Frustration buying a bike - advice
 

Well. I thought I had a deal on a motorcycle but things got weird. I watched as the bike was rolled onto the floor - not even in the system yet....but going up for sale. Its what I'm looking for, a BMW F800 GS - 2013....I was told to come back a few days later - so I did. Sat and talked to SalesDude and although is was early, he said the price would be between 8000 and 8400. Ok. There's the bike, nice panniers on it, and I'm still in. I waited another few days and went back to purchase the bike...as we are walking by, Terry calmly states that the panniers are NOT included. WHAT! This is the first time this is mentioned - as I 'm walking down to purchase....The bike is sitting on the floor, with panniers! This is a deal breaker. If I'd been told right away - this issue would not have occurred....deal would have been clear at the outset - but that's not what happened. So Terry states he'll see what he can do, and wheel and deal and get back to me. Today I get the call that the deal is no panniers, no break in price, and another $500 if I want the panniers. You may understand my frustration. But, the bike price is fair. Here's the rest of the story. This was not just a bike. I was also looking at purchasing full set of Klim Badlands Pro - and a shuberth C4 Pro helmet....This is another basically $3500....When asked if Sales could meet me part way, I was told no. Fine. This business is going to turn down 13,500 worth of business over $200 - ok then. Guess you don't want my money that bad - and of course the bike will sell.....But this whole thing leaves me feeling pissed off. I have bought there before...Am a returning customer.

Ok, above is what I started to send to the shop. You know, I just want to be dealt with fairly, and that's not how I'm feeling. There are a LOT of bikes out there. Should I wait? Should I buy? Am I being petty?

What think the community?

Walk away.

OK, they stuffed up the deal and accidentally offered too low a price. Maybe somebody else came in and offered more. Either way do you want to reward this behaviour and have to deal with these clowns if something is wrong with it?

The only way I wouldn't walk away is if this was the last suitable bike in the country. Then I'd take the bike without the panniers. Let them sell them on the auction site.

Andy

Not sure what it's like in the US but in the dealership I work out there is no discount at the mo because they dont have to . There arent any bikes , we are literally supplying bikes as they are ordered....want a Ducati good luck with that . Obviously some models will get discounted as they arent popular , you could consider that ? But demand is strong and I believe it will go nuts once lockdown is eased as there is tons of pent up demand , certainly if last year is anything to go by .
Best of luck in your search....

If you like the bike... It is not fair, but on the end... they can. I will buy only the bike, other stuff no, not from that place.

Changing the terms at the last moment, or saying for any reason "I'll bring it to my manager and see if he ok's it," are standard sleazy sales techniques. So are mysterious last-minute added charges that were never mentioned before, or dragging out the process until you're too hypoglycemic and addled to think clearly and will sign anything just to get it done.

When they need your business, you're in position to refuse to be treated this way. When you're totally hooked on whatever they've got, they've got all the power and they generally know it. I always advise standing on your principles because they'll change when sleaziness costs them, not before--that will benefit us all. On the other hand, sometimes it's best just to live in the real world, do the best you can, and get on with your life.

Mark

buying the bike
 

when I went to buy my bike for riding around the world in 1999, I had a look at five different bikes ... the last one I looked at was the most expensive (25% over market value) and when I saw it I knew this would take me around the world ... the private seller would not come down on the price. After talking to a good friend in the evening over some beers, the friend said that I should buy it if it feels right. So next day I phoned the seller and bought the bike for the price he wanted and I never regretted it.

... as Markharf said, buying from a dealer you need to be prepared for their tricks. I would recommend, as Cholo did above, just buy the bike (if you still feel its the right one) without panniers and no gear.

Just my 2c worth today.
Enjoy your ride, it will start soon
mika :scooter:

If you think the seller is sleazy before you make the purchase. What of it when you come back and there is a problem with the bike?

If I saw a bike on a show room floor, I would assume that everything attached to it was what was offered in the price, unless told differently or that there was reason for me to assume differently (i.e. through a list of extra equipment, with the racks not being on that list). Likewise, I would not assume that anything not on the bike would come with the purchase.

However, $500 for a set of great panniers and rack, including not having to mount them or pay someone to do it for you - it is a good deal.

Decision made. I'm walking from the deal. The last thing I want is at the very beginning to have a bad feeling about how buying the bike went. Is this logical - no. But the bottom line for me is that there are a LOT of bikes out there, and MY bike will come. Patience.

Thanks all.

You have to LOVE the bike - and that starts with the first experience, buying it. Good move to walk away imho.

Agree, and thanks. The hunt continues.....

I've had similar happen to me. I know it's just petty of me - but that is exactly the sort of thing that would make me get up out of the chair in the sales office and tell them, "I'm going to give someone else my money" and walk away.

Yep, it's a measly $200 in a $10000+ sale, but it feels like you're trying to squeeze me like a lemon. Ugh.

Having sat on both sides of the sales desk, there are a few reasons for the price rise.

It sounds like the salesmen only estimated the price in the first place. It was probably the managers decision on the final list price. The error is that he quoted you an estimated price that wasn't finalised. But then you were asking for a price for a bike that wasn't even appraised or even in their system.

I don't think you can complain because you didn't get the price you wanted to pay. If you see something and the price is right, then you should have signed the paperwork there and then. But you couldn't because it wasn't for sale then.

It doesn't sound like there was any kind of verbal contract. Just a salesmen giving you an estimation of what the bike was going to cost from a passing conversation.

I don't think any dealer really sets out to trick people into paying more for something once they've agreed on a price. They simply wouldn't be in business for very long if they did.

Interesting, Ted. In the US this is the norm, not the exception. It takes all sorts of forms, and there are usually multiple attempts within the same transaction. If that's really not the way it works in the rest of the world, I'd be interested to hear about it.

In a world where internet reviews make and break business overnight and customer satisfaction is so powerful, I didn't think this could happen anymore.

We don't know who the retailer is. If it was a BMW main dealer, then I know from my experience in the BMW network that BMW are really hot on customer satisfaction. 'Dealer standards' they call it. Playing games like this would have their franchise stripped from them pretty quickly as it affects their brand reputation.

BMW only sell their horrifically over-priced and unreliable bikes so easily as they literally lick the boots of their customers.

I don't know anything about the US system though.

I don't know about the bike side but in the car dealerships we've certainly had that feeling. It's a kind of faux, slight of hand servility masquerading as 'industry leading service' that doesn't sit well with me. I feel like I've had a blanket of obfuscation thrown over me on the back of free cups of coffee and comfortable seats, while at the same time we're having the financial wool pulled over our eyes because the salesman is 'so nice'.

Every time I come out of the dealership I feel as though I've been 'done', yet a week or so later the emails asking 'was everything to your satisfaction' come flooding in. What can you say - 'yeah, the coffee was good, the salesman didn't swear, didn't smell, car didn't break down' that's about all. Underneath it all it still feels like Arthur Daly economics, just with a new coat of paint.