New Bike Prep fees

[MikeT]

You guys know I am looking to buy a 50cc machine for my little guy. I called a dealer to see if he had any used ones, and he started to talk to me about new ones. He told me that 2002 PW50's were on sale for $999.00 which doesn't sound that bad with how much everyone is asking for used ones. Then he said there would be an additional $550.00 in setup fees, dock fees, dealer prep, and the he needs to go out to lunch fee. I can't believe that, more than 50% of the cost of the bike is comprised of these supposed fees?? I used to work in two bike shops and although I never got into pricing and sales, most of these bikes only required front wheel and handlebar installation. I'm pretty sure this guy was trying to rip me off. I have never bought a new dirt bike from a dealer, but is this always the case??? The most I would give him to "prep" a 50, is fifty bucks, and even at that I think is all it's worth. :silly:

 

[truespode]

Who was the dealer? I have bought 2 bikes from www.alcoyamaha.com and not had to pay a lot of setup charges. I paid some but I also had them put on different bars, hydro clutch and a few others.

The owners name is Mike Allen and he is a really good guy.

Ivan

 

[MikeT]

Matthews Fun Machines, here in Charlotte.

 

[evilswfo]

All of the japanese factorys pay the dealers to setup the bike up.Unless you have the dealer add on extra stuff then there shouldn't be a setup fee.Alot of dealers get away with charging a setup fee because most people don't know any better.Next time your're trying to deal on a new bike call the salesmen's bluff an tell him this.He'll either drop the fee and act like he's really giving you a great deal or he'll stay firm on it in which case you should just leave and tell him he's wasting your time.The problem is with all the financing programs that are offered now its so easy to go in and buy a bike with no money down people go in and all they care about is how much the monthly payment is,they don't care what it cost's then the dealer can throw in all kinds of bogus charge's.

 

[Kaw_Boy_5]

I like the idea of ordering a bike in a crate shipped to your door more and more everyday.

 

[truespode]

Mike,

Drop Mike Allen a line. He is in Kings Mtn and is a good drive (3 1/2 hours for me from Sptbg) but I have bought both of my bikes from him and if he was closer I'd buy just about everything from him.

His family races HS's and such. They have Yammies, GG and Cannondales.

FWIW, I trust Mike as a person and respect him as a business man.

If that doesn't work out check with Gomer about some of the Columbia shops.

Ivan

 

[JuliusPleaser]

Mike, if Ivan offers to ride with you, just say NO! :moon:

 

[MikeT]

Ya, I just don't think we could both fit on the 50.....

 

[CanadianRidr]

:) :) lol!!

 

[bclapham]

lasy year in san diego, the CRF450 was going for $8500 out of the door! they were charging $1500 just to put the wheel and bars on and then you had to pay tax on that!

 

[truespode]

Originally posted by MikeT
Ya, I just don't think we could both fit on the 50.....

Actually he is referring to last year when he drove up from Alabama to ride with me to NC to pick up the DRZ (actually, we took his truck). I talked his frickin ear off :)

It was a fun trip.

Ivan

 

[JuliusPleaser]

LOL, Mike!

Ivan, that was a pretty fun trip. Hard to believe it was a year ago. :scream:

Bruce, I ALMOST paid $6200 OTD for a YZ250F last year. I got lucky and found a perfect used one for nearly $2000 less.

 

[_SOLO_]

Mike, try Excel Motorsports in Concord, they have been good to me. They tried to sell me an 02 RM 125 for $4500 last year when I was looking for bikes.

 

[_SOLO_]

Oh and they are just not a Suzuki dealer, they also sell Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha.

 

[Senior KX Rider]

Mike T, your dealer must not be very interested in selling bikes. When I bought the little ones XR, the dealer did everything he could to work with me. I ended up getting him to wave the prep and shipping fees and they were more than competitive on the price. Make the guy an offer and if he doesn't want it, walk out. :D

 

[MikeT]

I hear ya. That was just the first one I went to. I figured most would work with me.. That is why I am still shopping. I figured you guys didn't normally pay all those stupid fees.

 

[slideways11]

Just tell them you want the bike in the crate, and put it together yourself. I buy all my bikes like this from Riva Yamaha in Pompano Fl.

 

[truespode]

Originally posted by Julius Pleaser
Bruce, I ALMOST paid $6200 OTD for a YZ250F last year. I got lucky and found a perfect used one for nearly $2000 less.

I did pay $6200 out the door for my YZ250F in December of 2000. It was one of the first in NC. I was second on the list and there was a long line behind me :)

However, the $6200 included taxes, mounting my TAG handlebars, mounting my steering damper pin, installing a hydro clutch, putting on an o-ring chain I bought from someone else and using no-toil on the filter.

They also spent about 45 minutes going over everything with me when I bought it. The guy who went over everything is an A level Motocrosser who rode a 426 at the time and knows a good bit about 4-strokes so it was very informative.

Ivan

 

[bclapham]

$1500 is outragious for just putting on bars and wheels.

now, if they come to the track and dial my jetting, revelve my suspension etc. i might be interested!

 

[Moto Squid]

Originally posted by slideways11
Just tell them you want the bike in the crate, and put it together yourself. I buy all my bikes like this from Riva Yamaha in Pompano Fl.

You must be really good friends with the owner. Honda, yamaha, suzuki, ect. all reguire that an AUTHORIZED dealer set up the bikes, not some hooligan that doesn't want to pay the dealer set up fees. Anyways for most MX bikes it's a 20 minutes job from when they first tear off the cardboard to a bike ready to be delivered

For me working at the dealer I bought the bike from has some advantages :)

 

[woods_rider1]

The freight and setup on my KTM 250 was only $220, and I watched him do all of the setup! then had him give me a thorough "once-over" on the whole bike. I tried to get it in the crate, the salesman just scoffed and said that even they were willing to do that (which they werent) it would void the 6 month warrantee. They didnt want to hassle with anyone setting it up wrong and hassling over warranty issues.

 

[MCP486]

I believe that it is required by all manufacturers that the dealer must setup all new bikes, and not sell bikes still in the crate. I asked the sales manager from the dealership I used to work at if he would sell me a new CR125 in the crate a few years ago, and he actually told me that he could lose his franchise for doing that, even though I did a bit of work eith pre-delivery. He said the best he could do was allow me to assemble it, then re-crate it, which made no sense. Although assembly out of the crate is really simple, you would be surprised how many people are skilled enough to screw it up. That leaves the dealer liable for the customers mistakes. The manufacturers do pay the dealership for setup, but it isn't very much, so dealers try to offset the loss they take on giving you a "good deal" by charging $50-100 on setup fees. It can be pretty easy to get these fees waved, and honestly, if you are dealing with a good dealership. They will just give you a price + tax, and not try to cheat you. I have paid at least $200 less than MSRP, out the door, on all my new bikes since 1999. The last bike that costed more than MSRP was my 1999 YZ125, which my dad paid for. I had nothing to do with the money end of things, and he paid $5600 out the door for it! I could get a new YZ250 for that price now! It just shows the priorities of dealers are different, and customer loyalty reflects that.

-Matt

 

[bigred455]

I bet you these kids that put on the front tire on a new bike don't know how to align the forks properly. . :confused:

 

[MX145]

Tell them you'll pay the setup fee's if they throw in $500.00 worth of acc. or credit towards later purchases. If they won't go for that, tell them that another shop has offered the same deal with a setup fee for around $150 and you get a free helmet for the kid. They should believe the last one. In that situation everyone is a winner. We want the shops to be around, but we don't want them to gouge us.....

I don't know your history with the shop, but let them know you want a fair deal and you plan on purchasing more items in the near future (which you most likely will) and who knows.... they ultimately may end up giving you discounts later on once they see your loyalty. I have established good relationships with 3 different shops and bring them sales and they have treated me quite well with discounts and some major deals. I would probably call and ask some different shops for ammo. - ask if there are any special promotions/dealer incentives going on.... they may be getting some kick backs from the mfg. at this time and willing to let you know.

When YOU feel you are getting a fair deal... that is the time to buy - don't go by what someone else says. It seems nowdays everyone bought their YUKON SUV for $20,000 (at a major discount) and own a $450,000 house. Good luck to you on your sales adventure.
MX145

 

[Jasle]

Originally posted by MikeT
I hear ya. That was just the first one I went to. I figured most would work with me.. That is why I am still shopping. I figured you guys didn't normally pay all those stupid fees.

Around here many shops are selling the xr50 for $1100 but otd is more like$1700. some of it is taxes but the rest is setup. Funny thing is you can find plenty of ridden twice then parked xr's and pw's for about $900 in the Cycletrader and some of them come with gear cause the kid crashed once and either Mom or the kid freaked out.