Free first service when buying a new bike, standard or no?

[JudaBaker]

Hmm ok thanks guys.. I may have had my head in the sand a little over this as I thought the markup value on a bike was ALOT more than what it seems.

Never really thought about whether they had already payed for the bikes or were paying interest on them until they sold etc, some of the bike shops I've been into have bikes there that have been sitting around for 2-3 years.. Considering just how many bikes are in a store esp something like sportzone suzuki that's alot of money already spent just sitting around.

Being used to dealing with arsehole car salesmen seems it's a lot easier to rip people off with bullshit prices at a car yard than a bike shop, although I guess that's where selling motorcycle parts comes into it.

[onearmedbandit]

t just sitting around.

Being used to dealing with arsehole car salesmen seems it's a lot easier to rip people off with bullshit prices at a car yard than a bike shop, although I guess that's where selling motorcycle parts comes into it.

I was an arsehole car salesman for 10yrs, and I never ever ripped anyone off. How? I never had a gun on me, so I couldn't force the punters to pay what I'd like, instead they paid 'market value'. Wise up. Bullshit prices? Whatever sunshine, look around, you'll see most cars are priced within $1000 of each other, the market is that competitive. We didn't dictate the price, the customer did by agreeing to sign the contract.

Although our profit margins were a lot better than motorcycles.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Plus also the like of Suzuki, Honda, & Yamaha the dealerships are only representatives of the companys with bike sales...the money from the sale goes back to the company then the dealership gets commision on the sale, Kawsaki on the otherhand sale the bikes to the dealerships at cost price with the RRP figure,the difference is the margin the dealership has to make it's profit. Makes it bloody hard for a dealership to purchase stock at X price then in the time waiting for delivery of said stock to arrive Kawasaki send bulletins of price reductions for Y model (which has also been advertised publically) and dealership has their profit margin crippled before the bikes arrive happened a few times that I saw 1st hand

What the fuck have you been smoking?

Worked in a Kawasaki dealership have you??

Two. One here in Wellington, and one in Brisbane. Done every brand of motorcycle you could mention. You're way off the mark.

[JudaBaker]

I was an arsehole car salesman for 10yrs, and I never ever ripped anyone off. How? I never had a gun on me, so I couldn't force the punters to pay what I'd like, instead they paid 'market value'. Wise up. Bullshit prices? Whatever sunshine, look around, you'll see most cars are priced within $1000 of each other, the market is that competitive. We didn't dictate the price, the customer did by agreeing to sign the contract.

Although our profit margins were a lot better than motorcycles.

If you buy a used car at a dealership versus privately, most will generally ask for more than it is actually worth (as far as I know), this is why people tell you not to pay sticker price. A bit out of place in a thread about new bikes but yeah..

The few dealers I've met before were IMO arseholes who ripped people off so that means all car salesmen everywhere else on the entire planet are as well. Duh..

[nallac]

and again I feel so special...the boys at Filco wash my bike just about every time I go down. Went and got the chain checked out for slackness the other day...nice young fella gave it a quick wash as well...at no charge. You guys all live in the wrong town!

Thats why they are soooo helpful.......


A mate bought a new Night Rod for $28K,and had to pay for the first service...
If i was paying that much for a bike i'd want it to be free labour at the very least.

[onearmedbandit]

If you buy a used car at a dealership versus privately, most will generally ask for more than it is actually worth (as far as I know), this is why people tell you not to pay sticker price. A bit out of place in a thread about new bikes but yeah..

There is a reason for that. In a private sale you have little 'comeback', and then only if the car was advertised incorrectly. Being a dealer however makes you responsible for virtually every fault on the vehicle for a period of time, depending on the fault and other factors. When you buy from a dealer you get security, when buying from the public you don't. Hence the difference in price. And the reason why we would hang $16k on a $15k car? Because everyone expects something off the sticker.

[JudaBaker]

And the reason why we would hang $16k on a $15k car? Because everyone expects something off the sticker.

And when someone naive walks into the yard by themself, eyes something up and asks "Is this a good deal?" the most common answer would of course be "No, actually. That's just the sticker price. I would happily sell that car for $1000 less as that's all it's really worth."

[onearmedbandit]

And when someone naive walks into the yard by themself, eyes something up and asks "Is this a good deal?" the most common answer would of course be "No, actually. That's just the sticker price. I would happily sell that car for $1000 less as that's all it's really worth."

Off topic completely, but something is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. If someone offers to pay sticker, should I refuse it? Would you?

[JudaBaker]

Yes, I would sell it to them half price and throw in a free box of tui.

[Robert Taylor]

nahhhh - surely there must be more than a grand clear in a 15 -20 k bike - the shops would never stay open otherwise, rent wages, stock etc etc, income from the workshop is self sustaining but pretty much seasonal, parts have a nice mark-up but you need to stock a fair bit and again it is not a guaranteed income. I bet the importers make more at their end!

Mind you a fair few have gone under in the past two years ..........

I'll have to give my local dealers a hug next time I'm in bitching about the price of something!

There are likely a few more that will close yet, thats not neccessarily a bad thing as there are too many dealers anyway. I worked in dealerships and at wholesale level for over 30 years. Back 10, 20, 30 years ago there used to be decent margins and the overheads in just opening your doors were not as obscene as they are now.
If a dealer gets into 2 digit margin figures nowadays he is doing very well but the reality of most sales is certainly not that. When you factor in that in a small economy with too many dealers stock turn is very poor compared to dealers in first world economies with large population base. That gets further exacerbated by interest payments ticking over on GE financed floor stock.
FOC first services are generally no longer the norm as there just isnt the margin to carry it. And if youre paying the mechanic $25 per hour the true cost on top of that is substanially more when you factor in all the levies, insurances, power , plant etc.

[Robert Taylor]

Thats why they are soooo helpful.......


A mate bought a new Night Rod for $28K,and had to pay for the first service...
If i was paying that much for a bike i'd want it to be free labour at the very least.

A bigger number for the end price should have absolutely nothing to do with justifying if you think you are entitled to a free service or not. Its not free to the dealer and if the dealer made say only 8% nett margin on it then Id understand a refusal to make it free.

[Genie]

Yes, I would sell it to them half price and throw in a free box of tui.

YEAH RIGHT