It all depends on if you are buying FROM them or selling TO them!

 

no kidding

example
bike a valued at $5000
brign to dealer for trade in, they offer $2000
see at dealer for sale $7000+ lol but the profit margin is so low on trade ins right LOL

 

I have no reason to beleive they don't act like car dealers. They take them in at well below wholesale book. I know lots of people think they get more, but that just comes off the price of the new bike. No dealer is going to be "in" a bike, car, boat, airplane, etc for more than well back of wholesale book. How much? Depends on the market. A beautiful 2yr old full size SUV is worth $6k below wholesale, at the most, to a dealer. And then they price them somewhere around retail book.

None of that matters when you are buying with no trade. They price them to allow for dealing and trade-in factors (ie. so they can make it look like you got more for your trade than you actually did.) The only time you will know what the real bottom line on a purchase is, is when you are ready to pay for it and take it home that day. The rest of the discussion of price is just a waste of time.

Trying to shop prices is almost a waste of time. I tell people find what you are willing to take home that day, make an offer below what you will pay (they never will take a customers offer) and work to the finish. A cash buyer doesn't neccessarily get you a better deal than a finance buyer, they make money on financing too. Give them the down payment check credit check etc (they can't keep it if they don't make you a deal) so they know you will buy and let the salesperson argue with his boss. Also, never be afraid to say no thanks and walk out.

 

Greetings,

I can tell you first hand how the dealer does it: The bike is inspected in the service area (takes about 20 minutes). Tires, brakes, fluids, overall condition of the bike is gone over. Having all sorts of chrome, exhaust, or whatever makes no difference whatsoever. Then the trade-in value is NADA trade-in minus any reconditioning that is needed. It is then put out on the floor after reconditioning with an in-house warranty usually about $100 less than NADA retail.

 

these days they all want to make 4k or more @ deal, bikes, cars or whatever.... thats why we take a beating when we trade yrly..

 

"F" kbb or nada, walk in with cash, tell them what you want to pay, if they don't accept, leave your number and walk out. I'm serious, they see alot of folks with the $$ that they figure if they convince them they got it under kbb, they got a deal. Check out craigslist or other similar sites if you want to get a "Real" price on a bike. Lots of really good deals on bikes out there.

 

I don't know what my local dealer uses. But I know that when you trade a bike in with them it's not worth very much. But after they take ownership of it, It somehow turns to gold.

 

I would expect a dealer to be able to make some money on a deal but I also expect they did not pay any more then KBB trade in and I am going to give offer them half way between the KBB trade in and retail...they can take my offer or like was said before I'll leave my number and walk.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. I have more than enough to be dangerous now