fixing.

 

Yup, bought my 2015 from Riverside Harley just before the change in ownership of the Huntington Beach store. They (Riverside) gave me a way better "cash and carry" deal, by several thousand dollars, so it wasn't even close. The Riverside Harley deal was better than every other Harley Dealer within about 100 miles . . . . and here in the Los Angeles area . . . that's a lot of Harley Dealers. I even called the old Huntington Beach Harley and O.C. Harley in Irvine (from Riverside on my cell phone) and asked them to just match the Riverside Harley offer . . . nope, nuthin' doin' they were way to smart (note my sarcasm) to fall for that! In the end, in business, there is absolutely nothing that time and the competition can't fix. I rode the bike home from Riverside that evening. This isn't a one off thing. I flew to Phoenix, AZ to buy my Goldwing in the morning and was back home in time for dinner (~380 Miles). That saved me almost $6,000. Heads up folks! If you're buying a new bike or a new car and you know exactly what you want; but you don't treat the entire U.S.A. as your Shopping Mall . . . . shame on you!

 

I don't think that most folks go into business with the goal of selling things cheaper, its kinda contrary to making money. As to folks buying out dealerships, I wish someone with a clue would buy out my local dealership, I make it a habit to drive 2-3 hrs further than the one that is 20 mins from me

 

When Bruce Rossmeyer had 3 stores in Palm Beach & Broward Counties alone, their prices were competitive with everyone else so the answer is no.

When EB Chester purchased the Sunrise store, he also had multiple others (not in this area) and the answer is no.

John Spelha <sp> owns multiple stores and the answer is no.

You are likely thinking of a volume discount since multiple store owners would get better pricing. I suspect they do but clearly is has not been passed on in any manner that I have seen.

GOOD question tho aye?

BuzzCap7

 

If you are talking about the one a little south of Memphis across the State line (SouthernThunder HD) I have found them to be good folks also. My nearest dealer is 20 mins but I will drive 2+ hours north to the folks at Southern Thunder. It is owned by Bob Parsons (GoDaddy) who has a couple of other dealerships in AZ

 

Dealers are assigned "trade areas". They can put up more than one dealership in their own trade area, if they want. So the dealer in Jacksonville FL has 3 stores spread across town and a t-shirt store in St Augustine. The dealer in Daytona has the main store at Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach, a smaller store in New Smyrna Beach, and t-shirt shop on Main St in Daytona.

Some dealers purchase dealerships outside of their trade area. Maybe one here in FL, another up north and another out west. You have to be a pretty sharp operator to handle multi-dealerships spread far apart. Many of these dealers are looking to own the real estate more than the franchise, so that dealership may change hands again within a few years & the sale may, or may not, include the real estate.

Where it can get dicey for us consumers is when a dealer group owns several dealerships in adjoining trade areas. We have several of those here in FL. The one closest to me, Sanford (which also owns Palm Bay), has some pretty stiff competition from Orlando & Daytona, but sells more bikes than the "Big Boys".

 

A year or so ago a shop near me, Laugerman's HD, was bought by First Capital HD. They had a sale and were trying to reduce their used inventory and there was a beautiful 09 FLHTC that I really wanted to buy. The price was good but they would not work with me on the trade of my 03 Road King due to reduction of used inventory. I ended up walking and actually am glad I did. I got a whole lot more money for my old bike by selling it outright and I got a really good deal on my new to me Road King from a private seller.

 

It was rumored Rt 66 HD in Tulsa got bought out by some California dealer a few years back. First thing they did was close the 5 & Diner Cafe attached to the dealership which was a good place to eat, always packed. Said they needed the floor space to expand the dealership and put the HD clothing in that new area. Next they cutout the free coffee as they didn't want tire kickers hanging around the place. Salesman told me if you weren't there to buy something they didn't want you there. To me they ruined the place so I seldom drop by there anymore. Just doesn't seem as friendly. Also seems more deserted when I drive by than it did in the past.

 

WRONG! Been buying bikes at TriCounty Fairfield Ohio for almost 10 years

Big diff is since F&S bought them there are NO prices on any of the new or
2016 bikes. They are now into a wholesale/retail mode. Wholesale for your
trade and retail for their bike....That's the worst deal in any kind of transaction.

That is not how TriCounty did it previously.