Today I decided to check out a possible replacement for my little 310R. All the experiences with serious breakdowns (exploding clutches, imploding charging systems, seized-up rusting brakes, coolant leaks) coupled with deplorable service from BMW got me worried.
Well I believe I am married to the bike and divorce could be expensive.
The scene: large multi-make motorcycle dealer in Los Angeles. The contender a 2019 Suzuki 400 DRSM (supermoto, because I really like that type of bike) advertised on the website for $6,299, $1,050 below MSRP ("SALE"). Trading in the 310R from Feb 2018 with 2,060 miles and an Akrapovic exhaust and Puig levers. Never been down, looks brand new, runs like a top, bla bla bla.
The numbers: "please pay us $7,200 and give us the BMW, and we'll give you the Suzuki".
The main elements in there are $1,800 'A.D.M. fees' (Additional Dealer Markup) and a trade-in value of 'market value' $1,250, generously increased "so we can get you out of here with the new bike TODAY" by another $250.
I expect they would put the 310 on the floor for say $4,250 (sorry, $4,199 'plus fees').
So for a bike advertised for $6,300 I would trade in my $3,500 BMW and I expected to pay an additional say $3,500 including the 10% California sales tax nobody ever mentions until the very end. Instead they wanted more than double that. I just had to laugh, thanked the friendly sales person, and walked out thinking "what a total waste of time that was".
It was a good reminder of how some dealers in the US work, get away with false advertising, and how they approach their customer relationship.
Well I believe I am married to the bike and divorce could be expensive.
The scene: large multi-make motorcycle dealer in Los Angeles. The contender a 2019 Suzuki 400 DRSM (supermoto, because I really like that type of bike) advertised on the website for $6,299, $1,050 below MSRP ("SALE"). Trading in the 310R from Feb 2018 with 2,060 miles and an Akrapovic exhaust and Puig levers. Never been down, looks brand new, runs like a top, bla bla bla.
The numbers: "please pay us $7,200 and give us the BMW, and we'll give you the Suzuki".
The main elements in there are $1,800 'A.D.M. fees' (Additional Dealer Markup) and a trade-in value of 'market value' $1,250, generously increased "so we can get you out of here with the new bike TODAY" by another $250.
I expect they would put the 310 on the floor for say $4,250 (sorry, $4,199 'plus fees').
So for a bike advertised for $6,300 I would trade in my $3,500 BMW and I expected to pay an additional say $3,500 including the 10% California sales tax nobody ever mentions until the very end. Instead they wanted more than double that. I just had to laugh, thanked the friendly sales person, and walked out thinking "what a total waste of time that was".
It was a good reminder of how some dealers in the US work, get away with false advertising, and how they approach their customer relationship.