| Author | Message | ||
     Jespo_m2 |
Just name your bottom line price and start calling HD/Buell dealers. You never know what may happen in this economy. 4 months ago I went to look at/buy a used 06 Uly with all the goodies. They had it listed for 7K... I offered 6.5k and they let me walk. 4 months later I see the dealer adv the bike for $5999 on CL... so I went in and offered $5500... and we came to an agreement at $5600. A happy buyer I am.  | ||
| Eboos |
I wonder who that was.  | ||
| Boltrider |
Petenice, try shooting for an OTD price between 10.5 and 11K. If you can get it cheaper, then more power to ya. MSRP on an '09 Scg is between 10 and 10.5K, but that doesn't include freight, prep, tax, registration, etc. (Message edited by boltrider on November 30, 2008) (Message edited by boltrider on November 30, 2008) | ||
| Jespo_m2 |
Haahaha!! There he is! Very cool! Erik gave me a great deal on my Uly... go see him if your looking to buy a Buell. I've been wanting this bike since O6 and Erik made it happen. | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
The reason why freight, prep, tax, title, tag, and tire/battery disposal are itemized separately from MSRP is because they are fixed fees. When "haggling" over a price, the discount is taken from the MSRP amount- not the dealer fees. These fees must be added to each unit because they are part of the cost of the unit, and the fees change depending upon what unit is being sold. For example- the freight fee is different depending on whether the unit is a streetbike, a dirtbike, an ATV or a PWC (because they weigh different amounts, and come from different places). On-road vehicles have different title and tag fees from off-road vehicles. Prep fees differ depending on how long it takes the tech to put the unit together after removing it from the crate. Tax is pretty straight forward. I regularly hear customers complain that freight and prep are bogus, but I stopped getting mad about this misconception years ago. The truth is- dealers do get charged freight on everything that is delivered to the shop (units, parts, and accessories), and this cost is paid by the customer. Additionally, dealerships have internal cost centers- sales, parts, and service, and the service department charges for all work done by it's technicians. That means that every unit that gets assembled costs the dealership money- and that gets passed to the customer. One point of argument, however, is how much dealerships "fluff" the dealer fees. It is not uncommon for dealerships to add an arbitrary amount to the actual fee costs in order to offset any discounts given off MSRP. I don't condone this business philosophy- but it's quite common. Itemization of fees when buying is very important in order to understand exactly what you are paying. Do not be shy about asking for a calculator and add it up yourself if you think something doesn't look right. As a salesman, I am much more comfortable listing the exact amounts a customer is paying for the unit, the fees and tax in a clear and straightforward manner so there is no confusion or misunderstanding. As a consumer, I expect the same. The buyer has all the power until signing on the dotted line... use your power wisely. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Gschuette i think thats what i will do , im not trying to pay for the dealers kid to go to college especially with this economy Um...we are talking about buying a "toy" in 'this economy', right? Or did society in general reclassify a motorcycle as necessary transportation and it's no longer a luxury item? $9,995 is MSRP retail for the black 2009 XB12Scg, just like www.buell.com states. Yes, the dealer gets charged freight to ship the bike from the factory to the dealer. No, the bike is not road ready when it arrives - hence the setup charge. It not only has to be uncrated, but final assembly items must be done (mostly minor, but they take shop time and effort, and are required by the factory). Some dealers do more setup than the manual requires - i.e. we install a battery tender lead on every new bike, perform a 12 mile test ride (minimum), full tank of fuel, full detail, etc. No, you are not allowed to pick your bike up in its crate, unassembled - a dealer tech has to do the PDI (pre delivery inspection) in order for the vehicle to have a warranty. The dealer has control over whether they add freight/prep to MSRP. They do NOT have control over taxes, tags, title fees, registration fees, lien filing fees, etc. - those belong to the state, and at least in MD, it's *illegal* to not charge any of those fees. So, cross those numbers off your 'negotiation' list. You think you're making a dealer rich by paying MSRP? Wait...let me rephrase... you think you're making a *Buell* dealer rich? No. Trust me, that's not the case. If that's what you believe, go buy a used bike out of someone's driveway, because nobody will ever convince you otherwise. If, however, you want the bike because you know what it is, what it can do, what sort of love and effort goes into building every Buell, and what sort of enthusiast community you'll become a member of...become an educated consumer. Visit or otherwise communicate with multiple dealers. Get a feel for who "understands" Buell, and who doesn't. Get a feel for who understands you as a Buell enthusiast, and who doesn't. You'll find a large percentage of badwebbers travel out of their way to deal with a "good" dealer, for those very reasons. Factor more than dollars and cents into your decision, because as soon as you own it, things change. Emotions matter MUCH more than the dollars and cents ever did. Trust me. I own three of 'em, and its an emotional rush every ride I take, every time. | ||
| Htekwo |
Well, I bought my 09' Ss in September OTD for $9999. You just have to be willing to travel to get it. Call all the dealers in your area and give see if they will meet your best offer. | ||
| Moosestang |
You'd think we could skip all the dealer fees and just get the bike delivered directly to us. I don't need anyone to set up my bike and i'd probably request they didn't if ordering one. I even have a business address with a loading dock. Do you think buell would let me buy direct?  | ||
| Xb9ser |
The doc fees are a big rip off.Juat hidden pad for dealers. My ex and I bought a truck and the doc fees were $300. The next year I bought a car from diffrent dealer and paid $49.When looking for my Buell I was quoted $125 at one dealer and $300 at the other! I have seen prices in the adds for up to $599 for doc fees in the small print. | ||
| Gschuette |
You think you're making a dealer rich by paying MSRP? Wait...let me rephrase... you think you're making a *Buell* dealer rich? No. Trust me, that's not the case. If that's what you believe, go buy a used bike out of someone's driveway, because nobody will ever convince you otherwise. The guy just wants a good deal. Nothing wrong with that. As William Shatner said "Now you're negotiating!" | ||
| Pete_nice |
I like Ratbuell | ||
| Ratbuell |
I understand he wants a good deal, we all do - it's our nature. But when he implies that by paying MSRP on a brand new, current model year motorcycle, in "tough times", all he'll be doing is sending a dealer's kid to college? Doesn't sit well with me, I guess. *Both* sides of the table have to be reasonable. If I read that part of the posts incorrectly, my apologies. And last time I checked, these weren't hotel rooms or plane tickets that, effectively, "expire" - they're expensive luxury items. Even Bill Shatner would agree with me on that. (Message edited by ratbuell on December 01, 2008) | ||
| Eboos |
Ratbuell, next time we meet again, I am buying you a beer. I'll have to make it a cheap beer what with the economy and all. (Message edited by eboos on December 01, 2008) | ||
| Buellinator |
Definition of a good deal: When both parties leave the negotiating table slightly unhappy.  | ||
| Court |
>>>>Do you think buell would let me buy direct? Illegal in the USA. If they did the "fees" would likely be in the $2,500 range like some of the European manufacturers. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I think liability also plays a big part, yes? I mean, if a manufacturer sold a 'vehicle' without it being 'road ready', that opens MANY legal doors for consumers to ruin the manufacturer. Buell may have gotten away with it in the late 80s/early 90s, when it was a few guys and a girl in an old milking shed turning out less than 100 bikes, but now....nope. Too much at stake - not just consumer safety, but corporate quality control measures as well. Before it hits the street, it *must* go through a PDI at an authorized shop, by an authorized technician. I don't care how good a mechanic you are, how many times you've rebuilt your own bikes, or how much longer you've been doing it than the guy in the dealership. Doesn't make a lick of difference - you aren't employed by the company or any of its "assigns", so you aren't (legally) qualfied to PDI your own bike. Period. Has *nothing* to do with mechanical aptitude - I know a LOT of guys who are quite capable, and I myself know my way around a toolbox pretty darned well. None of us get to PDI our own bikes, it's the way it is. It ain't pulling plastic off the body and carpet of the Escalade some guy just drove (emphasis here - "drove"; it's done, built, finished - bikes aren't) off the truck for you. There's a lot more to it than that, and it is the factory's one last, final check of the bike, under *their* conditions and rules, to make sure it's in good running (sale-able) order before it heads out the door. Oh, and Erik? Any beer that's handed to me, without having to hand money back, is *good* beer  | ||
| Pete_nice |
now whos sending Mr Budweiser's kid to college | ||
| Pete_nice |
im sorry Rat for wanting to get a deal like this guy...Well, I bought my 09' Ss in September OTD for $9999. i was way outta line . you like tequilla | ||
| Oddball |
I don't feel at odds with Redbuell or Ratbuell at all. Minor opinion differences from opposite chairs. Rat, I don't think I'd call my last purchase negotiated. In all fairness, I think she offered the deal because i was a previous customer. Other dealers at the time were like $9900 on the road when she offered msrp($8995) on the road. It was discounted enough to cover the taxes. I have tried ever since to repay that kindness and refer people looking at those brands to them. Now that was a decade ago and a different brand so perhaps current market conditions don't allow such deals. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Deals *do* exist, and I'm glad they do because it keeps competition alive and well between dealers. They are more scarce these days, but they are out there. I guess the part that gets to me - as a salesperson who's doing the job because he loves Buells, *not* because of the "paycheck", believe me - is the attitude that a customer *expects* a deal; that the dealer 'owes' them something for some reason. Unfortunately, this attitude is becoming more and more prevalent, and I have yet to figure out why. Perhaps it's related to WalMart customers trampling each other to death and our society at large becoming less and less realistic about things in general...I dunno. Oddball - I think you did it the right way. Faithful customer to a dealer you found and that you liked, and working to try and return the favor as best you can. THAT's what it's about, regardless of brand or dealership. | ||
| Andymnelson |
Perhaps it's because of salesmen who try to make us think they would do their job if they didn't get a paycheck  Just sayin... | ||
| Eboos |
I am sure that I can speak for the majority of Buell salespeople when I say: I could very likely make a lot more money doing something else, but I choose to work where I am because I love doing what I do and I believe in the product. I took a pay cut coming here, but I am much happier working here that I was at any other civilian job. Ratbuell and I must be either cut from the same cloth, or it is just that we deal with the same type of thing over and over again. Everyone is happier in the long run when a relationship is established between the customer and the dealer. A great deal isn't always about the cheapest price. | ||
| Ratbuell |
}Perhaps it's because of salesmen who try to make us think they would do their job if they didn't get a paycheck This statement makes no sense to me, sorry. Did you typo, and meant to say "wouldn't" instead of "would"? Or are you trying to say it's wrong to be lucky enough to do something you love, for a living? I never said I'd do it for free - I'm enthusiastic, not stupid! All I said was, salespeople ain't gettin' rich selling Buells. Neither are the dealers, speaking from a per-unit perspective. I know. I've seen invoice. I've seen MSRP. I can do math. The margins...they ain't what they are for a Harley. I, for one, applaud that - it tells me that Buell has the right idea. Make an outstanding product, for a fair price - fair to everyone, the builders/employees, and the customers. There's much more to the Buell equation than a profit margin, and I respect that. | ||
| Pete_nice |
ratbuell can you recommend some one in so cal that will give me a great deal on a bike and still good service after i buy it | ||
| Pete_nice |
and can anyone tell me how to get my new buell to sounds as beautifull as this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12YmLsQElRI | ||
| Krassh |
I don't know why don't you ask him he is a member of this forum. | ||
| Pete_nice |
who is he , just joined thanks , doesnt it sound devine | ||
| Ratbuell |
Just doing a search (top of every page, there's a search link), it looks like there's a member here with the same name as the vid poster - xoptimizedrsx. Not sure if it's the same person, I haven't "e-met" them yet. Pete, unfortunately I'm at the wrong end of the country (Maryland) and I'm not allowed out much <grin>, so I haven't had much contact with folks out west...I have emailed with Rob from Skip Fordyce a couple times, he seems like a nice guy. Check here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/171 43/17143.html?1228195669 It's the sponsor's list for Badweb. Click the big color banner for each sponsor, it takes you to their badweb page. Usually below the color banner, there's a link to their homepage. They're all over the country, but lots of the "good ones" are on there. It also has many of our customizers on there - my Ulysses has a Drummer muffler on it, made by KDfab. Great piece, I'm very happy with it. It's not too loud, but still has a nice low-frequency rumble to it. Or...if you want, I can check stock on bikes here. I'm still off from my wreck in July, but should be back later this month (orthopedists willing!). Fly east, ride west I'll even find a way to throw in a heated jacket, gloves, and thermostat for ya, so you don't freeze on the ride home! Come in March, I might make most of the trip west with you - I may be headed to Colorado for an S2 get-together with fskinner and the bunch... Oh, and welcome to badweb, and to Buells. To steal an old Honda ad campaign (sorta) - some of the best people I've met, have been on Buells. My apologies if I preached too much... (Message edited by ratbuell on December 02, 2008) | ||
| Pete_nice |
if the guys on a buell web site are this cool can you imagine how cool buell people will be when i finally get one and see them on the road , in all honesty you guys are the best and i hope rat gets better real soon GOD BLESS | ||
| Pete_nice |
well i got the mother •••••• and i love it so much fun to ride , its THE BEST thanks again for all the info |
