Hitman12
Novice Class
Posts: 89
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posted March 15, 2006 12:04 PM
The GOOD dealers will deal a little but those that slash prices to move product generally don't offer anything else to the customer, I'm sure alot of guys here work on and tune on their own bikes but for those that don't and want the comfort and ease of a TRAINED mechanic doing it, you just don't get that at those slash shops and trust me when that new bike needs a warranty issue fixed or heaven forbide a repair. That 12K you paid to that dealer who has a good parts and service department are a small investment.
And just to help some guys out if EVER paid for dealer prep you got robbed for that amount, the prep setup fee is built into the dealers cost of the bike, so what you've done is paid the dealer twice for prepping your bike once buy the manufacturer and once by you.
Look there's nothing wrong with saving a buck or two, but are really saving if you have pay even more on the backend???
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Move over and let the fatman in!
  
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
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posted March 15, 2006 12:04 PM
well... its about $14500 USD here... and no, they don't use lube to make it hurt any less 
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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D
Needs a job
Posts: 3365
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posted March 15, 2006 12:37 PM
Red - I"m not even talkin bout "quick service", I'm just talkin bout "any" service.
I always drop the bike off and tell them that time is on their side and ask when it should be done (even though I schedule an appointment).
My training and personal philosophy all focuses on customer retention (even when I don't have the tools or back-up to make it happen) - there is just zero effort put forth by these places.
I have one good advisor that I know does the best he can and that's the guy I go to - he tries but I know he's limited.
It is a real shame, that's for sure.
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jimp
Expert Class
Posts: 291
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posted March 15, 2006 01:48 PM
 Edited By: jimp on 15 Mar 2006 15:41
People bragging about cheap prices are the same people that get 50MPG in their big block pick-up. The Dealers needs to make money to stay in biz, they don't have a huge profit margin on these bikes.
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Where's my 14 ???
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worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
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posted March 15, 2006 02:49 PM
...I'm with you, Pastor....I've bought three Kawasakis and was responsible for at least six other sales within the past five years at my favorite Kawasaki dealer because of my referrals...and they all got really good deals, me included....deals so good that we cannot say what we paid...bare in mind that the dealer doesn't do anything for free or is 'giving the bikes away', but he doesn't gouge, either...he makes a fair profit that I have no problem with (how else does one stay in business?)...so I think the dealer that I've gone to for all of my Kawasaki needs is very deserving of repeat business from me...there's a Kawasaki dealership within six miles of me, but I'll always take that 108-mile round trip to buy my Kawasaki products from my favorite Kawasaki dealer...and I trust the service because I've also developed a great relationship with techs since day-1...and the Kawaski dealership nearby?....  them....I didn't like their attitude or their prices...the clueless with more money than sense can keep them in business 
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“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men
stand ready in the night to visit violence on those
who would do us harm.”
-George Orwell
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blueford
Needs a job
Posts: 2984
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posted March 15, 2006 04:05 PM
I see there is no Jewish people here. "Oy, vey, schlimazels" 
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Drowland
Zone Head
Posts: 733
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posted March 15, 2006 04:07 PM
quote:
Rude? On the "ignorant side"? Oh really?
Been with the same dealer for about 15 years. Ever since he first opened his doors. Paid MSRP for each and every bike I got there. WHY? Kinda simple really.
1. I can't afford to pay cash for it and I have always traded in my previous bikes.
2. They always give me better then the best NADA value for my trade.
3, They throw in some "little things" like a service manual and such (no Arai helmets or such).
Still not good enough? I guess establishing a good relationship with a GOOD dealer is worth it for some. After all, what can a "good relationship" be worth, right? Well, for me, it means:
1. Paying cost +10% for all my parts, accessories, leathers, helmets, fluids, aftermarket products, etc. The same applies for our racing team and we don't even race Kawasaki bikes or any brand he sells.
2. Having a personal and team "open charge accounts" where I can just walk directly into the parts department, pick up what ever I want or have ordered and walk out the door with it... saying "put it on my account". They send me a bill in the mail (most of the time).
3. On "high ticket" (read: expensive) items like pipes or PCIII, I can pay for it in no interest monthly payments and in any amount I choose.
4. I have full access to their computers to look up parts and dealer price catalogs from TR, PU, LP and so on.
5. I can talk to any of the mechanics for advice on making my own repairs (including warranty claims).
6. I can take home any "specialty" tool they have and keep it as long as I need to do such repairs .
7. I can mount and balance my own tires with their equipment at no charge.
8. My dealer has covered the cost of the very small number of warranty claims that were declined by KMC.
9. When my 12R arrived, I helped uncrate it. On my 10R, I just took the crate home.
10. If I can't make to the dealer during business hours to pick up something, they just stash it somewhere outside so I can pick it up after they close... and in house charge it.
.... and I can go on and on.
This relationship didn't happen overnight or just after buying a bike or two. It has been a long time of give and take between us. I've spent a many rainy Saturdays down there, helping unpacking shipments and stocking the parts shelves. It also hasn't hurt that every one of my trade ins sold the same day I brought it in.
I am a small business owner and completely understand the difference between making money and paying the bills. My dealer doesn't drive fancy cars, own a big house and the building they are in is nothing short of a dump. He is also one of the nation's top dealers and has be a Ichiban Gold for so many years, I've lost count.
I plan on riding motorcycles until I die and hope to have several more decades of hitting that starter button. If anything, I'd say that I'm in it for the long haul when it comes to buying bikes. Paying a couple of hundred or even a thousand more then what I could pay by "shopping around" is small change over the years. Just considering what they give me in trade makes it even smaller. If he quite selling Kawasakis today and switched to Yamaha, Honda or Suzuki (which I kinda doubt), my next bike would not be a Kawasaki.
If you think you could not establish such a relationship with a dealer, either your not trying or you need to find another dealer. My relationship with a salesman ends when the ink drys. After that, it is all about the parts counter and service department. "Price" isn't everything. "Value" is.
Just remember that the bitterness of poor service lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. You get what you pay for.
Well see his point is good....... I give you that.. Since smart dealers actually would make more money on the aftermarket goodies than the bike.. The dealers in which are succesfull make more money on service and accesories..... I would buy at retail if I had that kind of relationship because I would be better off. Since I throw a shit load of aftermarket goodies on my bikes...
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D
Needs a job
Posts: 3365
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posted March 15, 2006 05:14 PM
Exactly - give a lil and take a lil.
Guess there's just too many suckers out there.
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aughtsix
Expert Class
Posts: 277
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posted March 16, 2006 09:23 AM
My point of view...
I see a dealer as a bothersome middleman because I can't seem to buy bikes directly from Kawasaki.
Were I King, everyone would buy their bike directly from the manufacturer and the dealerships would only exist for parts. Bikes that couldn't be owner serviced wouldn't be allowed in my Kingdom.
As for Red's situation, apparently he's made a cost/value decision. His decision matrix doesn't work for me.
But since I'm not the King, until I see the floorboy sweating profusely and about to cry, the dealing isn't done.
YMMV
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted March 16, 2006 02:17 PM
quote:
zxfingyz - I'm guessing its more of an "exception", but not as rare as most would think and hardly impossible for most to acomplish with their dealer. Its that "give and take" part some have a problem with. Like I said earlier, I'd spend rainy Saturdays down there just helping out. Today, they have more than enough "weed hoppers" to do such work, but I'll still go an visit, EVEN when I don't need or want something. Oh, and my dealer is also a client of my company.
blueford - I can't afford the "art of the deal". What little I'd save in the sale price, I'd pay many times over in what I'd pay in internet purchases, be it OEM or aftermarket.
Fish - shouldn't you be tossin' someone's salad. Go away. You bother me, lil' boy.
LR04 - Mine would be $50 per tire, ONLY if you bring me the wheels off the bike. $20 for Big Dave and $30 for me. 
Part of the "honor deal" is that I don't do "other customers" wheels as if they were my own. On the other hand, if you don't mind your rims getting all scratched to hell, I might work something out with ya (Sharpies are great). Just kidding... on the "work something out" part. The scratched rims would be a "given".
RedElk, I used to have that arrangement with a dealer until he sold to another person and have not been back! I had 2 dealers that gave me the best price they could and a good price on the over the counter parts and when I was racing they even Gave me parts when not at cost + Shipping. So no problem we are in 100% agreement (So Scary for me!)
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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zxfingyz
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted March 16, 2006 03:26 PM
Nice discussion. Even Mr Hill checking in for a quick minute. But wouldn't it be great to get some numbers posted?
You would think that for the number of people who have viewed this thread we could at least have an idea of what a reasonable price is. What does it cost where you live/ shop?
What is the best price you have heard of?
So far we have "shut up and pay up -if you pay less you will value it less" ( which is why God invented Ducati's and cocaine, to separate brain surgeons like HitMan from their money) and RedElks deal of the century. I trust for those of us who are not afraid to negotiate or aren't buying fair service down the road, price is an important part of the transaction
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MrHi
Parking Attendant
Posts: 14
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posted March 16, 2006 04:41 PM
All i can tell you is here in Vegas 10,500 is pretty good and if your in a bike club it can get even better. The best thing to do is to go to a few dealers in your area and see how the pricing changes from one to the other and after that see how the shop is run at the cheaper dealer. They might have a better price but a bike comin out of a questionable shop might cause you to lose time and money if the prep wasnt preformed properly. Its all up to you and just think if you pay more than 2k over the average price you can make up for it with a 20% discount off parts and gear in lets say hmmmmm. 3 years or so?
BTW Hittman shut up is not half as rude as this eh   LMAO 
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