Yesterday I stopped into a dealer to look at the 105th Anniversary colors and the 08 bikes. As I looked at a few bikes on the floor they were clearly priced with MSRP, but they showed a list of things that were added to the price. The shocker to me was the dealer prep at this dealer. They are adding $950 to the price of the bike for dealer prep. I know this is CA so maybe it is specific to here or maybe it is just this dealer. What are you guys seeing? This dealer says he is an MSRP dealer, but I think $950 for the prep is pretty stiff and a ploy to makeup for missed markup... Thoughts?

Any suggestions for good dealers is the Bay Area that are good and have good pricing?

Longsnowsm

 

Last I checked, my hometown dealer in Fullerton, CA (So. Cal.) was charging $500. $950 is a RIP OFF!

 

When I bought my FLHRI in '06 in the Phoenix metro area the phony stealer prep was $700 which was average for my area and the phony documentation charges were $299.95 again average for my area. They are all just extra profit makers for the stealer especially when they charge that much, and if you want the bike you will pay it no matter what dealer you buy itfrom.

 

Did that include freight or was it listed on another line?

 

Paid $350 shipping and $330 dealer prep here in IL.

 

Was in Uke's (Kenosha WI) They had 300 prep for an 08 SE Ultra. Don't think any other model would take longer for prep?

 

its bait and switch.

"Hey sir, Ill give you MSRP on this here nice bike"

Customer is all excited, decides to buy it (committment and consstency used here, basically sales tactics based on the psychology of influence from caldini).

Everyone caongratulates him, they ring the bell, say whatver saying they do, sign some paper work, then BBBLLLLAMMMO, heres the cost, plus the bullshit prep and set up fees, sign here please.

At this point, hes decided to buy, gets approval from peers (another sales tactic, SOCIAL PROOF) then they blindside you.

Happened ot me at the Allen store in Texas. Two bikes later taught me to call around, straight out of the book prep is 300 and frieght is 300 (rough extimates, i forget exact numbers. Thats all I pay now.

 

Thiels Wheels in Upper Sandusky Ohio charges NO dealer prep or freight.

 

Freight was another line, documentation fee another line, dealer prep another line... There was an easy $1500 in tack-on's in the list that were nothing but semi hidden dealer markup. At least they had the guts to put all of that on the placard price list with the bike and not ambush the buyer when it is time to sign on the dotted line.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess I will have to look around to see what the other dealers in the area are charging.

Longsnowsm

 

You're right, I knew I missed putting something down. The freight was part of the out the door price. In fact they just made everything match the lowest price I was quoted in this area and just filled in everything to make it matchthe price from another dealer. They just bundled some stuff together in order to match the other dealers price. I did get 10% off that day on everything that I added like the SERT and SE/AC and exhaust. Oh and of course I got 2 freeT-Shirts. LOL