Cheeky salesman

[ynot slow]

The point is also price vs service as stated numerous times.
Most and nearly 100% of guys who want to buy a bike have done their research,go into the shop concerned and buy if the figures stack up.By this I mean say you want a Honda VFR800,on sale for $12500,you get a trade price of say $4000,balance $8500,you know you can afford to pay $8000,so ask if he'll take $7000,if he says no can't do it,you have 2 options-1) state value up to your $8000 limit and hope for best,or-2) leave and go elsewhere,assuming you have another bike same make,model elsewhere.

Sometimes if the bike is a slow seller,or been in stock for months they will sell to quit it at a good price to you,and hope like hell you come back to buy again.More often if it is fresh on lot you don't get that option.

[Gremlin]

I'm with Big Dave on this, and I firmly believe in having a relationship with the shop. I have a shortlist (no more than 3-5) and will shop at the most important ones first, then, if they can't get, go to the next one on the list etc.

As Dave says, sure, perhaps you don't get the sharpest deals every time, but you looking after the shop and them looking after you is worth much much more. Sometimes they'll ask, and go, is the price OK, and I simply respond, I trust what you say, you'll look after me.

I think a lot of you guys are forgetting. A business is out there to survive and maximise its position. This can be through profit alone, but generally, having a large set of customers who are loyal and you get a bit less, are much more profitable, as you spend less time "selling" to them.

Its all a big game. Businesses want your dollars, you want products. You want to pay less, businesses want as much as they can get. I don't quibble on prices because most of the time I don't pay retail. But those shops get thousands of dollars a year, not even factoring bikes into that. However, I also get loaners as needed, they'll pick me up if I have issues etc.

[vifferman]

A business is out there to survive and maximise its position. This can be through profit alone, but generally, having a large set of customers who are loyal and you get a bit less, are much more profitable, as you spend less time "selling" to them.

Eggs Zachary. It's not rocket science, just good business practices (which doesn't have to include being an arsehole or always having to make a big profit on everything!).
As long as I feel like I'm being taken care of, and get the odd good deal, I'm happy, and will keep coming back. I'll even put up with the odd cockup or less than stellar deal or bad bit of service, as long as I feel like I'm a valued customer, rather than a bloody nuisance or a free meal ticket.

[ynot slow]

Also called goodwill,how many remember the old days being 5 or 10c short at the local dairy,you'd be told it's ok fix up next time.My parents owned a dairy years ago and used the same ideals,any customer who was short 5c or so would pay up next time,and settle their account on time.

[Robert Taylor]

I also like to think that ANY business I deal with makes a fair and reasonable profit. That is what keeps businesses going, keeps people employed and keeps mouths fed. We often lose sight of that and several who have posted on here have a deplorable dog eat dog attitude.
My politics are unashamedly conservative, I support legitimate business that carries people along with it. Conversely I dont have much time for brazenly speculative business such as real estate. Everyone has a right to a decent standard of living and a decent job that they should work hard at. Profit ( reasonable profit) is not a dirty word, it provides employment and the major taxation base.
Many small businesses in this country struggle because overheads are disproportionately high compared to returns, fact.

[BMWST?]

Who knows... play the game

this is where it gets interesting isnt it.He admits to offering a 20 percent lower price,then he gets upset when the guy asks him how much he wants to spend on a bike...the saleman WAS playing the game...what was he supposed to do....say the bike is gone and hang up?

[BMWST?]

I am confused - I have read this entire thread and wonder where this idea that someone would expect the seller to sell at cost comes from? I am pretty sure that no one here has suggesting any such thing.

...he admits he offered him a price 20 percent less.....

[MarkH]

...he admits he offered him a price 20 percent less.....

but doesn't say that he expected the dealer to accept it - he even acknowledges that it was a cheeky offer.

Offering to pay cost price does not equal expecting the dealer to accept cost price. It would be more likely that you would expect a counter-offer rather than acceptance of your offer.