So how do you start the buying conversation? do you offer $2K below MSRP? Do you negotiate on the extended warranty?

My bike is getting old.

 

CEO Zeitz has come out saying he is a "sustainable Taliban", and he's laughing all the way to the bank.

I, for one, will not buy another Harley until that ***-clown is gone, and the Board of Directors all resign.

I don't support terrorists......

 

And a Credit check at front door before entering.

 

During covid, they were selling like crazy at inflated prices

 

Most of the dealers in the Phoenix metro area are now closed on Sundays and Mondays to lower labor costs.

 

That really isn't that unusual.

Most HD dealers have been closed on Mondays for years.

Some are open on Sundays and some are not.
Closest dealer to me is open on Sunday only during the summer.

 

The dealerships are complaining that they are getting too much inventory.

Great

What did you expect with high interest rates and less demand?

How are dealer allocations handled? Is it based on last years month sales?

just to let you know lot majority of Harley folks finance their bikes

 

I suspect that at some dealers there is a disconnect between the sales staff and the guys in the back office doing the accounting. I tried from April to August this year to buy a certain leftover 2023 Road Glide ST. I had my reasons why I wanted this specific bike. I initially offered $19K plus my 2014 FLHTK, out the door. I bid my time, waiting weeks between offers. I went $19500, then $20000 plus my bike. The closest they ever got was $23,100 plus my bike. After the last offer I made the salesman responded in exasperation that at that price "they would lose $1000". Now think about it. That bike was probably 15 to 18 months old. They had zero revenue on it. The cost of corporate bonds or commercial paper would put the inventory carrying costs at around $150 a month. Someone was paying that, either the dealer or MOCO. Someone had ALREADY lost $1000 on that bike, maybe more. But the sales staff, with their tunnel vision, don't see that. But it gets worse. I told the sales guy "maybe next year", and he kept the door open for that. Except instead, next week, I am picking up a low mileage Triumph Trophy - a high speed, high powered, high quality luxury tourer.....while keeping my 2014 FLHTK. The Harley dealer won't be selling me a new bike next year.

 

I guess I have lots more experience and practice buying cars than bikes. I don't even know how much profit is built into a Harley and what one could be purchased for.
I shopped around last year for a new Harley and had a few dealers working with me when I approached a salesman I had been working with and made him an offer similar to what another dealer had offered to sell me a similar new bike for.

When I told this salesman what I was willing to offer, his face turned bright red ( as in high blood pressure ) said something like no way and stormed off to the back and did not return. The dealership was closing and I was like guess I just got dissed. After standing in the middle of that closing store for over 15-20 min I assumed my salesman went home. So I walked out and headed home when 30 min later my phone rings and its the sales manager telling me I have a deal! I was like dude I'm almost home, forget it!

I did purchase from another dealer but I'm in the market again for the wife and need to get a firm grip on what normal "good deal" OTD price to expect to pay is... I have no time for BS.

 

I never understood any type of place that sells something, especially vehicles to be closed on a Sat or Sun, that is when the vast majority of people are off work. The majority of dealers around here are closed on Sun and Mon.